3 The Surgeon's Blade

by Faith Mortimer

  Chapter 12

  While she was in the taxi, Libby went over and over the dreadful scene with Robert. Whatever had possessed her to say such awful things? She wasn’t normally so rash and impulsive, but he had riled her so. Dratted man. She pushed him to the back of her mind as the cab approached the entrance to Hamble Point marina. What was she going to say to Nigel? How would she explain her morning with Robert? Thankfully, she didn’t have to mention their dinner together last night. She felt sick inside as she paid the driver his money, not noticing his grin when she told him to keep the change. It wasn’t every day he was given a large tip, especially on such a short journey. With a feeling of despondency, Libby began walking slowly towards Tourbillon.

  Nigel was nowhere to be seen on deck. Not wishing to anger him further by going on board without his permission, she rapped timidly on the hull. Her mind was whirling in confusion while she waited for him to appear. When he did, she found she was tongue-tied.

  “Well, are you going to come on board or not? Or have you had a better offer today and are here with some feeble excuse?” he asked with an icy note in his voice.

  Libby removed her shoes and climbed onto the yacht. “Can I just explain?” she began before he interrupted her.

  “Libby, I’m not interested in your excuses. All I know is I saw my fiancée with another man. One who’s been doing his best to steal you away from me. Can I ask you something? Are you sleeping with him? Because you certainly don’t want to sleep with me just lately. I’m at my wit’s end with you, Libby. Just what are you playing at? Why are you acting so cheap?”

  Libby gulped in horror at his suggestion and stammered as she answered him. “No, of course I’m not. Nigel, I’m so sorry not to have been here when you returned. If you’d only rung me or left a text message, I’d have joined you at once. I wasn’t expecting you.”

  “Ha! Obviously not. And do you mean, give you some notice?”

  “Nigel! Listen! Robert means nothing to me. He really is just a friend. If you’ll let me explain—”

  “Libby, do you really expect me to listen to more of your lies? I know what I saw. You were with another man, and it wasn’t the first time. Yes, I did try to telephone you last night but got no answer from your mobile. Neither could I make contact this morning. Little did I know that my darling fiancée was off having fun with someone else.”

  “My mobile was turned off because I went to a concert with Jem and Simon. Later, I just forgot to turn it back on as I was in the hospital. I promise you, it’s the truth. You can ask them if you like.”

  “Humph. What were you doing at the hospital? And when did you organise your little jaunt with whatshisname around the Solent? Or was that another coincidence, him just turning up out of the blue?” he scoffed.

  Libby muttered that this was the case, knowing full well that it sounded as lame to her ears as it must have to Nigel’s.

  “Nigel – I don’t know what to say to make you believe me.” To her horror her eyes began to fill with tears. Within seconds her face was streaming.

  He gave an exasperated sigh and handed her a hankie. “Do stop dripping all over the deck. You’ll ruin the teak. You’d better come below. I don’t want to spend the rest of the afternoon up here with all and sundry looking on.”

  Libby sniffed, wiped her face and followed him down the companionway into the saloon.

  “Sit down.” Nigel indicated one of the settees. His face was cold as he studied her. “Would you like a drink?” he asked, holding up a bottle of white wine. She nodded and tried to smile, wishing everything to be right between them. She never considered she was a weak female, but she loathed scenes and dreaded falling out with boyfriends.

  Nigel disappeared into his cabin, and Libby sat down upon one of the saloon settees. Tourbillon was huge compared to Robert’s Caterina. Not only was she a bigger yacht, she was swankier too. As much as she admired Nigel’s racing yacht, Libby discovered that she actually preferred Robert’s smaller more intimate boat.

  Nigel returned to the galley from his cabin and turned his back on her as he uncorked the wine and got out a couple of glasses. There was silence while he poured the Chablis and passed a glass over to Libby. She took a couple of sips and discovered the wine was enjoyable. Hating the silence and not knowing how to break it, she drank most of it down in haste, as it gave her something to do. Nigel topped her glass up before even taking a mouthful from his own.

  After a tense few minutes, he finally spoke. “As far as I’m concerned, there’s only one solution to this.”

  Libby wondered what he was thinking of. Was he going to suggest they split up? A slight dizziness came over her, and his voice seemed to be waver as if from a distance. She sat more upright in an attempt to pull herself together. She did feel odd; she felt really dizzy now, almost as if she was wading through cotton wool. Concentrating, she gave him her best attention.

  “You’d better move in with me as soon as possible. That way I’ll know you’re definitely mine and no one else’s. We can be together whenever I’m down here.”

  Libby felt her tears welling up again and a lump in her throat. Whatever was the matter with her? She was never this emotional. She struggled to be rational and decided she didn’t deserve Nigel. He was so good to her. Relieved he seemed to have forgiven her, she nodded her answer. Libby didn’t notice his triumphant look as Nigel realised he had achieved his goal. He sipped his wine while watching her from the galley. Libby buried her face in her glass while finishing her drink.

