“I can imagine that,” Raynal agreed. “My fingers would itch to get this place right; I’m very interested in old houses and antiques, and this house makes a perfect setting.”
“You think so?” Kay queried eagerly, her irritation completely evaporated. “I thought I’d keep that corner cupboard ... and the bookcase ... of course, the chairs must be sold and that ghastly cabinet.”
Raynal was deeply moved by his companion’s obvious enthusiasm, apparently furnishing was an unknown interest of Sister Somers, he’d have to remember to discuss the relative virtues of Sheraton and Heppelwhite next time she flew into a rage in theatre. Raynal hid a smile and when he spoke it was with all seriousness. “Certainly, keep both those pieces, and the cabinet, as you say, must go, but the chairs I think should be restored and recovered.” He crossed to a chair, and tilting it forward examined it carefully. “It’s actually a fine chair, at least I think so but...” He paused and ran his finger along the carved leg. “See there, it’s been painted at some time and those seats have been stuffed; I’ve no doubt if you have the covers removed, you’ll find the carving matches these legs.”
“I believe it does!” Kay was delighted with the discovery. “I’m afraid I’m going to make lots of mistakes.” There was a note of concern in her voice. “I’d better not sell any furniture without having expert advice then?”
Her statement was more in the form of a query and Raynal hesitated before replying. “I’ll be glad to offer you what help I can ... you could hardly term it ‘expert,’ but I’ve picked up a fair knowledge of antiques and furniture in general; my brother, Christine’s father, was an expert, it was his hobby, he wrote books on the subject, and I’ve learnt a lot from him.”
“Would you really help me?” Kay’s voice was charged with excitement and in her enthusiasm she forgot all her latent antagonism for her companion.
“Kay, may I bring Biggy inside? He isn’t exactly good, I mean not completely trustworthy, but he’ll get so lonely waiting in the car.”
“Of course you can bring him in. You know perfectly well that he isn’t the tiniest bit trustworthy, but I don’t think he can do much harm to this carpet.” She flashed a smile at Raynal as she answered Christine.
“He certainly can’t,” Raynal agreed laughingly. “You can scrap this one and I suggest having these marvellous oak floors polished and putting down a few rugs.”
“I thought of doing that ... and upstairs, too, do you know that there is actually oilcloth down over some of the floors?”
No one at St. Jude’s would have believed, and least of all Kay, that one day she and Peter Raynal would find themselves together crawling on hands and knees, in a dusty attic under the eaves, seeking treasures! The attic was crowded with old boxes, trunks, junk and furniture of all kinds, under a thick coating of dust, and it had been at Raynal’s suggestion that they had explored it for likely pieces, which might have been stored there and forgotten. Raynal had been through each room with Kay, helping and advising and offering ideas for furnishing, which Kay found enchanting. He had so many useful suggestions to make, a piece of furniture changed over here, a carpet altered there, things which Kay would never have thought of doing and which would certainly make a tremendous difference to the house, with little or no expense. It was Kay who had suggested the attic when Raynal, examining a small period chest, expressed the opinion that at some time or other a top section had been removed. The part, covered in dust, had been triumphantly discovered beneath an oak cradle and that had been the inspiration for a further hunt, and certainly all the uncomfortable stooping, and layers of dust were well worth while when Raynal discovered, tucked right at the back, the most exquisite little table, a perfect example of Chippendale.
It was nearly an hour before they both felt that the possibilities of the attic were fully exhausted and they prepared to descend.
“Let me get down first and give you a hand.” Raynal put his foot on the first rung of the ladder and tested it gingerly. “I like antiques but not as applied to ladders ... anyway, I think we’ve exhausted anything worth while up there. I should send the rest to a sale and get rid of the lot.”
“I’m awfully glad we sorted it out first, you’ve rescued quite a lot of good things I wouldn’t even have recognized.” Kay paused, then called down: “Shall I come now ... will you steady the ladder?”
