Dreaming. CHARLOTTE LAMB

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СКАЧАТЬ go pink like that you look very female. I suppose it makes me feel you need protecting...’

      ‘In this day and age?’ she asked incredulously.

      He grimaced. ‘Oh, I know it’s an out of date attitude—opening doors for a woman, standing up when she comes into a room...OK, it’s laughed at these days. But I’m an old-fashioned guy. I like the difference between a man and a woman and I don’t see why I should apologise for that.’

      ‘Neither do I,’ she said, smiling at him because they had worked together long enough for her to know that he was no put-down artist. He didn’t treat women as dolls—far from it. He’d always treated her with respect and grave equality.

      He smiled back. ‘That’s what first attracted me to you,’ he surprised her by saying. ‘Your femininity.’

      Luisa stared in surprise. He had never told her that before. She had often wondered how he had managed to reach the age of thirty-five without marrying because he was attractive and popular with the other nurses. He had had other girlfriends, but the relationships had all fizzled out in the end. Maybe the long hours he had to work, the intense concentration of the job, always came between him and anyone he dated?

      He usually looked relaxed and casual, even in his ward-walking suits, because he was not the authoritarian type of surgeon of an earlier generation. David was too laid-back for that; his warm smile and easy-going manner made him the most liked of all the doctors. But tonight he, too, looked different: very distinguished in his evening suit. The black jacket and trousers made him look very slim; the white shirt and immaculate black tie gave him a touch of glamour he did not normally have.

      His mouth curled in amusement. ‘Are you looking me over, Luisa? Or have I put you off by admitting I like feminine girls?’

      She laughed, shaking her head.

      He tightened his grip on her hand and drew her closer, bending his head. Luisa instinctively lifted her face to meet his kiss, but, even as their lips met, behind them in her flat the telephone rang and they froze, looked at each other, grimacing.

      ‘Don’t answer it!’ David said, and she laughed.

      ‘You know I must! It may be my father.’

      David groaned. ‘Famous last words!’

      It wasn’t her father; it was the hospital. She sighed and turned, holding out the phone to David. ‘Sorry,’ she said as he reluctantly took it.

      ‘I won’t say I told you so!’

      He curtly said into the phone, ‘Hallows here.’ Then listened, brows pulling together. ‘How long has that been happening?’

      Luisa stood watching him, her hands unconsciously playing with her short black velvet evening jacket. If David was being summoned back to the theatre she would not be going to the dance.

      He put the phone down and turned to make a wry face at her. ‘I told you not to answer it!’

      ‘I thought you weren’t on call!’

      ‘I’m not, but one of my patients has been waiting for an op. for three days because his condition simply wasn’t stable enough for me to risk it. Tonight they think he has stabilised, but Colin Dawkins doesn’t like to risk doing an op. on his own opinion; he wants me to pop in and take a look at the guy and back him up before he gives the go-ahead.’

      ‘And he’d really rather you did the op. yourself!’ Luisa said drily.

      David laughed. ‘I expect he would. He’s simply terrified of taking a risk, that fellow.’

      ‘Does this mean no dance?’

      ‘Certainly not! No, we’ll be going, but I suppose I’d better make a detour en route and drop by the hospital to see this patient and decide whether Colin ought to operate or not.’

      ‘It might be wiser to wait until tomorrow, anyway.’

      David’s mouth indented. ‘Hmm. This is a dodgy one, though. Not sure he can afford to wait. But I’ll see.’

      When they reached the hospital David asked, ‘Wait here for me?’ but she shook her head, smiling at him.

      ‘You may be gone for ages. No, I’ll come in and stop off at my ward to have a cup of coffee with Sister Jenkins.’

      ‘And show off your dress?’ he teased, and she laughed.

      ‘Well, why not?’

      They split up in the hospital, and she rustled along the corridors, amused when she got a startled look from a nurse hurrying by.

      Helen Jenkins was in the ward overseeing a nurse giving out the evening medication. Luisa walked towards them and Helen looked round, and stared, open-mouthed.

      ‘Can’t you keep away?’

      Laughing, Luisa explained. ‘David had to see a patient. I hoped I’d get a cup of coffee from you while I wait.’

      ‘Put it on and I’ll be with you in a second,’ Helen cheerfully agreed.

      ‘What a gorgeous, dress, Sister,’ said the nurse, and Luisa smiled at her.

      ‘Thanks, it’s new. First time I’ve worn it.’

      ‘It suits you,’ said the girl, her eyes lifting to stare at Luisa’s ringlets.

      Helen was staring at them, too. ‘I’ve never seen you wear your hair like that before!’

      ‘I never have; it’s an experiment, and I don’t think I’ll be doing it again, either,’ Luisa wryly said.

      ‘Oh, no, it looks great!’ the nurse said, and Helen nodded.

      ‘I like it, too. It certainly makes you look different.’

      Rather pink, Luisa said, ‘Thank you,’ and then turned to walk back to the office. As she did so, a faint voice made her halt. She looked across the ward at Zachary West’s bed and saw him shift slightly. Luisa went over to him. His eyes were open.

      ‘Did you call out, Mr West?’

      He stared in silence.

      She tried again. ‘I thought I heard you call...’

      He closed his eyes without answering.

      ‘I’m seeing things now!’ he muttered to himself, and she had to bend closer to hear the words. ‘Crazy!’ he was murmuring barely audibly, through his swollen lips. ‘I’m going crazy! God help me.’

      His eyes opened again suddenly. He gave a start, finding her so near. Luisa gave him what she hoped was a soothing smile. ‘Is there anything I can get you, Mr West?’

      All she got back was a ferocious look and a snarl. ‘Go away, for God’s sake! I can’t take any more! Go away!’

      She was so taken aback that without another word she obeyed, her skirts rustling as she hurried towards СКАЧАТЬ