The Chain of Destiny by Betty Neels Page B

and had left his wife at home as she was expecting a baby. He was called Cornelius and, while he was obviously fond of his sister, he viewed her with a hint of disapproval; his brother on the other hand was very like Julie: good-looking and not averse to drawing attention himself. They both worked in their father’s business and were just back from America, and while Cornelius had little to say about their trip, Hebert was full of the places he had visited and the people he had met.
    No one had thought of introducing Suzannah when they arrived. It was only when Julie said carelessly, ‘I almost forgot, this is someone Guy wished on me until I’m perfectly well. Her name’s Suzannah.’
    Cornelius had said how do you do civilly enough, but Hebert had looked her over. ‘Hello,’ he said in fluent English. ‘I wouldn’t have your job for all the tea in China.’ And he pulled a face and made her laugh. ‘What do you think of Holland?’
    â€˜Well, I haven’t seen enough of it to know,’ she told him.
    â€˜Kept tied to Julie’s heels? We must do something about that.’
    He pulled up a chair and, oblivious to his sister’s black looks, began to tell Suzannah something of den Haag.
    They were staying a few days, he told her, and whenhe discovered that she was free the next day he offered to show her round the city. Suzannah felt flattered and touched by his kindness, and, although she had intended to spend the day filling the gaps in her scanty wardrobe, she agreed at once. It would be pleasant to have someone to show her the high points of den Haag and was a chance not to be missed; perhaps she wouldn’t be there for very much longer, and she might never come to Holland again.
    The day was a success, it seemed to her, happily unaware of Hebert’s careless amusement at her enthusiastic sightseeing. He mentioned it casually to Julie that evening, not meaning to be unkind but impatient of what he considered to have been a rather boring day.
    â€˜Well, it was your fault for asking her,’ said Julie tartly.
    â€˜The girl doesn’t get much fun; you must be the very devil to look after.’ He sounded sulky and Julie laughed.
    â€˜You’ve done your good deed anyway, Hebert. We must hope that she doesn’t expect any more outings with you.’
    She need not have worried; Suzannah had enjoyed her day with Hebert but she had no expectation of it being repeated; for one thing, he would be gone again within a week, and she had only one day off in each week. He had been a pleasant companion, but she had the good sense to know that she was as unlike his usual companions as chalk from cheese. She went to bed content, although her contentment might not have been so undoubting if she had known that the professor had telephoned while she was out with Hebert and, since she hadn’t been there to answer him, he had been put through to Julie who, feeling bored and bad-tempered, had embellished Suzannah’s day out with her brother.The professor was no fool; and the same, even allowing for Julie’s airy exaggerations, he found himself surprisingly put out. Suzannah was one of the world’s Marthas, reliable and undemanding, surprisingly sharp-tongued when the occasion arose, but sensible and kind too. She had no business spending her day with Hebert, who was bent on amusing himself with not much thought of others. The professor was vexed to find that the idea of Hebert turning on his considerable charm in order to attract Suzannah was distasteful to him. He had put down the receiver with deliberation, his handsome features cast in a disapproving mould.
    â€˜Silly girl,’ he remarked to the empty room. A remark both unfair and untrue and, coming from him, surprising.
    He went back to England that evening and two days later flew off to Cairo for an urgent consultation and subsequent operation on an influential member of Middle East