An Ideal Wife by Betty Neels

Author:Betty Neels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-07-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

LOUISA LOOKED AT the small, pathetic furry face and then at Dr Gifford. ‘The kitchen. I’ll get a towel...’

He laid the scrap on it. ‘I’ll take a look before we clean him up. He was on the side of the road. Do you have something soft? And warm water. And warm milk... He’s skin and bone.’

The kitten didn’t make a sound as he was examined with gentle hands.

‘Nothing broken as far as I can tell. Let’s try him with some milk.’

It was scoffed with speed, and the doctor began to clean the little beast’s fur. It was matted and muddy, and he worked slowly, pausing while the kitten had a second saucer of milk. Presently, the worst of the mud and dirt gently wiped away, it went to sleep.

‘A box,’ said Louisa. ‘I have the very thing.’ She provided a hat box, an elaborate thing of coloured stripes but roomy and deep enough to keep the kitten safe. She lined it with newspaper and an old woolly scarf and took it into the kitchen.

Only then did she ask, ‘Where did you find him? And I thought you were going to the hospital.’ She glanced at Thomas’s calm face. ‘If you’re on your way to join Helena, I’ll look after the kitten.’

‘I was on my way to see you.’

‘Me? Why?’

‘I can hardly take over from Witherspoon in the middle of dinner, can I?’ He lifted an eyebrow at her. ‘I told Rosie that I wouldn’t be back until late, but I was quickly finished at the hospital. I thought we might go out to dinner?’

‘You and me? Whatever for? Besides, I’m not going to leave him.’

She put a gentle hand on the little creature’s head.

‘You don’t mince your words, do you, Louisa? If I may borrow your hat box, we will be on our way.’

‘I didn’t mean that. My wretched tongue. Only you surprised me—I mean, asking me to have dinner with you. I’m sorry; don’t go. If you’d like to stay, I’ll cook supper.’ She added, ‘If you stay, you could make sure that the kitten will be all right.’

‘Thank you. I’m not spoiling your evening?’

‘No, no, of course not. There’s a bottle of white wine in the cupboard by the fireplace; will you open it? Will you eat lamb chops?’

‘With a good appetite. Where do you keep the corkscrew?’

Louisa, busy in the kitchen, called through the open door. ‘Will you shell the peas for me? And is the kitten all right?’

She came into the sitting room with a colander in her hand. ‘Here you are. Give yourself a glass of wine, won’t you? And pour me a glass; I’ll be back presently.’

Thomas shucked the peas and enjoyed himself. It occurred to him that she had shown no surprise when he had knocked on her door but had admitted him as though he were an old friend, which, considering their wariness with each other, was strange... He finished the peas and took them into the kitchen, then asked meekly what he should do next.

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