Free Heart Specialist by Susan Barrie Page B

why he was laughing at her in quite that gentle, but nevertheless jibing, way. And then, still lightly, but with a change of tone, he exclaimed. “ Well, as I am going out to dinner I must hang up now. What a thing it is to have one ’ s personal engagements overlapping, don ’ t you agree? ”
    “ My personal engagements seldom overlap, ” she told him. And then, as if something prompted her to do so. she added, “ It is kind of Madame Faubourg to be willing to take me under her wing, bur you needn ’ t tell her so tonight. I ... I will tell her so myself when I see her again. ”
    But as she set down the receiver, she thought. I d on ’ t know that I want to see her again! I don ’ t know that I even like her, or could ever like h er.
    For his careless rejoinder hadn ’ t pleased her.
    “ You must possess a witchball , little one! But take my advice and don ’ t look into it too often! And now go to bed early and make certain that you have a good night ’ s rest. At your age it is important always to have a good night lest the roses fade, and those sky-blue eyes of yours would not look well underlined by shadows. Bonne nui t , ma petite !”
    She picked up Fifi and sat down by the fragrant log fire, and she thought a little resentfully that he could have a dinner engagement and go out for the evening! She was to go to bed early!
    But she did what he wanted her to and wrote to Jane the following day. Jane replied on a perfect wave of enthusiasm for throwing up her present job and joining her the instant it was possible in Paris.
    Never did I think you would one day be in a position to employ me, darling, but you can take it from me that I ’ m absolutely delighted you are in that position. What times we ’ ll have! What orgies of shopping! And I ’ ll keep all the fortune hunters away, if necessary with a revolver.
    She did not know yet about the special clause in Miss Constantia ’ s will, and Valentine thought it best to let her know when she arrived, not before.
    Once she knew that Jane was coming she began to look forward almost feverishly to seeing her, for she and Jane had a lot in common, in spite of the ten-year difference in their ages. There was a spare bedroom in the apartment, and it was got ready for her. Miss Constantia ’ s bedroom had been closed and locked, and Valentine had no intention of taking it over for herself, although it was the main bedroom. It was too full of memories of Miss Constantia and that last morning.
    Sometimes Fifi scratched at the door, as if asking for admittance. But Valentine swept her up in her arms and hugged her and said, “ No, my pet, you ’ re mine now. Miss Constantia particularly stated in her will that I was to keep you always, and that means I don ’ t have to lose you at the end of a year! You really are mine! ”
    And Fifi, although bewildered at first, quickly got used to the change of mistresses.
    She accompanied Valentine on her walks, and the two of them became familiar figures in the Tuileries Gardens. The Tuileries Gardens were within brisk walking distance of the apartment, and it was there that Valentine spent most of her time in those early spring days while she waited for Jane.
    Peter Fairfield telephoned several times to make some arrangement with her, but each time she put him off. She didn ’ t quite know why she did so, and his voice sounded a little more hurt each time he telephoned. And one night the hurt was so noticeable, and he became so persuasive, that she relented and agreed to let him take her out to dinner. After all, she thought with that quick stab of resentment she had experienced before, Dr. Daudet didn ’ t ask her permission when he wanted to spend an evening with something choice and elegant in the way of feminine company, and he hadn ’ t even bothered to find out whether she had written to Jane and what sort of reply she had received.
    Daily she had been expecting him to make some inquiry, but he hadn ’ t. And she