Hospital Heartbreaker

by Oliver, Marina

  *

  Confused, miserable, Fleur could summon up little enthusiasm for the party. She and Anne had Friday off, and spent the day making preparations and doing last minute shopping.

  On Saturday they washed salad greens, mixed a variety of salads, cooked rice, defrosted the quiches and pizzas from Mrs Wilson's freezer, and were feeling worn out by mid-afternoon.

  'There's only salad dressings, bread and cheese to lay out, and mince pies to heat,' Anne said as they flopped in front of the electric fire with mugs of steaming coffee. 'Do you think we've got enough milk? Shall I fetch more cream?'

  'No,' Fleur replied firmly. 'If we're short of anything now it's too bad. Do you want the bath first, or shall I?'

  'You go, I'm too tired. Wake me up when you've finished.'

  Fleur laughed, but half an hour later, refreshed and glowing from her tub, she found Anne curled up, fast asleep, on a cushion on the floor, her still-full coffee mug beside her. She responded reluctantly to Fleur's admonitions, but an hour or so later was again her normal self, flying about the flat with small bowls of nuts and crisps, opening bottles, busy slicing long French rolls and placing baskets of them beside the cheeseboard, while Fleur dealt with the salads in the kitchen.

  Fleur had treated herself to a stunning new dress. A deep hyacinth blue shot through with gold thread, it fell loosely from narrow shoulder straps to be caught in at her tiny waist by a belt of gold chains. Then the drapes hugged her slender hips and hinted at her long, shapely legs.

  Anne, vivid and dark, had a plain tunic style dress in brilliant white, slit at the sides and with embroidered black and silver edging. They were putting the finishing touches to their make-up when the first guests arrived.

  'This is a fabulous party!' Jenny shouted an hour later, and from the noise the guests were making they seemed to agree. Steve had arrived early and busied himself with the bottles, which Fleur found both a help and a threat.

  'He's acting the host,' she said to Anne in the kitchen. 'David has more right to do that, yet he's not being nearly so obvious. Several people have given Steve funny looks.'

  'Don't you want him to act as host?' Anne said curiously, and Fleur recalled Anne was unaware of the complications that had arisen since her last date with Steve.

  'It's taking too much for granted, I suppose.'

  'Shall I see if I can get someone else to take over tactfully,' Anne suggested, and Fleur belatedly realised such a move would release Steve to pay attentions to her, and she wanted that even less than what he was doing now.

  'No, leave it, I'm being too sensitive,' she replied. 'Oh, there's the doorbell, I'll go. I thought everyone had come.'

  'There's a few who said they might not be able to make it,' Anne said. 'Here, take this tray of mince pies, someone in the hall will open the front door.'

  Fleur nodded and took the tray to the sitting room. She moved around checking that everyone had food and drink, encouraged a rather shy girl to talk to another, and then Steve called to her that they needed more ice.

  'Have we plenty?' he asked, and she bit her lip to prevent a sharp retort at the proprietary 'we'.

  'I'll get some,' she replied quietly, going to the kitchen.

  By then several guests had migrated there, and she had to squeeze her way past to the fridge. Angie stopped her to introduce her boyfriend, a large blond policeman, and when Fleur turned round again she came suddenly face to face with Russell, in jeans and a grey silk sweater, leaning negligently against the sink.

  *

  'How – how did you get in?' she asked blankly.

  'Your friend Jenny opened the door to me,' he replied grinning at her confusion.

  'But I didn't think you were coming!'

  'Fleur, where's that ice?' Steve called, and she turned distractedly to see him waving the empty ice bucket.

  'C – coming,' she stammered, and thankfully opened the fridge and hoped that her burning cheeks would be cooled by it.

  She was fumbling with the ice-bags when Russell calmly took them from her and began to fill a bowl on the drainer.

  'Angie, be a love and take these to Steve,' he asked a minute later and Angie, accustomed to instant obedience, did so though looking rather bewildered.

  'We made a bargain, remember?' Russell said softly to Fleur.

  Apart from being startled by his sudden arrival, she had not expected to see him. She had almost forgotten the possibility his words had opened up.

