The Secret Pool. Betty Neels

will be free to resume your career. I shall see that it doesn’t suffer on our account.’

      Fran gazed at him, speechless. She was more than surprised; she was flabbergasted. Presently, since the silence had become lengthy, she said, ‘It’s ridiculous, and even if I were to consider it, I’d need time to decide.’

      ‘There is nothing ridiculous about it if you ignore your own feelings on the matter, and there is no time. Lisa is waiting for us to go to the nursery.’

      ‘And supposing I refuse?’

      He didn’t answer that. ‘You intend to refuse?’ There was no reproach in his calm voice, but she knew that, in six months’ time, when Lisa’s short life had ended, she would never cease to reproach herself.

      ‘No strings?’ she asked.

      ‘None. I give you my word.’

      ‘Very well,’ said Fran, ‘but I’m doing it for Lisa.’

      ‘I hardly imagined that you would do it for me. Shall we go and tell her?’

      Lisa was in her dressing-gown, ready for bed, eating something nourishing from a bowl. The face she turned towards them as they went over to her was so full of eager hope that Fran reflected that even if she had refused she would have changed her mind at the sight of it. She felt her hand taken in a firm, reassuring grasp. ‘Well, lieveling, here is your mama.’

      She was aware of Nanny’s delighted face as Lisa flung her arms round her neck and hugged her, talking non-stop.

      When she paused for breath the doctor said, ‘Lisa wants to know when and where. I think the best thing is for me to drive you back and you can discuss it with your aunts. And for reasons which I have already mentioned the wedding will have to be here.’ He smiled a little. ‘And you must wear a bride’s dress and a veil.’

      Fran looked at him over Lisa’s small head. ‘Anything to make her happy.’

      He said gravely, ‘At least we can agree upon that.’