‘She’s having a cup of tea with the nurses.’ Thomas came back and gave Lizzie a smile. ‘So, you’re going out next week to a ball?’
‘It’s a work function,’ Lizzie said, ‘but it sounds very glamorous.’
‘Are you going with anyone?’
‘My boss.’
‘And does your boss have a name?’
‘Leo,’ Lizzie said. ‘Leo Hunter.’ She saw her dad’s eyebrow rise and Lizzie frowned but then realised that, of course, her dad would have heard of Leo. Even before Faye had taken ill they had lived their lives through magazines and newspapers.
‘Watch yourself, Lizzie.’
‘Leo’s lovely.’
‘Hmmph,’ her dad said. ‘He comes from bad stock. I remember reading about his mother. Above all the rules everyone else lived by, out partying …’
‘It’s a work do.’
‘Even so,’ her dad huffed. ‘I don’t want you getting hurt again. I remember Peter …’
Lizzie bit her tongue. Peter had been her boyfriend nearly ten years ago and, yes, the break-up had hurt but life hurt sometimes whether or not you lived it.
Her father just chose to live his life reading about everyone else.
‘Why don’t you come over to see the Hewitts when Mum’s resting this afternoon?’ Lizzie asked. ‘Just for a coffee.’ The Hewitts were old family friends who ran the bed and breakfast Lizzie stayed at when visiting, but her dad shook his head. ‘What about a walk on the beach, then?’ Lizzie attempted. ‘It would be nice to get some fresh air.’
‘I like to stay close to your mum.’
‘I know but …’
Lizzie gave in. Even a small walk was a major event for her father. It was a long weekend and a depressing one. She loved her parents dearly and the Hewitts were lovely people too, but they were almost as locked in the past as her parents and Lizzie was guilty with relief at how nice it felt to be back in London. As she headed to 200 Harley Street on Monday morning she was certainly looking forward to work, and, even though she was trying hard to deny it, she was also looking forward to seeing Leo.
‘How was your weekend?’ Leo asked her as she took off her scarf and coat.
‘It was fine,’ she answered. ‘How was yours?’
‘I need another one to recover from it.’ He yawned.
‘Any house calls today?’ Lizzie asked.
‘Nope.’
‘You never did tell me how things went the other evening on your house call,’ she fished.
‘I deliberately didn’t.’
‘Please …’ Lizzie whimpered. ‘I have to know where you went.’
‘I’ll tell you if you tell me who did your surgery.’
She poked out her tongue and then stopped because banter was just too easy with Leo and it was starting to look a lot like flirting.
Leo had actually had an unusually quiet weekend. Yes, there had been drinks after work on Friday and he’d been out to a very glamorous dinner on Saturday but, unusually for Leo, he’d returned to his apartment alone and on Sunday he’d found himself racking his brains for a reason, or rather an excuse, to ring Lizzie.
It would be a terrible idea, Leo knew that. Especially as he didn’t yet know the full extent of her friendship with Ethan. Yes, his brother had said it had all been professional but Ethan seemed terribly keen to look out for her.
All morning the question built for Leo. He simply could not get Lizzie out of his mind and, as lunchtime approached, Leo came up with a very simple solution.
He’d just ask her, Leo decided.
But not here.
‘Do you want to go out for lunch?’ Leo didn’t mince his words, he was very used to asking women to join him, it was Lizzie’s response that he wasn’t used to.
‘Er, no,’ Lizzie said. ‘I’ve got plans …’ She frantically searched for an excuse because she was already struggling to keep things professional. ‘I’m going to the zoo.’
‘The zoo?’
‘I’ve been meaning to since I got here. It’s so close …’
‘It’s freezing,’ Leo said, ‘you won’t see anything.’
‘How do you know?’ Lizzie asked. ‘Have you ever been to the zoo in January?’
‘ No.’
‘Then don’t comment on what you don’t know.’ Lizzie said. ‘It will be nice without the crowds. Anyway, I’m not going to look at the animals today, I’m taking out a membership.’
She turned to go and Leo watched her, saw the curve of her bottom and with two words he confirmed the mood in the room.