  'But you didn't know when it was,' she said.

  'It wasn't difficult to discover,' he said. 'I was hurt not to receive an official written invitation, though.'

  Fleur stared at him, speechless.

  'I never thought you'd want to come,' she said at last.

  'Why not, after you'd forgiven me my crass behaviour? I thought we were getting on famously, and had made a new start.'

  'Come and meet Anne,' Fleur said desperately.

  'I didn't come here to meet Anne, or anyone else,' he replied, a disturbing gleam in his eyes, 'but if you think I ought to demonstrate I can be the perfect guest, even though an uninvited one, I'll come and behave properly.'

  'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude, I was startled,' Fleur apologised, flustered, as he tucked her arm through his.

  'You look more than ever beautiful tonight,' he said softly as they went to the sitting room.

  Fleur's colour rose again, and she was aware of curious glances from hospital staff. Anne, even more startled than Fleur had been, recovered her wits and waved at the food.

  'Help yourself, the bar's over there. We didn't start eating long ago, and I think there's plenty left.'

  'What would you like to drink?' David asked, anxious to be helpful, and only just preventing himself from adding 'Sir'.

  'White wine, please. Did you cook all the food?' Russell asked Anne politely, helping himself to a slice of pizza. 'Mm, delicious. I'll take some more while it's there. When people realise how good it is they'll be fighting for it.'

  'Fleur made it,' Anne told him, and he turned to where Fleur was standing beside him, as though rooted to the spot.

  'Even better than brandy snaps,' he said calmly, and she flushed to the roots of her hair as she recalled what had happened on that particular occasion.

  'I must get some more ice,' she said, her voice strangled, and almost ran back to the kitchen. When she returned he was talking to the very pair of rugger players she had intended to use as throwers out, and she began to think he had an uncanny knack of reading her mind and a talent for spiking her guns.

  For some time she managed to avoid him, but she could not escape the curious looks, and the heads close together as people speculated on Russell's latest conquest.

  *

  'I didn't know you were inviting Delaney,' Steve said rather peevishly, having relinquished control of the bar to David.

  'I didn't know he was coming,' she replied. 'I invited him casually, when I couldn't very well avoid it,' she invented, 'and as he said nothing I thought he'd forgotten it.'

  'He's causing gossip about you, and I don't like that,' Steve said censoriously.

  'Neither would I like it if it were true, but surely his coming to our party isn't worth all this fuss,' Fleur retorted, forgetting she had been perturbed and angry about the very same thing. 'They'll soon find something else to gossip about,' she added, trying to pacify him and convince herself at the same time, but ruefully aware she had succeeded in neither aim when Steve pursed up his lips and shook his head, then walked slowly away from her.

  She saw him coming back later, when people started to dance, but before he could reach her Fleur felt a strong arm about her waist and found herself clasped tightly in Russell's arms.

  'I can't think why people prefer the kind of dancing where you lose your partner in the crowd,' he murmured. 'I choose to be as close to mine as possible when they're as delectable as you. Relax sweetheart, you trust me now, remember?'

  'Perhaps I would if you didn't make that
kind of remark,' Fleur replied tartly.

  'Not even when it's true? You are delectable, and you can trust me, except when I've got concussion,' he added, and Fleur laughed, for the first time amused at the thought of their first meeting. Then she recalled he had told others at Chad's of it, and her laughter stopped abruptly.

  As if sensing her withdrawal he said no more, and they drifted sensuously in time to the soft romantic music. Fleur was acutely conscious of his nearness, the elusive tang of his aftershave, and his cheek resting lightly against her hair. He held her closely, but not excessively so, and when the music changed to a vibrant rock number he released her.

  'Let's find another drink,' he suggested, taking her hand and leading her through the crush of people.

  Steve had retreated to the bar and eyed them morosely. Russell found two plastic cups, filled them with wine, then steered Fleur towards a corner of the room where piles of cushions had been tossed on the floor.

  She sank down on them, and he joined her, carefully balancing the wine.