In a moment she stood flushed and breathless at his side, then they both broke into laughter. “Goodness, you are filthy!” It was Kay who first recovered sufficiently to speak, then she added more soberly: “I’m terribly sorry, your suit ... it’s covered with cobwebs and dust ... I really shouldn’t have let you...” She broke off in an agony of apprehension, it seemed so awful now she had time to consider it, that she had allowed a guest, and Peter Raynal of all people, to get himself in such a state on her behalf. “Do come along to the bathroom, there is plenty of hot water, I’ll get you a towel and a clothes brush.”
“Don’t look so worried, it’s only surface dust, it will all brush off.” He flicked his sleeve with his hand. “See, it’s nothing and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself, so you have nothing to be sorry for.” He smiled at her quizzically and the sparkle in his eyes gave a curiously young expression to his face. “You don’t look so good yourself you know, you have an enormous smear stretching from mouth to ear!” When, ten minutes later, Kay rejoined Peter Raynal in the lounge, she had removed her overall and rearranged her hair and, with her face freshly powdered and a touch of lipstick, was once again her spruce self.
“Where is Christine...?” Kay crossed to the window and looked out. “Oh, there she is, talking to my sister and Robin ... they love her.” She turned a smiling face to Raynal and added with sincerity: “In fact we all do.” Even as Kay spoke, Christine’s high-pitched voice reached them through the open windows and a moment later she appeared, the puppy clutched tightly under her arm, in the open doorway. “Uncle ... Kay ... the pigs Mr. Aldon bought at the sale have arrived, they are round the back, can you hear them squealing? Her voice was charged with excitement. “Mr. Aldon and Penelope are just going to unload them, they are going to be put in their styes, such lovely new homes...” she interposed. “All fresh whitewash and straw beds ... they are lovely. Penelope and Mr. Aldon have been fixing them this afternoon. I do want to see them unloaded, it’s going to be such fun, Penelope says it’s quite a job and sometimes they get terribly obstreperous ... can we all go and watch?”
“Christine, that dog!” Kay took the struggling puppy gently from beneath the child’s arm. “Its paws are caked with mud, just look at your frock.”
“I know, he walked in that boggy bit of ground that is being drained, he’s in an awful mess, isn’t he, but you see if I hadn’t carried him he might have done it again and been in an even worse mess,” she concluded with childish philosophy.
“But you mightn’t have been quite so muddy.” Kay laughed, then turned to Raynal who had been a silent witness of the little scene. “How about it? Do you care to watch pigs unloaded?” There was a hint of laughter in her voice.
“I could bear to miss the sight.” Raynal slipped an arm round Christine’s shoulders. “Suppose you run along and watch while Kay and I wait here ... or...” he turned to Kay inquiringly: “While you are occupied, Kay and I might run down to the village for tea and when I bring her back, I’ll see you again to say goodbye before I leave.”
“Lovely.” Christine breathed ecstatically, then added in an effort to cover any hurt she might unwittingly have inflicted: “I do hate missing a moment of your time here, but you see you can come down again and I’ve never seen pigs unloaded before...”
“Of course, your uncle understands,” Kay laughed, then added, . . and what about Biggy? Does he watch the unloading too?”
“Well, he may as well dirty out this frock,” Christine suggested, as she took the puppy from Kay and snuggled it against her chest. “He has half dirtied it already.”
“Rather an understa
tement...” Raynal began laughingly, then paused as Robin and Penelope entered the room.
Introductions were quickly effected and for a few moments they stood chatting in the room. As Raynal appraised Penelope, he was amazed at the astounding difference in the sisters, both so attractive and yet in such different ways. Penelope in her well-worn breeches and her nigh-necked sweater expressed the radiant vitality of some exotic flower, a foil to her sister whose attraction held some ethereal quality, an inner radiance, elusive, intangible ... Raynal quickly turned his attention to the young man confronting him, sun-tanned, with hair bleached almost white by the sun. So this was the man of Kay’s choice? Certainly a fine fellow and as they exchanged a few conventional phrases, Raynal’s like grew.
