The Nightingale Girls - By Donna Douglas Page 0,120
someone a wonderful wife one day.’ He winked at her.
‘Don’t get too excited, it was our cook who prepared it all,’ Sophia replied, peeling the muslin off a veal pie.
‘Just think, you’ll have a house and staff of your own soon,’ Georgina sighed dreamily.
‘Don’t!’ Sophia shuddered. ‘I’m sure I’ll be a perfectly useless housekeeper. The servants will all bully me mercilessly.’
‘They won’t, because they’ll all adore you far too much.’ David leant over and kissed the end of her nose.
‘Ugh, do you have to?’ Seb grimaced. ‘People in love are rather sickening to watch.’
‘You’re just jealous.’ Sophia screwed up the muslin pie wrapping and threw it at him. ‘You should find a girl of your own, Seb. Then perhaps you wouldn’t be so bitter.’
‘And I don’t think you’d have far to look either,’ David added meaningfully. ‘In fact, I suspect there’s a girl not a million miles away who has claimed your heart already.’
‘I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,’ Seb replied through tight lips, as Georgina simpered.
‘He shouldn’t tease Seb like that,’ Millie whispered to Sophia as they handed round the plates. ‘You know he’s not keen on Georgina.’
Her friend smiled. ‘I don’t think David was talking about Georgina.’
Before Millie had a chance to reply, a cricket ball whistled past her ear and landed with a smack in the middle of the plate of sandwiches Sophia had just unwrapped, scattering them everywhere.
‘I’m terribly sorry,’ a voice called out. ‘May we have our ball back, please?’
Millie looked up, squinting into the sun, as the young man jogged across the grass towards them. He was dressed casually in flannels, not a white coat in sight, but she would have known that tall, lanky frame anywhere.
‘William?’
He turned around. ‘Hello,’ he said, breaking into a smile. ‘Fancy seeing you. Although I suppose it’s hardly surprising since half of London seems to be here.’
He grinned around at her friends, who were eyeing him curiously.
‘Aren’t you going to introduce us?’ Sophia asked.
‘This is William Tremayne,’ Millie said. ‘He’s – er –’ She searched for the right word. A friend? An acquaintance? Someone I tried to kiss one dark night when I’d had too much to drink?
‘We work together at the Nightingale,’ William finally finished for her.
‘You’re a doctor? How thrilling,’ Georgina said.
‘Would you like to join us?’ Sophia invited graciously.
‘No, thank you. My friends are waiting for me.’ Far beyond them, under the trees, Millie recognised a few of the other junior doctors from the hospital, and a couple of nurses too.
Seb picked up the ball and held it out to William. ‘You’ll be wanting this, then?’
‘What? Oh, yes. Thanks. I hope I didn’t ruin your picnic?’
‘I’m sure we can live without a few cucumber sandwiches,’ Sophia smiled.
‘William?’ Amy Hollins sauntered over to them, looking pretty in a summer dress. She nodded a greeting at Millie and then turned to William. ‘Hurry up. We’re waiting to finish the game.’
‘Just coming.’ He looked down at the ball in his hand, then back at them. ‘Would you like to come and play? We could use a decent bowler?’
‘No, thanks,’ Seb answered for them shortly.
‘Oh. Well, if you’re sure?’ He glanced at Millie. ‘I expect I’ll see you back on the ward.’
‘I’m sure you will. If I’m not stuck in the sluice as usual.’
‘Is he an admirer of yours?’ Georgina asked Millie, as they watched him walk away.
‘Not at all. He’s just a friend.’ She kept her gaze fixed on William and Amy. She had her arm threaded possessively through his as they sauntered towards their group of friends.
‘Don’t be silly, Georgie,’ Sophia said. ‘You can see he’s with that blonde girl.’
Millie turned to her sharply. ‘Is he?’
‘If he isn’t now, he soon will be!’ David laughed. ‘She’s certainly got her sights set on him. Poor fellow doesn’t stand a chance. None of us ever do. We’re just helpless victims to predatory females, aren’t we, Seb?’
‘If you say so,’ Seb replied distractedly. His gaze was still fixed on William too.
‘Are you saying I’m predatory?’ Sophia pinched David’s arm, making him yelp.
‘What? Of course not, my darling. I’m just saying I’m helpless,’ he protested.
‘There’s nothing helpless about William Tremayne,’ Millie said quietly.
Georgina looked at her. ‘Really? That sounds rather intriguing. I must say, he did seem to be devouring you with his eyes, Millie. Perhaps we should join them?’ she said, glancing over to where William was going in to bat. ‘After all, we mustn’t stand in the way of true love, must we?’