The Most Marvelous Summer Read online

  They had been back for ten days when Bernard Stevens was invited for the weekend. Roseanne was almost sick with excitement and despair as she examined her face. `Look at the spots,' she said pettishly. `What am I to do?"

  'I'll come early tomorrow and do your face , some of that cream you bought in London. I know your mother doesn't like you to use makeup but if I'm careful I don't think she'll notice.'

  So that, when Bernard arrived, Roseanne presented a passable face to him, skilfully made up and made almost pretty because she was in love. Anyway, he wouldn't have noticed because he loved the girl...

  Matilda made herself scarce once she had greeted him; there were the flowers to do for the dinner table that evening and then she would go home for the weekend. Not, though, before Bernard and Roseanne came looking for her.

  `I've a message for you-do you remember Mr Scott-Thurlow? He asked me to say that the little dog is doing well-oh, and the cook Mrs Chubb?-is staying with her sister and then going to a new job where there will be plenty of help.'

  Matilda bent over her flowers. `Oh, what splendid news-thank you for telling me.'

  `You're awfully red,' observed Roseanne. `It is rather hot in here.'

  `I've almost finished. Are you going to show Bernard the garden?' Then she added, unable to help herself, `I didn't know that you knew Mr Scott-Thurlow.'

  `Well, I don't just an acquaintance really. Nice chap, but I don't like that girl he's going to marry.'

  Matilda stopped herself just in time from agreeing with him.

  There was a splendid congregation in church that Sunday-the village knew all about Bernard Stevens by now and everyone was agog to take a look at him; he sat in the manor-house pew with Lady Fox in one of her terrible hats on one side of him and Roseanne on the other with her sisters and Sir Benjamin. He looked quite at ease and happy; presumably Lady Fox had given him her blessing, which meant that Sir Benjamin, who did what he was told, had given his too.

  Going out of the church, Matilda bumped into Mrs Chump. "Er ladyship will be pleased,' she breathed, lowering her voice since they were stil l in the porch. "E looks a likely young man. Not a patch on that there friend of Dr Bramley's-now there was a gent for you, Miss Matilda. Happen 'e'll come visiting again some time.'

  `Unlikely, I should think, Mrs Chump. What a lovely day it is...'

  Bernard left on Monday morning and Matilda was met by an ecstatic Roseanne with the news that they were to become engaged. `Isn't it marvellous?' she wanted to know. `I'm going up to town tomorrow to meet him and choose the ring.' She danced away, calling as she went, `I've been so afraid I'd get left like you and be an old maid!'

  What a good start to a Monday morning, thought Matilda gloomily as she went along to Lady Fox's sitting-room and started on the post. That lady joined her almost at once and spent the next hour expressing her satisfaction at her daughter's engagement. `Quite a good family,' she conceded of Bernard, `related to the Crofts of Norfolk, and he has good prospects.' She glanced up from the bill she was frowning over. `Why does the butcher send this account for the second time?"

  'It wasn't paid, you said that he could wait for his money.'

  Lady Fox went an unbecoming red. `You must have misunderstood me, Matilda-see that it is paid at once.' She added, `What a pity you can't find yourself a husband.'

  Only by reminding herself that no ffinch would lower herself to answer such a vulgar remark from the inferior Fox family did Matilda manage to remain silent. It was becoming obvious to her that she would have to give up her job at the manor-house; the money was useful but there was a limit to what a girl could stand. She wasn't trained for anything but she was a good cook and she liked children; there must be something...

  Roseanne came back the next day with a diamond ring on her finger; it wasn't as large or as brilliant as that of Mr Scott-Thurlow's fiancee, but it was worth the unstinted admiration Matilda gave it.

  That evening, sitting round the supper table with her mother and father and Esme, Matilda told them that she wanted to give up her job. It was a relief that no one asked why.

  Her mother answered at once, `Yes, dear, I think that will be a good thing. Lady Fox leans on you far too heavily,' and her father nodded his head in agreement, and as for Esme she gave a crow of delight.

  `They'll never get anyone to do the chores like you do, Tilly, and they'll have to pay the earth too. What are you going to do?"

  'Well, I don't know, I'll have to think about it.' Matilda looked anxiously at her father, who observed placidly,

  `I should miss you helping around the parish, my dear, but Esme can take your place and Hilary will be back home in a week or so and will be here until the wedding. We must put our heads together...'

  So Matilda went to the manor-house with a speech carefully prepared and all the answers likely to be needed as arguments as to why she wanted to leave. She was going in through the side-door when she heard the sound of breaking glass, bumps and screams.

  She ran along the passage and into the hall and saw Roseanne lying in an untidy heap at the foot of the staircase, an excellent example of the Tudor period, wide, its treads worn smooth with age. It was obvious that the girl had missed her footing and hurtled down its length, scattering the contents of a tray of china and glass as she went.

  Matilda bent over her and, as she did so, Roseanne opened her eyes and started to scream. Lady Fox, who had come hurrying to see what was the matter, started to scream too and Sir Benjamin, taking his time, joined her, only he didn't scream but swore. Various members of the staff had arrived by now and the noise was considerable.

