heart racing, his lips evoking a response from her that had been as spontaneous as it was unreserved.
‘I would.’ He put her firmly away from him, his expression grim. ‘I have a daughter only six years younger than you.’
‘And I have a father fifteen years older than you,’ she retorted. ‘So please don’t try to make it look as if you’re in the least like a father-figure to me.’
Humour lightened the colour of his eyes. ‘That’s put me firmly in my place! Thank you, Olivia,’ he said soberly. ‘I think I occasionally need reminding that thirty-three isn’t old. Now off you go. And please believe that Mrs Bateson is where she wanted to be—with her husband.’
‘Yes,’ she nodded. ‘And thank you—for everything.’
‘My pleasure,’ he drawled derisively before turning back towards the hospital building.
Olivia absently answered the greetings she received on the way to her room. She still grieved for Mrs Bateson, would miss her smiling cheerfulness on the ward, and this loss pushed the importance of that unexpected kiss from her mind.
She only had one more day to work before four straight days off, the two days of this week joining up with the two for next week, giving her a nice long break. But that one day on the ward seemed to drag by, the empty bed in the middle of the room a constant reminder of Mrs Bateson’s death. Her fully recovered daughter came on to the ward late that afternoon to collect her mother’s things, and her red-rimmed eyes told the whole story of how heartbroken she was to lose both her parents on the same day.
Olivia’s days off were welcome after the trauma and strain of that last day, although as usual she spent the time at the nurses’ home, only very rarely making the journey from this London hospital to her parents’ home in Wales.
On the third day she attended the joint funeral of the Batesons. She had never been to a funeral before, and wasn’t particularly looking forward to going to this one, and yet her genuine affection for the elderly couple merited this last show of respect on her behalf.
She didn’t wear black, not being a member of the family, but her clothing was sombre, the brightness of her shoulder-length hair muted by being secured at her nape with a black ribbon.
The buses ran regularly from outside the hospital, and she could see the right one coming for her destination as she reached the bus stop?
‘Like a lift, Olivia?’
She frowned down at the driver of the huge car parked at the side of the road. ‘Mr Hamilton …’
He leant over to thrust the passenger door open. ‘Get in.’
‘Oh, but—–’
‘I’m going to the funeral too, Olivia,’ he told her abruptly. ‘Please get in,’ he repeated. ‘I’m about to cause a traffic jam.’ He looked pointedly at the rapidly approaching bus.
She climbed into the burgundy-coloured Rolls-Royce, the engine only a gentle purr in the background as they drove further into town.
‘You look different out of uniform,’ Marcus Hamilton suddenly broke the tense silence between them. At least, it was tense on Olivia’s part, as usual she could tell nothing of this man’s feelings, from his enigmatic expression.
‘Thank you—I think,’ she added uncertainly.
For the first time since she had seen him he smiled, deep grooves visible in his cheeks, his teeth very white against his dark skin, his eyes a warm grey. ‘You can take it as a compliment,’ he drawled. ‘Although the uniform is quite flattering on you too.’
She blushed shyly. She hadn’t seen him the last three days except for a brief glimpse on the ward on Friday, and remembering that kiss they had shared she felt embarrassed about being with him now.
‘We’re, going to a funeral, Olivia,’ he derided at her silence. ‘Not to my home.’
‘Yes—er—sir.’
‘Marcus,’ he substituted hardly.
She couldn’t possibly be that informal with this autocratic man, so she remained silent for the remainder of the drive, swallowing hard as he parked the car with the others outside the church.
He studied her pale face as he helped her out of the car. ‘It’s all right, Olivia,’ he assured her softly, clasping her elbow once again after locking the car. ‘I’ll be right beside you. If you want to come out just say so and we will.’
The service was short and beautiful, the words for the elderly couple sincerely moving, and the tears flowed unchecked. A snowy white handkerchief suddenly appeared in front of Olivia’s blurred gaze, and she took it gratefully.
‘This is getting to be a habit,’ Marcus, murmured softly. ‘No, keep it,’ he advised as she offered it back to him. ‘You might need it again.’
She stood silently at his side as she spoke to the family outside after the service, his hand still firm on her elbow as he offered his quiet condolences.
‘I’m afraid Olivia and I have to get back now,’ he politely refused the eldest daughter’s invitation back to the house.
‘We realise what busy people you are,’ the woman gave them a wan smile. ‘We’re just grateful you could come.’
Almost as if they were actually a couple! No one seemed to think it in the least odd that they were here together like this.
Well, Olivia thought it very odd. Senior consultants just didn’t take this amount of interest in their juniors, and yet the masculine smell of cologne that clung to the handkerchief she still held told her it was all reality.
‘Tea?’ Marcus suggested on the drive back to the hospital.
‘Er—no,’ she answered awkwardly, ‘thank you. I have to get back now.’
‘Why?’
‘Sorry?’ she frowned.
‘Why do you have to get back?’ Marcus nodded. ‘This is your day off, isn’t it? Unless of course you have a date now?’ he quirked one dark brow.
‘How did you know it was my day off?’
‘Well, you’re here, aren’t you?’ he mocked.
She blushed at her stupidty. But however much she would have liked to have tea with him, to have perhaps learnt more about the break-up of his marriage, and his little girl, it just wasn’t possible. Years of protocol established long before she was born dictated that she couldn’t accept his invitation. She just wished she knew what had prompted him to make it.
‘I do have a date,’ she invented. ‘Maybe some other time.’
‘Yes,’ his voice was terse. ‘As you say, some other time. ‘
Olivia was aware of his silent anger for the rest of the journey, but what else had he expected! He might find it amusing to be entertained by her for a few hours, but she had to face the rest of the hospital staff, not him. The gossip
