The Inshine Girl by Margery Hilton

Author:Margery Hilton [Hilton, Margery]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-04-15T16:14:19+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

A SURPRISED Della arrived back late on Sunday evening” to find Venetia ensconced in Dr. Vanders’ quarters adjoining the dispensary building.

‘You know, I thought you looked under the weather last Friday before I left,’ she said when she had got over the initial discovery extravagances. ‘If I’d known it was as bad as this I’d have cancelled the trip.’

‘That was what I was afraid of,’ said Venetia.

Della gave a small exclamation. ‘You poor pet, and when I was going off with … and instead you’ve been stuck in here since Saturday. You poor pet,’ she repeated ruefully.

‘Actually, I’ve quite enjoyed myself. Muriel’s great fun when you get to know her, and Noni - that’s the Ethiopian girl who is going to be Muriel’s nursing sister at the new clinic - arrived on Saturday to start her new job, she’ll be staying here until they move over to Noyali in three weeks’ time - kept me company. She’s awfully sweet, so you see it hasn’t been anything like I was afraid of.’

As she made this pronouncement Venetia was discovering that it

was true; she had enjoyed herself, and by the Saturday night she had recovered to the point of feeling like a fraud. She saw the trace of disbelief on Della’s face and said: ‘It’s true, I have, honestly. It was the best way, actually. Muriel wanted to run some tests on me, just to be certain I hadn’t picked up anything serious, and it wasn’t practical for me to stay alone in the bungalow.’

Della eyed the bowl of massed blooms and the assortment of magazines on the table, the transistor radio by the bed and the sewing laid carelessly on the gay coloured cushions in one chair, and wrinkled her nose. ‘You seem to be cosy enough, but it still smells like a hospital - gives me the creeps.’

Venetia smiled and took up the sewing. ‘It doesn’t worry me.’

‘It’s still a shame,’ Della sighed. ‘You won’t have had that fun weekend with Simon after all.’

Venetia blinked. ‘What did you say? What fun weekend with… ?’

‘Well, I don’t know, pet. I thought…’ Della hesitated, giving a vague gesture.

Venetia sat up sharply and clutched at the arms of her chair. ‘You thought what?’ she asked, unaware of the demand in the straining of her body. ‘What about Simon and a fun week-end ?’

‘Darling, don’t look so fierce! It was just that while we were away I was a bit worried about you and I happened to remark once to Johnny that I hoped you were okay, and he said, “Oh, don’t worry, I think Simon’s planning to take care of her this week-end.” ‘

‘Oh.’ Venetia sat back.

‘So I guess they must talk about us,’ Della grinned. ‘So of course I wondered … but he couldn’t do much about it if you were ill, could he, pet ?’

‘No,’ said Venetia.

There was a pause, then Della asked, ‘Have you seen him at all?’

‘Yes.’ Venetia frowned absently at the sewing in her lap. Yes, she

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