  Libby suddenly felt weak and sleepy. Her eyelids fluttered as she lifted her head to say something and yawned instead. She was stupid staying up late with Robert last night. All she wanted to do now was lie down and go to sleep.

  Placing his glass on the galley worktop, Nigel walked over to Libby and pulled her into his arms.

  “Libby, you don’t know what this means to me,” he muttered into her hair. “We’ll be so happy together, okay?” Without waiting for an answer he crushed his mouth to hers, leaving her breathless and weak-kneed. Her limbs felt so heavy and leaden. Without another word, he swept his arm under her legs, picked her up and carried her into his cabin. As he snatched her clothes from her, Libby found she could hardly keep her eyes open and shivered in anticipation. She was vaguely aware as Nigel stripped off his shirt and fumbled with his fly, and then with a cry of triumph he flung himself down upon her.

  Hours later, while Nigel was sleeping, Libby felt around the bed for her clothes. She still felt odd: dizzy and disorientated, it was almost like she was drunk. She dressed, and stole up onto the deck without disturbing him. The late evening was a promise of a beautiful day tomorrow. Libby saw nothing of it. Confused, she allowed her tears to fall. She sensed she and Nigel had made love. She was sore and bruised between her legs, but try as she might, she couldn’t actually remember having sex. She remembered nothing about his body, his kisses or his lovemaking. Perhaps the strangest fact of all was she never remembered making love with him – ever.

  Libby had a sense she had sealed her own fate somehow. She couldn’t remember, but she got the impression she had agreed to do something. She loved him, she was sure of it, but she still had this feeling of needing more time. What was she going to do?

  Chapter 13

  Libby felt happier when she returned to work. Since her argument with Robert, she found herself questioning all her thoughts and actions. By throwing herself back into her duties on the busy surgical ward, she had little time to dwell on her problems.

  Personnel made good their promise and the senior sister on her ward, Lisa Williams, made sure that Libby didn’t overdo the heavier work.

  “It’s not every day you get knocked out and lose your marbles, is it?” she joked, while they were sitting in the ward office discussing their patients. “If you have a relapse, they’ll blame me. So light duties for you, my girl.” She held out a packet of chocolate biscuits to Libby. “I’ve got a real taste for these all of a sudden.”
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  Libby smiled at her colleague and friend. “No thanks. I hardly think I’ll have a relapse now. I’m fine, don’t fuss so. You’re worse than Jem and his Simon.” The mention of Simon and his precious ways had them both giggling.

  “Don’t.” Lisa laughed. “He cracks me up sometimes. I never know how I keep a straight face when he’s around. Thankfully, he doesn’t work here. He’d never survive.”

  “You’re telling me. Anyway, he hates the sight of blood. He faints if he has to have a blood test, so Jem says.”

  “Love works in mysterious ways,” Libby said.

  “And what about you then? “

  “What about me?”

  “Jem told me in confidence that you and Nigel St John just might be an item.”

  Libby cast a quick look round making sure no one was within earshot. “Hush! We want to keep it secret. Wait until I get hold of that Jem! He knew he wasn’t supposed to tell anyone yet.”

  “Well, I’ve heard it now. Jem, bless him, says he was only thinking of you. Since you’re now back at work, he said I should know because we work so closely together. Anyway, Libby, why all the secrecy? Most people newly in love want to shout it from the rooftops, especially with a catch like Nigel St John. He’s got to be the most desirable male we’ve had around here for years. With his sexy good looks, even I might have been tempted with a fling.”

  “It’s Nigel’s idea. He doesn’t want his ex-wife to get to hear about it.”

  “Why ever not? If she’s his ex, what’s it got to do with her? She works abroad doesn’t she? America, isn’t it?”

  Libby shrugged, “Yes. New York and London, I believe, although I hear she’s going to spend a year in Sydney soon.”

  “She’s a lucky girl, with all that travel. Are they actually divorced?”

  “Yes, of course, Nigel said he received the decree absolute ages ago.”

  “That still doesn’t explain why he wants everything between you kept a secret.”

  Libby shook her head, caring neither way. She had no parents to tell about her newfound love. If she was honest, she felt a bit depressed about it all. She had always dreamt she would meet someone, fall deliriously in love with them, tell the world about it, and get married. At the moment, nothing seemed settled.

  “It’s what he wants.”

  Lisa peered at her. “But is it what you want, my dear? Are you happy with him?”

  Libby pulled herself together and flashed Lisa a huge smile. “Yes, of course. And I’m fine. Really I am. I’m just a little tired, and Nigel relishes his privacy. Don’t forget, Nigel has been under a lot of pressure this last year since taking the post on the Trust board.”

  “Mmm. He has been ever since that nutter attempted to kill him. Do you remember the man? He tried to bring a case of malpractice against Nigel at his previous hospital, and then he laid in wait for him one night after his appointments were finished. Nothing ever came of it I believe. I wonder what really happened. The press never got hold of the true story. Nigel was lucky there wasn’t a scandal. All too often these days, people point the finger for the most trivial of things, and the awful thing is they often get away with it. There’s many a doctor who’s suffered from someone with either an overactive imagination or simply by telling lies about them.”

