Part 17 (1/2)

' He made a small sound which could have been anything and said

presently: ”Does a month from today suit you?

I'll be gone a week from Sat.u.r.day, but there's a case I have to see the

following weekend--would you like to go back with me to Groningen for a quick visit? It can only be a few days, I'm afraid, because I'm due in Hamburg very shortly.

I'll bring you back, of course, and with any luck I should be able to get back here on the day before we marry. ' It was all so matter-of-fact and businesslike, although she supposed that she wouldn't have liked it any other way.

She agreed to his suggestions and asked him if any of his family wanted to attend the ceremony.

”My brother.

I've already told Wien and, of course.

No one else.

The children.

' he paused, ”T think it would be best if they weren't there.

You'll meet them of course when you come to stay.

' She agreed doubtfully and he began to talk about something else and

made no mention of the matter again that evening.

They went first to her grandmother's house and then without waste of time to the vicarage.

The vicar was an old friend ofAlethea, an elderly man with a kind face

and a sense of humour which was unexpected.

His wife plied them with coffee while he asked questions, discussed the time of the service, suggested that a little organ music might be

rather nice to have and then wrote it all down in the large diary on his desk he was, he a.s.sured them, a very forgetful man.

They left presently, everything nicely arranged, called briefly at her

grandmother's once more and then drove back to London.

It had all been rather a rush, but Mrs Bustle had been waiting with their supper and there had been time enough to admire the ring.

Sarre saw her to the Nurses' Home door, and wished her goodnight with

the remark that he didn't expect to see much of her before he went back to Groningen.

”On the ward, of course,” he observed, 'but not to talk.

If you're free on Friday evening we might get a quick meal together.

' ”I'm not free,” said Alethea.

”In that case I'll wait for you in the entrance just after nine o'clock we can get a cup of coffee somewhere.

' He bent and kissed her, the light, almost businesslike kiss she was beginning to expect from him.

”Sleep well.

' He had been right; save for brief encounters on the ward, they saw nothing of each other for the next couple of days.

Alethea took consolation from the admiration lavished on her ring and

occupied her mind with her wedding outfit.

She had had a bad moment or two when Nick had met her in one of the corridors.

There had been no one about and he had stopped in front of her so that she was forced to stop too.

”Well, well,” he began, 'who'd have thought it?