An Innocent Bride

by Betty Neels

  `Will you tell me what I must do to help Aunt Thirza? And what sort of treatment she is to have.'

  `That is my intention. Bad news is never as bad if it is given in the right surroundings, is it? Now sit stilll and don't interrupt...'

  He didn't try to make light of the matter, but neither was he full of gloomy forebodings. `We must take each day as it comes. Your aunt may fail so slowly that it is barely noticeable; on the other hand she may die without any warning. If you can accept that, it will help you. Don't stop her from doing what she wishes to do. I think that she is someone who would dislike being an invalid, but try and discreetly curb her activities as much as possible. Dr Peters will be keeping an eye on her and will keep you up to date. Now, as to diet...'

  Katrina listened carefully, and the thought crossed her mind that perhaps she didn't dislike him after all. She didn't like him, but only because she knew nothing about him, and she was grateful to him...

  The professor glanced at his watch, whistled the dogs, and they went back to the house to have lunch. Aunt Thirza wasn't mentioned again. Instead he led the talk to Katrina's own interests, slipping in questions about her life so that by the time they left the table he had a very good idea of it. And pretty dull too, he reflected, watching her pour coffee into the delicate porcelain coffee cups. She might be buried alive in the country, but she had the potential for a career of some sort. He asked abruptly, `How old are you, Katrina?"

  'Twenty-four. Don't you know it's rude to ask a girl how old she is?"

  'I stand corrected. Unfortunately it is a question I have to ask all my patients-it has become a bad habit.'

  `Oh, well, I don't mind. How old are you, Professor?'

  He laughed, and she thought that he looked ten years younger. `Thirty-nine. Middle-aged.'

  `Rubbish, no one is middle-aged these days. You were fifteen when I was born...'

  `You had a happy childhood, Katrina, for those first twelve years?'

  She nodded. `Yes.' She wanted to ask him if he had been happy as a boy, but she didn't dare. She mustn't allow herself to get too friendly with him, although she didn't think that there was much fear of that. He would never allow it.

  Presently he said, `We should be going,' and she got to her feet at once, anxious not to outstay her welcome.

  `It was kind of you to ask me to come here,' she told him. `I hope I haven't spoilt your day.' And, when Peach came into the hall, she said, `Will you tell Mrs Peach that lunch was lovely? I wish I could cook like that.'

  Indeed it had been lovely. Potted shrimps and brown bread and butter, cut wafer-thin, rack of lamb with tiny new potatoes, and rhubarb fool to follow with clotted cream. The professor certainly lived well. Sitting beside him in the car, she wondered if he earned a great deal of money, and thought he probably did. Dr Peters had said that he was highly regarded, and of course it must cost a great deal to train as a doctor. She voiced her thoughts out loud.

  `Does it cost a lot of money to train as a doctor?'

  If he was surprised by her question he didn't show it. `Yes, but it isn't only the money; it's the years of hard work.'

  `Have you been a doctor for a long time?"

  'I qualified when I was twenty-three...'

  `But you took more exams, I expect?"

  'Any number.'

  `But you've got there, haven't you? I mean, to the top of your particular tree?"

  'Perhaps, but there is always something more to learn.' He glanced at her. `Have you ever wished to train for a profession, Katrina?'

  `Oh, yes. You know how it is when you leave school; you're full of ideas. But I'm happy with Aunt Thirza, and I'd hate to live in a town-a big town.'

  He drew up outside the cottage, got out and opened her door. The little house looked charming in the afternoon sun, and Betsy was sitting by the door, waiting for them. He took the key from its hiding place, unlocked the door and they all went in.

  Katrina let out a breath. `How awful if Aunt Thirza had been here. Whatever would I have told her?"

  'Oh, I would have thought of something feasible before you had a chance to blurt out the truth. Shall we have tea?"

  'Is there time?' She was putting the kettle on the gas ring as she spoke. She suddenly didn't want to be left alone with her thoughts.

  They drank their tea presently, not saying much and not mentioning Aunt Thirza either, and soon the professor got into his car and drove away. Katrina had thanked him for her lunch, for digging the garden, for his advice, and he had put up a large hand and begged her to say no more, so that she had the lowering feeling that she had been too effusive.

  But she had other things to think about. While she got the supper ready she went over everything that the professor had told her; she mustn't forget a word of it...

  Aunt Thirza returned, full of good spirits, and Dr Peters stayed for a while, chatting about their day. `We must do it more often,' he observed. `You and Mary have much in common, and she's absolutely delighted that you've agreed to help

  with the church bazaar.' He glanced at Katrina. `I suppose you'll be expected to give a hand, Katrina?"

  'I'm behind the scenes this year, cutting sandwiches and serving teas.'

  Over supper Aunt Thirza was full of plans. `I do so enjoy the summer months,' she explained. `Such a lot going on

  fetes and bazaars and tennis tournaments, and I hear that the church school is putting on a play at the end of term. More than enough to keep us busy.'