‘Buttock implants?’
It was a little game they’d invented—Leo was still trying to guess what work Lizzie had done, but even he inwardly cringed as he said it. He was either outright flirting with Lizzie or being completely inappropriate with a colleague, and he held his breath as he leapt over the line, wondering what her reaction would be.
It surprised him.
More pointedly, it surprised Lizzie.
‘Maybe!’ She didn’t turn around, just paused momentarily and gave a little wiggle that sent all his blood rushing south··
What on earth was that?
Lizzie almost ran to her office and retrieved her coat, astounded at her own brazenness, asking herself how, with one smouldering look, he so easily tripped the switch.
No! she told herself as she took a taxi to the zoo.
No, no, no, she thought as she filled in the forms and paid for her membership, which would give her unlimited visits for the year.
The zoo actually served as a very pertinent reminder.
Do not feed the lions.
Especially one called Leo.
‘How was the zoo?’ Leo asked when she returned an hour later.
‘I’ll tell you when I’ve been properly.’
‘Leo …’ Gwen knocked on the open door. ‘I’ve got Francesca on the telephone—she’s terribly upset. I can’t make sense …’
‘Put her through,’ Leo said, dismissing them both, but a few minutes later he found Lizzie and brought her up to speed.
‘Francesca had surgery on Friday and she thinks it’s infected. She’s completely hysterical and she won’t go back to the surgeon who did the operation and she’s refusing to go to Kate’s. I’ve told her to get into a taxi and come here. I’ll see her in one of the treatment rooms. She won’t be long.’
Francesca wasn’t.
Gwen went out to help her in and Leo gave a small eye roll to Lizzie. ‘Hold onto that while I examine her, please.’
‘Hold onto what?’
‘My ego,’ Leo said. ‘And you have my permission to kick me if I look like I’m about to say, “I told you so”.’
In fact, he was nothing but kind to her.
Francesca was absolutely distraught and sat huddled behind dark glasses and with a scarf around her face.
‘Please don’t be cross with me, Leo.’
‘Why would I be cross?’
‘Disappointed, then.’
‘I’m not a parent for a reason, Francesca. I don’t do guilt trips.’
‘No, you don’t,’ Francesca conceded.
‘Tell me what happened.’
‘I had surgery on Friday; he was able to fit me in the next day as he had a cancellation. I didn’t go to just anyone. He comes highly recommended …’ She gave the surgeon’s name.
‘Geoff’s a fantastic surgeon,’ Leo said. ‘Right, I need to take a look at it.’
Lizzie helped Francesca with her glasses and scarf as she told them the work she’d had done. ‘He said it was just a small lift and some fillers but now the wound is oozing.’
Leo washed his hands as Lizzie checked Francesca’s temperature and pulse—both were high—then Leo sat on a stool opposite Francesca and examined her face very carefully.
‘I agree it looks terrible at the moment but …’ As Francesca started sobbing Leo overrode her. ‘From what I can see, Geoff has done a good job.’
Francesca’s eyes snapped open.
‘I wouldn’t have done it, but, then, I possibly go overboard on subtle and natural, but he hasn’t gone over the top. There’s a lot of swelling and a lot of bruising but when that all settles, I think it will be far better than you’re now expecting.’
Not for the first time, Leo surprised her—he didn’t criticise the other surgeon. If anything, he spoke well of his work and, as promised, he didn’t take Francesca on a guilt trip, he just slowly calmed the terrified woman down.
‘What about the infection?’ Francesca asked.
‘Unfortunate,’ Leo said, ‘but it happens sometimes …’ He took a swab. ‘I want to have a listen to your chest …’ He took her pulse for quite a long time and then looked at Lizzie. ‘Actually, could you help Francesca into a gown? I’d like to examine her properly.’
‘Leo …’ Francesca shook her head to decline but Leo was adamant.
‘I’m not arguing with you again, Francesca. I want to examine you and I’ll be honest—I think you need a couple of days in hospital.’ When Francesca started to argue Leo pushed on. ‘My only criticism, and this isn’t just Geoff, but people seem to think surgery like this is a day procedure.’