t really speak with authority for the entire nursing staff, but I think if a census were taken almost everyone would say exactly the same. With the addition, ” she dimpled, “ that most of them wanted to switch to the extension at once, and they ’ ll all be green with envy when they know I ’ m really going there. ”
“ I see. ” For a moment she thought she had displeased him as he made no further comment; then, abruptly, he said, “ You didn ’ t ... speculate on my private feelings on the matter and what difference, if any, it might make to me? ” he inquired. “ Apart from the obvious one of working in a new building, away from all the accustomed clatter and clutter that seems to be part of life at St. Catherine ’ s. ”
“ No. ” Trudie ’ s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “ Should I have? ” she asked. “ I mean ... it ’ s obvious. You ’ ll be in charge at the extension. Your own boss, as it were, apart from the management board. I didn ’ t know then you had opened new consulting rooms at Thrackwaite. I only saw the announcement in the local paper a few minutes ago when I was looking through it to see what was ‘ doing ’ in and around the village. ”
“ Then you can honestly tell me you didn ’ t wonder about my ... private life, how this would affect it and all that sort of thing? ” Philip could scarcely believe his ears, and yet there was no reason to doubt Trudie ’ s words.
“ Of course not, ” she assured him emphatically. “ It isn ’ t any business of mine or anyone else ’ s what you do with your private life, as far as I can see. ”
“ I wish other people had the sense to think along those lines. ” Philip ’ s tone was so heartfelt that she turned to him instinctively to offer comfort, but he was still not looking at her. His gaze was even now fixed on the flickering flames, and his expression was grave, almost forbidding. Her words died unsaid. “ Do you know, ” Philip burst out suddenly, “ that the first two people to congratulate me at St. Catherine ’ s had ideas for my future? ”
“ What sort of ideas? ” Trudie demanded as he paused and did not seem inclined to elaborate.
“ The first person said that the public expected people in our profession to be married, ” Philip stated baldly. “ He also threw out ... hints. Gossip. The second person said she expected everyone would now be awaiting the announcement that I was engaged to Ursula. Were you expecting that announcement, Trudie? ” he asked directly.
“ I ... we ... no, ” she added finally, the color flying to her cheeks as she remembered the countless arguments she and Mary Anderson had had on this very subject. “ As I said, ” she rushed on, “ it isn ’ t any of my business. ”
“ Why weren ’ t you expecting such an announcement? ” Philip pressed ruthlessly. He felt she was telling the truth, but there had to be a reason for the flat statement.
“ Ursula ’ s a wonderful person in lots of ways, ” Trudie chose her words carefully, “ and she ’ s helped a number of people, but somehow I don ’ t see you two together. She always wants to ... lead, decide things. ”
“ I know. ” Philip smiled at Trudie ’ s summation of the other woman. “ As you say, she is wonderful. She ’ s just the right sort of person for someone who has brains and ideas, but not the forcefulness to get them accepted where it will do him the most good. Someone like Geoff, for instance. ”
“ Geoff thinks she ’ s marvelous, ” Trudie admitted, conceding the point, “ and so she would be ... for him. But we ’ re talking about you. ”
“ So we are. ” Philip smiled, some of the tension leaving him as he realized that, after all, it might not be too difficult to persuade Trudie to see his point. “ And so, apparently, are several other people in and around St. Catherine ’ s. Only one was kind enough to offer me advice that might work. I ’ d like your opinion. ”
“ I ’
“ I see. ” For a moment she thought she had displeased him as he made no further comment; then, abruptly, he said, “ You didn ’ t ... speculate on my private feelings on the matter and what difference, if any, it might make to me? ” he inquired. “ Apart from the obvious one of working in a new building, away from all the accustomed clatter and clutter that seems to be part of life at St. Catherine ’ s. ”
“ No. ” Trudie ’ s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “ Should I have? ” she asked. “ I mean ... it ’ s obvious. You ’ ll be in charge at the extension. Your own boss, as it were, apart from the management board. I didn ’ t know then you had opened new consulting rooms at Thrackwaite. I only saw the announcement in the local paper a few minutes ago when I was looking through it to see what was ‘ doing ’ in and around the village. ”
“ Then you can honestly tell me you didn ’ t wonder about my ... private life, how this would affect it and all that sort of thing? ” Philip could scarcely believe his ears, and yet there was no reason to doubt Trudie ’ s words.
“ Of course not, ” she assured him emphatically. “ It isn ’ t any business of mine or anyone else ’ s what you do with your private life, as far as I can see. ”
“ I wish other people had the sense to think along those lines. ” Philip ’ s tone was so heartfelt that she turned to him instinctively to offer comfort, but he was still not looking at her. His gaze was even now fixed on the flickering flames, and his expression was grave, almost forbidding. Her words died unsaid. “ Do you know, ” Philip burst out suddenly, “ that the first two people to congratulate me at St. Catherine ’ s had ideas for my future? ”
“ What sort of ideas? ” Trudie demanded as he paused and did not seem inclined to elaborate.
“ The first person said that the public expected people in our profession to be married, ” Philip stated baldly. “ He also threw out ... hints. Gossip. The second person said she expected everyone would now be awaiting the announcement that I was engaged to Ursula. Were you expecting that announcement, Trudie? ” he asked directly.
“ I ... we ... no, ” she added finally, the color flying to her cheeks as she remembered the countless arguments she and Mary Anderson had had on this very subject. “ As I said, ” she rushed on, “ it isn ’ t any of my business. ”
“ Why weren ’ t you expecting such an announcement? ” Philip pressed ruthlessly. He felt she was telling the truth, but there had to be a reason for the flat statement.
“ Ursula ’ s a wonderful person in lots of ways, ” Trudie chose her words carefully, “ and she ’ s helped a number of people, but somehow I don ’ t see you two together. She always wants to ... lead, decide things. ”
“ I know. ” Philip smiled at Trudie ’ s summation of the other woman. “ As you say, she is wonderful. She ’ s just the right sort of person for someone who has brains and ideas, but not the forcefulness to get them accepted where it will do him the most good. Someone like Geoff, for instance. ”
“ Geoff thinks she ’ s marvelous, ” Trudie admitted, conceding the point, “ and so she would be ... for him. But we ’ re talking about you. ”
“ So we are. ” Philip smiled, some of the tension leaving him as he realized that, after all, it might not be too difficult to persuade Trudie to see his point. “ And so, apparently, are several other people in and around St. Catherine ’ s. Only one was kind enough to offer me advice that might work. I ’ d like your opinion. ”
“ I ’
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