  She put down her knife and fork. `I had such a splendid lunch I'm really not hungry. Did you get the digging done?'

  Katrina said that yes, she had. Well, it wasn't quite a fib put that way. `There's still a lot to do. Everything's growing, nicely, though. We need some rain.'

  It was surprising how difficult it was to talk about mundane things when what she really wanted to do was to fling her arms round her aunt and have a good howl.

  The days slipped away in the orderly routine which Aunt Thirza had established when she retired and had no intention of altering. Katrina did her best to check the old lady's more active interests, but it wasn't easy. Indeed, Aunt Thirza had remarked once or twice that anyone would think that she was ill.

  `Those pills I take will soon put me back on my feet,' she observed. `There are any number of things which I wish to do this summer.'

  Since there was no gainsaying her, Katrina gave up urging her to eat the tasty meals she cooked, and drink the milk Dr Peters had told her would improve her condition, although she managed in a dozen ways to take over more of the household chores, pointing out that her aunt was busy enough with the various functions being organised.

  But Aunt Thirza wasn't getting better. Katrina could see that she was paler and easily tired, although she would never admit it, and Dr Peters had told her that her latest blood test showed no improvement.

  `But it's not worse?'

  He said cautiously, `Let us say that it is no better.' Which to Katrina's ears didn't sound like an answer at all.

  They were to go to St Aldrick's very shortly. Aunt Thirza had had a letter from the professor's secretary, asking her to attend his clinic.

  `You'll come with me,' said Aunt Thirza, `and if he doesn't keep me hanging around for too long we will have a look at the shops. I need some new teatowels-John Lewis will do nicely.'

  It was already warm by the time they set out, and when they reached the hospital Aunt Thirza was tired and ill tempered.

  `This is nonsense,' she told Katrina. `I'm sure there is no need for Professor Glenville to see me again. I feel perfectly well except for this tiredness, and that's to be expected when you are as old as I am.'

  `You're only seventy-something,' Katrina reminded her. `I dare say this will be the last time, just to check that everything is going according to plan.'

  She sat quietly and wondered if she would see the professor. It seemed unlikely, for it wasn't a social call and there were rows of patients for him to see. Her aunt was one of many, and she won
dered again just how eminent he was. What did he do in his free time? He had hinted that he might marry, so he would spend his evenings with whoever it was he intended to marry. Did they go dancing, she wondered, or dine at some marvellous restaurant? Or did she go home with him and spend the evening eating Mrs Peach's delicious dinners?

  A nurse called her aunt's name and Katrina watched her disappear down the short corridor lined with doors. The professor's room was the nearest. She glanced at her watch. They had been waiting for more than half an hour and her aunt would be fifteen minutes or so. If they were to go to the shops they would have to catch a later train.

  Aunt Thirza came back, some twenty minutes later, her back poker-straight, looking annoyed. She marched out with Katrina hurrying to keep up with her.

  Outside, on the pavement of the busy street, Katrina said, `What has he told you, Aunt, something to upset you?'

  Her heart gave a sickening thump. Surely her aunt hadn't asked an outright question, demanded the truth?

  `He says I must come here again in three weeks' time. It seems the anaemia isn't responding to treatment. It sometimes happens, he told me, and I must have patience. It may take a little longer than he had hoped. I have to get more pills from Dr Peters.' She smiled suddenly. `Last time I was here we mentioned the garden, and he said he had noticed that there was a small moss rose under the window, not doing too well. He has to come our way on Sunday and he asked if I would accept a rose bush-he has several in his garden and will need to discard a few. He'll come for coffee.'

  `How kind,' said Katrina, wondering just why he was doing that, and planning to bake a batch of her almond biscuits which sold so well at village functions. The news wasn't good, but hopefully she would get the chance to ask him what exactly was happening. Surely there was something, some treatment-a blood transfusion-to halt her aunt's illness.

  `Well, don't look so glum,' said Aunt Thirza, once more her brisk self. `He's rather nice. Now, let's get a bus to Oxford Street.'

  CHAPTER THREE

  THE teatowels were bought, and furnished a splendid excuse to roam around John Lewis, looking at the latest goods on show.

  `What a good thing that we live in the country and don't need to dress up,' said Aunt Thirza, leading the way to the restaurant. And Katrina, with a last lingering look at the pretty clothes she was never likely to possess, followed her. They didn't mention the professor over their sandwiches and coffee, and Katrina, seeing her aunt's tired face, declared that she had a splitting headache and would Aunt Thirza mind awfully if they caught the earlier train home?

  On Sunday morning Katrina got up early to make the almond biscuits, set a tray with the best china and the silver spoons, fed Betsy, and then took a cup of tea to her aunt. Her suggestion that her aunt might like her breakfast in bed called forth a snappy response. Breakfast in bed was only for those too lazy to get up, who should be ashamed of themselves, or in case of necessity-illness, or a broken leg or something similar. `And I'm not hungry just tea and toast. I'll be down in half an hour.'

