Free Hearts of Gold by Catrin Collier Page B

limit. He looks like Ronald Colman and has the manners of the Prince of Wales.’ The kettle boiled, and she tipped hot water into the teapot to warm it. ‘He can carry me off any time he likes.’
    ‘Who? Glan?’ Nurse Williams asked innocently, walking into the kitchen.
    ‘Nurse Ronconi is smitten by Doctor John.’ Glan glowered sticking rigidly to his position in the doorway in the hope of getting a fresh cup of tea.
    ‘Young Doctor John?’ Nurse Williams proceeded to lay out cups and saucers. ‘Forget it, ladies. Remember hospital rules, no fraternisation between doctors and nurses. Besides, rumour has it he’s spoken for. Anthea Llewellyn Jones,’ she divulged archly.
    ‘Good. That leaves all the more for us porters,’ Glan leered, lifting his eyebrows.
    ‘All the more what?’ Laura demanded testily.
    ‘Good times!’ he suggested mildly, retreating from the belligerent tone.
    ‘Haven’t you got work to do?’ Nurse Williams enquired.
    ‘I have.’ He ducked out of the doorway.
    ‘Exiled to tea in the boiler room,’ Laura laughed.
    ‘You’re not serious about Doctor John are you?’ Bethan asked Laura after Nurse Williams had made two cups of tea and taken them to sister’s office.’
    ‘Depends on what you mean by “serious”. I love a challenge. Not that Anthea Llewellyn-Jones would be that. And then again I wouldn’t mind going to the New Theatre with him, or a dance. Not the hospital dance of course, that’s a bit public. But a Saturday hop in Porth or Treorchy out of sight of the gossips, not to mention my brothers, with an opportunity to cuddle up on the train on the way home, now that’s a different proposition.’ Her dark eyes sparkled with mischief. She loved winding Bethan up.
    Bethan poured out their tea.
    ‘If you’re angling for Prince Charming you’d better sort out a better golden coach than your brother’s Trojan van for tonight.’
    ‘That’s the fairy godmother department,’
    ‘If you ask me, Pontypridd’s a little short on those.’
    ‘Then I’ll improvise. If that gold net that your aunt has fits, it’ll do for a start. Just remember, Miss Top of the Year, I laid claim to him first.’
    ‘You can have him.’
    ‘Such generosity. In return I give you Glan.’
    ‘You can’t, you’ll need him yourself.’
    Laura looked quizzically at Bethan.
    ‘According to the fairy story, Cinderella needs a rat to turn into a coachman’
    ‘And mice to turn into horses. Fancy coming to the boiler room with me?’ Glan interrupted from the corridor.
    ‘People who eavesdrop deserve to hear nasty things.’ Bethan tipped the remainder of her tea down the sink.
    ‘Two waltzes and you’ll change your mind about that moonlight walk,’ Glan whispered into her ear as she passed him.
    ‘One outing with you will last me a lifetime, Glan Richards,’ Bethan muttered over her shoulder, referring to a visit she’d made to the Park cinema in his company.
    ‘We’ll see,’ Glan muttered darkly. ‘We’ll see.’

Chapter Three
    Darkness falls early on the Graig hill in winter. By the time Laura and Bethan left the hospital at seven, the street lamps had been lit for hours, throwing yellow smudges of light into an atmosphere filled with needle-sharp darts of rain, and on to roads spattered with glistening pools of black water.
    ‘It’s freezing,’ Laura complained, pulling her cloak tightly around her shoulders.
    ‘No, it isn’t,’ Bethan contradicted. ‘If it was, this would be hail not rain.’
    ‘Always have to be so literal, don’t you?’
    ‘Now that’s a big word.’
    ‘It comes from having a brother who’s taking his matriculation next year.’
    ‘Tony?’
    ‘Who else?’
    Heads down, they ran out of the gates and walked up High Street as fast as they could.
    ‘Papa thinks Tony’s going to be a priest, but Papa’s going to be disappointed. Tony follows Ronnie. He likes the ladies’ too much.’
    ‘At sixteen?’
    ‘You’re never too