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`On what, Trottie?'
`One thing and another. I'm not going up the aisle
with my leg in a plaster, that's for sure.' Trottie
looked up from the table where she was polishing
glasses. 'And that reminds me, I'm to have another
plaster on Friday. Mr van Linssen told Dodge he
could take the Rover and fetch me. Such a kind man.
Dodge'll be here around nine o'clock. You'll be all
right on your own?'
`Of course.' Eulalia made her voice sound cheer-
ful; after all, before long she would be on her own,
wouldn't she? And Trottie, dear Trottie, who had
shared everything with her without complaint, must
marry just as soon as possible. It would be a good
218 FATE TAKES A HAND
opportunity while she was at the hospital to collect
as many newspapers as possible and look for part-
time work. She knew to a penny how much she
needed to keep Peter and herself, and there were one
or two things she could sell. His school trust, thank
heaven, was more than enough for the fees, so she
could fit him out as he grew. She would manage.
She asked, 'Are you going to live at Mr van
Linssen's house when you are married? It's very nice
there, not a bit like Cromwell Road. You'll like it.'
`Well, we'll wait and see,' said Trottie, infuriat-
ingly refusing to give a plain answer.
It was hard to maintain a cheerful face, since Peter
talked about Mr van Linssen incessantly and it
seemed to her that Trottie encouraged him. If only
she could go somewhere and have a good cry about
it and then forget him.
Friday came and with it Dodge, driving sedately
down the village street. He wished Eulalia a dignified
good morning, when she wasn't looking kissed
Trottie, and then helped her carefully into the car and
drove away. They might not be back until the after-
noon, he observed, and if Trottie was tired he hoped
that Eulalia wouldn't object if he took her for some
refreshment.
`Heavens, of course I don't mind, Dodge. Have a
nice lunch or something there are lots of good res-
taurants in Cirencester and come back when you
like. I'm going into the village now but I'll be in for
the rest of the day.'
BETTY NEELS 219
The moment the car was out of sight she got into
her coat and hurried to the newsagent in the main
street, where she bought every likely paper as well
magazine, and bore them back, and with
as The Lady
Blossom on her lap and Charlie beside her, she
spread them out on the kitchen table and began look-
ing for work.
There weren't many jobs which she could do.
Check-out at a supermarket, someone to deliver cir-
culars in Malmesbury, someone to look after a frail
elderly lady, hours to suit she wondered what that
meant, to suit her or the old lady? Someone to walk
two dogs twice a day, a young lady to demonstrate
a new brand of margarine at one of the supermarkets.
She made a list and then, surrounded by newspapers,
she composed a letter applying for each of them. A
job, any job, was necessary, so that Trottie would
feel free to go. With luck, she reflected, she might
be able to fit in two part-time jobs, as long as they
were both in Cirencester...
She was on her third attempt at an application
when the knocker was thumped, and before she
could get up the door was thrown open and Fenno
came in.
`Well, really,' said Eulalia, short of breath and
with her heart thumping against her ribs, torn be-
tween surprise and delight and rage. 'How did you
get here?' she managed, as he closed the door behind
him and locked it, put the key on the table and
picked up her last effort.
220 FATE TAKES A HAND
He looked at her over the top of it. 'In my car.
Although if it had been necessary I would have
walked.'
Walked all the way from London? Why?'
`
He fended off Charlie with a gentle hand. 'Be-
cause I wanted to see you and, come to that, I would
walk from the other side of the world if I had to.
Even though I would not be sure of my reception,
for a more obstinate, pig-headed girl I have yet to
meet!' He swept the newspapers off the table and
pulled her gently into his arms, ignoring her indig-
nant gasp. 'I took you to Holland because I had a
sentimental wish to ask you to marry me while we
were in my home, but you were so polite and distant.
Why?'
She stared at his waistcoat buttons. 'I thought...
Well, I'd only just discovered... What I mean is...'
Mr van Linssen considered this a sufficiency sat-
isfactory answer to allow him to tighten his hold and
kiss her soundly.
`I' m not pig-headed,' said Eulalia, 'or obstinate.'
He kissed her again lingeringly. 'You're both, my
darling heart. Will you say yes if I ask you to marry
me?'
`Yes,' said Eulalia. 'Am I really your darling
heart, Fenno?'
`Forever and always, my dear love.'
`Is that why you bought this cottage and gave me
all that money?'
BETTY NEELS 221
`That is why.'
She smiled up at him, and Mr van Linssen, a man
of flesh and blood, kissed her again, taking his time. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]