A Winter Love Story

by Betty Neels

  Fortunately for her peace of mind she wasn’t to know who it would bring!

  Chapter SIX

  THE DAY BEGAN WELL. Thomas had no need to leave the house until nine o’clock, so they had leisure to clean up the puppy, anoint his battered little paws and brush his coat while he lay on Claudia’s lap.

  ‘What shall we call him?’ she asked. ‘A nice English name, since I found him in Hyde Park.’

  ‘Since you found him you must choose his name.’

  ‘Yes, well...’ She thought for a moment. ‘Harvey—that’s easy to say, isn’t it?’

  Harvey cocked an ungainly ear; he was beginning to look more like a dog every minute.

  Mr Tait-Bullen went presently, promising that he would be back for tea unless some emergency turned up.

  ‘Oh, good,’ said Claudia, with such transparent pleasure that he turned to look at her. She met his gaze with a look of faint enquiry. ‘You look surprised. But teatime is one of the nicest parts of the day, isn’t it? You can tell me what you’ve been doing and I’ll listen...’

  Mr Tait-Bullen discovered to his surprise that the idea appealed to him.

  At four o’clock Cork arranged the tea things on a small table in the drawing room, and, since Mr Tait-Bullen had phoned to say that he would be home shortly after half past four, Claudia carried Harvey in his box from the sitting room and set it near the open fire. She had been out walking again, and was still in the tweed skirt and a blouse, but she had tidied her hair and powdered her nose and put on a pair of elegant kid slippers. She was sitting admiring them when Thomas came in.

  He crossed the room and dropped a quick kiss on her cheek. ‘How very cosy it is here. Cork’s bringing the tea.’

  He sat down opposite her. ‘You have had a happy day? Harvey is doing well?’

  ‘He’s better. Look at him, Thomas. He’s almost like a normal puppy.’

  Harvey took this as a compliment and waved his tail.

  ‘You don’t mind him being in here? I don’t think he’ll get out of his box.’

  ‘I don’t imagine he could do much harm even if he did. He certainly looks more like a dog.’ Thomas stretched an arm and tickled Harvey behind one ear. ‘I must let John know how he’s getting on. I dare say he’ll want to see him again.’

  Cork brought in the tea then, and buttered muffins in a dish, a fruit cake and a plate of paper-thin sandwiches. He arranged everything just so, and stood back to admire his handiwork.

  Claudia said, ‘Thank you, Cork, it all looks delicious. I hope you’re going to have your own tea now?’

  ‘Thank you, madam, yes. Dinner at the usual hour? You won’t be going out again, sir?’

  ‘I hope not, Cork.’ And, as Cork slid through the door, Thomas added, ‘I’ve a mass of paperwork to sort out. A quiet evening at home to get that done will be delightful.’

  Claudia, pouring tea, agreed placidly. If she had been looking forward to an evening in his company, she didn’t utter the thought aloud.

  They were inspecting the fruit cake when the front doorbell was rung. And, before either of them had time to speak, Cork opened the door and stood aside to let someone in.

  Mr Tait-Bullen got to his feet, his face expressionless, and his pleasant, ‘Why, Honor, how nice to see you,’ giving nothing away of his feelings.

  Claudia stood up, too, recognising in an instant that here was someone she wasn’t going to like and who wasn’t going to like her. But she smiled, a bright social smile, and then looked enquiringly at Thomas.

  ‘My dear, let me introduce Honor Thompson. Honor, my wife, Claudia.’

  Claudia offered a hand. ‘Do sit down and have a cup of tea. I’ll get Cork to bring a fresh pot...’

  Honor sat on the sofa facing the fire, throwing off her coat to reveal a black dress—very short, very smart and undoubtedly very expensive. It showed off her long legs and her very slim body.

  No shape at all, thought Claudia, and wondered if Thomas admired women who looked like beanpoles. She was suddenly aware of her own curves, and busied herself with the fresh tea Cork had brought in, listening with half an ear to Honor’s rather loud voice complaining that she had had no idea that Thomas was getting married and why hadn’t he told her. ‘You must have known what a shock it would be to me.’

