Free Emily by Jilly Cooper Page B

other.
        ‘Look, Rory,’ said Coco, ‘here’s Finn.’
        Rory, just lighting a cigarette, paused, eyeing Finn without any friendliness.
        Finn nodded coldly, ‘Hello, Rory,’ he said.
        ‘Good evening, Doctor,’ said Rory - he smiled but his eyes were cold, his face as pale as marble. There was an awkward pause.
        ‘Isn’t it nice Finn’s back for good,’ said Coco brightly to the assembled company.
        ‘Not for my good, he isn’t,’ said Rory.
        ‘This is Frances,’ said Finn, ignoring him and introducing the sleek brunette. ‘She works at the hospital.’
        ‘Oh, a staff outing,’ drawled Rory, ‘what fun. Did you come here by charabanc with a crate of beer, or is it part of the S.R.N. syllabus - a dazzling night of dancing and passion in the arms of Doctor Maclean?’
        ‘Only for very privileged nurses,’ said Frances, smiling at Finn.
        ‘I’m surprised you’ve been able to drag him away from delivering babies and darning up appendices,’ said Rory.
        Frances was obviously uncertain how to take Rory. ‘Dr. Maclean certainly doesn’t allow himself enough free time,’ she said warmly.
        ‘Quite so,’ said Rory, his eyes lighting up with malicious amusement. ‘He’s an example to us all. I gather that’s the reason your marriage came unstuck, Finn. I heard your ex-wife couldn’t cope with the short hours, or wasn’t your double bedside manner up to scratch? However,’ he smiled at Frances, ‘you seem to be consoling yourself very nicely.’
        I turned away in embarrassment; if only he wouldn’t be so poisonous. Rory grabbed my arm.
        ‘You haven’t met Emily, have you, Finn?’
        ‘Yes he has,’ I said quickly.’Oh?’ Rory raised an eyebrow.
        ‘We met at Coco’s one day,’ I said, ‘when Finn came to see her about her ankle.’ Rory held out his glass to a passing waiter to fill up.
        ‘Are you still trying to paint?’ Finn said.
        ‘He’s got an exhibition in London in April,’ I said hotly.
        ‘Doesn’t really need one,’ said Finn. ‘He’s been making an exhibition of himself for years,’ and taking Frances by the arm, crossed the room to talk to his host.
        ‘Scintillating as ever,’ said Rory, but his hand shook as he lit one cigarette from another.
        ‘Do you like dancing reels, Emily?’ said Marina.
        ‘If I have enough to drink,’ I said, draining my glass, ‘I reel automatically.’
        We went in to dinner.
        The leathery, sneering faces of ancestors looked down from the walls. The candlelight flickered on the gleaming panelling, the suits of armour, the long polished table with its shining silver and glasses, and on the pearly white shoulders of Marina.
        ‘I hope there’s a huge flower arrangement in front of me so I don’t have to sit staring at Doctor Maclean,’ said Rory.
        I was horrified to see that he and Marina were sitting next to each other on the opposite side of the table. I was next to Calen, who ran his fingers all over my bare back when he pushed my chair in. And now the bad news. On my other side was six feet four inches of Titian-haired disapproval - Finn Maclean.
        ‘Hello, Finn,’ said Calen, ‘how are things, have you met this steaming girl?’
        ‘Doctor Maclean isn’t one of my fans,’ I said.
        ‘Maybe not,’ said Calen, ‘but he’s tall enough to see right down your front, unless I rearrange that sash.
        That’s better, don’t want to give you blood pressure, do we Finn? Always get swollen heads, these quacks, think all the nurses and women patients are nuts about them.’
        I laughed, Finn didn’t.
        ‘It must be exciting, running your own hospital,’ I said to him. He was about to answer when someone shoved a steaming great soup ladle between us. ‘Great fun running your own hospital,’ I went on. Then it was his turn to help himself to soup.
        ‘What’s the disease people