His slow smile was laced with all of the intentions that neither of them seemed able to follow through on. ‘I’ll leave you to it.’
‘Thank you.’
What was that for? Starting things? Stopping things?
She leaned forward and planted a kiss on his cheek, drawing back again. ‘Goodnight. I’ll see you in the morning.’
CHAPTER TWELVE
IT HAD OCCURRED to Edward to burst into her room, carry her off to his, and make love to her until the raging in his blood let up. That might well have been a long and exhausting process, but that wasn’t what had stopped him. It was what came afterwards—the falling in love and realising that he couldn’t give her what she needed.
He was older now, and perhaps a bit wiser. He’d seen more of the world. Met Charlotte. Maybe things could be different. But maybe wasn’t a good enough word for someone like Charlotte.
No emotional commitment. The words on Kathy’s lips had puzzled and upset him. If he dared to make love to Charlotte, then those words on her lips might just kill him.
So he wouldn’t. Instead he’d carry on as normal.
More or less normal, anyway.
It was with a pang of unusual regret that he rose from the kitchen table at seven the following morning and began to scribble a note for her, saying that he was going to catch up on some work he had to do at the Hunter Clinic and wouldn’t be in for lunch.
‘You’re up early.’
Her bright morning smile interrupted him, almost choking him with desire.
‘You, too.’ The house was still quiet, and Edward wondered whether he’d made a mistake in not following his instincts last night. If Isaac was asleep, there was still time...
‘Oh, I’ve just taken the opportunity to come down and make some sandwiches. Isaac’s playing in his room. He’ll be racing around wanting to get dressed soon.’
‘Ah. I’ll leave you to it, then...’ It looked as if the Hunter Clinic was his best bet after all.
‘We’re going to the park this morning. Some of Isaac’s friends go boating on the lake on Sundays. I’ll leave you a salad for lunch...’
‘There’s no need...’
‘Or you could come with us if you’d like?’
Charlotte, Isaac and Edward. Almost as if they were a family.
Edward picked up the note he’d been writing, screwed it into a ball and dropped it into the kitchen wastebin. ‘Yes, I’m at a loose end today. That would be nice.’
* * *
The summer sunshine sparkled on the water like diamonds swept up from the bed of the lake in the wake of the small boats which bobbed on its surface.
‘Mum... Mum, they’re already here. Quick!’
Isaac was running back and forth, trying to hasten the easy pace which she and Edward had fallen into.
‘There’s plenty of time. Don’t you want to go and find Sam first?’ Sam was Isaac’s best friend from school. ‘Look, there he is.’ Charlotte waved to Sam’s mother and Isaac ran off across the grass, leaving her and Edward to follow in their own time.
‘It’s a nice day for it.’ Edward was surveying the water.
‘Yes. It gets a bit crowded sometimes on Sunday afternoons, but if you come before lunch and bring a picnic—’ Charlotte broke off, shading her eyes against the glare. ‘What are those two boys up to?’
A small boat was rocking precariously as two boys in their early teens took it into their heads to start a mock-fight in the deepest part of the lake. One caught the other with a flailing fist and they both crashed into the water, the boat rocking wildly and threatening to capsize.
‘Edward...’ She caught his arm and then started to breathe again as two heads bobbed to the surface of the lake and the boys started to doggy paddle towards shallower water. ‘Those kids—they could have hurt themselves... Where’s the attendant?’
Heads turned as the park attendant jumped into a boat, quickly pushing off towards the boys. Then a shrill wail floated across the still air.
‘What’s that...?’ Charlotte scanned the water and located the source of the scream. She’d thought that the boys were alone in the boat, but there was also a shock of blonde curls just visible inside of the boat. ‘Sit down!’ she screamed at the child, even though it was unlikely that her voice would carry that far, much less be heeded.
The child managed to get to her feet and the boat bucked wildly.
‘Edward, she’s going to fall in...’
