apologies. Why did you not come downstairs to tea?’
‘It’s a family occasion.’
He leaned forward and took a cake and ate it—one of Briskett’s light-as-air fairy cakes—and the simple act turned him from a large, self-assured man into a small boy.
Araminta swallowed the surge of love which engulfed her. However would she be able to live without him?
The doctor finished his cake without haste. ‘You have finished your tea? Then shall we go downstairs?’
She shot him a look and encountered a bland stare. There was nothing for it but to do as he asked. How is it possible, she thought, to love someone who is so bent on having his own way? She accompanied him downstairs to the drawing room, to be warmly greeted by the boys’ parents. Presently Mrs Ingram drew her on one side.
‘They were good?’ she wanted to know anxiously. ‘Peter and Paul can be perfect little horrors…’ She said it with love.
‘Well, they weren’t; they have been really splendid—very obedient and helpful and never bored.’
‘Oh, good. I expect you’re longing to go home. Could you stay over tomorrow and help me pack their things?’
‘Yes, of course. You must be glad to be going home again. I know the boys will be, although they enjoyed living in Utrecht. It seemed like a second home to them.’
‘Well, they love Marcus, of course, and since they’ve both spoken Dutch and English ever since they could utter words they don’t feel strange. I’m sure they will have a lot to tell us. You were happy in Holland?’
‘Oh, yes. I enjoyed it very much…’
‘Marcus tells me that you’re to start nursing training very shortly. That’s something you want to do?’ Mrs Ingram smiled. ‘No boyfriend?’
‘No, I expect I’m meant to be a career girl!’
If Mrs Ingram had any opinion about that she remained silent, and presently Araminta took the boys off to bed and supper, before slipping away to her room while their parents came to say goodnight. This was a lengthy business, with a great deal of giggling and talk until they consented to lie down and go to sleep. Excitement had tired them out; they slept in the instant manner of children and she was free to go to her room and change her dress.
She excused herself as soon as she decently could after dinner; it had been a pleasant meal, and she had borne her part in the conversation when called upon to do so, but although the talk had been general, she had no doubt that her company hindered the other three from any intimate talk.
She was bidden a friendly goodnight and the doctor got up to open the door for her. She went past him without a look and went off to her room and started to pack her things. Tomorrow she knew that she would be kept busy getting the boys’ clothes packed. She felt lonely; Humphrey’s company would have been welcome, but of course he was miles away in Utrecht. So she was forced to talk to herself.
‘I’m perfectly happy,’ she assured herself. ‘My future is settled, I have money, I shall make friends with the other nurses, and in a year or two I shall be able to pick and choose where I mean to work.’ Not London. The chance of meeting the doctor was remote but, all the same, not to be risked.
There was no one at breakfast when she went down with the boys: the doctor had already left and Mr and Mrs Ingram weren’t yet down. They had almost finished when they joined them. Araminta left the boys with them and at Mrs Ingram’s suggestion began the task of packing up for the boys. They were to leave that evening but first they were to go shopping with their father and mother. So Araminta had a solitary lunch and spent the afternoon collecting up the boys’ toys and tidying them away into various boxes. They were to be driven home by the doctor directly after tea, and she had been asked to have everything ready by then.
Briskett, going round the house retrieving odds and ends for her to pack, was of the opinion that the house would be very dull once they had gone. ‘And you’ll be leaving, miss—we shall miss you, too. Very quiet, it’ll be.’
‘I expect the doctor will be quite glad to have the house to himself,’ said Araminta.
‘Well, now, as to that, I’d venture to disagree, miss. The boss is fond of children and you’ve fitted in like a glove on a hand.’
She thanked him gravely. He was a kind little man, despite his ratty looks, and he was devoted to the doctor. ‘Maybe you’ll be back, miss,’ said Briskett, to her surprise.
‘Me? Oh, I don’t think so, Briskett. You mean as a governess when the doctor marries and has children? By then I’ll be a trained nurse and probably miles away.’
It took some time for the doctor to get his party settled with their possessions in the car and still longer for them to make their goodbyes. The boys hugged and kissed Araminta and rather silently handed her a parcel, painstakingly wrapped in fancy paper. Seeing the look on their small faces, she begged to be allowed to open it there and then.
‘They chose it themselves,’ said their mother rather apologetically.
It was a coffret of face cream, powder and lipstick, and a little bottle of scent. When Araminta exclaimed over it, Peter said, ‘We know you’re not pretty, but these things will make you beautiful. The lady behind the counter said so.’
‘It’s just exactly what I’ve always wanted,’ declared Araminta, ‘and thank you both very much for thinking of such a lovely present. I’ll use it every day and I’m sure I’ll be beautiful in no time at all.’
She hugged them both, told them to be good boys and then watched with Briskett as they all got into the car, parcels and packages squashed into the back seat with the boys and their mother. They all waved and smiled, but not the doctor, of course; he raised a casual hand as he drove away but he didn’t turn his head.
Araminta finished her packing, ate a solitary dinner and decided to go to bed. There was no sign of the doctor; probably he would stay the night at his sister’s house. She was halfway up the stairs when he came in and Briskett appeared in the hall to offer supper.
‘No, no, I’ve had a meal, thanks, Briskett, but will you see to the car? I’ll be in my study.’
He glanced at Araminta, poised on the stairs. ‘Miss Pomfrey, if you would spare me a few minutes…?’
She went with him to his study and sat down in the chair he offered her.
‘You’ve had the letter from the hospital?’ And when she said yes, he went on, ‘Briskett will drive you to your home in the morning. I expect you are anxious to get back. Is there anything you want to know about your appointment as a student nurse? I presume you have been given instructions?’
‘Yes, thank you. There is no need for Briskett to drive me…’
He said in a level voice, ‘If you will just tell him when you are ready to leave, Miss Pomfrey. I shall see you in the morning before you go. I won’t keep you now; you must be tired.’
She got up quickly. ‘Yes, yes, I am. Goodnight, Doctor.’
His goodnight was very quiet.
She went down to breakfast after a wakeful night to find that the doctor had been called away very early in the morning. ‘Not knowing when he’ll be back, he said not to wait for him, miss. I’ll have the car round as soon as you’ve had breakfast.’
Araminta crumbled toast onto her plate and drank several cups of coffee. Now she would never say goodbye to the doctor. Possibly he had left the house early, so that he might avoid a last meeting. She had no idea what she had expected from it, but at least she had hoped that they would part in a friendly fashion. She went suddenly hot and cold at the idea that he might have guessed that she had fallen in love with him. Now her one thought was to leave his house as quickly as possible…her one regret that Hambledon wasn’t thousands of miles away.
It