  She glanced at Claudia, who handed her a cup and saucer. ‘I expect you and Thomas are very old friends,’ Claudia remarked. ‘But, you see, we didn’t tell anyone except our families. It was a very quiet wedding.’

  ‘Well, I for one shan’t forgive you easily, Thomas,’ said Honor, and she leaned forward to lay a hand on his arm.

  Mr Tait-Bullen got up and put his cup and saucer on the table without answering her, and she flushed angrily.

  ‘Of course, I don’t suppose you know much about Thomas. You can’t have known each other long.’ She gave Claudia a sly look.

  ‘Long enough to know that we wanted to be married,’ said Claudia, in a matter-of-fact voice which robbed the question of drama. ‘You live in London?’

  ‘Of course. Where else is there?’

  ‘You don’t care to travel?’ asked Claudia guilelessly. ‘I mean, around England? Perhaps all your friends live here?’

  ‘I hate the country. I adore the theatre and dining out and dancing.’ She gave a little trill of laughter. ‘I can see that Thomas will have to change his ways now that he is a married man.’

  ‘I expect most men do,’ said Claudia cheerfully. ‘And I don’t suppose they mind or they wouldn’t marry, would they?’ She smiled at Thomas. ‘Don’t you agree, Thomas?’

  ‘Wholeheartedly. Honor, take a look at our addition to the household.’

  He bent and picked up Harvey, tucked him under an arm and went over to where Honor was sitting.

  She eyed Harvey with dislike. ‘You aren’t serious? It’s a horrid little stray. He must be filthy, and he’s hideously ugly...’

  ‘He’s a brave little dog. We call him Harvey—he’ll probably grow into something quite splendid. He’s still rather grubby, but he’s been ill-treated—look at this sore on his shoulder, and under his paws...’

  Honor shrank back. ‘Don’t come any nearer with the nasty little brute...’ She stood up. ‘I must go. I’m going out this evening.’ She turned a cold eye on Claudia. ‘Nice meeting you, Claudia. I dare say we shall see each other around—that is, if you go out much socially.’

  She didn’t shake hands, and she didn’t shake hands with Thomas either, since he was still holding Harvey. She reached the door as Cork, summoned by the bell push by the fireplace, opened it and ushered her out.

  It wasn’t until he had returned and carried away the tea tray that Claudia said, ‘I hope you’re grateful that I married you. She would have eaten you alive in a couple of years. Are all your girlfriends like that?’

  Mr Tait-Bullen had gone back to his chair with Harvey curled up on his knee. He had expected a reproachful comment, or at least coolness and hurt looks, and he was taken aback by Claudia’s cheerful question. Taken aback and, he had to admit, amused.

  ‘I only now begin to realise what a treasure I have married. I am indeed grateful that you are my wife—calm, good sense and not a single sulky look. I can assure you that I have never had any intention of marrying Honor, although I suspect that she had the intention of marrying me. And I have had no girlfriends. Oh, I have taken Honor out from time to time, and other women, too, but on a strictly platonic basis. I have not been in love for a very long time. If that were so, I would have told you.’

  ‘Oh, my goodness, I didn’t mean to pry. It’s none of my business. All the same, I’m glad that it’s me you married.’

  ‘And so am I. Now, let us forget the woman and talk about other things which matter. I can be free next Sunday. Shall we go down to Little Planting? Will y
our mother and George be home?’

  ‘Yes, they only went away for a few days because they want to spend Christmas at home, and Mother enjoys all the preparations, you know—the tree and paper chains and holly and presents. She always managed to make it a lovely time when we lived with Great-Uncle William.’

  ‘Then we will go, and take Harvey with us. Do you want to shop for presents?’

  ‘I could go tomorrow... And what about your family? Should we not buy more presents for them?’

  ‘I can’t spare the time. If I give you a list, will you do your best for us both?’

