Part 7 (1/2)
”I don't mean anything. Will you do it?”
”Very well, although I dislike subterfuge as you very well know.”
”There is a very good reason. I'll let you know what Aldrik says.
Goodnight, Audrey, and thank you. ”
The old lady settled back into her pillows, well pleased with herself.
It was the best part of a week before the doctor returned to Leiden andhad the leisure to visit Nicola's aunt. It was a cold grey afternoonwhen he picked her up from her parents' house in den Haag and drove upthe coast to Noordwijk-aan-Zee, and the house, when they reached it,looked as bleak as the day, wilting rapidly into an even colderevening. It was a fair-sized villa, built some fifty years previously;red brick and a great deal of fancy stonework, and surrounded by agarden, meticulously neat, bordered by shrubs and empty flowerbeds. The doctor found it dispiriting.
Jonkvrouw van Germert received them graciously, offered weak milk less tea and minuscule biscuits and a.s.sured them that she was delighted to see them.
”I lead a secluded life,” she observed, 'and at times I am lonely. ”
Nicola sipped her tea, with every appearance of enjoyment.
”Tante Clotilde,” she began hesitantly, 'you say you're lonely. I
suppose you wouldn't con sider having a companion? ”
Her aunt looked surprised. She did it very well, having rehea.r.s.ed the whole conversation with Nicola.
”A companion?” She t.i.ttered.
”Am I quite old enough for that, Nicola? I don't need anyone to pick up my dropped st.i.tches or read aloud; my eyes are still good.”
Nicola laughed gently.
”I didn't mean that kind of companion, Tante, but someone to accompany you on walks and drive the car, an intelligent woman who can listen as well as talk in fact, someone to be in this house with you.” She added lightly, ”You told me yourself that you were considering it.”
Jonkvrouw van Germert appeared to think.
”I must say that put like that it sounds attractive, especially during the winter months. But why do you ask, Nicola?”
The doctor hadn't spoken. Now he said, ”I know of an English girl who is anxious to find a pleasant situation. She is at present with my grandmother, who is very pleased with her. She doesn't speak Dutch, of course, but that might be of added interest to you. She is, for lack of a better word, that old-fas.h.i.+oned thing, a lady, intelligent, and, from what my grand mother tells me and she usually knows a very kind and considerate girl.”
”Surely she would prefer to stay in her own country?”
”She has few friends and no immediate family. Aldrik thinks that it might benefit her to have a change of scene. However, I won't bother you further, Tante; Aldrik has any number of friends, he can ask around...”
Her aunt appeared to consider.
”I must say that the idea appeals to me. Not permanently, of course, but for the winter months, and by then this girl may find employment which is more suitable or start to train for something. I'd like to think about it.” She gave the doctor a gracious smile.
”I'll let you know within the next day or so.”
”I'm sure Tante Clotilde will decide to employ this girl,” said Nicola as they drove back to den Haag, 'and if she doesn't you can still ask the van der Bronses to look around. I hear Charity is expecting a child. ” ”In a couple of months. They're delighted.” They began to talk of other things until he dropped her off at her home, refusing to go in with her with the plea of work to be done and a late visit to an ill patient in the hospital.
Nicola pecked his cheek she disliked what she called 'demonstrative behaviour' and he got into his car again and drove back to Leiden, dismissing her from his thoughts. He felt uneasy; Jonkvrouw van Germert was the answer to his scheme, and yet he wasn't satisfied. He didn't like her, although there had been no reason for his dislike.
Her home was hideous, he considered, over-fumi shed and yet uncomfortable; on the other hand the surroundings were pleasant and he would be near enough to make sure that Cressida was happy. If she wasn't it would be easy enough to find something else. Of course she might refuse to leave England, but he thought it unlikely; she had had no experience at finding work and she had little money. There was no need for him to worry; he parked the car at the hospital and went to see his patient.
Although he told himself time and again that his interest in Cressida was purely derived from a wish to see someone unfortunate made happy, he might have felt the need to worry if he had overheard the conversation Nicola had with her aunt over the phone.
It was a couple of days later when Lady Merrill said suddenly in the middle of lunch.
”My er my companion will be returning in a week, Cressida, and I have been giving the matter some thought. Have you any plans?”
Cressida put her fork carefully down on the plate.
”No no, I haven't, Lady Merrill, but I have no doubt that I shall be able to find something.”
Cressida cast around in her head. There was an aunt of her mother's living somewhere in c.u.mbria whom she had never seen, two cousins in Canada and an other cousin in the States, all much older than she.
”Well, I'm sure I can find a room,” she began, 'just for a little while, you know. ”
”Mrs. Sefton you know her, of course tele phoned me yesterday and asked after you, and, when I mentioned that you would be leaving shortly, wanted to know if you were interested in a job in Holland as companion to a lady living on her own. Middle-aged, I believe and speaks fluent English. She lives very comfortably by the sea. Not a permanent position but for the winter months.”
”Does Mrs. Sefton know this lady?”
”No, but she knows an acquaintance of hers who mentioned it in a letter.” Lady Merrill smiled encouragingly.
”It might be better to go to someone already known rather than to a complete stranger.”
That made sense, reflected Cressida; besides, it would be nice to go abroad and Dr. van der Linus lived there. She had her pa.s.sport too.
Lady Merrill watched the tell-tale expressions drift across Cressida's face; she wasn't going to say any more, she had already been involved in Aldrik's plans and told far too many fibs as well as inventing a mythical companion, but she hoped that Cressida would go to Holland because that was what he wanted, although she was sure that he didn't know why he wanted it.
She could be wrong about that. She wasn't quite happy about this woman being an aunt of Nicola's; on the other hand Aldrik would be able to see Cressida from time to time and for the present she was content with that; besides, he had seen this woman and approved of her.
Cressida had made up her mind.
”I think I'd like to take this job. It will be a change to see another country. Does this lady wish me to write to her?”
”That would be a good idea. I'll get the address from Mrs. Sefton.”
So Cressida wrote a brief polite letter and received one by return of post, couched in pleasant terms and offering a wage which was ample for her needs. She was expected in a week's time and directions as to how she was to get there were added. Very satisfactory, thought Cressida, suppressing a feeling of un easiness which she couldn't account for. It had all been so easy, but she brushed the doubt aside; she was in no position to look a gift horse in the mouth.
She went to Yeovil once more on a free afternoon and added to her wardrobe a plain jersey dress in grey which she hoped would pa.s.s muster for more formal occasions, a pair of court shoes, going cheap in a closing-down sale, and another sweater. She had, she considered, an adequate wardrobe which she proceeded to pack in her two cases which Elsie had taken away and dusted and polished for her. The last day came and she got out of bed feeling sad and rather reluctant to go. She had been happy with Lady Men-ill and the entire household had been kind and friendly. She hoped that Jonkvrouw van Germert would be as kind.