An Independent Woman by Betty Neels

Author:Betty Neels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2001-09-21T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

JULIA’S pleasant speculations about the morning were quickly cut short.

‘We shall need to leave here after an early lunch,’said the Professor. ‘I shall go back to the hospital presently, and I’ll take Jason with me and give him a run. Perhaps you want to explore or go to the shops? I would be easier in my mind if you stayed here…’

She said brightly, ‘I shall sit in the garden. I can do all the shopping I want when I get home.’

So he went away with Jason and she went into the garden again and sat down with the newspapers Wim had handed to her. She could so easily have gone with him, she thought; perhaps waited in the car while he was at the hospital, and then gone with him and Jason. He was deliberately avoiding her…

‘I couldn’t care less!’ said Julia, and picked up the Daily Telegraph and read it from front to back page. She was none the wiser when she had. She tried the Haagsche Post next—she might as well improve her Dutch while she could—although it was a complete waste of time. She was puzzling out the small ads when the Professor joined her.

He said affably, ‘Oh, splendid, you’re improving your Dutch.’

‘I have very little Dutch to improve,’said Julia coldly. ‘I hope your patient is improving.’

He sat down beside her with Jason squeezed between them.

‘Yes, I think he has a very good chance. I’ve left him in good hands.’

‘Was he someone important?’ She turned to look at him. ‘Did they send for you specially?’

‘Yes, and yes. Will you be sorry to leave Holland?’

‘Oh, yes, although I’ve not seen anything of it. I’m sorry to leave the cottage and this splendid house, but they’ll be lovely memories.’

‘You would like to come back some time?’

‘Perhaps.’ She put an arm round Jason’s woolly shoulders and he licked her hand gently. ‘Jason is going to miss you.’

‘Yes, and I shall miss him, but I shall be here again very shortly and he is used to my coming and going.’

He glanced at his watch. ‘We had better have our lunch.’

The day which had seemed to stretch before her for hours of delight had telescoped into an all too short day. The professor might not like her, but that couldn’t prevent her from enjoying his company. She supposed that she didn’t like him either, but she was no longer quite sure about that. Of course, there was still the journey back to London…

Which was disappointing, in so far that the Professor, while thoughtful for her well-being, made only the most casual conversation, giving her no opportunity to get to know him better. On board, he excused himself smiling and began to study a case full of papers—first, however, making sure that she had something to read and a tray of tea.

She leafed through the magazines and wondered what he was thinking about.

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