A Wedding in the Village (13 page)

When she opened the door to him just before eight o’clock he said, ‘That’s the dress you wore for the painting, isn’t it?’

‘Er…yes.’ She was taken aback that he’d remembered. ‘Do you approve?’

‘Of course I do.’

‘I think both of our outfits are an improvement on what we did the village tour in,’ she said, smiling across at the tall figure on her doorstep who was dressed in a dark suit, smart shirt and tie.

Luke took her hand and led her down the steps. ‘So off we go, then.’ He then diminished the promise of the moment by going on, ‘Two hard-working doctors let off the leash for once.’

‘Yes,’ she agreed flatly, and thought how much she would have liked him to be able to describe them as lovers rather than busy GPs. But the afternoon’s episode had set a pattern of behaviour and Luke seemed to be intent on keeping to it.

* * *

The dining room at Beresford Lodge was full, it being Saturday, and as they were shown to a table for two by a window Megan looked around her. She’d dined there before a couple of times with Sue, but since then it had been refurbished. Observing the elegance of the place, it seemed to have been well worth the expense.

‘This will make a perfect place for a Christmas ball. Especially if the organisers decide it should be fancy dress to a festive theme,’ Luke said when they were seated. ‘You could be the fairy on the Christmas tree and I could be Ebenezer Scrooge.’

She was smiling at him across the table. ‘I can’t think of anyone less fitted for either part. Me as a fairy and you, the kindest of men, as Scrooge.’

‘You ain’t seen the worst side o’ me yet, missy,’ he quipped back.

She loved this man, Megan thought. It would be enchantment to spend the rest of her days with him. When she’d known him before he’d been the reserved lecturer who’d snubbed her Valentine card and maybe it was as well that he had.

She’d been in love with love in those days, and once she’d graduated had almost forgotten the only man she’d ever been attracted to. Almost, but not quite. There’d never been anyone else who’d made her bones melt or her heart beat faster at the mere sight of them.

When Sue had told her that Luke had been married and was now divorced, she’d accepted it calmly enough on the outside, but deep down she’d been hurting. Yet had she really expected that someone with his looks and standing wouldn’t have tried the marriage game by then?

Thinking of Sue brought her back to the present and she asked, ‘Was everything all right at Woodcote House when you got home?’

‘Yes. The boys had gone to the birthday party of one of Owen’s friends and Sue was winding down after a day in the garden centre. As you can imagine, the demand for growing things reduces as winter sets in and she was wondering whether to close until nearer Christmas.’

‘What did you say?’

‘I said don’t do it. Put up with dwindling sales rather than close. Once the public get used to a business being shut they don’t take the trouble to go back when it opens again because they’ve found somewhere else to shop. I’ve suggested that we make a really big splash at Christmas with trees, ornaments and so on, and maybe open a small café on the premises.’

‘And what did she say?’

‘Thought it was a good idea.’

‘So do I,’ she told him, ‘and I can see the reasoning behind it, apart from the money angle. If she’s kept busy, it will be easier for her to get through their first Christmas without Gareth.’

‘You read my mind,’ he said sombrely.

At that moment the food they’d ordered arrived and as they were both hungry after the day’s other activities silence fell as they enjoyed the catering of Beresford Lodge.

It was not to last. The manager made a hurried appearance and asked urgently, ‘Dr Marshall, please, could you help us?’

Luke put down his knife and fork and got to his feet, and Megan did the same. ‘We are both doctors,’ he told him. ‘What’s the problem?’

‘Will you come this way, please?’ the manager asked, lowering his voice. When they were out of earshot of the other diners he said, ‘A visitor has been found unconscious in one of the bedrooms. I’ve sent for an ambulance but thought if there was a doctor present they could perhaps attend to her until it arrives.’

‘Of course,’ Luke replied. ‘We will do what we can.’ As he flashed her a wry smile Megan thought that this was going to be an imperfect ending to an imperfect day.

* * *

The woman lying on the thick carpeting in a second-floor bedroom was indeed unconscious. Middle-aged, and dressed in just a long cotton robe, she seemed to have been carrying a bag of toiletries as it was on the floor beside her with the contents strewn around it.