“I’m glad you’re leaving Christine with us ... she’ll enjoy the fun...” Penelope gave a deep, throaty laugh. “Don’t wait tea for us, we’ll get those beasts safely housed first...” She turned to Robin. “Come on ... let’s get started, that squealing sounds like a slaughter house, it’s getting me down.”
“Nothing gets you down...” Robin laughed, but obediently followed Penelope, with Christine limping happily at his side, her hand tucked confidently in his.
For a moment Kay and Raynal watched them on their way, then Kay turned to her companion. “How about some tea?” Even as she asked the question her heart sank. Those cups and saucers, that awful tray-cloth ... Mrs. Sykes’ soiled apron ... to serve tea like that to Mr. Raynal, the very idea made Kay turn hot and cold. Supposing he accepted?
Kay was soon put at her ease. “How about running down to the village, as I suggested? There is a tea garden there, I noticed it as I drove through.”
“Well, it might be wiser...” Kay began diffidently. “You see I’m not quite straight here yet ... but do you think we’ll have time? Christine will want to see you again before you have to leave.”
“By the volume and sound of squealing from the back yard, I should say there are at least a thousand pigs to be dealt with, and that takes time!” Raynal smiled and his eyes twinkled mischievously. “I rather think that you, as well as I, will enjoy tea far more if we can put a few miles between ourselves and those ear-splitting noises.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
When Kay looked back at the end of the first week of her holiday, she realized with some surprise that the occasion of Peter Raynal’s visit constituted the only real moments of true relaxation that she had enjoyed. From the moment of Robin’s arrival on her first evening home, life seemed to have become one long, hectic rush. Kay was indeed grateful to her sister that she had taken over the real responsibility of assisting Robin to get the farm in order but, single-handed, Kay had consistently been left to tackle all the preparation of her home. Robin was so busy all day that it was only for a brief hour after dinner in the evenings that they could snatch time together to discuss things, and even then Kay always found that Robin was so obsessed with problems and difficulties concerning the farm itself, that he was no help whatever. When she managed to steer the conversation round to the lavatory cistern which didn’t work, or the dread belief which she had that there were mice in the bedroom, before she knew where she was the conversation invariably reverted to decisions about poultry houses, the erection of fences, or equally unanswerable questions—to Kay at least—as to the comparative merits between Leghorns and Light Sussex. Peter Raynal’s brief visit had given Kay a few ideas to work on, and already in the little time she had had, she had effected a miraculous clearance of the house, and two vans had already driven away with loads of unwanted junk, while the rooms themselves at last began to take on some semblance of comfort. A few furniture purchases in Staunford had already arrived and, set in their appropriate places, had filled Kay with pride—but the trouble was that no one else had time enough to share her pride and pleasure. Kay sometimes wondered if either Robin or Penelope were even aware that any changes were taking place, they hadn’t even noticed the new—and matching—tea service until Kay had pointed it out! Arriving home for dinner after an arduous day’s work on the farm, both Robin and Penelope seemed surprised that Kay too, was tired, apparently unaware that dealing with heavy wardrobes, lifting and turning carpets, hanging curtains and airing mattresses, was in its way equally exhausting labor. Yes, looking back, that afternoon with Peter Raynal had been a relaxation; not that they hadn’t worked, Kay recalled with some amusement; crawling round the attic hadn’t been exactly a picnic, but it had been such a mental relaxation to have someone to advise, someone who appreciated her problems and had been ready to share them. So ready indeed that, after a quick tea in Staunford, Peter Raynal had accompanied her round the various antique shops and with his far greater experience, had given her invaluable assistance, and had actually helped select the tea service!
Kay and Robin had fixed their marriage for the following Saturday, only leaving them a full week together before Kay need return to hospital. There was still a lot to do, she reminded herself, both in her new home and in her own personal preparations for her marriage, and a bare week.in which to do it! Indeed, if she ever managed to get through the formidable tasks still awaiting attention, it would be nothing short of a miracle!
