Fate Takes a Hand by Betty Neels

Author:Betty Neels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

‘WERE YOU surprised to see Mr van Linssen?’ Eulalia asked Peter when he got home from school that afternoon.

‘Yes, I was, but I did know he’d come and see me again, Aunt Lally.’ He gave her a guileless look.

Mr van Linssen had told him that he had done quite the right thing in writing to him: ‘For your aunt Lally mustn’t be bothered by uncouth fellows like this Victor. Remember, Peter, that I will always come if you or she needs me.’ He had smiled at the small trusting face lifted to his. ‘You’re happy here? I saw Charlie—he looks splendid, and Blossom is just the right companion for him.’ He had told Mr van Linssen that he was very happy, adding that sometimes his aunt Lally looked sad.

‘I suppose you can’t do anything about that?’ he had asked.

Mr van Linssen had looked grave. ‘I think that perhaps in time I might be able to do just that,’ he had said. He had gone away then, after slipping a pound into Peter’s hand.

Of course, he wasn’t going to tell Aunt Lally about their conversation, not that part of it, at any rate.

As for Trottie, she kept her own counsel. Gentlemen, especially those who had important jobs and were engaged to be married, didn’t drive miles just to drink her coffee and eat her cake and arrive just when they were most needed... Someone had told him about Victor. She glanced at Peter, sitting at the table, doing sums. When presently Eulalia said suddenly, ‘How did Mr van Linssen know about Victor?’ she sounded suspicious.

Trottie said comfortably, ‘The world’s a small place, love. I dare say he met up with someone from round about here who mentioned it—you know what people are—and the rector was in London a week or so ago. Probably they go to the same club.’

A most unlikely thing, but since Eulalia knew as little about London clubs as Trottie did she agreed readily enough.

* * *

AS FOR MR van LINSSEN, he drove himself back to London, had the tea the faithful Dodge had ready for him, changed from country tweeds into sober grey suiting and equally sober silk tie, and took himself off to his clinic in Outpatients. He was invariably pleasant and very civil to those who worked with and for him, but today there was a warmth in his manner which surprised them. Outpatients Sister, a comfortable fortyish woman and married, remarked on it to her staff nurse.

‘Perhaps he’s in love.’

‘Out of the question. He’s engaged to that hoity-toity young woman who came last Christmas to see the decorations. A toffee-nosed creature she was, too.’

‘He could still have fallen in love,’ said the staff nurse shrewdly.

‘And serve her right,’ observed Sister.

Mr van Linssen was home again by seven o’clock, in time to change yet again, this time into a black tie, since he was invited with Ursula to a dinner party with some friends of hers. He had no wish to go, but he had seen very little of her lately and he must make amends.

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