Power of a Woman by Barbara Taylor Bradford

Author:Barbara Taylor Bradford
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3, pdf
Publisher: HarperCollins

16

“I AM PERFECTLY WELL, STEVIE, VERY MUCH IMPROVED, and thank you for asking,” Bruce Jardine said, looking across at her and smiling.

Stevie smiled back, and there was both warmth and affection in her voice when she asked, “Was it gout again? Has it been bothering you lately, Bruce?”

He nodded. “But fortunately my doctor put me on a new medication a few weeks ago, and miracle of miracles, it seems to have done the trick.”

She was about to ask him about the medicine, when there was a tap on the library door, and the butler entered carrying two glasses of sherry on a small tray. He offered one to Stevie.

“Thank you, Alan,” Stevie said, and once Bruce had taken his glass, she raised hers and said, “Merry Christmas, and here’s to your good health.”

“And yours, Stevie, and I wish you a very Merry Christmas, my dear.”

“Thank you.” Taking another sip, Stevie glanced at him surreptitiously over the rim of her glass, thinking how well he did look. She had been pleasantly surprised when she had arrived at the house in Wilton Crescent a few minutes before. After her conversation with Gilbert Drexel the other day, she had expected to be greeted by a wraith on the verge of expiring. Instead, Bruce looked extremely fit and healthy, and not in the least debilitated. Nor was he showing his eighty-two years. To her this was most unusual, since she had always thought he had not aged well, but perhaps she had been wrong after all.

A tall, slender man with severe, almost ascetic features, and silver hair, Bruce looked every inch the English gentleman and a member of the establishment.

That morning he was elegantly dressed in a navy blue pinstriped suit, a pristine white shirt, and a dark blue silk tie patterned with white dots. As she continued to study him, she couldn’t help thinking that he seemed to have acquired a whole new lease on life. The last time she had seen him, only a scant few weeks earlier, he had appeared to be as transparent and brittle as glass.

As if he had just managed to read her thoughts, Bruce said, “I’ve been going to a new physician, Stevie, and he’s worked wonders for me, especially with the new medications he has prescribed for my various ailments. He also sent me to see a nutritionist, an American, and she has created a special diet for me, and put me on all kinds of vitamins and supplements.” He chuckled. “I take so many tablets these days, I’m surprised I don’t rattle when I walk.” Again he let out a deep-throated laugh before adding, “But her methods have shown excellent results, wouldn’t you say?”

“They have indeed, and I’m delighted to see you looking so much better. You seem so fit, Bruce.”

The phone suddenly rang and Bruce rose, excused himself, walked over to the desk, and lifted the receiver. “Yes, Alan?” There was a pause as he listened to the butler, then he said, “Oh, all right, put her through.

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