These were the principal reasons why Kay was sitting in the train, with a formidable shopping list tucked in her handbag. In addition to shopping there was a lunch date with Janet and a call at Peter Raynal’s consulting rooms to leave the latest X-rays of Christine’s leg, which had been taken at the local hospital.
The even rhythm of the train seemed to keep time with her thoughts. Apart from household shopping, she must get a new hat for her wedding; her dress she had, she’d bought that before starting on her holiday, but the hat was essential. A blue hat... a soft blue to tone with her dress, with that fashionable soft feathery trimming, extravagant but nice, she’d probably never wear it again when she’d embarked upon her career as a farmer’s wife, but extravagant or not she’d get it just the same, she decided. It would be fun seeing Janet too, they’d have such a lot to talk about; Janet would have the latest hospital news and she, in return, would be able to tell her friend about Robin, the very simple plans for their wedding, and what a brick Penelope had been in helping with the farm. Janet would want to know all the details ... she’d tell her about Peter Raynal too, how he’d grovelled in the dirt of ages in the attic ... how Janet would laugh!
Picking up a taxi at the terminus, Kay went straight to the West End and alighting at Oxford Circus, set out to grapple with the innumerable items on her shopping list. The hours flew by, but as Kay waited for Janet at the entrance to the Corner House, she was gratified to find that at least one-third of her purchases had been successfully accomplished.
“Kay ... how marvellous to see you!” Janet gripped Kay’s hand in hers, as she appraisal her friend. “You look grand ... you’ve more color in your cheeks already and I do believe you’ve put on weight ... and how smart you look too!” She prattled on as the two friends made their way into the building, then threaded their way through the already crowded restaurant. “A corner table, how lovely ... now we can talk in comfort. I can’t believe it’s only a week since you left, it seems ages, now do tell me all that’s happened, are you having a lovely time, has Robin come up to expectations, what’s your future home like, when are you getting married?”
“One question at a time, please,” Kay laughed as she drew off her gloves and laid them on the table at her side. “Everything is fine and Robin and I are getting married next Saturday.”
The meal was of secondary importance and neither Kay nor Janet seemed conscious of the food set before them. There was so much to discuss, so many incidents to relate. Janet was full of hospital gossip, of the temporary Sister in “Surgical Two,” of Nurse Long’s argument with Martin Grig over a forgotten dressing, and of Matron’s new ruling about smoking in the corridors of the nurses’ home. Kay for her part, was happy to have someone with whom to discuss her furnishing problems and to whom she could describe with enthu
siasm the many possibilities of Aldon Farm.
“And how is Christine getting on?” Janet queried as she lit her fourth cigarette.
“Wonderfully! The child isn’t any trouble at all. Mother doesn’t get out much now and she enjoys the company. The child looks so much better already and is walking splendidly. I’ve got her latest X-rays here...” Kay indicated the envelope resting beside her bag. “I’ve promised to drop them in at Raynal’s; he came down a few days ago and he says if they are okay, he thinks the plaster may come off this week.” Kay glanced at her watch. “You know I hate to hurry, but I’ve got such an awful lot to do still ... I haven’t half-finished my shopping and unless I get through we won’t even have the place habitable by Saturday.”
“Isn’t there enough stuff in the house to start off with?”
“It’s so awful!” Kay admitted. “There isn’t any decent linen—not enough to make up the beds—I ordered mattresses this morning and pillows—but you’ve no idea what a dreadful condition everything was in.” Kay sighed. “It’s been an awful job getting fixed in time, and even now, it will only be a sort of makeshift arrangement, no decorations have been started and the paint is actually peeling off the walls.”
“Seems so silly to rush things...” Janet puffed meditatively at her cigarette, then, as if considering her words, continued: “Your sister seems to be running the show, will she go on helping when you’re married?”
“Oh no, she has a job—she is just on holiday now and giving up her time to Robin. I don’t know what he would have done without her, she really is a marvel. I’ve seen so little of her since she grew up, I hadn’t realized how knowledgeable she had become about animals and things like that.”
Peter Raynal, Surgeon Page 12
