Part 33 (2/2)

”But the children.

' He gave her a gentle smile.

”They're already provided for.” She said in a whisper: ”You're very

rich, aren't you?” Just as though she didn't already know.

He nodded.

”T did tell you, my dear.

' ”Just you--or all your family?

' ”I'm afraid all the family, my dear.

' He took her hand absentmindedly in his.

”You don't need to worry about it, Alethea.

' His hand felt cool and firm and she wanted to leave hers there for

ever.

Suddenly she knew that she would never have to worry about anything again because Sarre would do all the worrying for her; he would look after her too.

A pleasant feeling crept over her and she wasn't sure what it was, but she had no chance to find out because Mijnheer Smidt began reading something out loud and presently she had to sign some papers, and when they got home the children demanded their father's attention.

They needed help with their homework, they declared, and he went away with them, up to the playroom.

Alethea could hear their voices and laughter echoing through the house while she sat in the little sitting room, looking through the textbooks she had been given by the nice little old lady whom Sarre had found to teach her Dutch.

It would be lovely, thought Alethea wistfully, if she could have been there too, laughing and joining in the family jokes.

The children still treated her as though she were an unwelcome guest, but only when their father wasn't there, and once or twice she had caught them looking at her in a puzzled way.

She had ignored that, though, trying to behave as she imagined any new stepmother would behave, never taking anything for granted, taking care not to intrude into their lives unless she was invited.

Which she seldom was.

It was only a few days later when Sarre told her that he was going to Hamburg in two days' time and how did she feel about going with him.

She was brus.h.i.+ng Rough, sitting on the lawn at the back of the house and sat back on her heels to answer him.

”Oh, Sarre, I'd love to.

Shall you be there long?

' ”Three or four days.

I shall be at the hospital for most of the time, but we should have the evenings together.

I'll drive up, it will be a good opportunity to try out the Bristol.

' ”What sort of clothes shall I need?

”Well, we may go out one evening it's not a very big hotel, but I

expect you'll want a pretty dress for dinner.

' Alethea thanked him, thinking privately that it had been a waste of time asking him, men never noticed.

”Have you got that grey thing with the patterns?

' ”Grey crepe with an amber and green pattern.

Yes.

Why?

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