The Playboy of Harley Street by Anne Fraser

Author:Anne Fraser [Fraser, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460376508
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

A COUPLE of days later, Fabio came to find Katie. She had gone out of her way to avoid him since the night of the premiere, terrified he’d read how she felt about him in her eyes.

He’d phoned to make sure she was all right, but they hadn’t spoken since. At least, not about anything except work.

‘I’ve just had Amelia on the phone. She’s worried about Lucy. Says she’s not her usual self. I’m going out to see her—are you free to come too?’

‘Of course I’ll come. I have one more patient then I’m all yours. I won’t be more than thirty minutes. Will that be okay?’

Fabio nodded, looking worried. Despite his nonchalant manner, Katie had seen from the way he was with Lucy that the little girl was more to him than just a patient. She hoped Lucy hadn’t caught a chest infection. Every time she did, it carried a risk of additional scarring to the lungs. The more infections, the worse the ultimate prognosis. Not that there was anything anyone could do to stop a sufferer of CF getting chest infections. It was impossible unless the patient spent their life in a bubble and the effect on the quality of life had its own drawbacks.

Alone in the car with Fabio, Katie switched on the radio, pretending to find a news item fascinating. She needn’t have worried. Fabio seemed preoccupied with his own thoughts.

Every time Katie went to Lucy’s home she was stunned all over again. A little outside London, it had its own private gated entrance, enormous manicured gardens, a swimming pool and tennis courts.

Amelia met them at the door. If anything, she was paler than ever and for the first time Katie saw her looking less than immaculate. Her hair was scraped back in a ponytail and instead of her usual stylish trouser suits she was wearing a pair of jogging trousers and a T-shirt.

Fabio jumped out of his car as soon as it stopped and went over to Amelia.

‘Hi, Amelia. Where’s our patient?’ he asked.

‘Thank God you’re both here. I didn’t know what to do. I wondered if I should take her straight to hospital, but when you said you could come, I knew it was better to wait.’

‘Why don’t I go and see her before we make any decisions?’ Fabio asked. ‘Is she in bed?’

Amelia nodded. ‘That’s how I know she isn’t well. Normally I can’t keep her inside, especially on a day like this.’ She indicated the garden with a sweep of her hand. The June sunshine bathed everything in light, but Katie felt a shiver of dread.

Katie followed Amelia and Fabio up the sweeping staircase. She hoped that Amelia was being over-anxious, and who could blame her? But equally Amelia had enough experience of her daughter’s illness to know when she should seek medical help.

Lucy was sitting up in bed, looking listlessly out of the window.

‘Hey, Luce,’ Fabio said, crossing the room. ‘Mum tells me you’re not feeling too good.’

‘Hey, Dr Fabio,’ Lucy replied softly.

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