A chambermaid and the assistant manager were with her when they arrived, both trying to rouse her but without success. As the two doctors knelt beside her Megan said, ‘She hasn’t got the bluish tinge to the lips or the clammy skin of a cardiac arrest.’

‘No, indeed,’ he agreed, as they checked the breathing and pulse.

‘Do you think she’s taken something?’ she questioned.

‘There’s a strip of tablets that looks like prescribed medication on the bedside table,’ the chambermaid said. ‘I noticed them when I came in to turn the bedcovers down.’

She went to get them and handed them to Megan who informed him. ‘They’re beta-blockers, Luke.’

‘Hmm. Those little fellows can be tricky under certain circumstances. They do the job in lots of cases, but I’ve known a few people who’ve had a bad reaction to them.’

Megan was looking down at the packet in her hand. ‘I’ve prescribed these for migraine and over active thyroid and had no bad reports.’

‘So have I,’ he agreed, ‘but there is always the one person who they don’t suit and then we are in big trouble.’

The woman on the carpet moaned softly at that moment and then opened her eyes. ‘What happened?’ she asked muzzily. ‘Did I faint?’

‘We don’t know,’ Megan told her gently. ‘What are you taking the tablets for?’

‘Migraine, asthma, anxiety, lots of things.’

‘Has anything like this happened before?’ Luke asked.

‘I’ve felt odd a few times, but I’ve never collapsed before. I was getting ready to go down for dinner and that’s the last I remember. I’m here with my firm. It’s a sort of staff getting to know each other weekend. They’ll be wondering where I am.’

She was trying to sit up and Megan said, ‘The manager has sent for an ambulance. Just stay where you are for the moment.’

‘I don’t want to go to hospital,’ the woman said tearfully. ‘I’m all right now.’

‘You didn’t collapse for no reason,’ Luke told her gently. ‘You need to be checked over. It could be your tablets that caused it, or some other problem, and they’ll deal with that in A and E.’

Their patient nodded meekly. ‘I suppose you’re right.’ She looked up at the faces of those gathered around her. ‘You’ve been very kind. My name is Helen Somerfield. If someone could tell my boss what’s happened, I’d be grateful. Though they’ll all be halfway through their dinner by now. I don’t want to disturb them.’

‘I’ll go with Mrs Somerfield, if it’s all right with you,’ the chambermaid said to the manager.

‘Yes, by all means,’ he agreed, anxious to ensure the situation was dealt with as quickly as possible. ‘And as you could be there some time, take the day off tomorrow.’

* * *

The ambulance had taken the dazed woman to hospital, and now the two doctors were about to take up where they’d left off. Their table had been reset, with a bottle of champagne on ice in a central position, and staff were waiting to serve them with a freshly cooked meal to replace the one they’d had to leave in such a hurry.

As the wine waiter poured the champagne he said, ‘Compliments of the manager.’

When he’d gone Luke said whimsically, ‘The trouble with doctors is they can never escape their profession. Has it spoilt your evening, Megan?’

She shook her head. ‘No, of course not.’ It was true. They’d been doing what they’d been trained to do… together…and it had been a great feeling. There were no unclear agendas when it came to the job.

If the rest of their lives were progressing as smoothly she would be up in the clouds. But although they were two people in the grip of a strong attraction, they were also unevenly balanced when it came to lifestyles.

Her life was clear and uncluttered, she thought, while Luke’s was bulging at the seams with family responsibilities and a past relationship that kept rearing its head.

She’d always imagined that falling in love would be simple. That she would meet the man of her dreams, who would have the same feelings, and the romance would move on from there. The last thing she’d expected was having to cope with following in someone else’s footsteps. Even though Luke had made it clear that the only feelings left over from his marriage were hurt and anger.

When they arrived back at the cottage it was way past midnight and as she was about to invite him in for a drink, Luke said, ‘As we drove past I noticed that there seemed to be still a lot of activity at the house where the boys have been invited to a party, so if you don’t mind I’ll make tracks. It is too late for youngsters of their age to be partying.’

He touched her cheek fleetingly. ‘It’s been a strange day, hasn’t it, Megan? Full of highs and lows, and just because I called a halt, don’t be thinking that what happened on our way to the iron bridge wasn’t the highest point.’ He smiled. ‘Lock up when I’ve gone. Sleep well. And wish me luck with your friend Sonia tomorrow.’