  `Phone Dr Bramley,' said Matilda briskly. `Lady Fox, please stop screaming so that we can hear where Roseanne hurts.'

  That was going to be difficult, for Roseanne was making a great deal of noise. `My leg!' she shouted. `My arm! I can't bear it, I'm dying.'

  `No, you're not,' said Matilda firmly. `Try and be quiet and tell me exactly where the pain is.'

  Roseanne glared at her. `My leg, I told you above my knee, of course, can't you see for yourself? And my arm, it's my wrist ...I'm in agony.'

  Sir Benjamin, who had gone to telephone, came back and Matilda sent him for a cushion which she tucked carefully under Roseanne's head.

  `You can't leave my poor girl like that!' bellowed Lady Fox. `I'll get Gregg in to lift her.'

  `Lady Fox, if there are broken bones they'll be even more broken if we move her.'

  `Nonsense, I'm her mother and I know what's best for her.' She glared at Matilda. `You have no idea...'

  Matilda had prudently taken up a position by Roseanne which would fend off any efforts Lady Fox intended to make. It wasn't much use saying anything-poor Roseanne was screaming her head off, Sir Benjamin stood there looking useless and the housemaid together with the cleaning lady seemed rooted to the spot. If only Mr Scott-Thurlow were here, thought Matilda.

  Dr Bramley came instead, nodded to everyone and got down on his knees beside Roseanne.

  `No one moved her?' he asked, running gentle hands over arm and leg.

  `I told them to fetch Gregg and have her carried to her room,' said Lady Fox loudly, `but of course Matilda disobeyed me and left my poor girl lying there.'

  `A very good thing too-more damage done by people moving injured people than you'd believe.' He was opening his bag and getting out a syringe. `First we will stop the pain then she must go to hospital.'

  `Certainly not, Dr Bramley. Roseanne is a sensitive girl; to be in a ward with other sick patients would do her a great deal of harm.'

  He drew up an injection and gave it into a shrinking Roseanne. `She must be X-rayed as soon as possible and the bones set by an expert.'

  Sir Benjamin and Matilda spoke together. `There's King's Hall...'

  `Send her there. Matilda, go and phone for an ambulance, will you? Then pack whatever Roseanne will need for a short period there.'

  Roseanne opened her eyes again. The injection was already doing its good work but she
was rather vague. `I won't go unless Matilda comes with me-and stays there.' And when no one said anything, `You heard what I said-I won't go, I won't.'

  `My darling child,' declared Lady Fox dramatically, `of course she shall go with you. Matilda, pack her things and then pack some things for yourself it's the least you can do.'

  Matilda's eyes and hair seemed to glow with rage.

  She caught the doctor's eye and he winked and nodded his head, knowing exactly how she felt. `Please, Matilda, until Roseanne has quietened down.'

  `I'll go because you asked me to,' said Matilda and marched off to phone for an ambulance.

  By the time the ambulance had arrived she had packed a bag for Roseanne and gone home, packed one for herself, given a brief account of what had occurred to her mother and presented herself, outwardly calm and inwardly fuming still, at the manor-house again.

  She would have liked to have flung her resignation at Lady Fox's head there and then, but Roseanne needed someone with her until her arm and leg had been put to rights. It should have been her mother, thought Matilda, casting that lady an accusing look.

  Lady Fox interpreted it correctly for she said defensively, `This has been a tremendous shock to me; my sensitive nature cannot face up to it.' She embraced a drowsy Roseanne gingerly.

  `Dearest child, you will soon be better. Matilda will let me know what is to be done.'

  Dr Bramley, supervising the patient's disposal in the ambulance, heard that. `I shall phone you as soon as it's been decided what has to be done, Lady Fox, then you can make your own arrangements concerning Roseanne.'

  Matilda got into the car beside him as the ambulance pulled away. `Someone should let Bernard know,' she pointed out tartly as Dr Bramley started the car.

  King's Hall was twenty minutes' drive away, a private hospital set in pleasant surrounding and with a high reputation. Roseanne was conveyed into it and taken straight to the X-ray department with no delay while Matilda sat patiently in the comfortably furnished waitingroom. Someone brought her coffee after a time and told her kindly that once the specialist had seen Roseanne someone would be along to make whatever arrangements were necessary.

  Matilda drank her coffee, ate all the biscuits and speculated about lunch, and not only lunch; Lady Fox had told her to stay with Roseanne but perhaps the hospital wouldn't approve of thatperhaps she ought to phone...

  There was a small stir in the hall and a moment later the half-open door of the waiting room was thrust open. Mr Scott-Thurlow, looking calm, grave and unhurried came in.

  'Ah, Matilda, I felt in my bones...' He didn't go on. `Be good enough not to go away-I'll see you presently...'

  She sat staring at him, awash with delight. She should have known-Lady Fox would have demanded the very best treatment for her daughter and he was undoubtedly the very best. Suddenly the annoyance she had felt at being sent with Roseanne melted away; fate had very kindly thrust her in his path once more, which was delightful-probably he felt no delight at all though. A pity she couldn't have thought of something to say instead of gasping at him like a stranded fish.

