Always And Forever by Betty Neels Page A

at the EndHouse. End of this street; house stands on its own beyond the row of cottages. You can’t miss it. They’ll be home.’ She glanced at the clock. ‘They sit down to high tea around six o’clock, but drink a cup around half past three. Expecting you, is she?’
    â€˜No…’ Mrs Bluett looked at him so fiercely that he felt obliged to add, ‘We have known each other for some time.’ She smiled then, and he took his leave, followed by interested looks.
    Stopping once more a hundred yards or so down the street, he got out of the car slowly and stood just for a moment looking at the house. It was red brick and plaster, solid and welcoming with its lighted windows. He crossed the pavement, walked up the short path to the front door and knocked.
    Miss Parsons opened it. She stood looking at him with a severity which might have daunted a lesser man.
    â€˜I have come to see Amabel,’ observed the doctor mildly. He held out a hand. ‘Fforde— Oliver Fforde. Her mother gave me this address.’
    Miss Parsons took his hand and shook it. ‘Thisbe Parsons. Amabel’s aunt. She has spoken of you.’ She looked round his great shoulder. ‘Your car? It will be safe there. And a dog?’
    She took another good luck at him and liked what she saw. ‘We’re just about to have a cup of tea. Do bring the dog in—he’s not aggressive? Amabel’s Cyril is here…’
    â€˜They are already acquainted.’ He smiled. ‘Thank you.’
    He let Tiger out of the car and the pair of them followed her into the narrow hallway.
    Miss Parsons marched ahead of them, opened a door and led the way into the room, long and low, with windowsat each end and an old-fashioned fireplace at its centre. The furniture was old-fashioned too, beautifully kept and largely covered by photos in silver frames and small china ornaments, some of them valuable, and a quantity of pot plants. It was a very pleasant room, lived in and loved and very welcoming.
    The doctor, treading carefully between an occasional table and a Victorian spoon-back chair, watched Amabel get to her feet and heaved a sigh of relief at the pleased surprise on her face.
    He said, carefully casual, ‘Amabel…’ and shook her hand, smiling down at her face. ‘I called at your home and your mother gave me this address. I have to be in York for a day or two and it seemed a good idea to renew our acquaintance.’
    She stared up into his kind face. ‘I’ve left home…’
    â€˜So your stepfather told me. You are looking very well.’
    â€˜Oh, I am. Aunt Thisbe is so good to me, and Cyril and Oscar are happy.’
    Miss Parsons lifted the teapot. ‘Sit down and have your tea and tell me what brings you to York, Dr Fforde. It’s a long way from London—you live there, I presume?’
    The doctor had aunts of his own, so he sat down, drank his tea meekly and answered her questions without telling her a great deal. Tiger was sitting beside him, a model of canine obedience, while Cyril settled near him. Oscar, of course, had settled himself on top of the bookcase. Presently the talk became general, and he made no effort to ask Amabel how she came to be so far from her home. She would tell him in her own good time, and he had two days before he needed to return to London.
    Miss Parsons said briskly, ‘We have high tea at sixo’clock. We hope you will join us. Unless you have some commitments in York?’
    â€˜Not until tomorrow morning. I should very much like to accept.’
    â€˜In that case you and Amabel had better take the dogs for a run while I see to a meal.’
    It was dark by now, and chilly. Amabel got into her mac, put Cyril’s lead on and led the way out of the house, telling him, ‘We can go to the top of the village and come back along the back lane.’
    The doctor took her arm and, with a dog at either side of