Prince Charming of Harley Street / The Heart Doctor and the Baby

by Anne Fraser / Lynne Marshall

  By the time she had showered and dressed, the rain had stopped and the sun was shining. Maybe the day wouldn’t be a complete washout after all.

  Jonathan arrived to collect her, looking as sexy as hell in his faded jeans and short-sleeved shirt. He whistled in appreciation when he saw her and Rose was uncomfortably aware of the blush warming her cheeks. With a bit of luck he wouldn’t notice.

  The first surprise was that the yacht wasn’t on the Thames. Jonathan had laughed when he’d noticed her bewilderment.

  ‘I don’t think many people keep their boats on the Thames. No, this one is moored off the coast of the Isle of Wight. They’re sending the helicopter for us.’

  Is that how everyone travelled in his circle? Rose thought a little grumpily. What was wrong with a car, although, come to think of it, getting to the Isle of Wight by road was, of course, impossible. Her head was beginning to ache. It had been a crazy idea to come. She was sure to be completely out of her depth.

  Jonathan slid a glance in her direction. His face took on an uncharacteristically sombre expression.

  ‘You’re not having second thoughts, are you?’ he asked.

  It was on the tip of Rose’s tongue to say, yes, she was and would he mind just dropping her off at the nearest station? But she bit the words back. She promised herself that she was going to try and be more adventurous and she was damned if she was going to bail out just because she was terrified she wouldn’t fit in. After all, what was the worst that could happen? If everyone ignored her, she could…what? Swim back to London?

  ‘I’ll look after you, I promise,’ Jonathan said. ‘They’re really a good bunch of people. Some a bit wilder than others, but nothing too outrageous.’

  Giving in to the inevitable, Rose made herself relax. At least, with Jonathan promising to stay close by, she wouldn’t be left on her own.

  The yacht was unlike anything Rose had ever seen before. For a start it was enormous, almost the length of a football pitch, and all gleaming white lines and stainless steel.

  There were a number of people already there. Half of the guests were in bikinis or swimming costumes, the other half were dressed informally in shorts or jeans. Rose felt overdressed and uncomfortable. But there was no way, no way at all, she’d wear a swimming costume to a party, especially this early in the year.

  Someone handed them a drink as soon as they stepped on board. Taking a sip, Rose grimaced and, looking around in case anyone was watching her, tipped her drink over the side of the boat. It was far too early to be drinking champagne.

  Seconds later, to her dismay, Jonathan was swept up in a crowd and carried away. So much for his promise to watch out for her. To be fair, he wasn’t to know just how cripplingly shy and out of her depth she felt right now. Rose leaned against the side of the boat, wondering how long she would have to stay before making her excuses. She knew she should introduce herself to one of the chatting groups, but she just couldn’t make her hands let go of the rail.

  ‘Hello.’ A soft deep voice broke into her reverie. ‘And who are you?’

  Rose whirled around to find a blond-haired man with slightly unfocused eyes looking at her. Clearly he had been at the champagne.

  ‘I’m Rose Taylor. Jonathan’s nurse,’ she said politely, proffering a hand.

  ‘Pleased to meet you, Rose Taylor, Jonathan’s nurse. I’m Henry. It’s my sister’s party.’

  Rose craned her neck wondering which one of the guests was Henry’s sister. It could have been any of the elegant women clustered on the deck. She could just make out the top of Jonathan’s head in the centre of a group of attentive females. As if sensing her eyes on him, he turned and caught her eye and raised a questioning eyebrow. She shook her head slightly. Now someone was talking to her, she was no longer sticking out like a sore thumb.

  Henry reached over and lifted Rose’s glasses from her face. Her unease mounted as everything around her blurred. She reached for her glasses but Henry grinned and hid them behind his back. ‘Hey, you’re not bad looking when a person can see your face.’ He swayed towards her, breathing the smell of stale alcohol on her face. ‘Trust Jonathan to keep you as his little secret.’

  Embarrassed and repulsed, Rose stepped back. But Henry stepped closer until she was almost pinned against the side of the boat. Over Henry’s shoulder, she looked for Jonathan but all she could see were blurry shapes.

  ‘Please give me my glasses back,’ she said as steadily as she could. The last thing she wanted was to cause a scene in front of all these strangers.

  Henry waved them in front of her. ‘A little kiss in exchange?’ he slurred.

  Rose snatched the glasses from his hand. At least now she could see properly. Over Henry’s shoulder, she caught Jonathan staring at them, frowning. Something in her face must have told him that she was extremely uncomfortable. Within moments he was by her side.

  ‘Hey, Henry. Can I have my guest back?’ Jonathan said smoothly. ‘I think I should show her around.’ He took Rose by the elbow and steered her away.

  ‘Henry is best avoided, I’m afraid. He eats girls like you for breakfast.’

  Suddenly furious Rose shook his arm off.