Megan nodded without speaking, understanding what he’d said about his nephews but not wanting him to go. It
had
been the kind of day he’d described. Amongst the good parts had been lost chances.

They knew each other well enough as doctors, but getting to know each other as people was another matter, and after she’d watched the taillights of Luke’s car disappear into the night she went slowly up to bed.

* * *

When he called at the home of Owen’s friend, Luke discovered that it was the adults who were partying at that hour after the youngsters had gone home, and he breathed a sigh of relief on that score. The last thing he’d wanted was to do the heavy uncle act.

They were both fast asleep when he looked in on them and no sounds were coming from his sister’s room. So in the quiet house he stripped out of the clothes he’d worn for the evening with Megan and lay on top of the covers, gazing out into the night.

He knew that she hadn’t wanted him to go and he’d felt the same. But his feeling of responsibility for the boys hadn’t gone away with the return of their mother. It could easily have been a houseful of unsupervised young people partying in the house on the main street of the village.

His last thoughts before sleep were of that kiss. It would have been so easy to take it further, but he wasn’t going to let Megan get carried away when she had reservations about him. While those remained, the future was uncertain and he was not going to cause her any grief.

* * *

He went round to the Gallery before it was due to open the next morning. The last thing he wanted was to discuss Sonia’s health with her in the front of other people, except for the faithful Barbara, who was carrying in a big wooden tray that contained cakes and scones when he arrived.

‘Have you come to persuade Sonia to get her health sorted?’ she asked, ‘Or is it Megan’s portrait you’ve come for? Sonia told me you were interested.’

‘I’ve come because of both,’ he told her. ‘Regarding Sonia, I’ve even brought my medical kit with me so that if she agrees to have blood tests, I can do them on the spot. If they are left until the surgery opens tomorrow, she could have changed her mind by then, but first of all I’ve got to get her to agree to have them. I’m afraid if she doesn’t, the surgery won’t be able to answer for the consequences. Anyone can see that she’s a sick woman.’

‘Except Sonia herself,’ Barbara commented.

‘Hmm. That happens a lot. Just as some people think they’re ill when they’re not.’

‘I’ll stay out of the way,’ Barbara told him. ‘Sonia won’t want an audience.’

When Sonia saw him, the gallery owner said, ‘You’re an early bird, Dr Anderson. I take it that you’ve come for Megan’s portrait.’

‘Yes,’ he said easily, ‘and one other thing.’

‘And what might that be?’

‘Two people who care for you a lot are very worried about your health, Sonia.’

She groaned. ‘Oh, not that again. I’m all right.’

‘I think we might have to differ on that. I’d like to take some blood tests, if you agree. Megan tells me that you’ve lost a lot of weight, have no appetite and are tired all the time.’

‘That happens to lots of people.’

‘Yes, it does, and in some cases it is just a temporary thing. In others it is a warning that something serious is the cause. But we aren’t going to find out if that is the case without blood tests. So, if you would just roll up your sleeve?’

For a moment it seemed as if Sonia might refuse and then with a sigh she did as he’d asked. ‘Have you had a bad experience with the medical profession that you are so reluctant to seek help?’ he asked as he tightened the strap around a bony arm.

‘No, not with them. I nursed my mother with cancer of the colon, and as it progressed she looked just like I do, skin and bone. I’ve had other relatives with the same thing and now I feel that it’s my turn.’

‘And you aren’t prepared to do anything about it.’

‘What’s the point?’

‘The point is that it may not be cancer, and if it is, treatments are so advanced these days it doesn’t mean that it will be fatal. So shall we see what the bloods I’ve taken tell us before we jump to any conclusions?’

‘Yes, all right,’ Sonia said listlessly, ‘and bear in mind that Megan is not to blame for any of this. She has tried repeatedly to get me to go to the surgery.’

‘Of course,’ he said calmly. ‘She is a good doctor
and
a good friend. The results of the tests should be back from the lab in two to three days. As soon as I’ve got them I’ll give you a call. And now to my other reason for being here, the portrait.’

‘Why do you want it? You haven’t been here long enough to know her that well.’