The Final Touch by Betty Neels

Author:Betty Neels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mills & Boon Series
Published: 2012-07-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

CHARITY’S engagement caused something of a stir in the hospital. Her friends among the nurses were frankly envious but not unkindly so, for she was well liked and, although Cor van Kamp would have ridiculed the whole thing if he had had the chance, the snide remarks he let fall were received with amused contempt, for Mr van der Brons was popular too and respected throughout the hospital. There was a whip-round for a wedding present and plans for those who could to attend the wedding. However, the plans came to nothing since no one was able to discover just when it was to take place. Mr van der Brons, although respected and liked, was nevertheless known to keep his private life private; not even Wim van Beek could summon the courage to ask him outright about the wedding. Mr van der Brons was of course aware of this, going on in his placid way, accepting congratulations with a bland smile which somehow prevented anyone’s asking questions.

As for Charity, she smiled and suggested that Mr van der Brons would tell them.

There was almost a week before the wedding and on the days when she was off duty in the afternoon she went along to the house on the gracht to have discussions with the children about the arrangements and what exactly they wanted to wear. For ten-year-olds they had very definite ideas. Miss Bloom had never allowed them to choose their clothes and now Charity had to persuade them not to decide upon anything too outrageous. She spent some time with the children at La Bonneterie and, by dint of cunning and diplomacy, persuaded them into sapphire-blue velvet dresses, matching fine wool jackets and velvet berets. She considered the price astronomical but their father had said buy what they wanted… As for herself, she combed the shops for an outfit which would suit both her person and her pocket. Her first choice—a suit in some sort of silky material—didn’t seem practical; the weather had turned very cold with occasional flurries of snow, and she was wise enough to know that her nondescript looks would suffer if she shivered throughout the ceremony. It was almost lunchtime and she was feeling desperate and peevish when she saw what would do very nicely in one of the small smart boutiques in P.C. Hoofstraat. A suit in fine wool, a shade darker than the children’s outfits, beautifully cut and with a matching blouse in oyster crêpe de Chine.

It was far more money than she had intended to pay but standing in front of the mirror, studying her person, she saw that it did something for her. The saleslady nodded approval and mentioned in excellent English that she just so happened to have the very hat to go with it.

She was quite right, it was a dear little hat, adding elegance to Charity’s mildly brown locks, and she handed over a sizeable wadge of notes without a qualm.

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