by Anne Fraser
‘What would that be?’ She returned his gaze, noting the way his mouth slanted in wry amusement, and her green eyes shimmered because after all the drama of the day he was a sight for sore eyes and she was glad he was here beside her.
‘That he wouldn’t have made it if he’d had to go all the way to the Royal Forest Hospital.’
‘Ah, yes, he wouldn’t have stood a chance, would he?’ She made a brief grimace. ‘Well…I thought maybe it was best if you came to that conclusion all by yourself. I knew you would manage it, given time.’
She laughed softly, relieved that he should finally come to realise the truth of what she was saying. She couldn’t help wondering, though, whether it would make any difference at all. Wasn’t the board of Trustees holding a public meeting this very week, to promote its plan for a super, winner takes all, hospital? ‘Not that it matters now. The Trust won’t be changing its mind any time soon, will it, despite all the action we’ve taken to try to persuade them otherwise?’
‘Well, maybe, maybe not. If you want to have any chance of swaying the board, you’ll need to come up with reasons why they need your unit to be here, and how any measures you put in place will be cost-effective.’
Her brows lifted. ‘So it’s about saving money, after all?’
‘Not necessarily. But they’ll be more likely to listen if you have some ideas about reducing costs.’
‘How about a mention of all the video conferencing facilities that are in place here already? Why travel to the Royal Forest Hospital when people are on hand here who can carry out intricate procedures and who can advise doctors in hospitals all around via the video link? How about the fact that we have an untapped source of GPs locally who have expressed a willingness to use our outpatient facilities to treat both adult and paediatric patients during weekend hours?’
‘They have?’ He lifted a dark brow.
‘Oh, yes, but only because they have the opportunity to transfer seriously ill patients to our units and they know they can rely on the support of our specialist staff. They won’t be able to do that if the A&E is closed down, because other wards and facilities will go along with us. We’ve been learning how to work together to bring about these extra services, but that will all be wasted in the end, won’t it?’
She was itemising the points in her head and now she went on, ‘Added to that, we’ve developed treatment regimes that lead to shorter hospital stays without detriment to the patient. We’ve also reduced waiting times, so we get to treat more patients.’
She looked at him. ‘These are all proven ways of reducing costs, according to the mantra of hospital managers. Would you like me to go on? It always seems an odd sort of way of balancing the books to me—saving money by seeing more patients, but then I’m not an economist. To me it’s all a pointless exercise in shifting statistics from one page to another.’
He chuckled. ‘No, there’s no need for you to add any more. I think you’ve proved your point well enough. What I suggest is that you put it in writing and present it to the board, along with case studies of the patients who wouldn’t have made it if they’d had to travel to the Royal Forest. Add to that the backing of parents whose children were treated here, and you might make some headway.’
She sat back and simply stared at him. ‘I’m amazed,’ she murmured. ‘I didn’t think I would see the day when you would be prepared to support me in this.’
‘Don’t get too carried away,’ he told her. ‘I’m on the Trust board and I know how these people think. It isn’t at all cut and dried.’
She sobered. ‘Yes, I suppose that’s true.’ Her joy was short lived. ‘And you have problems of your own to contend with, don’t you? Has Robert still not come home?’
He shook his head. ‘I haven’t been able to get in touch with him. He’s still not answering any calls.’
She frowned. ‘You could always send him a text message. Let him know of any ideas you might come up with for getting the most out of the estate. I know he was concerned about the terms of your grandfather’s will—are you still struggling with that?’
‘It has certainly concentrated my mind these last few weeks. I’m head of the estate now, but I was hoping that I would be able to keep Robert on board. It would be good if I could find a way around the problems we’re having and come up with ways to make the changes he wanted.’
Her mouth made a wry shape. ‘Yes, I’ve been giving some thought to that.’
‘You have?’
She nodded. ‘From what you told me, and bits I’ve gleaned from Gemma, you can’t open up the house for visitors on an everyday basis, but there’s nothing to say that your grandfather would have objected to you allowing people to look round at certain times of the year, or on occasion by appointment.’
He wasn’t making any attempt to interrupt, and so she went on. ‘Then again, I imagine there might be television and film companies who would be glad of the opportunity to use the house occasionally as a background for period television and film productions. There’s nothing in the will to say that you can’t allow that, is there, and in one way your grandfather might have appreciated that, because it would showcase the house and allow it to be seen in its historical setting.’
His eyes widened a fraction and, since he hadn’t dismissed the idea outright, she warmed to her theme. ‘Then, of course, there are the grounds—nothing was laid down about them not being used for things like equestrian events, was there? Robert would probably be enthusiastic about building up the stables once more, and you could perhaps use them as a base for riding lessons. Your grandfather would probably have approved of that, especially if you were to have sessions for disabled children so that they could experience the thrill of the outdoors. And then there’s the lake—I imagine people would jump at the chance to buy licenses to fish there. It’s such a tranquil place.’
He smiled into her eyes and draped an arm lightly around her shoulders. ‘You really have been thinking this through, haven’t you?’
