Discovering Daisy by Betty Neels

Author:Betty Neels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2007-08-23T04:00:00+00:00

Daisy was up early on Sunday morning, taking pains with her face and her hair, glad that it was a dry day, even if chilly, so that she could wear the coat and skirt. Sensible shoes, she decided, in case they did some walking, and the silk scarf her mother had given her to tie over her hair. There was always a wind in Holland, or so it seemed to her. She ate her breakfast under the Friskes’ kindly eyes and went pink with excitement when the doorbell rang.

Mr der Huizma came upstairs and spent ten minutes talking to the Friskes before asking her if she was ready, then whisking her down to the car and popping her into it. Bouncer was already there, pleased to see her, and he sat squashed between her and his master’s bulk.

‘He can sit in the back if you prefer?’

Daisy patted the silky head. ‘He would be lonely; besides, I like him. I wish we had a dog at home, but he would be needing walks and company…’

She looked around her as he drove through the quiet streets away from the centre of the city. ‘Where are we going?’

‘To the coast first. Zandvoort. We’ll have coffee there. Tell me, Daisy, are you happy with Heer Friske?’

‘Oh, yes. They are both so kind to me, and the shop’s quite busy—he’s well known, isn’t he? And I’m learning a lot—marquetry and Beidermeyer and I didn’t know that Holland had such an enormous variety of Delft blue. Heer Friske has an almost perfect eighteenth-century ewer, and some beautiful tiles. Father hasn’t any of those. Perhaps Heer Friske will let him have some; I could take them back when I go.’

Mr der Huizma glanced at her. ‘You are already thinking of returning to England?’

‘Heavens, no. I’d like to stay for a couple of months, if Heer Friske will have me. There’s so much that I don’t know.’She turned a beaming smile on him. ‘Isn’t it lucky that it isn’t raining? Are we going to take Bouncer for a run?’

‘Of course, but coffee first.’

Daisy, quite at her ease now, said, ‘I have a door key; the Friskes are going to visit friends and my dinner is all ready for me to warm up. Mevrouw Friske is so kind, and we get on so well. It’s a bit difficult sometimes, when we don’t quite understand each other, but I’m learning fast— just useful words. Dutch is a frightful language, isn’t it?’

‘So I have been told, but since it is my mother tongue I don’t feel qualified to comment.’

Daisy had gone bright pink. ‘I’m sorry, that was rude of me—although I didn’t mean it to be.’

‘I do know that, Daisy, and surely we are sufficiently acquainted by now to be at ease with each other?’

‘Well, I suppose we are acquainted, but it’s not like being friends.’She frowned. ‘It’s difficult to explain, but you’re you and I’m me…’

He didn’t pretend not to understand her. ‘Nevertheless, I believe that we are friends, Daisy.’

They were travelling along a country road and he pulled in onto the grass verge.

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