  They would be unable to go to morning church; they would go to Evensong instead, which meant that Katrina had the day in which to do a few odd jobs in the garden. That would mean doing the wash on Monday, she reflected, bundling up her hair, and going in to Warminster on Tuesday, since her aunt had observed that now that it was rather warm during the day she found the journey by bus rather tedious. So Katrina had offered to do the shopping in her stead, and had been told sharply that she might do it for this once.

  `Next week I shall feel more like it, and it may be cooler,' Miss Gibbs had said. `Besides, I have a rather busy week ahead of me-there's the parish council meeting, and Mary Peters wants me to help her plan the summer fete.'

  Professor Glenville arrived shortly after ten o'clock. As he walked up the garden path Miss Gibbs came to the door.

  `Good morning, Professor, and isn't it a splendid one? I hope you haven't come out of your way to bring the rose? You'll stay for a few minutes and have coffee?"

  'Yes, thank you. You look very well today.'

  `Oh, I feel splendid. The treatment must be working at last. There's so much to be done I'm thankful for that.'

  They had gone to sit down on the garden bench. `Nothing too strenuous, I hope?"

  'No, no-but I am on several committees in the village...'

  Delighted to find a listener to her rather autocratic views on village life, Miss Gibbs talked happily until Katrina came with the coffee tray.

  The professor wished her good morning, got up and fetched the rickety table on which to put the tray, and sat down again, very much at ease. He drank his coffee, ate most of the biscuits and then asked if he might have a spade.

  `The rose is in the boot. I'll fetch it and plant it for you,' he told Miss Gibbs. `Where would you like it?'

  They settled on the sunny wall of the house, facing south and sheltered from cold winds, and he went off to fetch the rose.

  `I'll find a spade,' said Katrina, and took a long time about it so that he came down to the shed. `Do you want to tell me something?' she asked.

  `Yes. Not good news, I'm afraid, but I think you must be told. The last blood tests have confirmed my findings when your aunt came to see me. She is going downhill very fast and I must warn you that she may die at any moment.'

  Katrina sat down on an upturned box. `I see.' She had gone rather white but her voice held only the faintest quiver. `Thank you for warning me. Are you sure? Is there no chance of improvement?"

  'No. I'm sorry, and I'm not going to pretend to you that there is. This is the wrong time to tell you, but you're not on the phone, and in any case it isn't something one telephones about. Is there anything I can do to help in any way?"

  'No, thank you, you've been very kind. I-I hope that Aunt Thirza dies in her sleep.' She got off the box. `We had better plant the rose. She's happy about that, isn't she?"

  'Yes.' He gave her a searching look. `You're all right? Not going to cry?"

  'I can cry later,' said Katrina soberly.

  They planted the rose, with Aunt Thirza watching with a sharp eye, giving orders and changing her mind every few minutes. And when it was done she gave it her entire approval.

  `How very kind of you to give me a bush which is already in flower.' She added, with some of her old briskness, `It's the wrong time of the year, of course. It should have been planted in the autumn...'

  `We'll take a chance,' said the professor cheerfully. `If it doesn't thrive, I'll bring you another one in the autumn.'

  He said he must be going, took the spade back to the shed, and Aunt Thirza thanked him with unwonted warmth. `I suppose you're going to spend the day with friends?'

  He said smoothly, `Indeed I am. It is good to get away from London, even for a few hours. I live in the country, but I spend my days there, and, as you know, St Aldrick's isn't in the best part of town.'

  He went unhurriedly, reminding Aunt Thirza that she would be coming to see him again in a few weeks' time, and Katrina, listening to his quiet voice, wondered how he could conceal his knowledge so successfully.

  He shook Miss Gibbs' hand, nodded casually at Katrina and drove off, leaving Aunt Thirza to discuss his visit at some length.

  `I daresay he has a girlfriend or a fiancee. He's not a young man and he should have a wife and children. I shall ask hill) when I see him next.'

  Katrina said carefully, `Well, he did mention vaguely that he might be marrying shortly, so I dare say he's engaged.'

  `He would have done very nicely for you,' said Auni Thirza.

  'Aunt-he doesn't even like me. I mean, we get on when we meet, but he's not in the least interested in me.'

  She collected up the coffee cups and went to see about lunch. At least he had liked the almond biscuits.

  Mrs Peters came for Aunt Thirza the next morning; the doctor's house was at the other end of the village, ten minutes' walk away, and Aunt Thirza had stoutly maintained that she enjoyed a quiet stroll. But Mrs Pet
ers had an excuse readycollecting some old curtains Katrina had looked out for the village fete-and bore the old lady off, leaving Katrina to get the washing done and hanging on the line before she was brought back at lunchtime.

  She had had a most enjoyable morning, she told Katrina, presiding over one of the committee meetings she chaired-and had done for years-but she didn't eat her lunch and went very willingly enough to rest until teatime.