A Happy Meeting by Betty Neels

Author:Betty Neels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-10-10T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

STANDING IN THE porch with her new-found friends around her, Cressida wondered if she would ever see the doctor again. The Bentley disappeared into the gathering dusk and they went back to the drawing-room to have tea and then play Monopoly with the twins until it was their bedtime.

Charity went upstairs presently to tuck them up for the night and Tyco, sitting opposite Cressida, said in his kind way, ‘I think you’ll like the ter Beemstras, they’re good friends of ours, but if anything bothers you don’t hesitate to let us know. I promised Aldrik that I would keep an eye on you.’

‘Thank you very much. I’m sure I’ll be happy with your friends.’ She hesitated. ‘I didn’t like to ask Dr van der Linus but I do hope that I haven’t been the cause of any—any difference between him and Juffrouw van Germert.’

‘I can safely reassure you about that.’ He smiled at her and got up as Charity came back into the room. ‘I believe he intends to see her this evening.’

‘Oh, good, I’m glad,’ said Cressida, who didn’t feel glad at all.

Sitting between them presently, eating delicious food with Jolly, the butler, hovering benignly in the background, Cressida felt happy for the first time in days—well, almost happy; the thought that she had seen the doctor for the last time was ever present in the back of her mind. Even if he came to see the van der Bronses, he was hardly likely to see her. She wondered just where he lived and asked Charity.

‘Oh, not far away—the other side of Dokkum, about ten miles from here. It’s rather out of the way, though. He loves it, but Nicola hates it. He has a house in Leiden though—you’ve been there—handy for him, for he goes to and fro a good deal. I suppose he’ll be there for Christmas; his father died a few years ago and his mother is on a long visit to one of his sisters. He has another sister with children, I dare say they’ll be with him as well as aunts and cousins. Oh, and Nicola, wrapped in furs and looking gorgeous.’

Her husband laughed gently. ‘I hate to disagree with you, my love, but I believe Aldrik will be in England for Christmas—with Lady Merrill. He’ll be back here for New Year.’

That, thought Cressida vulgarly, will be one in the eye for Nicola, but she was instantly sobered by the thought that probably Nicola would go with him.

She went to bed presently, convinced that she would lie awake most of the night, there was so much on her mind, but of course she was asleep as soon as her head was on the pillow.

The little girls were driven to school by their father on his way to his consulting rooms in Leeuwarden and Mevrouw ter Beemstra wouldn’t arrive until just after ten o’clock for coffee; Charity took Cressida round the house and never mentioned Aldrik once. Cressida didn’t know whether to be pleased about this or not.

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