  'To you,' he murmured, handing her one of the cups. Before she could reply he began talking again about Chad's. 'Are you free at Christmas this year?' he asked after a while.

  Fleur shook her hand. 'No, but I have the New Year. It's difficult to realise Christmas is so close. I've only bought half my presents so far.'

  'Will you go home?'

  'Yes. I don't see my family very often, and like to spend holidays with them. My brother will still be on his school holidays, so my father is taking time off too. If I had more than a few days we might have gone skiing. What about you?'

  'I'm on duty at Christmas, but as my parents are abroad I shall spend the New Year with the Kingsleys.'

  Fleur gasped, and was thankful for the dim lighting and that this corner was in a deep shadow. How could he refer to this so calmly, after the compliments he had been paying her?

  The engagement must be on again, she thought, and felt her stomach lurch. Why was he pursuing her so obviously while committed to another woman? Were his habits of dalliance so deeply engrained he could not stop?

  She gulped the rest of her wine, and began to rise to her feet. Swiftly he grasped her wrist and pulled her down again.

  'Stay here, sweetheart,' he murmured, and she had to fight to subdue her anger.

  'I must check on things,' she managed to say, and after a slight hesitation he released her.

  'Everything seems fine to me,' he said, and Fleur, angry and distressed, thought she detected a sardonic note in his voice.

  *

  She managed to avoid him for the next hour, smiling brightly at Steve when he claimed her to dance. She was with him again when she saw Russell, a short leather jacket draped negligently across his shoulders, taking leave of Anne. Suddenly her heart felt leaden, but she determinedly looked away, chatted eagerly to Steve, and made no attempt to go towards him.

  It was much later before all the other guests departed. David offered to stay to clear some of the debris, and bleakly Fleur heard Steve saying he would help too. Anne busied herself making coffee while they collected glasses and plates, and sorting bottles.

  'I'll take the empties to the bottle bank later today,' David said. 'Is the coffee ready yet?'

  'Yes, let's do the rest tomorrow. Is there much food left?' Anne added as she deposited a tray near the fire.

  'Are you still hungry?' Fleur asked in astonishment. 'There's enough here to feed us for several days.'

  'I'm starving,' Anne confessed. 'I never manage to eat much at my own parties. Thanks, David,' she added as he reached for a plate which still had slices of pizza on it.

  They sipped the coffee, tired but still keyed up, and discussed the party, but no one made any reference to the surprising presence of Russell Delaney until half an hour later, when Anne determinedly sent the men on their way, came into Fleur's bedroom and plumped herself down on the bed.

  Fleur was in her nightdress, carefully removing her make-up.

  'What brought him here?' she demanded.

  'He invited himself, in a way,' Fleur explained. 'I never thought he'd come. He's spending New Year with the Kingsleys.'

  Anne frowned. 'If he's made it up with Rowena what's he doing here, making such a dead set at you?' she asked angrily. 'Do you realise he didn't dance with anyone else, he barely spoke to any of the other girls, and when he wasn't with you or on his own just looking at you he was talking to the men.'

  'Chad's will be alive with gossip,' Fleur said despondently.

  'And you'll be here alone at Christmas,' Anne said. 'Would you like me to stay?'

  'Of course not!' Fleur responded, smiling gratefully at her friend. 'It's sweet of you to suggest it, but I'll be OK.'

  'It wouldn't be the sort of sacrifice you imagine,' Anne reminded her, 'since David's on duty. Steve's going to stay with his brother. But I'll ask David to keep an eye on you.'

  Fleur laughed shakily and tried to make light of her fears.

  'I'll be OK, truly. Now we must go to bed, there's a lot to do tomorrow.'

  To her surprise she slept dreamlessly, and by Monday morning her fears seemed ridiculous. She had exaggerated everything, even Russell's attentions. She went into work with only the slightest apprehension about the expected gossip.

  Most of her friends on the ward had been at the party, and beyond saying thank you and what a fabulous party it had been, they made no further remarks, even when Russell appeared to make his pre-operative tests on a new patient due for a gastrectomy.