  It was the kind of question that required nothing more than a meek answer.

  She went shopping the next morning; Thomas had left the house early, and she found no one when she went down to breakfast, but by her plate was a list of names scrawled in his unreadable writing. A long list, starting with his mother and ending with someone called Maggie, with brackets beside her name requesting warm slippers, size six! His father wasn’t mentioned—presumably he bought that present himself. She added Cork’s name, and Mrs Rumbold’s. Probably Thomas gave them money, but a personal gift was always nice to have...

  She found a cashmere stole for her mother-in-law, silk scarves for his sisters and a small leather case containing razor, hairbrush and a variety of small necessities which a man might need when travelling. And then she decided that scarves weren’t enough for his sisters; she added a small silver photo frame and a little enamelled box. There were nephews and nieces, too; she spent a happy hour in the toy department of Harrods.

  Thomas got home in the early evening, and she saw at once that for the moment at least he had no wish to look at what she had bought. He had greeted her in his usual manner, given her a drink, poured one for himself and gone to sit in his chair. Harvey had climbed out of his box and wriggled his way on to his knee, and Thomas now stroked the small creature gently.

  ‘You have had a pleasant day?’ he asked presently.

  ‘Yes, thank you. But you don’t want to hear about it for the moment, do you? Do you want to talk about your day? I dare say I won’t understand the half of it, but I’ll be a pair of ears.’

  He laughed then. ‘Claudia, you are so understanding. It is as if we had been married for years—you are such a comfortable woman to come home to. And at the end of the day sometimes a pair of ears is what I most want.’

  He began to talk: a difficult diagnosis, a long list in Theatre, a post-operative patient who wasn’t progressing as well as he should and always a backlog of patients who needed his skill.

  Claudia listened to every word. There was quite a bit she didn’t understand, but that didn’t matter; she was intelligent enough to have a good idea as to his working day.

  Presently she asked, ‘Do you have a team working with you?’

  ‘Yes, a splendid one. My senior registrar is a most dependable man, and I have two junior registrars and a couple of young surgeons—you’ll meet them all at the ball. And a splendid theatre sister, too.’

  Claudia felt a faint flicker of something which she didn’t recognise as jealousy. All she knew was that she felt regret that she couldn’t be his theatre sister, working beside him.

  Thomas smiled across at her. ‘Have I bored you? You must tell me if I do.’

  ‘No, I like to know something of your work. I’m really interested.’

  Cork came to tell them then that dinner was on the table, and Thomas said, ‘You must tell me what you have bought...’

  She spent the next day shopping for her mother and George, and Tombs, Mrs Pratt and Jennie. It was nice having enough money to choose presents without having to bother too much about their price. Thomas had given her a very generous allowance, and told her carelessly not to worry if she spent too much, but she reminded herself that she hadn’t married him for his money. Indeed, she admitted, she would have married him if he were penniless. The thought surprised her, and left her feeling disquieted.

  The day after that was the hospital ball. Anxious to present as pleasing a picture as possible, Claudia spent most of the afternoon doing her nails, washing her hair and experimenting with make-up. But by teatime she had decided that her usual dash of powder and lipstick would do. As for her hair, after a tiring hour pinning it into a variety of elaborate styles, she decided to twist it into a chignon—a simple style which suited her lovely face and which required no fuss. She suspected that Thomas would dislike it if she were to fidget about her appearance.

  He had expected to be home early, but Cork had carried away the tea things and there was no sign of him. They had planned to have a light meal before going to the ball, and when she heard the clock strike seven she went along to the kitchen with Harvey trotting beside her.

  ‘Cork, what is best to be done? We are to leave here by half past eight, and the Professor will want time to change. Would it be a good idea if you served a meal in the sitting room? We were going to have grilled soles, weren’t we? Could they be saved for tomorrow? And could you give us soup and an omelette? Then whatever time he comes in we could eat when he is ready?’