Her words met thin air. The bag he’d been carrying lay where he’d dropped it, and Edward was already powering down the steep slope which led to the lake, throwing off his jacket and shoes. By the time the other adults gathered around the lake started to notice the little girl he was already wading into the water, then swimming towards the child with long, easy strokes.
The little girl had calmed down now, and it seemed as if he would soon reach her. Charlotte glanced quickly in Isaac’s direction and saw that Sam’s mother had both him and Sam firmly in her grasp, stopping them both from running down to the lake’s edge.
Edward was nearly there. Only another fifty yards.
It was fifty yards too much.
The wake from another boat made the craft wobble and the child screamed again, panicking, throwing herself from one side to the other. The boat capsized, taking her with it.
No time for the curse of disbelief which sprang to her lips. Charlotte ran to the waterside, one eye still on Isaac. Sam’s mother shouted a reassurance that she’d look after him and Charlotte hitched up her skirt and began to wade into the water.
Edward had reached the spot where the upturned boat lay in the water and was looking around for the child.
‘Edward... She’s under the water.’
He didn’t turn his head, but he must have heard. His body seemed to rise in the water, and then disappeared as he dived beneath the surface.
Long moments.
The water was almost opaque here at the edge of the lake, and Charlotte could only hope that it was a bit clearer further out. He had to find her.
How long was it now? Thirty seconds? A minute? Charlotte knew that Edward wouldn’t come back up until he’d found the child, and prayed that it would be soon.
The surface of the lake erupted in a frenzy of bubbles and water as Edward broke the surface. He struck out immediately for the shore, not stopping to take a breath although his lungs must have been screaming for air. As soon as the water was shallow enough he gained a footing and waded, the little girl clinging tightly to his neck.
For a moment all Charlotte could feel was relief. Water was sluicing from Edward’s chest and legs and the child moved in his arms, leaving a watery red stain on the shoulder of his white shirt.
‘Edward...’ She waded further into the water, meeting him as he strode towards the bank. ‘You’re bleeding...’
‘It’s not my blood.’ He nodded quickly towards the little girl, who was whimpering now, holding on tight to his shirt collar. ‘Clear a space for me, will you?’
Charlotte stumbled, splashing up onto the bank. ‘Some space, please, guys. My friend’s a doctor—give him some space.’
Two women assumed the responsibility of moving everyone back, and someone threw a waterproof sheet down onto the ground. Edward dropped to his knees, ready to examine the child, but she wouldn’t let go of him.
‘All right, honey. You’re such a brave girl, and you’re safe now. Let me look at your arm...’
He gently tried to move the child and she hung on even tighter. Charlotte could see a gash on her forearm, which was gushing blood.
‘Okay. That’s okay.’
Charlotte expected him to use his vastly superior strength to free himself, but instead he held the child closer, motioning to Charlotte.
�
��Looks as if you’re going to have to look at her arm in situ...’
Charlotte dropped to her knees next to him, gently lifting the little girl’s arm. ‘She’s got a nasty cut, and it’s bleeding badly. She’ll definitely need to go to hospital.’ She looked up, and almost simultaneously half a dozen mobile phones appeared.
‘We’ll just need the one ambulance.’ She grinned at the knot of people around them. ‘Are her parents here?’
Sam’s mother’s voice sounded above the general hubbub. ‘Dave, call an ambulance. Everyone else—see if you can find her mother. Who are those boys she was with...?’
Charlotte left Maggie to it, with only the briefest glance in her direction to check that she was still holding firmly onto Isaac’s hand.
‘I’m going to have to wrap something around her arm to stop the bleeding.’
‘All right.’
The little girl screamed as Charlotte gently wrapped her own scarf around the wound, pressing firmly and extending the arm upwards.
‘It’s okay, honey. I know it hurts, but you’re all right.’ Edward’s voice was almost painfully gentle, and the screams subsided to a whimper. ‘You’re doing really well.’
She couldn’t tell whether the child understood his words, or his manner. Whichever it was, she was beginning to calm.
