Nurse Angela by Hilary Preston Read Free Book Online Page B

criticism.”
    Tony laughed. “Nonsense. I wouldn’t worry if I were you. If you haven’t told anyone, I don’t see how they can ever know.”
    “I hate having anything to hide.”
    He flashed her a quick look. “You don’t have anything to hide, do you?”
    “Not, not really, but—”
    “Well then. You’re wise to keep this to yourselves. If you know from experience that people put a wrong construction on things, the only thing to do is not to tell them anything. They’re not fit to know the truth if they will throw mud. You and Simon have a good time and enjoy each other’s company. You’ll probably find you have a lot in common.”
    This conversation rather worried Angela. She had not given a great deal of thought to how it would look to an outsider, she and Simon traveling to Paris together. Dr. Wilson had certainly put the situation startlingly clear. She had kept quiet about it, more by instinct than by deliberate intention. An instinct born, unfortunately, by previous experience, even if only of the vague, general kind. What a pity you couldn’t be really honest with people, she thought. Yet, if you couldn’t, was the thing you were doing really right? This thought nagged her for quite some time. It would be dreadful if a wrong construction were put on such a simple matter like two people travelling to the same place together.
    By morning, however, she had succeeded in shaking free of her fears and went off duty with a lift of excitement. Her other luggage had been taken home previously, by easy stages. So now all she had to do was pack a small case and catch a bus for home. To be fresh for the journey to the airport, she’d planned to spend her first night there. As soon as she got home, however, her mother packed her off to bed until lunchtime; then Angela spent the afternoon and evening in last-minute pressing and packing. Simon had arranged to call for her at eight o’clock the next morning, which was Saturday, and Helen Lindsay was looking forward very much to meeting him. She had been delighted when Angela told her she was to travel down with him and had already decided that she was going to like him. Angela felt sure she would not be disappointed.
    He called promptly at eight o’clock, and Angela was ready waiting for him. He shook hands with Helen and accepted the cup of coffee she offered. Angela went to pick up her coat.
    “It’s very good of you to trust your daughter in my hands, Mrs. Lindsay,” he said.
    Helen smiled. “I have every faith in my daughter’s judgment, Dr. LeFeure. She would not have accepted your invitation had she not liked and trusted you.”
    “You have a very wonderful daughter, Mrs. Lindsay,” Simon said solemnly.
    “ I know,” she answered simply.
    They drove off in the cool, early-morning sunshine.
    “Have you been abroad much? Sister?” Simon asked.
    “Not at all, I’m afraid,” Angela said ruefully. “It doesn’t look as though I’ve shown a great deal of initiative, does it?”
    He smiled. “I expect you’ve had your mind on other things. When you take an interest in your job you don’t give a lot of thought to your holiday until it’s almost on top of you. You very nearly missed this trip, didn’t you?”
    “Yes. I would have ‘missed the boat’ altogether if it hadn’t been for you, Doctor.”
    He half turned his head. “Don’t you think we could drop the ‘doctor’ and ‘sister’ business, at least while we’re on holiday?”
    She smiled. “Why yes, I’ll be glad to. My name is Angela.”
    He gave her a smiling glance. “Yes, I know. Mine is Simon.” There was a moment’s pause. Then he said, “I’m really delighted that you consented to drive down with me, Angela. I’ve wanted to get to know you better for some time, but one way and another ... A nyway, this will be a very good opportunity. I do hope you enjoy your first trip to Paris, but then you’re bound to. Paris is every bit as wonderful as the romantics say it