A Christmas Romance

by Betty Neels

  ‘No, sir, just finishing a job.’

  ‘You live close by?’ asked the professor idly.

  ‘Clapham Common. I’m meeting my girlfriend and we’ll go home together. I live at home but she’s spending Christmas with us.’

  ‘Ah, yes. There’s nothing like a family gathering. You’re planning to marry.’

  ‘Well, as soon as Dorothy’s sold her flat—her parents are dead. Once it’s sold we shall put our savings together and find something around Clapham.’

  ‘Well, I wish you the best of luck and a happy Christmas!’

  The professor went on his unhurried way, leaving the young man with the impression that he wasn’t such a bad old stick after all, despite his frequent requests for tests at a moment’s notice.

  The professor went back to his office; ten minutes’ work would clear up the last odds and ends of his work for the moment. He had no idea why Theodosia had spun such a wildly imaginative set of fibs but he intended to find out. Even if she had left at five o’clock she would hardly have had the time to change and pack her bag and see to Gustavus.

  He was actually at the door when he was bleeped …

  Theodosia hurried home. Miss Prescott, true to form, had kept her busy until the very last minute, which meant that catching the early train was an impossibility. She would phone the aunts and say that she would be on the later train. Once in her room she fed an impatient Gustavus, changed into her second-best dress, brushed her coat, found her hat and, since she had time to spare, put on the kettle for a cup of tea. It would probably be chilly on the train and there would be a lot of waiting round for buses once she got to Braintree.

  She was sipping her tea when someone knocked on the door, the knock followed by Mrs Towzer’s voice. Theodosia asked her in, explaining at the same time that she was just about to leave for her train.

  ‘Won’t keep you then, love. Forgot to give you this letter—came this morning—in with my post. Don’t suppose it’s important. ‘Ave a nice time at your auntys’. ‘Aving a bit of a party this evening; must get meself poshed up. The ‘ouse’ll be empty, everyone off ‘ome.’ They exchanged mutual good wishes and Mrs Towzer puffed her way down the stairs.

  The letter was in Great-Aunt Mary’s spidery hand. Surely not a last-minute request to shop for some forgotten article? Unless it was something she could buy at the station there was no time for anything else.

  Theodosia sat down, one eye on the clock, and opened the letter.

  She read it and then read it again. Old family friends, an archdeacon and his wife, had returned to England from South America, wrote Aunt Mary. Their families were in Scotland and they did not care to make such a long journey over the holiday period.

  ‘Your aunt Jessica and I have discussed this at some length and we have agreed that it is our duty to give these old friends the hospitality which our Christian upbringing expects of us. Christmas is a time for giving and charity,’ went on Aunt Mary, and Theodosia could almost hear her vinegary voice saying it. As Theodosia knew, continued her aunt, the accommodation at the cottage was limited, and since she had no lack of friends in London who would be only too glad to have her as a guest over Christmas they knew she would understand. ‘We shall, of course, miss you …’

  Theodosia sat quite still for a while, letting her thoughts tumble around inside her head, trying to adjust to surprise and an overwhelming feeling that she wasn’t wanted. Of course she had friends, but who, on Christmas Eve itself, would invite themselves as a guest into a family gathering?

  Presently she got up, counted the money in her purse, got her shopping bag from behind the door, assured Gustavus that she would be back presently and left the house. There was no one around; Mrs Towzer was behind closed doors getting ready for the party. She walked quickly to a neighbouring street where there was a row of small shops. There was a supermarket at its end but she ignored it; there the shops would stay open for another hour or so, catching the last-minute trade. Although she had the money she had saved for her train ticket she needed to spend it carefully.

  Tea, sugar, butter and a carton of milk, cheese, food for Gustavus and a bag of pasta which she didn’t really like but which was filling, baked beans and a can of soup. She moved on to the butcher, and since it was getting late and he wouldn’t be open again for three days he let her have a turkey leg very cheap. She bought bacon, too, and eggs, and then went next door to the greengrocer for potatoes and some apples.

