Free Perchance to Marry by Celine Conway

her lap.
    “Good morning,” he said, in his polite smiling tones. “You are again admiring the view?”
    She closed her book and placed it on the table. “I shall have to give it up; it’s like a drug. The trouble is, I’ve so little to do.”
    “Marcus will surely find interests for you; and as you know, I shall be most pleased to conduct you through our little hospital.”
    “I’d be so glad if you would,” she said. “You see, I was doing nursing just before we left England, and it would be wonderful to start working again.”
    Carlos, thin and dark and looking a little more than his forty years, smiled incredulously. “But that is splendid! The hospital needs such a patroness—one who understands how such a place is conducted, and the problems of the staff.” He hesitated. “Are you free until lunch-time?”
    “You mean may I go with you now? I’d love it.”
    “Then come. It will make me most happy to introduce you to everyone!”
    “But not as a patroness, please,” she said, as she moved at his side. “Just tell everyone that I’m a second-year nurse and would love to work with them.”
    “I am afraid it is already known that you are the fiancée of Marcus Durant, but they will be pleased to learn that you chose to be a nurse.” He almost stopped as he asked, “You do not wish to advise your mother of where you are going?”
    “She’s out with Marcus. They’re having a sort of meeting with the man who owns the department store in Naval Town.”
    “Captain Northwick?”
    “Is that his name? Is he a naval man too?”
    “Retired, but he likes the naval atmosphere.” Carlos opened the door of his modest black car and saw Sally seated before getting behind the wheel. “You have acted as a splendid tonic upon Dona Inez. Do you know that?”
    “Yes.”
    “A week ago she could hardly speak, but this morning it was difficult to keep her quiet. Already she is impatient to get up for a little while each day.”
    “Is she fit enough?”
    “Yes, but I shall not allow it yet. Katarina has instructions about gentle massage of the legs.” He smiled at her as they drove off. “Until you are married to Marcus and in a position to make rules in the house, you will not be permitted to help in the nursing of Dona Inez. Katarina is very jealous of her rights and privileges, and I must say she has shown the utmost care and devotion. Even as the wife of Marcus you will have difficulty in supplanting Katarina.”
    “I wouldn’t try.” She changed the subject. “Since I arrived I haven’t left Las Vinas. You must explain things to me as we drive.”
    For part of the way they were on the road by which Sally had come to Las Vinas. She saw the orderly acres of vine-laden pergolas, the little houses with their fruit trees and vegetable gardens, and more vines, with here and there an ancient fig or olive left standing. Rest-trees, the islanders called them, and Carlos slowed so that by looking through an avenue of grapevines Sally could see baskets of food and rolled jackets in the shade of one of them.
    They came down almost to coast level, and here the houses were more numerous, their gardens more spectacular. They had left the road to the harbor and were winding through a long village, at the end of which, hidden except for its bell-tower and part of a curly pink-tiled roof, stood the Casa de Curacion.
    “This is the name it was given two hundred years ago, when a few members of a sisterhood began their work in a wooden house on the site. The house of healing has now become an important part of the island,” said Carlos. “The building you will see as we go along the drive is the main nursing home. To the right there is a new block which was built at the expense of the naval authorities for their staff and families. I will take you there first.”
    The following hour was the most satisfying Sally had spent since arriving on the island. She toured the little modern building and enjoyed the usual jokes