Her confidence grew under the gentle encouragement of his embrace. There was a warm familiarity about the way he was holding her, and she wanted nothing more than to snuggle up against him and have him show her that he cared for her every bit as much as she cared for him.
She wasn’t at all sure about that, though. It was some time now since he had told her how much he wanted her and needed her, and how desperate he was to kiss her, and she had to accept that he had done it on the spur of the moment, and it didn’t necessarily mean that he loved her in return, did it?
‘I tried to think of things from your grandfather’s point of view,’ she explained. ‘He was proud of his heritage, but he also wanted to keep the family together as a unit, living within the family home and appreciating it for its historic value. What he didn’t want was its wholesale use as a marketing venture.’
‘Yes, I think that’s probably true. He was a very private man, but he was also very conscious of the history of the Manor and the estate.’
She hesitated. ‘Perhaps that’s what’s behind Robert’s mood. Maybe he wants to share his pride in the family’s history with others, and in a way celebrate everything that the house and the estate represent. He’s feeling thwarted and undervalued, and somehow you need to draw him back into the fold.’
James gave her a hug. ‘It’s very sweet of you to think about me and my family in this way. My grandfather thought you were great, and that’s how I feel about you too.’ His mouth softened in a smile. ‘I wish I could show you how glad I am that you came into my life. You’ve given me a whole new perspective on things.’
‘I have?’ She gazed up at him, loving the way he folded her into the warmth of his body, and even as he nodded in response he was drawing her closer, his head lowering so that his lips touched hers, softening in a gentle kiss that made her whole body tingle with blissful pleasure.
She kissed him in return, her lips clinging to his, her mind reeling with a myriad of sensations that ran through her body
as his hand lightly stroked the curve of her cheek and slid down to trace the silken column of her throat.
His touch was exquisite, bringing every nerve-ending to clamouring life, and making her long for more—she wanted to feel his hands moving over her in tender exploration, and for a moment she thought she must have spoken aloud because his hand trailed over her, sliding down towards the scooped neckline of her cotton top and lingering there.
Could he feel the heavy beat of her heart beneath his fingers? Surely he must, because it was pounding so hard that she could feel her breath constricting in her throat, and heat was spreading through her with all the intensity of a desert sunrise.
‘You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time,’ he said, his tone roughened. ‘I wish I could take you away from here and show you just how much I want you…’ He broke off, a ragged sigh breaking in his throat. ‘But I can’t do that. It wouldn’t be right.’
He leaned his forehead lightly against hers, murmuring softly against her temple. ‘There are too many things getting in the way. Not the least of which is my position here at the hospital, and my dealings with the board of Trustees. And the problem of the Ashleigh estate.’
His hands cupped her arms and he held her away from him a fraction, reluctantly, as though he was battling with himself and wrestling with his conscience. ‘I can’t do this. And I know that you want to help, but I can sort out my own problems. I don’t need you to think up ways to make things right. You have enough worries of your own right now, with the board meeting and the whole future of your department in jeopardy. Thanks for what you’re trying to do, but I’ll cope on my own.’
She stared at him in bewilderment. What had she done wrong? Why had he changed, all in a matter of minutes? One moment he’d been holding her and kissing her, making her feel warm and secure, and the next he had put her at a distance, as though nothing could ever come of their liaison.
What had brought about this change in him? Was he conscious of his allegiance to the Trust and all that entailed? Had he, too, realised how far apart they were in everything that they believed in?
He let her go and then stood up, looking down at her where she stayed, frozen like a statue on the bench. ‘I have to go and check on my patients,’ he said in a quiet tone. ‘I realise now I should never have kissed you. I’m sorry.’
He walked away, and all she could think of was that her heart was thudding, a chaotic, overpowering beat, and her mind was dazed, incapable of taking in what he was saying to her.
He had kissed her and then left her, without even a backward glance. There would never be any future for them together, and it broke her heart.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
‘HAVE you heard anything about how the Trust board meeting went the other day?’ Jenny passed a patient’s chart to Louise for signing, and Louise quickly glanced through the notes.
‘Nothing, so far. It all seems to be very hush-hush. I think they’re preparing a statement for the press and trying to arrange a public meeting so that they can air their recommendations.’ Louise added her signature to the chart.
‘Hasn’t James said anything to you about it?’
She frowned. ‘No, he’s been very quiet on that score. I expect he’s been sworn to secrecy until they make the public announcement.’ She checked her list of patients and then went with the nurse in search of the accident victim who had just come back from the radiology department. ‘You’ve broken a bone in your leg,’ she told the ten-year-old boy when she had studied his X-ray films in the light box, ‘but it’s a clean break, and we’ll be able to put your leg in a plaster cast to make sure that it heals properly. I’ll make sure that you have plenty of pain medication, so that you shouldn’t be too uncomfortable.’ She left the boy in Jenny’s care, and went to look at another patient.
Over the last couple of weeks, James seemed to have been in a perpetual rush, dividing his time between management meetings and his work in A&E and, she suspected, dealing with the overwhelming burden of managing the Ashleigh estate.