  Lastly she went to the little corner shop at the end of the row, where one side was given over to the selling of bread, factory-baked in plastic bags, and lurid iced cakes, the other side packed with everything one would expect to find in a bazaar.

  Theodosia bought a loaf and a miniature Christmas pudding and then turned her attention to the other side of the shop. She spent the last of her money on a miniature Christmas tree, which was plastic, with a few sprigs of holly, and very lastly a small box of chocolates.

  Thus burdened she went back to Mrs Towzer’s. The front door was open; there were guests for the party milling about in the hall. She passed them unnoticed and climbed the stairs.

  ‘We are going to have a happy Christmas together,’ she told Gustavus. ‘You’ll be glad, anyway, for you’ll be warm here, and I’ve bought you a present and you’ve bought me one, too.’

  She unpacked everything, stowed the food away and then set the Christmas tree on the table. She had no baubles for it but at least it looked festive. So did the holly and the Christmas cards when she had arranged them around the room.

  Until now she hadn’t allowed her thoughts to wander but now her unhappiness took over and she wept into the can of soup she had opened for her supper. It wasn’t that she minded so very much being on her own; it was knowing that the great-aunts had discarded her in the name of charity. But surely charity began at home? And she could have slept on the sofa …

  She ate her soup, unpacked the weekend bag she had packed with such pleasure, and decided that she might as well go to bed. And for once, since there was no one else to dispute her claim, she would have a leisurely bath …

  It was half past eight before the professor left the hospital and now that he was free to think his own thoughts he gave them his full attention. Obviously he had nothing to fear from the lad in the path lab. For reasons best known to herself, Theodosia had embarked on some rigmarole of her own devising—a ploy to warn him off? She might not love him but she liked him. A man of no conceit, he was aware of that. And there was something wrong somewhere.

  He drove himself home, warned his sister and brother-in-law that he might be late back, sought out Meg in the kitchen and told her to get a room ready for a guest he might be bringing back with him. Then he got into his car, this time with George and Max on the back seat, and drove away.

  His sister, at the door to see him off, turned to see Meg standing beside her.

  ‘It’ll be that nice young lady with the gingery hair,’ said Meg comfortably. ‘Dear knows where she is but I’ve no doubt he’ll bring her back here.’

  ‘Oh, I do hope so, Meg; she sounds just right for him. Should we wait for dinner any longer?’

  ‘No, ma’am, I’ll serve it now. If they’re not back by midnight I’ll leave something warm in the Aga.’

  Once he had left the centre of the city behind, the streets were almost empty. The professor reached Bishop’s Stortford in record time and turned off to Finchingfield.

  There were lights shining from the windows of the great-aunt’s house. He got out with a word to the dogs and thumped the knocker.

  Mrs Trickey opened the door, still in her hat. She said, ‘You’re a bit late to come calling; I’m off home.’

  The professor said in his calm way, ‘I’d like to see Miss Theodosia.’

  ‘So would I. She’s not here, only that archdeacon and his wife wanting hot water and I don’t know what—a fire in their bedroom, too. You’d best come in and speak to Miss Chapman.’

  She opened
the door into the drawing room. ‘Here’s a visitor for you, Miss Chapman, and I’ll be off.’

  Great-Aunt Jessica had risen from her chair. ‘Professor, this is unexpected. May I introduce Archdeacon Worth and Mrs Worth, spending Christmas with us …?’

  The professor’s manners were beautiful even when he was holding back impatience. He said all the right things and then, ‘I came to see Theodosia …’

  It was Aunt Mary who answered him.

  ‘These old family friends of ours are spending Christmas with us. Having just returned from South America, they had no plans for themselves. We were delighted to be able to offer them hospitality over the festive season.’

  ‘Theodosia?’ He sounded placid.

  ‘I wrote to her,’ said Aunt Mary. ‘A young gel with friends of her own age—I knew that she would understand and have no difficulty in spending Christmas with one or other of them.’

  ‘I see. May I ask when she knew of this arrangement?’

