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common sense to remain with her until she feels able to resume a normal life. She refuses to have a nurse, and quite rightly; she is no longer in need of nursing care, but she needs someone reliable to depend upon who, at the same time, will remain in the background unless she is needed. I believe that you would be absolutely right for the job.’
    â€˜You put it very clearly,’ said Suzannah, digesting this opinion of herself. So she was just right to sit meekly in the background, was she, waiting until she was wanted? I’d like to show him, she thought, fiercely, I’d like just one chance to dine at the Ritz with a duke wearing black tulle and diamonds and cut this wretch dead when he saw me there…
    â€˜Suzannah,’ the doctor’s voice was compelling, ‘you are allowing your thoughts to wander. I trust you have understood me?’
    â€˜For how long?’ she asked briskly, and, ‘What would my salary be?’
    He gave her an intent look. ‘A few weeks at the most. The salary is adequate.’ He mentioned a sum which seemed to her to be excessive.
    She said, ‘Isn’t that rather a lot of money to pay someone to sit in the background, even if she is reliable and dependable and—what was the other virtue?—sensible?’
    He said with scarcely veiled impatience, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I explained rather badly; I intended nothing personal.’
    She said kindly, ‘No, I don’t expect you did, but you should be more careful you know, especially when you are talking to girls like me.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜Well, just think for yourself, Professor: I’m no beauty, I’ve no money, no job and the future’s a bit vague; I don’t want to be reminded of any of those things. But it was kind of you to ask me, only of course I can’t…’
    â€˜Why not?’
    â€˜Horace. He can’t stay here with Mrs Coffin; she has a cat and a dog already and they put up with him, but only for the moment. No one else would want him.’
    Professor Bowers-Bentinck was surprised to hear himself say, ‘He can come to my home. I have a housekeeper who I know will welcome him and take good care of him.’
    â€˜Would she? He might escape…’
    â€˜There is a garden-room behind the house where he can roam without going outside. I assure you that I will be responsible for his safety.’
    She was surprised to find that she believed him when he said that; he might be a disagreeable man, at least towards her, but she felt that he was a man of his word.She nodded her neat head. ‘Very well, I’d be glad of the job; if I can save enough money I thought I might train as a nurse or a nanny…’
    â€˜And Horace?’ he wanted to know.
    â€˜Oh, that’s why I must save some money first, so that I can find a little flat or a room and live out.’
    He stood up then and said with a return of his impatience, ‘Have you any idea of the high rent you would have to pay?’
    â€˜Oh, yes, but I’d go to one of the provincial hospitals—Yeovil or Salisbury, somewhere like that.’ She was aware that he was no longer interested; he had got what he had come for and her future was no concern of his.
    â€˜Will you let me know when I am to start work—I’ve no passport…’
    He was at the door. ‘You will get all the details in a letter. Send for a passport at once—better still, fill in the form and send it to me—I’ll forward it with a note asking for the matter to be treated urgently.’
    â€˜Where shall I send it?’
    â€˜To Elliot’s Hospital, London. Mark it personal and urgent.’ He nodded a casual goodbye and closed the door quietly behind him, leaving her to wonder if she had dreamt the lot.
    Mrs Coffin, when appraised of the afternoon’s happenings, crowed with delight, assured her that her fortune was made and produced an application