Read Online A Christmas Romance by Betty Neels - Free Book Online Page B

her that he loved her. He decided it was not, but he hoped that she might begin to do more than like him. She was young; she might meet a younger man. A man of no conceit, he supposed that she thought of him as a man well past his first youth.
    They went round the garden after lunch with Gustavus in Theodosia’s arms, the dogs racing to and fro, and when the first signs of dusk showed they locked up the little house, stowed the animals in the car and began the drive back to London.
    They had reached the outskirts when the professor’s bleeper disturbed the comfortable silence. Whoever it was had a lot to say but at length he said, ‘I’ll be with you in half anhour.’ Then he told Theodosia, ‘I’ll have to go to the hospital. I’ll drop you off on the way. I’m sorry; I had hoped that you would have stayed for supper.’
    ‘Thank you, but I think I would have refused; I have to get ready for work tomorrow—washing and ironing and so on.’ She added vaguely, ‘But it’s kind of you to invite me. Thank you for a lovely day; we’ve enjoyed every minute of it!’ Which wasn’t quite true, for there had been no joy for her when he’d said that he was going to get married.
    When they reached Mrs Towzer’s she said, ‘Don’t get out; you mustn’t waste a moment …’
    He got out all the same without saying anything, opened the door for her, put Gustavus’s basket in the hall and then drove away with a quick nod.
    ‘And that is how it will be from now on,’ muttered Theodosia, climbing the stairs and letting herself into her cold bed-sitter. ‘He’s not likely to ask me out again, but if he doesI’ll not go. I must let him see that we have nothing in common; it was just chance meetings and those have to stop!’
    She got her supper—baked beans on toast and a pot of tea—fed a contented Gustavus and presently went to bed to cry in comfort until at last she fell asleep.

CHAPTER FOUR
    T HE week began badly. Theodosia overslept; Gustavus, usually so obedient, refused to come in from the roof; and the coil of ginger hair shed pins as fast as she stuck them in. She almost ran to work, to find Miss Prescott, despite the fact that it would be Christmas at the end of the week, in a worse temper than usual. And as a consequence Theodosia did nothing right. She dropped things, spilt things, muddled up diet sheets and because of that went late to her dinner.
    It was cottage pie and Christmas pudding with a blindingly yellow custard—and on her way back she was to call in at Women’s Medical and collect two diet sheets for the two emergencies which had been admitted. Because it was quicker, although forbidden, she took the lift tothe medical floor and when it stopped peered out prudently before alighting; one never knew, a ward sister could be passing.
    There was no ward sister but the professor was standing a few yards away, his arm around a woman. They had their backs to her and they were laughing and as Theodosia looked the woman stretched up and kissed his cheek. She wasn’t a young woman but she was good-looking and beautifully dressed.
    Theodosia withdrew her head and prayed hard that they would go away. Which presently they did, his arm still around the woman’s shoulders, and as she watched, craning her neck, Women’s Medical ward door opened, Sister came out and the three of them stood talking and presently went into the ward.
    Theodosia closed the lift door and was conveyed back to Miss Prescott’s office.
    ‘Well, let me have those diet sheets,’ said that lady sharply.
    ‘I didn’t get them,’ said Theodosia, quitebeside herself, and, engulfed in feelings she hadn’t known she possessed, she felt reckless. ‘I went late to dinner and I should have had an hour instead of the forty minutes you left me. Someone else can fetch them. Why don’t you go yourself, Miss Prescott?’
    Miss Prescott went a dangerous plum colour. ‘Theodosia, can I believe my ears? Do you realise to whom you speak?