A Garland of Marigolds by Isobel Chace Page A

only a game, ” I said easily. “ Who was playing? ”
    “ That ’ s what was so ridiculous! ” she exclaimed tearfully. “ There weren ’ t enough people to play a proper game of polo and so they were really just playing about. Mr. Burnett was on one side, with two of the servants to help him, and Gideon and the other two were playing against them. They set up a couple of makeshift goals, and it was terrific fun at first—all the time Mr. Burnett was winning. He shot a goal almost immediately and we all clapped and he was terribly pleased. But then Gideon whacked two into the other goal almost before he could turn around and he deliberately pushed his stick between Gideon ’ s pony ’ s legs. Of course the pony tripped! ”
    “ It could have been accidental, ” I suggested.
    “ You wouldn ’ t think so if you ’ d seen his face! ”
    I found myself believing her.
    “ All the same, I think you ’ d better forget all about it, ” I warned her.
    Camilla gave me a curious look. “ Because you believe me? ” she asked.
    I hesitated, more than a little embarrassed by the question. “ Hush, ” I said hastily.
    It wasn ’ t any too soon to change the subject because at that moment Julie joined us again, all smiles and without a trace of her former rage.
    “ How nice it is to see you both enjoying yourselves, ” she purred. “ And I have some good news for you too! The doctor says it ’ s a clean break and he ’ s setting it now, so Gideon won ’ t have to go to the hospital. ”
    “ Good, ” said Camilla bluntly, “ then we can take him home with us! ”
    Julie frowned quickly through her smiles.
    “ Now, now, I know how much you want him with you, dear, but we must consider the patient a little, too, mustn ’ t we? He ’ ll be much better off here with us. ”
    Camilla opened her mouth and I knew she was getting ready to argue the point.
    “ Of course we shall do whatever is best for him, ” I agreed warmly.
    Camilla gave me a stony glare.
    “ May we go and talk with him? ” I asked politely.
    It was easy to see that Julie wanted to refuse, but she nodded briskly and walked away quickly.
    “ You ’ re not going to leave him? ” Camilla whispered anxiously in my ear.
    “ Not if I can help it, ” I replied grimly. “ But Gideon won ’ t do anything on my say-so. He ’ ll make his own decision. ”
    Camilla sighed. “ I expect you ’ re right. ”
    Gideon was sitting up against a pile of cushions with his leg smothered in wet plaster and a rather foolish grin on his face. “ Lovely mud pies! ” he greeted us cheerfully.
    Camilla went quickly over to the bed and took his hand in hers, squeezing it hard.
    “ You ’ re sure you ’ re all right? ” she asked in a strange, tight voice.
    He laughed up at her.
    “ You worry too much, young lady! Give this time to set and I ’ ll be sitting beside you in the jeep while Suki drives us both home. ” Camilla swallowed tearfully.
    “ Julie said you would rather stay here! ” she said rebelliously. “ Did she, though? ” He laughed in the most lighthearted way. “ That ’ s no reason to make such a mouthful of the whole thing. ” He gave me a quick look and seemed to be reassured by what he saw.
    “ Don ’ t worry, chicken, ” he said to his sister, “ I ’ ll be coming home with you! ”
    “ I hope you ’ re going to tell Julie, ” I said feelingly.
    His eyes shone with amusement. “ You ’ re quite as bad as Camilla, ” he teased me. “ Seeing bogeymen where there are none! And making such a fuss about it! ”
    I would have made some retort that would have put him firmly in his place, only Julie rejoined us at that moment, as sweet as ever and as full of smiles.
    “ I ’ m so sorry to have left you on your own, ” she began with that “ little-girl ” charm I was beginning to despise. “ I just called in to see how daddy is getting on. It was such a shock to him. He ’ s lying down, poor darling. Mother was, too,