Two Weeks to Remember by Betty Neels

Author:Betty Neels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 1986-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

She was ready and waiting for him long before she needed to be. She had put on a fine wool dress in a pleasing shade of green and topped it with a darker green coat, last year’s but well cut and elegant, and to go with these she had perched a little velvet hat on her dark curls. It had cost a lot of money, more than she could afford, but it had been exactly right, just as her plain court shoes and gloves were right. Perhaps rather unimaginative, she thought, studiously looking at herself in the long mirror in her aunt’s room, but there would be a great many people there and she wasn’t an important guest.

The professor arrived at exactly half past ten, declined coffee offered by Aunt Emily, observed in his kindly way that Charity looked very nice, stuffed her into the car and began the drive back to Patty’s part of the world. Charity, beyond saying hallo, had little to say; the sight of him in a morning coat had rather taken her breath. His elegance made her feel dowdy and she began to wish that she hadn’t accepted Patty’s invitation.

At the church she said a little breathlessly, ‘Thank you very much; I’ll look for Mrs Kemp…’

‘You’ll never find her.’ He got out of the car and opened her door and held her fast with one hand, beaming down at her. ‘Besides, weddings terrify me.’

She found herself in the church beside him, surrounded by mink coats and fantastic hats and whiffs of wildly expensive perfume. Just for a moment she felt out of her depth and she cast an unconsciously imploring look at the professor. His smile was kind and he took her hand in his and held it and bent to whisper, ‘I’d rather be on the ward, or at my desk.’ She smiled then, not believing him but grateful for his understanding.

Patty came swanning down the aisle presently, looking angelic, and everyone sang ‘The voice that breathed o’er Eden’ and then settled down with a rustle of silk and the swish of furs until finally the ceremony was over and Patty came back down the aisle, this time with her groom. She was smiling and nodding to friends and when they reached the pew where Charity was she winked at her.

It took some time to leave the church; Charity was surprised that Patty had so many friends and all a bit upper crust, too. She followed the professor meekly enough out to his car and got in beside him. She must really make it clear that she would make her own way home from the reception.

They were in a queue of cars, waiting hopefully to park, before she found the right words, only to meet with a mild, ‘Do you object to me taking you home?’

‘Of course not—I’m merely pointing out that it’s a frightful waste of your time to drive back to St John’s Wood when you live in the other direction.’

‘There’ll be champagne and those awful sandwiches which come apart the moment you start eating them.

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