‘What’s your name, sweetie?’ Edward managed to disentangle himself sufficiently to ask the question face to face, rather than direct it at the top of the child’s head.
‘Laura.’
‘Well, Laura, you’re safe now. I expect your arm hurts, but we’ll put a bandage around it and it’ll be better in no time.’
Laura nodded up at him. It occurred to Charlotte that she might like to remind Edward of his own words on the subject of his ability to communicate with patients, and she promised herself she’d do it later. He might not want to admit to being so very wrong in front of all these people.
‘What happened? She was under the water for a very long time...’ Charlotte had half expected to see Edward bring Laura up unconscious.
He grinned at her. ‘She instinctively did just the right thing. When the boat capsized she ended up in an air pocket underneath it, and she held on to one of the seats. The biggest problem was getting her to let go of it and hang on to me instead.’ His free hand patted Laura’s back. ‘You’ve got a great grip, there, young lady.’
Laura looked up at him, favouring him with a tremulous smile. At that moment the knot of people around them parted as a woman came stumbling through.
‘Laura...’ The woman fell to her knees in front of Edward. ‘Laura, I’m so sorry... Is she all right? They said you’re a doctor...’
‘She’s okay.’ Edward delivered Laura into her mother’s arms while Charlotte kept a tight hold on her arm. ‘She has a cut on her arm, and needs to keep it elevated until the ambulance arrives. She’ll need a few stitches, but the main thing is that she didn’t stop breathing.’
‘Laura...’ The mother held her daughter tight, her eyes squeezed closed.
Charlotte knew just what scenes were playing in her head. She’d had her own share of them with Isaac recently.
‘It’s fine. You have a very resourceful young lady for a daughter, there.’
The woman’s eyes opened and tears spilled from them. ‘I only left her for a minute... The kids wanted ice-cream and I told Trevor to look after her.’ One of the boys who had been fighting in the boat stood beside her, soaking wet, bedraggled, and not a little shamefaced.
‘She’s fine. That’s the main thing. Her head was only under the water for a few moments—’
He broke off as tears coursed down the woman’s cheeks. Someone proffered a handkerchief, but she wouldn’t let go of her daughter for long enough to wipe her eyes.
Edward turned to Charlotte. ‘How’s that cut doing?’
‘I think it’s stopped bleeding.’ She loosened her grip on Laura’s arm and blood began to seep between her fingers. ‘Ah. Not quite.’
‘Okay. Can the ambulance get to us here?’
‘Yes, the park gates are wide enough for them to get through, and they can use the service road that runs through the park, right there.’
He nodded. ‘Good. We’ll just sit tight here, then.’
* * *
The paramedic from the ambulance returned Charlotte’s scarf to her with a wry smile. ‘Try washing it in cold water...’
‘Thanks.’ Charlotte took the scarf. Hot water would only fix the bloodstain and it would never come out. Cold water might do the trick.
‘I should have offered to rip my shirt up for a bandage.’ Edward’s voice sounded behind her. ‘It’s already ruined.’
Ruined it might be, and bloodstained and dirty from the lake, clinging to his shoulders and chest in the places where the sun hadn’t dried it, but it was still better on than off. Marginally. When he’d emerged from the water the white lawn fabric had left very little to the imagination.
‘Probably best you keep it.’ She grinned up at him. ‘We don’t want to get all the mothers talking. I have to face them at the school gates, remember.’
He gave her a hurt look. ‘I’m allowed to rip up my shirt for bandages, aren’t I? I thought it was practically par for the course when a doctor has to improvise.’
‘Only when there’s nothing else to use. I’m a nurse, remember, and I had a scarf handy.’
‘Hmm. Shame to spoil it, though.’ He caught the end of the fine material through his fingers. ‘It’s pretty.’
It was her favourite. It went with her blouse, and she’d chosen both from her wardrobe this morning because they were a little smarter than the T-shirts she usually wore at the weekend. If she had allowed herself to examine her motives for that choice she would have had to admit that Edward had played a major part in it.
