Tabitha in Moonlight by Betty Neels

fellow,’ he commented, ‘clear as a bell on top too—splendid brain, I shouldn’t wonder. We must have a chat some time.’ Tabitha forbore from pointing out to him that they had been shouting to each other for most of the afternoon and took this as a strong hint that they should be arranged within normal talking distance of each other. ‘You shall sit together tomorrow,’ she promised. ‘I don’t see why you shouldn’t have a wheelchair, but we’d better wait until Mr van Beek comes—he’ll be in early to look at those two laminectomies.’
    â€˜If he’s back in time,’ commented Mr Raynard darkly, to which remark Tabitha made no reply, for there was none to make.
    The evening was fading before the pale moon as she reached home, and although she was tired she thought how nice it would be to go out for an hour, out of the city and into the country, or perhaps take the coast road to the sea, preferably in a Bentley. She opened the flat door and called to Meg as she always did, and Meg came to the kitchen door and said in a faintly scolding voice: ‘There you are at last—I’ve just popped something on a tray in the sitting room for you. You go in and have it straight away.’
    â€˜Why can’t I have it in the kitchen with you?’ demanded Tabitha, and Meg gave her a strange look and said: ‘All right, Miss Tabby, you go and fetch it if you’d like that better.’ She turned away. ‘I’m busy.’
    The sitting room looked pretty; there was a small lamp lighted on the little table by the fireplace and a tray set invitingly beside it. Opposite, in the winged armchair she had brought from Chidlake, sat Mr van Beek, looking very much at his ease. Tabitha stood just inside the door, watching him unfold his length, conscious of a peculiar sensation at the sight of him and quite unable to think of anything to say. It was a relief when he asked mildly: ‘You don’t mind, I hope? Lilith asked me to call and give you these.’
    He indicated a large box of chocolates which Tabitha stared at unbelievingly, rather in the manner of one confronted by a deadly serpent.
    â€˜Chocolates—from Lilith? Why?’
    He laughed a little. ‘I imagine she thought you might like them,’ he murmured. ‘Aren’t you going to sit down and eat your sandwiches?’
    She sat down and saw that there were two cups on the tray.
    So he expected coffee. She poured it out and handed him a cup and said at length:
    â€˜How—how nice. I—it’s a bit unexpected.’
    His eyes crinkled into laughter lines. ‘Unexpected presents are always nice. Have you been busy?’
    â€˜Yes—no—not too bad. How—why—that is, you could have brought the chocolates with you tomorrow.’
    A muscle twitched at the corners of his mouth. ‘I had plenty of time to spare. Lilith met some of her young friends in Torquay, they asked us to join them for dinner. She thought it might be rather pleasant. After all, to come back early in the evening as I had warned her we should have to do was a tame ending to the day in face of dancing until all hours.’
    Tabitha bit into a sandwich, and then, remembering her manners, offered him one.
    â€˜She stayed—I can’t believe it!’ She looked at his quiet face and corrected herself. ‘Oh, I see. She thought you would stay despite the fact that you had said you had planned to return early. She must have been surprised.’
    Mr van Beek said gently: ‘Er—yes, I believe so. I imagine she is a young lady who usually gets her own charming way.’ He gave her a sharp glance. ‘What are you thinking?’
    â€˜How clever you are—none of Lilith’s young men stand a chance against you—none of them would have dared to cross her, it will intrigue her. I expect you’re very experienced.’
    She looked up and found him