  ‘She would have had a letter—let me see, when did I post it? She must have had it some time today, certainly. We shall, of course, be delighted to see her—when something can be arranged.’

  He said pleasantly, ‘Yes, we must certainly do that once we are married. May I wish you all a happy Christmas.’ He wasn’t smiling. ‘I’ll see myself out.’

  He had driven fast to Finchingfield, and now he drove back to London even faster. He was filled with a cold rage that anyone would dare to treat his Theodosia with such unkindness! He would make it up to her for the rest of her life; she should have everything she had ever wanted—clothes, jewels, and holidays in the sun … He laughed suddenly, knowing in his heart that all she would want would be a home and children and love. And he could give her those, too.

  The house was quiet as Theodosia climbed the stairs from the bathroom on the floor below. All five occupants of the other bed-sitters had gone home or to friends for Christmas. Only Mrs Towzer was in her flat, entertaining friends for the evening. She could hear faint sounds of merriment as she unlocked her door.

  The room looked welcoming and cheerful; the holly and the Christmas cards covered the almost bare walls and the Christmas tree, viewed from a distance, almost looked real. The cat food, wrapped in coloured paper, and the box of chocolates were arranged on each side of it and she had put the apples in a dish on the table.

  ‘Quite festive,’ said Theodosia to Gustavus, who was washing himself in front of the gas fire. ‘Now I shall have a cup of cocoa and you shall have some milk, and we’ll go to bed.’

  She had the saucepan in her hand when there was a knock on the door. She remembered then that Mrs Towzer had invited her to her party if she wasn’t going away for Christmas. She had refused, saying that she would be away, but Mrs Towzer must have seen her coming in with the shopping and come to renew her invitation.

  How kind, thought Theodosia, and opened the door. The professor, closely followed by George and Max, walked in.

  ‘Always enquire who it is before opening your door, Theodosia,’ he observed. ‘I might have been some thug in a Balaclava helmet.’

  She stared up at his quiet face. And even like that, she thought, I would still love him … Since he had walked past her into the room there was nothing for it but to shut the door.

  ‘I was just going to bed …’ She watched as the two dogs sat down side by side before the fire, taking no notice of Gustavus.

  ‘All in good time.’ He was leaning against the table, smiling at her.

  ‘How did you know I was here?’ She was pleased to hear that her voice sounded almost normal, although breathing was a bit difficult.

  ‘I went to see your aunts.’

  ‘My aunts, this evening? Surely not …?’

  ‘This evening. I’ve just come from them. They are entertaining an archdeacon and his wife.’

  ‘Yes, I know. But why?’

  ‘Ah, that is something that I will explain.’

  He glanced around him, at the tree and the holly and the cards and then at the tin of cocoa by the sink. Then he studied her silently. The shapeless woolly garment she was wearing did nothing to enhance her appearance but she looked, he considered, beautiful; her face was fresh from soap and water, her hair hanging around her shoulders in a tangled gingery mass.

  He put his hands in his pockets and said briskly, ‘Put a few things in a bag, dear girl, and get dressed.’

  She goggled at him. ‘Things in a bag? Why?’

  ‘You are spending Christmas with me at home.’

  ‘I’m not. I have no intention of going anywhere.’ She remembered her manners. ‘Thank you for asking me, but you know as well as I that it’s not possible.’

  ‘Why not—tell me?’

  She said wildly, ‘I saw you at the hospital. I wasn’t spying or anything like that but I got out of the lift and saw you both standing there. You had your arm round her and she was laughing at you. How could you possibly suggest …?’ She gave a great gulp. ‘Oh, do go away,’ she said, and then asked, ‘Does she know you are here? Did she invite me, too?’

  The professor managed not to smile. ‘No, she doesn’t but she expects you. And Meg has a room ready for you …’

  ‘It is most kind of you,’ began Theodosia, and put a hand on his arm. This was a mistake, for he took it, turned it over and kissed the palm.

  ‘Oh, no,’ said Theodosia in a small voice as he wrapped his great arms round her.