  ‘I have been thinking along those lines, madam. A plain omelette with a small salad, and I have prepared a sustaining soup with fresh-baked rolls.’

  ‘Cork, that will be simply splendid. I’m going up to dress...’

  Thomas came home half an hour later and Claudia, fresh from her bath and ready save for getting into her dress, wrapped her dressing gown round her and went down to meet him.

  He looked tired after his long day, but he said cheerfully, ‘Hello—did you begin to think I wasn’t coming home?’

  ‘Well, we were getting a bit anxious.’ He hadn’t kissed her, but she told herself that it didn’t matter a bit. ‘Would you like a meal at once, or do you want to change first?’

  ‘I see that you aren’t dressed yet.’ He eyed her pretty pink quilted dressing gown. ‘Shall we eat now?’

  ‘Cork has a meal ready for us. We’re having it in the sitting room. How well he looks after you, Thomas.’

  He looked at her sharply. ‘And you, too?’

  ‘Heavens, yes! He’s a treasure.’ She led the way into the sitting room, scooping up Harvey as they went. He was still a somewhat battered little animal, but now that he found himself among friends, he was full of a desire to please.

  Cork offered the soup, and presently the omelette, looking gratified when Thomas observed that it was exactly the meal he needed. Cork, having overheard Claudia’s praise of him, murmured that it was madam who had suggested it. It was an unusually generous remark on his part, but he was becoming aware that Claudia had no intention of ousting him from his position in the household. In fact, he was beginning to like her.

  The meal eaten, they went away to dress and, half an hour later, met again in the drawing room. Claudia, in the cream chiffon, wasn’t sure if Thomas would find it grand enough, but she need not have worried.

  He watched her cross the room. ‘Delightful, Claudia. Exactly right. You look charming.’ He took a box from the table beside him. ‘Will you wear these?’ he asked. ‘I think they will go very well with the dress.’

  He offered pearls, a double row with a diamond clasp, and to go with them earrings, pearl drops set in a delicate network of diamonds.

  ‘My goodness,’ said Claudia, ‘they’re magnificent, Thomas.’ She touched the pearls with a gentle finger. ‘I’m almost afraid to wear them.’ She smiled at him. ‘Thank you very much.’

  She stretched up and kissed his cheek, and he took the necklace from her and fastened it round her throat.

  ‘My grandmother left them to me with the advice that they should be given to my wife when I married.’

  ‘She must have loved you,’ said Claudia, and swallowed disappointment; they weren’t a present from Thomas—not something he had wanted to buy for her, to
give her as a present; he was merely carrying out his grandmother’s wishes.

  She said rather too brightly, ‘I’m ready if you want to leave now.’

  He gave her a thoughtful look, which she met with an equally bright smile. He looked distinguished in his black tie; the formal suit, cut by a master tailor, emphasised his height and size. He was a handsome man, she reflected, who ignored his good looks and had not an ounce of conceit. He was high-handed at times, perhaps, and capable of a fine rage, she suspected, but, like so many large men, gentle.

  Cork, with Harvey tucked under an arm, saw them from the house, and it was only when they were driving through the quiet streets towards the busy heart of the city that Claudia felt the first pangs of nervousness.

  ‘I don’t know anyone...’

  She felt his large, comforting hand on her knee for a moment. ‘Don’t worry, my dear, you will soon have more friends and acquaintances than you can imagine.’

  ‘Oh—are you very well known, Thomas?’

  ‘Well, I do visit a number of hospitals, and have done for some years now.’

  He turned the car into the hospital forecourt, parked and helped her out.

  He nodded to one of the porters standing at the entrance, and one of them got into the car and drove it away as they went in.

  After that Claudia found herself in a sort of dream world. Thomas led her from one hospital dignitary to the other, a hand under her elbow guiding her, and when the formalities were over he took her onto the dance floor. He danced well, in an unspectacular way, guiding her effortlessly through the crowded hall, talking casually from time to time, putting her at her ease so that presently she found herself dancing with a variety of partners and enjoying herself.