The Nightingale Girls - By Donna Douglas Page 0,125

piece. Got herself pregnant by a park keeper, can you believe?’

‘At least he married her,’ Helen said mildly, then flinched as her mother pounced on her remark.

‘And that makes it acceptable, does it? Not in my book it doesn’t. And not in the Lord’s book either. A sin is a sin, Helen, no matter how it’s dressed up afterwards. And now that girl’s poor mother can’t hold her head up in her own church any more.’ She fixed Helen with such a look, she felt herself wilting with shame. It was all she could do not to fall on her knees and confess her own sin there and then.

Finally she and William managed to get away, and headed back towards London.

‘Who is he then?’ her brother asked as soon as they’d pulled out of the sweeping drive of the vicarage.

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ Helen said primly.

‘Oh, come on, Hels. You’ve been either as nervous as a cat or grinning like an idiot all day. And I saw the way you blushed when Mother started talking about Mrs Ellis’ fast daughter. So who is he? Do I know him?’ The colour drained from William’s face. ‘Please don’t tell me it’s a medical student? I’m not having my sister being led astray by one of those scoundrels.’

Helen laughed. ‘No, it isn’t a doctor or a medical student, so you needn’t worry about protecting my honour. His name’s Charlie.’ Even saying it made her smile.

‘Charlie, eh? And what does he do, this Charlie?’

‘He used to work in a factory. But now he’s just started at his uncle’s joinery business.’ She explained about Charlie’s accident, and how they’d met.

‘I can see why you didn’t want Mother to know about this new boyfriend of yours,’ William said, his eyes fixed on the road. ‘I don’t think she’d approve at all.’

‘You won’t tell her, will you?’ Helen pleaded. ‘I mean, he’s not even my boyfriend. It’s only one date. He probably won’t want to see me again after tonight. I just wanted to know what it was like – you know, to go out with someone.’

‘Don’t worry, Sis, your secret’s safe with me. God knows, you’ve kept enough of mine over the years.’ William reached out and patted her knee. ‘Anyway, who’s to say it’s just one night? You never know, this could be the beginning of a beautiful romance.’

‘I doubt it!’ Helen said ruefully. But at the same time, she couldn’t help wishing that were true.

They made good progress towards the city, and Helen stopped looking at her watch. But just as they reached the outskirts of Putney, the car began to slow ominously.

‘Come on, Bessie,’ William urged. ‘Come on, old girl. Don’t let me down now.’

Don’t let me down either, Helen prayed silently. But God had obviously decided to pay her back for daydreaming in church, because Bessie began to make an ominous grinding sound.

‘I’d better take a look,’ William said, pulling over to the side of the road.

Helen sat on the grass verge and watched as he examined the car.

‘It’s not as bad as I thought,’ he said. ‘We’ve got a puncture.’

‘And that’s not bad news?’ Helen asked.

‘No, because I can fix it. All we need to do is change the wheel.’

‘Is that all?’ Helen gave a hollow laugh.

‘I’ll have it done in a jiffy.’ William stripped down to his shirtsleeves. ‘Even less if you help me?’

Helen got wearily to her feet. ‘I might as well, I suppose. What do I have to do?’

She helped him jack the car up and unscrew the nuts holding the wheel in place. But anxiety made her all thumbs.

‘If you’re going to keep dropping everything this is going to take even longer,’ William snapped, as she dived to retrieve a nut that had rolled under the car. ‘Calm down, I’m sure your young man will wait for you.’

‘What if he doesn’t?’ Helen was already convinced Charlie was going to stand her up.

‘Hels, he’s been waiting for you for three months. Another ten minutes isn’t going to make any difference. On second thoughts, make that half an hour,’ he sighed, as Helen dropped another wheel nut.

As she helped him lift the heavy wheel into place and held it steady, she said, ‘How do you know if someone likes you?’

William grinned. ‘Are you asking me for advice? That’s a novelty.’

‘I won’t ask if you’re going to make fun of me.’

William paused for a moment to think. Then he said, ‘When the evening’s over and you’re walking