  She wriggled, quite uselessly, and he said gently, ‘Keep still, my darling; I’m going to kiss you.’

  Which he did at some length and very thoroughly. ‘I have been wanting to do that for a long time. I’ve been in love with you ever since we first met. I love you and there will be no reason for anything I do unless you are with me.’

  Somewhere a nearby church clock struck eleven. ‘Now get some clothes on, my love, and we will go home.’

  Theodosia dragged herself back from heaven. ‘I can’t—Oh, Hugo, you know I can’t.’

  He kissed her gently. ‘You gave me no chance to explain; indeed you flung that lad from the path lab in my face, did you not? My sister, Rosie, and her husband and children are spending Christmas with me. It was she you saw at the hospital and you allowed yourself to concoct a lot of nonsense.’

  ‘Yes, well …’ She smiled at him. ‘Do you really want to marry me?’

  ‘More than anything in the world.’

  ‘You haven’t asked me yet.’

  He laughed then and caught her close again. ‘Will you marry me, Theodosia?

  ‘Yes, yes, of course I will. I did not try to fall in love with you but I did.’

  ‘Thank heaven for that. Now find a toothbrush and take off that woolly thing you are wearing and get dressed. You can have fifteen minutes. Gustavus and the dogs and I will doze together until you are ready.’

  ‘I can’t leave him.’

  ‘Of course not; he is coming too.’

  The professor settled in a chair and closed his eyes.

  It was surprising how much one could do in a short time when one was happy and excited and without a care in the word. Theodosia was dressed, her overnight bag packed after a fashion, her hair swept into a topknot and the contents of her handbag checked in something like ten minutes. She said rather shyly, ‘I’m ready …’

  The professor got to his feet, put Gustavus into his basket, fastened the window, turned off the gas and went to look in the small fridge. He eyed the morsel of turkey and the Christmas pudding, but said merely, ‘We’ll turn everything off except the fridge. We can see to it in a few days; you won’t be coming back here, of course.’

  ‘But I’ve nowhere else—the aunts …’

  ‘You will stay with me, and since you are an old-fashioned girl Meg shall chaperon you until I can get a special licence and we can be married.’ He gave her a swift kiss. ‘Now come along.’

  He swept her downstairs and as they reached the hall Mrs Towzer came to see who it was.

  ‘Going ou
t, Miss Chapman? At this time of night?’ She eyed the professor. ‘You’ve been here before; you seemed a nice enough gent.’ She stared at him severely. ‘No ‘anky-panky, I ‘ope.’

  The professor looked down his splendid nose at her. ‘Madam, I am taking my future wife to spend Christmas at my home with my sister and her family. She will not be returning here, but I will call after Christmas and settle any outstanding expenses.’

  ‘Oh, well, in that case … ‘Appy Christmas to you both.’ She looked at George and Max and Gustavus’s whiskery face peering from his basket. ‘And all them animals.’

  Stuffed gently into the car, Theodosia said, ‘You sounded just like a professor, you know—a bit stern.’

  ‘That is another aspect of me which you will discover, dear heart, although I promise I will never be stern with you.’ He turned to look to her as he started the car. ‘Or our children.’

  She smiled and wanted to cry, too, for a moment. From happiness, she supposed. ‘What a wonderful day to be in love and be loved. I’m so happy.’

  As they reached his house, the first strokes of midnight sounded from the church close by, followed by other church bells ringing in Christmas Day. The professor ushered his small party out of the car and into his house. The hall was quiet and dimly lit and George and Max padded silently to the foot of the stairs where they sat like statues. He closed the door behind him, set Gustavus in his basket on the table and swept Theodosia into his arms. ‘This is what I have wanted to do—to wish you a happy Christmas in my own home—your home, too, my dearest.’

  Theodosia, after being kissed in a most satisfactory manner, found her breath. ‘It’s true, it’s all true? Dearest Hugo, Happy Christmas.’ She stretched up and kissed him and then kissed him again for good measure.

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