Sister Peters in Amsterdam Read online

  `We're going somewhere quiet,' was all he said, and he dumped her unceremoniously in the seat beside his. Adelaide sat very still. The situation had got quite out of hand; they had reached the Munt Toren before she said faintly: `I'm going for a walk...'

  Coenraad eased the car out of a tangle of traffic. `No, you're not,' he said placidly.

  She tried again. `I should like to get out...' she began.

  `And so you shall,' he agreed. `We're almost there.'

  It was no use; she remained silent until presently he turned into the Spui and stopped. He got out and walked around to her side, opened the door and stood wordlessly while she got out too. His gloved hand took a firm grip of her arm, and he piloted her through the archway leading to the picturesque square where the centuries-old Scottish Church stood, surrounded by its close circle of beautiful friendly little houses. It was very quiet; there was no one about. Adelaide stood still and attempted to pull free of Coenraad's grip, but he merely tightened it and started to walk away from the church, around the square, taking her with him. He spoke in his mildest voice.

  `We can talk here without interruption. I have something to say to you, Adelaide.'

  He glanced down at her. She was looking straight ahead, her hair flamed above her white face, she looked pinched and cold.

  `You didn't say goodbye,' he observed pleasantly.

  Adelaide looked at her shoes as though she had never seen them before. She felt quite unable to deal with the situation, but did her best.

  'I'll write to you when I get to England,' she mumbled.

  `What will you write about?' He sounded interested. She gave him a startled look, then stared straight ahead again. What would she write about? What was there to say? That she had been foolish and proud and loved him desperately? She gulped. Two tears started to roll down her cheeks, and she put out her tongue and tried ineffectively to catch them. Then she stopped, because the professor, who could read her thoughts like an open book, had stopped. He turned her round to face him and mopped up her tears with his handkerchief, then put his arms around her and pulled her close; they felt very comforting. She saw his smile and the gleam in his eyes as he bent his head and kissed her. He did it slowly and thoroughly and with evident enjoyment. After a while he said:

  `Darling Addy, I love you. I loved you the first time we met. I would have told you a dozen times if it hadn't been for your confounded scruples about my money and title. For a year you've driven me to distraction with your cool friendliness and efficiency and starched aprons.' He kissed her again, quite roughly. `Will you marry me, Addy?'

  She had become quite beautiful; her eyes shone, her cheeks were pink. She smiled adorably at him, and reached up and put her arms shyly about his neck. `Yes ... oh, yes, Coenraad!'

  They stood together, very close and listened to the chimes telling the hour.

  `I love this little church,' said Adelaide. `Would you like to be married here, Addy?'

  The pink in her cheeks deepened.

  `Oh, yes, I would! But can we?'

  Coenraad kissed her again. `Of course,' he smiled. 'I'd like to marry you here and now, but I'm afraid our laws don't allow that.' He looked down at her, his eyes twinkling, and pulled her closer.

  `But shall we agree to marry just as soon as all the formalities are dealt with, darling?'

  Adelaide nodded happily; he tucked her arm under his, and they started walking slowly back towards the archway.

  `Where are we going?' asked Adelaide, not really caring.

  They stopped, and Coenraad drew her within the circle of his arms again.

  The sounds of the bustling city around them barely penetrated the peace of the little place.

  `Why, to start this business of getting married,' he said.

  `Does it take long? I mean ... can we do it all before I catch my train?'

  He held her a little way away from him, so that he could see her face

  `Will it matter very much if you don't catch your train?' he asked. `It's quite a lengthy proceeding. Will you mind staying with Tante Anneke for a few days, do you think-and then I'll take you home.'

  Adelaide looked at him with shining eyes.

  `I don't mind where I go or what I do as long as I'm with you.'

  Coenraad smiled at her very tenderly, then kissed her softly on one pink cheek.

  `Darling Addy,' he said, and took her hand as they went back through the archway together.