‘It’ll wash out.’
‘Hmm. You’ve got a spot of blood on your cuff, as well.’
‘That’ll wash out, too.’ Charlotte rolled the sleeves of her blouse up a little, to hide the stain.
‘Yeah. Look, I’ll take it home with me and put it in a bowl of cold water. Sam’s father...’
‘Dave?’
‘Yeah, Dave. He’s offered to run me home to get a change of clothes. We’ll only be half an hour.’
‘You’ll be coming back?’
‘Of course. We haven’t eaten our picnic yet.’ Edward watched as Laura’s mother climbed into the ambulance, shepherding her son with her. ‘His ears are going to be ringing tonight.’
‘I imagine so.’ It was so easy. You only had to take your eye off them for one minute... Charlotte shook her head.
‘Isaac’s okay.’ He pointed towards Sam and Isaac, playing together in the grass under Maggie’s watchful eye.
‘Yeah, I know.’ Still she couldn’t help the terrible feeling of foreboding.
‘I can understand your fears. With everything that’s happened. But no one’s going to let anything happen to him.’
‘No.’ She had to be content with that. With Edward’s promises, his father’s reassurances. ‘Look, you’re shivering. You must be freezing.’ His hair and shirt were beginning to dry, but Edward’s jeans were still soaking wet.
He shrugged. ‘I could do with getting those dry clothes. Will you be okay here with Isaac?’
‘Yes, fine. See you later.’
He grinned. ‘I wouldn’t miss this afternoon for the world.’
* * *
Charlotte sat with Maggie on the grass, hugging her knees in front of her.
‘So, Edward’s...a friend of yours...?’
‘Yes, I work with him.’
‘Ah. A colleague. Well, it was lucky he was here today. He was a real hero.’ Maggie laughed. ‘I told Isaac and Sam that I thought he was a hero, an
d Isaac asked if that made him a hero, too. Since Edward was his friend.’
Charlotte grinned at the thought. ‘What did you say?’
‘I said that it did. Then Sam wanted to know if he was a hero, too, as he was Isaac’s friend...’
‘I reckon it’s catching, this hero business.’
‘Definitely.’ Maggie leaned towards Charlotte confidingly. ‘Mind you, even my heart skipped a beat when he walked out of the water carrying that little girl.’
‘Yeah?’
Charlotte’s heart had almost stopped. Edward’s jeans, moulded tight around his strong thighs... His shirt clinging to a broad, muscled chest which had been heaving from the effort of getting to Laura in time and pulling her from the lake... The droplets of spinning silver that had scattered as he shook his head... It was an image that she wasn’t going to forget in a hurry.
‘Guess mine did, too.’
‘It’s instinct. Man saves child. Guaranteed to pull at the heartstrings.’
Head, heart and all points south. If Laura hadn’t been the most pressing priority she would have had little choice but to fling herself into his arms.
‘Yeah.’ She turned to Maggie with a bright smile. ‘And it all ended well.’
‘Yep. Thanks to you two.’ Maggie lay back in the grass. ‘I think it’s going to be a great afternoon.’
* * *
‘So, if you ever tell me again that you’re no good at reassuring patients...’
Charlotte was grinning at him, as if she knew that Edward was expecting something of the sort from her. At least she’d left it until Isaac was safely tucked up in bed.
‘Okay.’ He looked up from his book, holding his hands up in mock surrender. ‘You just had to say it, didn’t you?’ But it had felt good to be the one who gave comfort for a change. He could see the extra dimension that it added to Charlotte’s job.
She laughed. ‘Do you mind?’
‘No. I’d mind if you hadn’t noticed.’
Charlotte’s approval was becoming more important to him than he was strictly comfortable with. It was one thing to gain satisfaction from trying out a new approach and finding that it worked, but that didn’t mean that he’d changed. He might be older, and a bit wiser, but were Kathy’s words so very wide of the mark?
200 Harley Street: The Enigmatic Surgeon Page 12