  “I don’t know. He’s never mentioned any of it to me, and it’s none of my business. Lisa, how do you know all this? You never cease to amaze me with your capacity for gossip! All I know is he’s very hardworking – too hard most of the time – and he’s very caring towards his patients.”

  Lisa gave a shrug. “I’m sure he is. Anyway, hospitals always seem to attract the nutcases for some reason. You’ve heard about last night’s horrible scare, haven’t you? There’s been another sighting of that stalker again. I’m glad I don’t work nights.” She gave a shudder.

  Libby gave a horrified gasp. “Really? No, I didn’t know that. What happened and where was it?”

  “Apparently, last night around two, a midwife had to go to the blood bank and she stopped to have a quick cigarette break outside beforehand. She was approached by some man wearing a dark coat. She had a fright when she thought he was about to expose himself to her but had the foresight to run back to where there was more light. Apparently, he attempted to corner her, but when she kneed him in the crutch, she was able to get away.”

  “Did she say what this man looked like?”

  “No. It was too dark. All we know so far is she said she thought he was white, quite wiry and slim and possibly wearing some sort of wig, but apart from that nothing else.”

  “Scary. Remind me not to volunteer for any nights either.”

  “Mmm, it must have been very frightening, especially coming after those two nurses going missing earlier in the year. I was hoping we’d seen the end of that ghastly episode, and St Thomas’s Hospital is having its own problems I see. What is the world coming to? I put it down to far too many graphic films and novels these days.” She gave a huge sigh before continuing. “Anyway back to you and Nigel. Surely you’ll let your friends know you’re seeing each other soon? Think of all the parties you’ll miss out on if Nigel doesn’t want to go?”

  Libby nodded. “We’ll get round to it, I’m sure. Maybe we’ll have a party ourselves once I move in with him.”

  “That’ll be fun. I’ll look forward to it. Right, it's four o’clock now, time for the drug round. Would you like to do the honours this time?”

  Libby nodded her assent and took the drugs cupboard keys from her. She always enjoyed the drug round as it gave her a chance to chat to the patients and ensure they were comfortable. With so much paperwork these days, getting to know the patients was almost a luxury.

  Stephanie had been sent up to her ward, and Libby found her easy-going, just like her brother. She knew from her delicate questioning that Stephanie was aware of Libby and Nigel’s argument and Robert’s involvement, but she never directly asked what the row was about. Now Stephanie had been discharged, complete with a carrier bag – or so it seemed – of antibiotics and painkillers, and she made sure Libby had her address and telephone number.

  “Don’t forget, I’m inviting you to supper as soon as I’m back on my feet and feeling more like myself,” she said as she left the ward on crutches. “It’ll probably be in a week or so.”

  Libby sighed, not wanting to dwell on Stephanie or her brother. The truth was she missed Robert with the laughing hazel eyes. She missed his easy wit and banter and the little smiles he had given her when they had shared dinner together on Caterina. Why did life have to be so difficult?

  While Libby was pushing the drug trolley round the ward, she noticed Nigel in the office. Lisa was with him, and Libby presumed he was there checking up on his theatre cases. With the hospital full, they had had to take a couple of emergency gynaecological patients. Nigel had already been on the ward twice that day, and Libby couldn’t help admiring him for his care. Not many consultants took as much trouble, she mused.

  When they had finished the drug round, Libby returned the trolley to the office and locked it. She discovered Nigel had left the ward and thought it a bit odd that he hadn’t made any attempt to speak to her. Sometimes she thought he carried all the secrecy about their relationship a little bit too far. Shrugging to herself, she decided to go and tidy the linen cupboard. They were waiting for a delivery of clean linen from the laundry, and now was a good time to sort the shelves out before the new bundles arrived. It was an easy task and undemanding. Just as she finished, she heard a movement behind her and found the doorway blocked by one of the porters. She knew the porter, as he was a regular visitor to their ward, and Libby recalled his name was Peter. Peter was in his late thirties. He was pale and thin, with a mass of untidy dark hair. Libby also recalled that he was incredibly shy, especially with women.

  “Peter, you gave me a start. I didn’t hear you come in. Have you brought our new linen up?”

  Peter stared intently at Libby without saying a
word. Instead, he directed his gaze to the scar on her forehead, which she had attempted to cover with her fringe. Without a word, he grimaced and pointed to her head and then to his own.

  Libby wondered what he meant and frowned. “What?”

  “I have one too,” he muttered. He brushed his thick hair to one side, and Libby saw a deep puckered scar along his hairline. However it had happened, Libby saw it must have been a severe injury.

  Libby nodded. “Yes, you have.”

  “Did your mother do that to you too?”

  Libby almost gasped at his statement. “What? No, of course not. I had an accident. Don’t you remember, Peter? I was hurt on a boat, and I’ve been off work while it healed.”