Oliver sighed and jerked open the passenger door, guiding her firmly across the slippery drive. ‘This is the Lake District, sweetheart, not London. Taxis don’t go past the end of the road unless you call them, and even then you usually have to wait for hours while they dig themselves out of a snowdrift.’
She shivered but resisted when he tried to bundle her into the car. ‘What are you doing? You can’t leave the wedding. You’re the best man.’
‘And my part is over. Bryony and Jack are leaving to catch their flight soon and the rest of the guests are enjoying themselves.’ He gave her a gentle push. ‘Get in. I’m taking you home.’
She collapsed into the passenger seat and he closed the door firmly, shaking his head as he saw the marks that her slender heels had made in the snow. It was a wonder she hadn’t broken her ankle.
Then he opened the boot and grabbed two thick down jackets from the back seat, vowing that the next time he went to a wedding in early January he was going to wear appropriate dress.
‘You might need to rethink your footwear while you’re staying here,’ he said tactfully as he slid into the car next to her and handed her a jacket. ‘Put that on and, please, tell me you have some sensible shoes in your luggage.’
She took the jacket from him, her expression slightly glazed. ‘I don’t know what’s in my luggage. To be honest, I don’t know what I stuffed in the case. I dropped it at Bryony’s cottage earlier today.’
Oliver eased the car gently down the snowy drive, his teeth gritting as he realised that there was virtually no traction. It was like driving on an ice rink.
‘Well, let’s hope there’s something suitable for tromping around in the snow because we have more than our fair share of it at the moment in this part of the world.’
He pulled onto the main road and cursed slightly as the wheels spun and the car slid away from him. With the ease of experience he turned into the skid, regained control and gently coaxed the car forwards, careful not to touch the brakes.
‘Should have brought the four-wheel drive,’ he muttered to himself, his large hands strong and steady on the wheel.
‘Why didn’t you?’
‘It’s easier to pull when you’re driving a flashy car.’ He winked at her. ‘I thought I might get lucky if I brought the sex machine.’
Helen gave him a wan smile. ‘And instead you got stuck with me.’
Her voice faltered slightly and Oliver resisted the temptation to pull over and do something radical to bolster her confidence. The snow was falling thickly and he was afraid that if he stopped the car he might not get it started again.
Assuring himself that he’d be able to concentrate on Helen once he had them both safely home, he flicked on the windscreen wipers, squinting to see through the steady fall of flakes that threatened to obscure his vision.
‘If you reach into the back, there’s a blanket.’ He suddenly realised that, despite his spare coat, she was still shivering. ‘Wrap yourself up before you freeze.’
Helen twisted in her seat but before she could do as he’d instructed Oliver caught a flash of red out of the corner of his eye.
Muttering under his breath, he gently brought the car to a halt.
Carefully he reversed a little way back down the road and pulled into a farm gateway. ‘Did you see something?’
‘No.’ Her teeth were chattering now. ‘Nothing.’
Convinced that he wasn’t imagining things, Oliver flicked on the hazard warning lights and reached into the glove compartment for a torch. ‘I’m just going to check. Stay there. I’ll keep the engine running and the heater on full.’
He zipped his jacket up and then walked down the road, his footsteps muffled by the fresh snow.
And then he saw it.
A little red car, lying nose first in the ditch.
‘Damn.’ He sprinted forward and flashed the torch, trying to make out if there were any passengers.
‘Is there anyone in the car?’
He turned in surprise to see Helen standing there, swamped in his bulky jacket, a mobile phone in her hand.
‘Get back in the car,’ he ordered, glancing at her feet and wondering once again how any woman could walk in such high heels. But he was touched that she cared enough not to even think about herself.
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ She slithered into the ditch beside him. ‘You may be Super-Doc but surely even you can’t do this on your own. I’m a nurse. I can help. I’ve turned your engine off, by the way.’ She reached out and grabbed the torch from him, directing the beam into the car. ‘Oh, no! Oliver, there’s a baby!’