The Chain of Destiny by Betty Neels

she went down to breakfast. Mevrouw van Dijl had coffee in her room and her husband had left the house some time before; Suzannah sat down to her solitary meal.
    She had just poured her coffee and was contemplating the basket of bread and rolls when the door opened and Anna came in. ‘Professor Bowers-Bentinck,’ she announced, and he walked past her and crossed the room unhurriedly to stand by her chair.
    He stared down at her for a few moments and she stared back.
    â€˜Good morning, Suzannah. Why are you so pale?’
    It would take too long to explain just then, so she said, ‘Does anyone know you’re here? Should I tell Mevrouw…?’
    â€˜Anna will do that.’ He turned to say something to themaid and then sat down at the table. ‘You won’t mind if I share your breakfast? I’m on my way to a seminar in Amsterdam—it seemed a good idea to call in on my way.’
    And, when she had nothing to say, ‘And now tell me why you look so whey-faced.’

CHAPTER FIVE
    â€™W HAT A beastly thing to say,’ said Suzannah, finding her tongue at last. ‘There’s nothing wrong with me; we had rather a wakeful night.’
    â€˜Ah, yes, so I would imagine from the look of you…’ He broke off as the butler came in with a tray: fresh coffee, eggs in a basket, toast, croissants and a variety of breads. He arranged these on the table before the professor, murmured ‘ smakelijk eten ’ and went away.
    The professor poured himself some coffee, examined the bread basket with interest, took an egg and helped himself to butter, perfectly at ease, and Suzannah, wishing to appear just as relaxed, asked, ‘Do you often have breakfast here?’
    He took a sip of coffee and added sugar, and although he spoke seriously she had the idea that he was amused.
    â€˜When Julie was ill, before I operated, I saw her frequently. This is a good time of day for a visit, before I start work…’
    â€˜Oh, yes—well. I thought you were in England.’
    â€˜So I was. I came over on the night ferry with the car; I’ve a couple of things to do while I’m here—I shall go back tonight.’
    â€˜Isn’t that rather a rush?’
    He shrugged. ‘No, now let us apply ourselves to the matter in hand.’ If he saw the quick colour come into her cheeks at his snub, he gave no sign. ‘How is Julie? I want your opinion, Suzannah—nothing professional.’
    She said tartly, ‘Well, I can’t be that, can I? I’m not professional. She’s been good-tempered for most of the time, although she doesn’t like me being here, you know, and really it must be tiresome for her to have me trailing round all the time. When we’re alone we get on very well…’ She paused, remembering the nasty little slights she had had to put up with. ‘Until last night she has slept for at least eight hours at a time and gone to bed at a reasonable hour, although she hated that. But last night was different; some friends came to see her and they didn’t leave until late; she was a bit excited by the time that she was in bed. She woke crying, afraid that she was going to die and that you hadn’t told her the truth when you said that she was cured. It took some time to settle her and she asked me to sit with her until she fell asleep.’
    â€˜And when was that?’
    â€˜About five o’clock.’
    â€˜And what did you tell her?’
    â€˜I told her at once that she wasn’t going to die and that you wouldn’t lie to her.’
    â€˜She believed you?’
    â€˜Oh, yes, after a time.’
    â€˜Has she talked to you about a young man who is abroad?’
    â€˜Yes. I think she loves him, only she believes that he doesn’t love her. Sometimes she says that she will marry…’
    She stopped and went a painful pink, and the professor said, ‘Go on, Suzannah,! It is important that I