Emma's Wedding by Betty Neels

Author:Betty Neels [Neels, Betty]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-11-22T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

IT WAS from Mr Trump. This would be a severe shock to her, he wrote, but her mother and her friend Mrs Riddley had died instantly in a car crash while making a short visit to friends at Richmond. Fortunately, someone who knew them had phoned him at once and he was dealing with the tragic matter. He had not known how to reach her on the phone but begged her to ring him as soon as possible. It was a kind letter and he assured her of his support and assistance.

She read it through again, standing in the cubbyhole, until Juffrouw Smit’s voice, a little impatient, penetrated the blankness of her mind. Would she take the doctor’s coffee in at once, or he would have no time to drink it before the first patient arrived.

She made the coffee, filled his cup and carried cup and saucer across to his door, knocked and went in. As she set them down on his desk he looked up, saw her ashen face and promptly got up to take her in his arms.

‘Emma, what’s wrong? Are you ill?’ He remembered the letter. ‘Bad news?’

She didn’t trust herself to speak but fished the letter out of her pocket. Still with one arm round her, he read it.

‘My poor dear girl. What shocking news.’ He sat her down in the chair facing his desk and pressed the button which would light the discreet red light on Juffrouw Smit’s desk. When that lady came, he said, ‘Smitty, Emma has had bad news from England. Will you bring her some brandy, then delay my first patient if she comes on time?’

When she brought the brandy he explained in Dutch, and then asked, ‘Is Nurse here yet?’

‘Any minute now.’

‘She must cope here while you take Emma back to your house. Stay with her for as long as you need to, get her a hot drink and try to get her to lie down.’ Then, in English, he said, ‘Drink this, Emma. Juffrouw Smit will take you back to her house in a moment. Leave the letter with me. I will telephone Mr Trump and discover all I can, then let you know what is best to be done.’

‘I must go…’

‘Of course. Don’t worry about that. I’ll arrange everything. Now, drink the rest of the brandy like a good girl.’

A little colour had crept into her cheeks and he took her hands in his.

‘Do as Juffrouw Smit suggests and wait until I come, Emma.’ His quiet voice pierced her numb senses, firm and comforting, letting her know that he would do everything he could to help her. She gave him a small bleak smile and went with Juffrouw Smit.

There were five minutes before his patient would arrive, and the doctor spent them sitting at his desk. By the time she was ushered in by the nurse he knew exactly what had to be done.

Emma, like an obedient child, did just what Juffrouw Smit bade her do: drank the tea she was offered and lay down on her bed with a blanket tucked around her.

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