‘I’ve arranged for someone to come and start on the roof repairs,’ he had told her some time ago, ‘but, before they can do anything, I have to make sure that all the attics are cleared. It’s a marathon task because my grandfather seems to have sent everything up there for storage over the years.’
Lately, whenever she had come across him in the course of their work, he had been totally professional, but there had been no opportunity for them to talk in the way that she had become used to. His manner was faintly distracted and, although she could understand why that might be, it hurt to know that the intimacy that had grown between them had dissolved so abruptly.
She saw him now, walking across the central area, and for a moment or two she hesitated, wondering whether to take a few minutes to go and talk to him. Then she saw that Gemma had come into the waiting-room, and she guessed that he was on his way to meet her.
Gemma’s art gallery wasn’t too far distant from the hospital and it was fairly easy for her to come across here to see her brother from time to time. Louise saw them hug one another, and it was good to see the affection between them, but it only served to make her feel all the more isolated. She missed his warm embraces and his gentle smile.
He was frowning now, and Gemma was talking earnestly to him, while James shook his head every now and again. Gemma handed him some papers and he glanced briefly down at them before tucking them into his inside jacket pocket.
He smiled at his sister and kissed her lightly on the cheek, before moving briskly away. Louise saw him go into one of the treatment rooms.
‘Hello, Gemma,’ she said softly in greeting as Gemma passed on her way out. ‘It’s lovely to see you again. How are you and the girls? Are you all bearing up well enough these last few weeks?’
‘Louise, it’s good to see you.’ Gemma’s face lit up. ‘I wondered if I might run into you while I was here. You and James are always so busy.’
‘James has been certainly, these last few weeks. I expect he has a lot to do, sorting out the management of the estate.’
‘I think he’s worked out more or less what he wants to do regarding that. We just need to bring Robert back on board, but it’s difficult, seeing that he won’t answer our phone calls.’
‘I’m sorry. I’d hoped he would be back with you by now.’
Gemma shook her head, her mouth making a rueful shape. ‘He’s probably best out of it at the moment. The workmen are all over the house, fixing anything that needs to be fixed, and it’s pretty chaotic. I’m acting as a go-between, which is why I’ve brought in a list of queries from the builders today. James is run ragged keeping on top of everything these days.’
Louise nodded. ‘I guessed as much. He seems to have a lot on his mind of late, and it hasn’t been easy to get him to stop and talk about anything. I had hoped he might give me some idea of what’s going on with the plans for the hospital, but he’s probably been asked to say nothing, and of course he has so much else going on right now.’
A small line indented Gemma’s brow. ‘I didn’t think he would have said anything to you. He’s always been that way, keeping things to himself and not wanting to confide in anyone. I’ve been telling him that he should share some of his problems, but he won’t do it…even where the estate is concerned, he keeps it all to himself. It’s very frustrating. He thinks he’s being protective of us, shouldering the burden himself, but I just find it plain annoying.’
Louise smiled. ‘I know the feeling.’
Gemma touched her arm in a gesture of sympathy. ‘You must be worried sick about what’s going to happen to your unit. He hasn’t told me anything either, but I think there should be something in the local evening paper. The chief executive put out a statement to the local press ahead of the main news bulletin in tomorrow’s national papers.’
‘That’s good to know.’ Louise felt cheered by that. At least she wouldn’t have too long to wait before she gained some inkli
ng of what was to happen. ‘I’ll make sure that I buy a copy from the news kiosk when I leave here later on.’
As things turned out, it was a move that she soon began to regret. When her shift ended later that day she picked up a paper from the hospital news-stand on her way out and glanced briefly at the headlines.
Hospital Trust comes up with new solutions, she read. It appeared to be a fairly long article and, instead of reading it here and now, she tossed it onto the seat of her car, deciding that she would be able to study it more fully over supper.
Her supper turned to ashes in her mouth, though, as she read the journalist’s report.
The Royal Forest Hospital will be designated a Centre of Excellence for the region, the Trust’s management committee declared today.
Services at the hospital will be second to none, with specialist units equipped with state-of-the-art technology to cater for the needs of patients within the region.
Plans have been made to use the outpatients departments as centres where local GPs will see patients out of hours—including evenings and weekends. This will provide full cover for the neighbouring community.
In a separate measure, funding has been guaranteed for the Royal Forest Hospital’s paediatric A&E wing, thanks to provisions put in place by its benefactor, the Ashleigh estate. An investment trust has been set up to provide finance for years to come. The new Lord Ashleigh stated, ‘It was my grandfather’s abiding wish that the funding would continue, and I’m pleased to say that the paediatric A&E unit will continue to be supported under new agreements that have been drawn up.
Louise slowly absorbed all that. Not only was James funding the unit that was in contention with her own, but also he had used her ideas to boost the Royal Forest Hospital as a regional centre. Local GPs using outpatient facilities—hadn’t she suggested that to him as a means of supporting her own cause?