Pat, the colour high in her cheeks, shone up at him. “We really ought to arrange about the boys before we think about ourselves. Bill, perhaps I ought to fly back to England.”
“Not on your life! You’re staying with me. I’ve got a mother over there who’ll be only too happy to make all the arrangements. She might even come over with the boys, to make your acquaintance. Why are you staring? Didn’t you think I ever had a mother?”
“All this ... it’s so alarmingly sudden.”
“It’s not, my lovely. It started six weeks ago, and we’ve packed about six months of living into those weeks. Maybe this part of things is sudden to you, but it isn’t to me. I’ve thought about it constantly.”
“But I thought you were going to leave me for ever at Fremantle.”
“You’re nuts. The only thing I hadn’t decided was whether we’d marry there or in Melbourne.”
“But you hadn’t said a word!”
“I was going to tell you today; there’s still twenty hours to Fremantle. I’ve been waiting for just one small crack in that tight composure of yours, that’s all. If it hadn’t happened otherwise, I’d have forced it.”
“Oh, Bill.” She loved him with her eyes and lips, then demanded, “Is that picture of Bonnie Venning still over your bed?”
“Yes, but I haven’t really seen it for weeks.”
“You said she’d never let you down. Threw it at me like an accusation.”
“Well, it’s true. She’s smiled away there, sweet as you like. I could depend on being greeted every morning by that serene and slightly provocative expression.” He grinned. “Jealous?”
“Wouldn’t you be, if I kept a picture of some man in my past over my bed?”
“I sure would. It would have been accidentally smashed the first time I saw it!”
“Then how do you think I feel about your past amours?” she said warmly. “You certainly can’t have them and me too!”
He laughed aloud, incredulously. “Don’t you know who Bonnie is? She’s the girl Davies married—the permanent doctor on this ship. He met her in Australia and married her in England. In his haste to get away he left her picture, and I thought it a bit of a joke on him to leave it hanging in the cabin while I slept there. He’ll see it still in position when he gets back.”
“Well, you might have told me,” she said crossly. “Now I know why she was so dependable. She couldn’t answer back!”
“I thought you knew it was a picture of Davies’ fiancée ... wife, I should say. Everyone else did—the stewards and other officers. Why didn’t you ask me about her?”
“Oh, never mind. She doesn’t mean anything now.” Pat sighed. “Doesn’t everything seem overwhelming when you’re in love with someone and can’t tell them?”
“It’s behind us, darling. We’re going to have a busy week, getting married and fitting you out for Fiji. Patsy, you won’t mind living there, will you? I’ve taken it on for three years.”
She put a finger on his lips. “I’ll be happy anywhere, with you, and perhaps I’ll be able to work a little, too. I’m a wee bit frightened of getting married so soon, but I want it, Bill.”
Bill showed her that he was a little impatient himself, and Pat felt her fears falling away. She hadn’t imagined life could ever be so full and beautiful as it was now. And it was hardly under way!
Ship's Surgeon Page 19
