The Secret Pool. Бетти Нилс

I’m doing it for Lisa.’

      ‘I hardly imagined that you would do it for me. Shall we go and tell her?’

      Lisa was in her dressing-gown, ready for bed, eating something nourishing from a bowl. The face she turned towards them as they went over to her was so full of eager hope that Fran reflected that even if she had refused she would have changed her mind at the sight of it. She felt her hand taken in a firm, reassuring grasp. ‘Well, lieveling, here is your mama.’

      She was aware of Nanny’s delighted face as Lisa flung her arms round her neck and hugged her, talking non-stop.

      When she paused for breath the doctor said, ‘Lisa wants to know when and where. I think the best thing is for me to drive you back and you can discuss it with your aunts. And for reasons which I have already mentioned the wedding will have to be here.’ He smiled a little. ‘And you must wear a bride’s dress and a veil.’

      Fran looked at him over Lisa’s small head. ‘Anything to make her happy.’

      He said gravely, ‘At least we can agree upon that.’

      CHAPTER THREE

      THEY stayed with Lisa for some time; she was excited and happy, talking nineteen to the dozen, full of plans for a future which would never be hers, but presently she became drowsy and the doctor carried her to bed where she fell instantly asleep.

      Downstairs in the drawing room, over drinks and with the dogs at their feet, Dr van Rijgen observed, ‘Thank you, Francesca, you have made Lisa happy. Now as to plans for the future… For a start, you must call me Litrik and, with Lisa, we must present at the least a friendly front. I suggest that I drive you home and we can tell your aunts together. You realise why the wedding must be here, of course? Lisa expects a full-blown affair, I’m afraid, and you are free to invite anyone you wish to attend. Are your aunts likely to disapprove?’

      ‘Disapprove. Well, I don’t know. You see they have made up their minds that I shan’t marry, but I think that if we just told them at once they wouldn’t be able to do much about it. I don’t want them to know the real reason…’

      ‘God forbid. How soon can you be free to marry me? It will take about three weeks for the formalities here.’

      ‘I can be ready by then. It might help if you wrote to Miss Hawkins…’

      ‘I’ll go and see her. Do you want Dr Beecham to give you away? The service isn’t the same as your Church of England, but I dare say you’ll feel better if it’s on familiar lines.’

      It was rather like discussing the future treatment for a patient and just as impersonal and efficient.

      ‘That would be nice.’ She swallowed the rest of her sherry and wished that it would warm her cold insides.

      ‘I will arrange your return here and for any family or friends whom you would like at our wedding.’ He got up and refilled her glass.

      ‘I must reassure you that you will be free to return to England after Lisa’s death.’ His voice was bleak. ‘The annulment may take a little time but it can be dealt with here; you will have no need to be bothered with it.’

      Fran tossed off her sherry. ‘You had it all worked out, didn’t you? Were you so sure of me?’

      He smiled faintly. ‘Certainly not. But Lisa was.’ He got up and took her glass as Tuggs came in to say that dinner was served. ‘And may I, on behalf of Mrs Tuggs and myself, wish you both happiness, Miss Manning and you, sir.’

      ‘Why thank you, Tuggs. I shall be driving Miss Manning back the day after tomorrow; when I return we must make all the necessary arrangements. We hope to marry within the month.’

      Nothing more was said about the wedding over dinner and when Fran said that she would like to go back to Clare’s, Litrik made no objection. It was a warm quiet night and they had little to say to each other. Only when he drew up before Clare’s flat did Litrik say, ‘I’ll come in with you, if I may—it may be easier for you.’

      Karel and Clare were delighted at the news. Beyond remarking that it must have been love at first sight, and the hope that they would wait until she had had the baby before they married, Clare showed little surprise. She plied them with coffee and then tactfully retired to her kitchen with Karel so that Fran could bid her new fiancé good night—something she did in her normal calm manner, thanking him for her pleasant afternoon and asking if he would be good enough to let her know when he wished her to be ready for the journey back to England.

      ‘Well, I’ll let you know tomorrow. You will have to come and say goodbye to Lisa. Can you manage the morning? I’ve patients to see after lunch.’