Читать книгу Wedding Bells for Beatrice - Бетти Нилс - Страница 7

BEATRICE felt a glow of pleasure at the sight of him and instantly suppressed it. She said sedately, ‘Why, Professor, I didn’t expect to see you here.’

He had moved to stand in front of her so that she wouldn’t be able to pass unless she forgot her manners and poked him in the waistcoat. Unthinkable but tempting. ‘Why should you expect to see me?’ he asked coolly. ‘How are you?’

‘Very well, thank you. It will be nice when this cold weather—’

‘Ah, yes, let us hide our true feelings behind remarks about the weather. Are you glad to see me?’

She gave him a cold glance. ‘I would rather discuss the weather.’

He smiled suddenly. ‘Come off your high horse, Beatrice, and tell me how life is treating you.’

She had quite forgotten her parents. ‘Well, just the same as usual, you know.’ She glanced at him and found him watching her intently so that she felt compelled to add, ‘As a matter of fact, I have to go on an exchange scheme—just for a month or so—to promote a wider exchange of jobs in the EC.’ She wasn’t going to tell him where.

In the silence which followed she stared at his waistcoat, a sober black affair, not at all like the trendy sort of thing some of the men there were wearing. When she peeped at him at last he was obviously waiting for her to say something else. She said pettishly, ‘Oh, all right, I’m to go to Holland.’

He said mildly, ‘Yes, I know. Leiden—you’ll like it there, I think. Why didn’t you want to tell me, Beatrice?’

‘It couldn’t possibly interest you. Besides, it would look as though …’

He said gently, ‘But I am not very often in Leiden; our chances of meeting would be very slight.’

She said, suddenly brisk, ‘Well, that’s all right, isn’t it? Now I really must find Mother and Father. If I don’t see you again …’

‘Oh, but you will. I’m spending the weekend with Derek’s people at Little Estling. You’re going home tomorrow?’

She had said yes before she had time to think.

‘Splendid; I’ll drive you down. I have to be back on Sunday evening—I can give you a lift back.’

‘I intended driving down in my own car.’

‘No, no, that won’t do at all; I can tell you about the hospital at Leiden as we go.’

He smiled down at her and she said weakly, ‘Oh, very well. Now I really must …’

‘Yes, yes, they are at the far end of the room. Let us join them.’

Her mother offered a cheek for her to kiss. ‘That’s a pretty dress, darling.’ Mrs Crawley eyed her daughter with motherly concern. ‘What’s all this about going to Holland?’ She smiled at the professor as she spoke. ‘I expect you know about it, Gijs?’

Gijs, indeed. Beatrice waited to see what he would say.

‘Yes, I was told something of the scheme when I was in Leiden this week. I’m looking forward to meeting the nursing staff who will be going over too. I feel it is most important that we should have instant rapport with those with whom we work wherever we go.’

‘I’m sure you’re right,’ said Mrs Crawley comfortably. ‘I don’t suppose you will see anything of Beatrice, then.’

‘Not very likely, I’m afraid, but she will find everyone very friendly and there’s quite a pleasant social life in the hospital and medical school and the usual free time, I believe. You and Dr Crawley might spend a weekend while she is there; Leiden is a charming city and its centre is still unspoilt.’

‘That’s an idea. Are you staying in town or going to Derek’s people this weekend?’

‘I’m driving down early tomorrow morning. I’ll bring Beatrice with me for I have to get back at the same time as she does.’