  He nodded to Fleur but seemed preoccupied, making no attempt to speak to her. She sighed with relief, and apart from a few curious looks from others who had not been at the party, nothing extraordinary seemed to be happening.

  She finished at the same time as Anne for once and they caught the same bus home.

  'I saw Rowena today,' Anne said abruptly. 'She wasn't wearing her ring, and she's still in a lousy temper.'

  'I don't understand,' Fleur replied. 'They must still be engaged if he's spending the holiday with her family. Perhaps the ring is too big, or something, and is being changed.'

  'It's been rather a long time for that,' Anne remarked. 'Why don't you ask him, tell him you don't want anything to do with him while he's engaged to someone else.'

  'I suppose I must,' Fleur said reluctantly. 'He seems more reasonable now, but it's an incredibly difficult topic to introduce. If he's after another conquest he'll be delighted to think I'm reading more into what he does than is intended.'

  'You must,' Anne insisted.

  'When? I can hardly approach him in the canteen and demand to know his intentions, like a Victorian father.'

  'Just tell him you don't want anything more to do with him,' Anne recommended, unlocking the door into the block of flats. 'Gosh, what on earth?' she exclaimed, seeing two huge bouquets on the table where their post was left.

  Fleur was reading the labels attached. 'Roses,' she said in a hollow voice. 'White for you and red for me. From Russell Delaney. And look at this,' she added, handing Anne a note attached to her own label.

  Anne read it and looked up, frowning. 'You'll be able to tell him to get lost very soon. He says he's calling for you at eight.'

  *

  Chapter 7

  'He – he'll make me,' Fleur said in a low voice. 'I don't know how, but he will!'

  Anne stared in astonishment. 'What on earth do you mean?'

  Hesitantly, Fleur explained. 'I truly didn't mean to,' she repeated. 'I was determined to come home, then I was in the Crown. I didn't mean to go near his car, but I let him take me to a restaurant, and there was nothing I could do.'

  'What happened?' Anne demanded apprehensively.

  'Nothing, he didn't even try to kiss me. In fact,' she confessed, 'I enjoyed myself. He's good company.'

  'You've fallen for him,' Anne accused.

  'No!' Fleur denied, but she knew Anne was right. Her feelings for Russell Delaney were still confused, but love had replaced the detest
ation she had at first felt for him.

  'He's no good for you,' Anne said urgently. 'Whether he's engaged to Rowena or not, he's dangerous. Think of the stories about girls he's had fun with, but they've taken him seriously and been hurt. Fleur, try to forget him!'

  'That's what I'd like to do, but I can't,' Fleur groaned.

  'Are you going with him?'

  'No. I don't want to, but he'll persuade me, like he did before, and this time – he might want more.'

  'Then you'd better not be here when he comes. Come with us, we're going to see that new film.'

  Reluctantly Fleur agreed. She hated to intrude on Anne and David, but she was terrified of not being able to resist Russell. She couldn't rely on herself to ignore the doorbell or the phone, so at half past seven she went to Leicester Square.

  The film was a blur, and she wondered all the time how Russell would react when he discovered the empty flat.

  'You might have had a genuine date, or come home after he called,' Anne tried to comfort her. 'It was arrogant and unreasonable of him to assume you'd be waiting for him to call.'

  'I know, but it doesn't make me feel better,' Fleur said tiredly. 'He can read my thoughts before I know what I'm going to say or do. I wish I'd never set eyes on him!'

  She had been avoiding Steve too, making excuses when he asked her out, but when at lunchtime he suggested a drink at the Crown that evening she accepted. She thought this would keep her safe, if she were with Steve Russell could hardly whisk her off.

  They were leaving the canteen when, to her dismay, Fleur saw Russell coming towards them. He raised his eyebrows slightly, glanced from one to the other, and began to speak to Steve.

  'I'm worried about that haemorrhoidectomy we did yesterday, can you come and see the chap now?' he asked, and Steve nodded, pleased to be consulted. Jealous as he was of Russell's attentions to Fleur, he still admired his skill as a surgeon.

  'Right with you. See you tonight then, Fleur.'