Page 94 of The Good Neighbour

That was putting it mildly. Josh shuddered to think what might have happened if she’d fallen more awkwardly.

“How long have we been here now?” she asked.

“Only about an hour,” he replied.

She sat upright on the bed while Josh perched on an exceedingly uncomfortable chair next to her.

Mrs Wimpole let out a dramatic sigh.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“I wonder where that nasty little so-and-so has skulked off to. Probably to his father.”

Josh hadn’t thought about that. What if they came up with a story to blow this out of the water? Best of luck. The microphone had transmitted to an app on Nihal’s phone. Even though Kevin had taken it, they still had the evidence.

Suddenly, the curtains were yanked apart violently and a panting Professor stood there. He was wearing a tuxedo. His eyes were wild.

“Oh, there you are,” he said. “I’ve tried almost every cubicle.”

He dashed forward to the other side of Mrs Wimpole’s bed and took hold of her good hand.

“Beatrice. Are you all right?” he asked.

“Of course I am,” she replied. “Joshua, I suppose you contacted him.”

“He certainly did,” the Professor said. “I told you to wait to do the stakeout until I was free.”

Mrs Wimpole pouted. “It was time-sensitive.”

Josh stifled a laugh. Mrs Wimpole appeared to have taken on quite the military role in this particular mission.

“I couldn’t bear to think that anything had happened to you,” the Professor said. “My life would be ruined.”

“Poppycock,” Mrs Wimpole replied.

“I mean it, Beatrice. Ever since Josh called me, I’ve not been able to get it out of my mind.”

Josh wasn’t sure where this conversation was going. Although, he suddenly felt like he shouldn’t be there.

“I’ll leave you to it,” he said.

“Nonsense,” Mrs Wimpole replied. “This is just the Professor getting worked up. Isn’t it, Philip?”

Philip? Josh couldn’t recall if he’d ever heard the Professor’s real name before.

“No it isn’t,” the Professor replied. “In fact, I’ve made a decision.”

Mrs Wimpole stared at him. As did Josh who was transfixed.

The Professor dropped to one knee, still holding Mrs Wimpole’s hand.

“Beatrice Wimpole. I wonder if you’d do me the honour of becoming my wife?”

CHAPTER TWENTY

Josh’s eyes were transfixed on Mrs Wimpole. Her eyes shining in the blistering hospital striplights.

“Get up off the floor, you silly man.”