Free A Christmas Romance by Betty Neels Page B

can persuade her to spend the last day of the holiday here.’
    ‘I want to meet her. Pour me a drink, Hugo, and tell me all about her. How did you meet?’
    The following day the professor did his ward rounds, took a morning clinic, saw his private patients in the afternoon and returned to the hospital just before five o’clock. He had made no attempt to look for Theodosia during the morning—he had been too busy—but now he went in search of her. He hadn’t been unduly disturbed by the sight of her talking to the young fellow from the path lab. After all, she was on nodding terms with almost everyone in the hospital, excluding the very senior staff, of course. But he had heard her saying that she would meet him that evening; moreover, she had kissed him. He had to know if she had given her heart to the man; after all, he was young and good-looking and she had never shown anything other than friendliness with himself.
    He reviewed the facts with a calm logicand made his way to the floor where Theodosia worked.
    She came rushing through the door then slithered to a halt because, of course, he was standing in her way. Since he was a big man she had no way of edging round him.
    ‘Oh, hello,’ said Theodosia, and then tried again. ‘Good evening, Professor.’
    He bade her good evening, too, in a mild voice. ‘You’re looking forward to Christmas? I’ll drive you to Finchingfield. The trains will be packed and running late. Could you manage seven o’clock?’
    She had time to steady her breath; now she clutched at the first thing that entered her head. On no account must she go with him. He was being kind again. Probably he had told his fiancée that he intended to drive her and Rosie had agreed that it would be a kindness to take the poor girl to these aunts of hers. She shrank from kindly pity.
    ‘That’s very kind of you,’ said Theodosia,‘but I’m getting a lift—he’s going that way, staying with friends only a few miles from Finchingfield.’ She was well away now. ‘I’m going to a party there—parties are such fun at Christmas, aren’t they?’ She added for good measure, ‘He’ll bring me back, too.’
    She caught the professor’s eye. ‘He works in the path lab …’
    If she had hoped to see disappointment on his face she was disappointed herself. He said pleasantly, ‘Splendid. You’re well organised, then.’
    ‘Yes, I’m looking forward to it; such fun …’ She was babbling now. ‘I must go—someone waiting. I hope you have a very happy Christmas.’
    She shot away, racing down the stairs. He made no attempt to follow her. That he was bitterly disappointed was inevitable but he was puzzled, too. Theodosia had been altogether too chatty and anxious to let him know what a splendid time she was going to have. He couldhave sworn that she had been making it up as she went along … On the other hand, she might have been feeling embarrassed; she had never been more than friendly but she could possibly be feeling awkward at not having mentioned the young man from the path lab.
    He went back to his consulting rooms, saw his patients there and presently went home, where his manner was just as usual, asking after his sister’s day, discussing the preparations for Christmas, for Rosie’s husband and the two children would be arriving the next morning. And she, although she was longing to talk about Theodosia, said nothing, for it was plain that he had no intention of mentioning her.
    And nor did he make any attempt to seek her out at the hospital during the following day. There was a good deal of merriment; the wards looked festive, the staff were cheerful—even those who would be on duty—and those who were able to left early. The professor, doing alate round, glanced at his watch. Theodosia would have left by now for it was almost six o’clock. He made his way to the path lab and found the young man who had been talking to Theodosia still there.
    ‘Not gone yet?’ he asked.