  She heard one o'clock strike somewhere and a moment later a smartly dressed domestic came in carrying a tray which she set on a small table. She smiled at Matilda. `Your lunch, Miss,' and hard on her heels came a dignified lady in a grey dress and a fetching muslin cap.

  `They're in Theatre now,' she explained, `and it may be some time. Please make yourself comfortable in the meantime.' She smiled and went away and Matilda, a girl with a healthy appetite, lifted the lids covering the dishes on the tray. Soup in a pitkin, piping hot, fish and creamed potatoes, broccoli and carrots and a baked custard.

  She sat herself down and ate the lot and the domestic came back with a tray of coffee just as she had finished. She went back to her easy chair then and since there was nothing else much to do she closed her eyes and dozed off.

  Mr Scott-Thurlow, coming silently into the room, paused by the door. She made a delightful picture, her glorious fiery hair against the soft green of the chair in which she was sprawling. He stood for a few moments looking down at her and then bent and touched her shoulder gently.

  She woke at once and smiled widely and sat up. `Is everything all right?'

  He sat down opposite her. `Yes. Roseanne's arm is in plaster, a simple fracture which should knit quickly. Her leg is rather more complicated: a double fracture above the knee-rather unusual; it will have to be in extension for some weeks. She has come round from the anaesthetic but is asleep now. I've spoken to her mother-I gather that you are to stay here with her until such time as she feels she can cope without you.' He smiled faintly. `An arrangement which I hope doesn't inconvenience you at all?"

  'Well, as a matter of fact, it does. I was going to tell Lady Fox this morning that I wanted to leave, but before I could do that Roseanne fell down the stairs.'

  `But you will stay here as long as you think it necessary?"

  'I suppose so. Perhaps Lady Fox could come and stay here. I'm not necessary here; there must be plenty of nurses.'

  `There are.' He looked up as Dr Bramley came into the room and sat down.

  `Hello, Matilda. They're bringing tea and presently you'll be taken to see Roseanne and then shown your room. James, what had Lady Fox got to say?'

  `I had to refuse her-er-request to remain here. I have patients to see this evening and a list in the morning. I'll be down again in a couple of days and we'll take another X-ray but I foresee no complications.'

  Tea was brought in then and Matilda was invited to pour out.

  `I've had a talk with Matron,' said Mr Scott-Thurlow, `and explained the position with regard to you, Matilda; I'm sure that you will find her and the nurses most kind and helpful. I have also asked her to allow Bernard Stevens to visit at any time-he seems to have a great deal of influence with Roseanne.'

  `Thank you. How long do you suppose I must stay here?'

  He raised his eyebrows. `That is something I am unable to tell you. It depends on Lady Fox, does it not?"

  'Well, yes, of course it does. But she will listen to you because you're an-eminent surgeon.'

  'I'll do my best.' He spoke gravely but she had the feeling that he was laughing silently. `I saw Mrs Chubb this morning. She is doing excellently-she sent her love. So did that little rascal of a dog...'

  `He's still at the vet?"

  'For another week. Can you suggest a name for him before I introduce him to my household?"

  'He was in Theobald Avenue. Could you call him that?'

  This time he allowed his amusement to show. `I don't see why not.' He glanced at his watch. `I must go. I'll take another look at Roseanne first.'

  He went away with Dr Bramley, leaving Matilda to sit and dream. They didn't come back; presently she heard voices in the hall and then the sound of cars being driven away and when a nurse came to fetch her she asked if she might telephone. `I told Lady Fox I would let her know if Roseanne was feeling more herself. Mr Scott-Thurlow has already talked to her, hasn't he? And I'm sure Dr Bramley will go and see her. And I'd like to ring my mother, if I may. I had to leave rather suddenly...'

  Roseanne was awake now and fairly free from pain. She was also irritable and tearful. `Now I'll never get married,' she wailed, `with a broken arm and leg.'

  `I can't think why not,' said Matilda hearteningly. `In a matter of weeks you'll be as good as new and you weren't planning to marry for a month or two, were you?"

  'No. Why doesn't he come? He should be here, comforting me...'

  `Well, he'd have to be told first, wouldn't he? He might be out of town; you know he travels around to various museums. He's got to get here too, you know.'

  `Do I look awful?'

  Matilda examined the rather cross face on the pillows. `No, if you could smile just a little you'd look pretty. It's not so bad, you knowthis is a nice cheerful place and the nurses are awfully kind, and you had Mr Scott-Thurlow to put you to rights and he's one of the best, so I've been told.' />
  `Who told you that?"

  'Someone at the hospital where I took poor Mrs Chubb when she chopped off her fingers.' `Oh, her ...Mr Scott-Thurlow is stern, isn't he?'

  `I don't know him well enough to say,' observed Matilda, rather at a loss as to what to say and relieved when a nurse came in with a basket of red roses.

  `Just look at this,' she begged them. `Here's the card.'

  `Open it, Matilda,' ordered Roseanne, and added `please' at the look of surprise she got. It was from Bernard, of course-she read the card Matilda handed to her, cried a little and then, to everyone's relief, smiled. `He's coming to see me; he's going to stay with Mother and Father until I feel better. Now I don't mind any morenot much, anyway.'