Uncertain Summer by Betty Neels

Author:Betty Neels [NEELS, BETTY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Fiction
Published: 2011-03-11T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

they left the following afternoon, speeded on their way by a warm farewell from the doctor and his wife, with Maagda and the odd job man fulfilling the office of Greek chorus. Gijs’s mother had kissed Serena when she had said goodbye.

“Come back soon,” she had said.

“There will be a welcome for you, my dear—and take care of Gijs.”

This remark had stuck persistently in Serena’s mind ever since, popping out from time to time throughout their journey. The idea of Gijs needing anyone to look after him had never entered her head; he had seemed self-sufficient enough and perfectly able to cope with any situation which night arise, a theory largely due to his size and calm air, she had no doubt. Perhaps his mother was nervous of his driving, but although he drove fast he was a good driver and rarely put out; even in the Mini he had shown no signs of impatience. She remembered how she had sat beside him, wishing they could go faster so that she could be back at Queen’s and see Laurens again. it seemed a long time ago.

“If I say a penny for them, I should only be teasing you and myself as well,” observed Gijs, breaking the long silence between them.

“We’re up to time, with luck we shall be in Richmond by midnight.” He was right; the journey was uneventful and Serena enjoyed it. Gijs was good company; he had given her a meal on board and accompanied her to the ship’s shop to purchase whisky for her father and perfume for her mother, and then, because she had refused his offer of a cabin in which to rest, they had gone on deck and walked around and Gijs talked just sufficiently to keep her mind off her own thoughts.

They had got away quickly from the ferry, too, out of the quiet town and on to the A20 and the motorway, the big car moving without effort through the not quite dark of the summer’s night. Presently he switched on to the A205, to circle the south of London and then turned off again for Richmond.

“You’ve been here before,” Serena hazarded.

“Yes, I stayed here when I came over to see Laurens—and at other times before then. Hugo’s older than I, but we both went to the same medical school.” He turned his head to look at her in the gloom.

“Nervous?”

“Yes.” She felt his hand clasp hers momentarily.

“Don’t be, they’re nice.”

“Do they know about—about me?”

“If you mean about Laurens, no. They know that you have been staying with my people and that I’m driving you home—they also know that you’re someone special.”

Serena felt her heart jerk at his words.

“But I haven’t…” He sounded very matter-of-fact.

“That makes no difference, Serena, you’ll always be someone special, whether you marry me or not.”

“Why?” She tried to see his face and couldn’t, but she saw him shrug.

“Oh-I suppose I like you more than most people I know.” He sounded off-hand and she was aware that

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