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

awake.
    ‘Is there something wrong with me leg?’ The blue eyes looked anxious.
    ‘You’ve cut it a bit; the doctor’s seeing to it. Wasn’t it lucky that he was passing?’
    ‘Don’t ‘ave much ter say for ‘imself, does ‘e?’
    ‘Well, he is busy putting a bandage on. Do you live near here?’
    ‘Just round the corner—Holne Road, number six. Just popped out ter get the paper.’The elderly face crumpled. ‘I don’t feel all that good.’
    ‘You’ll be as bright as a button in no time,’ said Theodosia, and heard the ambulance at last.
    Things moved fast then. The old lady, drowsy with morphia now, was connected up to oxygen and plasma while the professor tied off the torn arteries, checked her heart and with the paramedics stowed her in the ambulance.
    Theodosia, making herself small against someone’s gate, watched the curious faces at windows and doors and wondered if she should go.
    ‘Get into the car; I’ll drop you off. I’m going to the hospital.’
    He stared down at her unhappy face. ‘Hello,’ he said gently, and he smiled.
    He had nothing more to say and Theodosia was feeling sick. He stopped at Mrs Towzer’s just long enough for her to get out and drove off quickly. She climbed the stairs and, once in her room, took off her dirty,blood-stained clothes and washed and dressed again, all the while telling Gustavus what had happened.
    She supposed that she should have breakfast although she didn’t really want it. She fed Gustavus and put on the kettle. A cup of tea would do.
    When there was a knock on the door she called, ‘Come in,’ remembering too late that she shouldn’t have done that before asking who was there.
    The professor walked in. ‘You should never open the door without checking,’ he said. He turned off the gas under the kettle and the gas fire and then stowed Gustavus in his basket.
    ‘What are you doing?’ Theodosia wanted to know.
    ‘Taking you back for breakfast—you and Gustavus. Get a coat—something warm.’
    ‘My coat is a bit—that is, I shall have to take it to the cleaners. I’ve got a mac.’ She should have been annoyed with him, walking in likethat, but somehow she couldn’t be bothered. Besides, he was badly in need of the dry cleaners, too. ‘Is the old lady all right?’
    ‘She is in theatre now, and hopefully she will recover. Now, hurry up, dear girl.’
    She could refuse politely but Gustavus was already in his basket and breakfast would be very welcome. She got into her mac, pulled a woolly cap over her bright hair and accompanied him downstairs. There was no one about and the street was quiet; she got into the car when he opened the door for her, mulling over all the things she should have said if only she had had her wits about her.
    As soon as they had had their breakfast she would tell him that she was having lunch with friends … She discarded the idea. To tell him fibs, even small, harmless ones, was something she found quite impossible. She supposed that was because she loved him. People who loved each other didn’t have secrets. Only he didn’t love her.
    She glanced sideways at him. ‘You’ve spoilt your suit.’
    ‘And you your coat. I’m only thankful that it was you who were there. You’ve a sensible head under that bright hair; most people lose their wits at an accident. You were out early?’
    ‘I’d been to church. I planned to go for a long walk. I often do on a Sunday.’
    ‘Very sensible—especially after being cooped up in the hospital all week.’
    Meg came to meet them as they went into the house. She took Theodosia’s mac and cap and said firmly, ‘Breakfast will be ready just as soon as you’ve got into some other clothes, sir. Miss Chapman can have a nice warm by the fire.’
    She bustled Theodosia down the hall and into a small, cosy sitting room where there was a bright fire burning. Its window overlooked a narrow garden at the back and the round table by it was set for breakfast.
    ‘Now just you