"Flea-ridden as usual. Daphne gave him a bath and he's looking like a mohair sweater. Absurd creature."
She wondered if he was referring to the dog or to his wife. "I'm worried about my plants," she said, seeking neutral territory and remembering the Clanceys had her spare key. "Would it be an awful bore for you or Mrs. C to water them for me?"
"We go in every day, Jinx. Assumed it's what you'd want. Plants are fine, bit of cleaning up done. It's all ready for you as soon as you're well enough to come home."
"That's very kind. Thank you."
"Least we could do in the circumstances."
There was an awkward pause while she sought for something more to say. "Let me give you my phone number. I'm at the Nightingale Clinic in Salisbury." She squinted at the dial. "I don't know the code but the number's two-two-one-four-two-zero. Just in case anything unexpected crops up."
"Got it," he told her. "And you say you're fine. Glad to hear it. Looking after you all right then, are they?"
"Yes."
"Well, you sound cheerful enough."
Another awkward pause. They spoke together.
"Best be going then-"
"Colonel-''
"Yes?"
"Please don't go, not yet." She rushed her words. "My stepmother said you rescued me from my garage. Is that true? She said I had the car engine running and you found me before I could-well-finish myself off."
His voice grew gruff with emotion. "Don't you remember?"
"No." She swallowed painfully. "I'm really sorry, but I don't. I don't remember anything-at least, not since I left to stay with my parents two weeks ago. Is Leo really not there anymore? I don't know who else to ask-and I'm so, so sorry if it's embarrassing but I do need to be sure. They keep telling me-things that don't make sense. They say I've got amnesia-that I got drunk and tried to kill myself. But I just-oh God-" She clamped her hand over her mouth because tears were flooding her throat. Hang up, you stupid woman.
"There, there." said his comforting elderly voice, "no need for embarrassment. Good Lord, I've had six-foot-tall men weep on my shoulder before now. Clear answers, eh, that's what you want. Your stepmother's a nice enough woman, I expect, but, if she's anything like Daphne, she'll have managed to confuse the message somehow. Not that I know all that much," he warned. "Never been one to poke my nose in where it's not wanted, as you know."
"Quite. Best sort of neighbor always." Odd, she thought, how she picked up his shorthand when she spoke to him. Perhaps everyone did.
"Leo's been gone over a week, Jinx. Left the night you came home from Hampshire. Hope it's not an impertinence, but I'd say you're well shot of him. Never did like the cut of his jib much. You were far too good for him. Funny thing is, I spoke to you on the Saturday and you didn't turn a hair. 'The bastard's jilted me, Colonel,' you said, 'and the only bugger is he beat me to it.' " He chortled at the memory. "And then, on the Sunday, there you were in your garage with the engine running. Fact is, it was Goebbels spotted something was up. Parked himself in front of your garage door and barked his little head off." He paused for a moment, and she could picture him fluffing his mustache and squaring his shoulders. "Upshot was, pulled you out PDQ and got some fresh air into you. Should have done more, though. Called a doctor, got a friend round. Rather upset about that to tell you the truth."
"I wish you wouldn't be. Did I say anything? I mean-explain or something." Her fingers tightened involuntarily around the handset. "I just don't believe-well, you know. Not over Leo."
"Matter of fact, I agree with you. Personally, thought it was an accident, garage doors slammed after you started the engine, that sort of thing. Not as though you had a hose pipe attached to the exhaust, is it? Truth is, you weren't feeling too clever afterwards, not surprising in the circumstances. But you can't have been in there very long. Back to normal in no time, cracking jokes and telling Daphne not to fuss. Even made a phone call to some friends you were off to see. The old girl was all for a doctor but you wouldn't have it. 'I'm perfectly all right, Mrs. C,' you said, 'and if I don't get going I'll be late.' Worst thing was, thought you were going to squash poor Goebbels, the way you hugged and petted him." He gave a gravelly laugh. "Hah! You said dogs were the only things worth having in your bed from then on."
She dabbed at her cheeks. "Then why does Betty think I was trying to kill myself?'' Her voice was remarkably steady.
"On the principle that one swallow doesn't make a summer but two probably do, dear girl. Dare say it's our fault. Bobbies turned up a week ago, telling us you'd driven your car at a wall in what looked like a deliberate attempt at suicide, and did we know of any other attempts? So Daphne piped up about the garage and how you promised you'd be more careful in future, then told them what a rat Leo had been, and hey presto, conclusions being drawn all over the place. Silly old woman,'' he said fondly. "Practically gaga though, let's face it, and awfully worried about you. Matter of fact, I did try to stem the breach by pointing out you weren't the type, but I might have been banging my head against the proverbial wall for all the good it did." He cleared his throat. "Must say, Jinx, talking to you now, more inclined than ever to think it's all nonsense. Never struck me as the type to throw in the towel."
She couldn't speak for a moment. "Thank you," she managed. "I don't think I am either. Will you give Mrs. C and Goebbels a hug from me?"
"Certainly will. Coming home soon, I trust."
"I'd like to but I'm bandaged to the hilt at the moment. You should see me, Colonel. I look like Boris Karloff in The Mummy.''
"Hah!" he harrumphed again. "Kept your sense of humor, I see. Visitors keeping you chirpy, daresay."
"No," she said honestly. "It's talking to you that's cheered me up. Thank you for getting me out of my car. I'll ring you the minute I'm demobbed and give you my ETA."
"We'll be waiting for you, dear girl. Meanwhile chin up and best foot forward, eh?"
"Will do. Good-bye, Colonel."
Jinx cut the line but held the receiver to her chest for several minutes, as if by doing so, she could maintain the link with him, for the comfort that the conversation had given her was all too ephemeral. Depression swept in behind it like an engulfing tide when it occurred to her that of all the people she knew, the only one she had felt able to telephone was a man whose first name she was too shy to use. Had she felt as lonely as this a week ago? Could she have done it? God help her if she had.
"Your brother's come to see you, Miss Kingsley," said a black nurse, pushing wide the half-open door. "I've told him ten minutes. Visitors out by nine o'clock, that's the rule, but as it's your brother and he's come all the way from Fordingbridge, well ... just so long as you don't make too much noise." She noticed Jinx's pallor suddenly and clicked her tongue anxiously. "Are you all right, my lovely? You look as if you've seen a ghost."
"I'm fine."
"Okay," she said cheerfully. "Not too much noise then, or my job will be on the line."
Miles, exuding his usual boyish charm, took the nurse's hand in his and smiled into her face. "I really appreciate this, Amy. Thank you."
Her dark skin blushed. "That's all right. I'd best be getting back to the desk." She withdrew her fingers from his with clear reluctance and closed the door behind her.
"God," he said, flopping into the armchair, "she really thought I fancied her." He eyed Jinx. "Ma tells me you're back in the land of the living, so I thought I'd come and check for myself. You look bloody awful, but I expect you know that."