  ‘And what makes you think I can’t handle him? Just because I don’t mix with the rich and famous every day of my life, it doesn’t mean I don’t know how to handle snakes like him. If he hadn’t taken my glasses and I couldn’t see, I wouldn’t have needed you to…rescue me.’ She almost spat the last words, her mortification at being the centre of attention causing her to direct her fury at Jonathan. She should never have come, no matter what promises she had made herself. Being mortified wasn’t on her list of must dos!

  Jonathan laughed. Immediately the anger drained from her.

  ‘I should have known better. Of course you could handle Henry. One look from those diamond eyes is enough to cut anyone down to size.’

  The world stood still. Jonathan reached over and gently lifted the glasses from her face. ‘You do have amazing eyes, you know.’

  Rose felt the strength go from her legs. He shouldn’t be looking at her like that. It wasn’t fair. He was making her feel as if she was just as beautiful as the rest of the women, and that was rubbish. Next to them, she was like a gawky schoolgirl. She snatched her glasses back from his hands. Thankfully everything swam back into focus. Why, oh, why did he have to smile like that?

  Desperate for him not to see her blushing, she turned on her heel, almost falling over in the process. Once again, he reached out and grabbed her, steadying her against him. She could feel the heat of his body, smell his aftershave and it was doing all sorts of confusing things to her head. She looked up to find amused eyes looking into hers. Did he know the effect he was having on her? Of course he did. Someone like him would be used to it. She pushed against his chest and drew herself up to her full height. ‘You were going to show me around?’ she said stiffly, wishing desperately that she could think of something more amusing, more light-hearted to say.

  The grin still very much in evidence, Jonathan indicated a flight of steps leading down into the boat with a nod of his head.

  ‘Let’s start inside.’

  At the bottom of the steps was a sitting area filled with people, laughing and chatting. Jonathan steered her through the group, stopping only to say a brief hello and promising to come back later for a proper chat. But before they could get to the other side of the room, a girl with hair like a silver waterfall ran up to Jonathan and threw her arms around him.

  ‘Darling, I’ve being looking for you everywhere.’ Rose was conscious of curious eyes on her. But she was damned if she was going to let anyone else see how uncomfortable she was. She left Jonathan and wandered off by herself.

  Off the main sitting area there were a number of bedrooms which, although small, were kitted out with the latest electronic equipment. Flat-screen TVs and state-of-the-art speakers. Each bedroom had a small but fully equipped bathroom.

  She threaded her way back throug
h the main sitting area. Jonathan had disappeared, so she went back up the stairs. The deck wrapped around the boat, and there was a jacuzzi at one end, what was it called? The prow? Several guests were in the jacuzzi, lapping up the sun. A couple of waiters and waitresses circled around, carrying trays of drinks and canapés. Rose helped herself to an orange juice and a tiny tart of something unrecognisable but delicious. Thankfully Henry was nowhere to be seen.

  ‘Here you are,’ Jonathan said, appearing at her elbow with the blonde. ‘I’ve been looking all over for you. May I introduce Summer? Summer, this is Rose.’

  Well, of course she’d be called Summer with hair like that. The blonde smiled at her, but there was a speculative look in her eyes that made Rose wonder.

  ‘My goodness,’ she said. ‘Where did you buy your dress? Was it from some vintage market?’

  Ouch. Was everyone at this damn party determined to make her feel small? In the past she might have mumbled something and walked away, but that had been before…Before she’d known there were more important things in life to worry about than rude, obnoxious people who had nothing better to do than make themselves feel superior at her expense.

  ‘Yes, it was. How clever of you to know that,’ Rose responded. ‘I love wearing clothes that other people have loved wearing in the past. It makes me feel as if I know them a little.’

  She took in Summer’s outfit. The blonde was wearing tights that looked as if they’d been fashioned from the skin of a tiger and a gold lamé dress that just covered her bottom. Although she did look gorgeous, it wasn’t the kind of outfit Rose could ever see herself wearing in a hundred years. It was far too trendy and far too short for a start. No, whatever they thought of her clothes, she preferred the simple black dress she was wearing. And if it was a few years out of date, she didn’t give a hoot. In fact, she had just about as much as she could take of being given the once over and found wanting. She should have stuck with her original gut instinct and stayed well away. What would she and this crowd ever have in common?

  But just as she was searching for the words to make her excuses, a dark-haired girl with an impish expression sidled up to Jonathan and tucked her arm in his.

  ‘I’ve been admiring your dress ever since you arrived,’ she said. ‘I’m sure it’s exactly like the one I saw last week on the catwalk in Milan. And I have to say, it looks better on you than it did on the model. Don’t you think so, Summer?’ The new arrival flashed Summer a look from green eyes.

  ‘Rose, could I introduce Lady Ashley, my cousin? Ashley, this is Rose.’

  Ashley held out a slim hand and grasped Rose’s in a firm grip. ‘I’m so very pleased to meet you. Johnny’s being telling me all about you. Are you enjoying yourself?’ She turned to Summer and said sweetly, ‘Summer, I don’t suppose you would mind very much grabbing one of the waiters? I’m famished.’

  Summer glared at her before stalking off. Ashley winked at Rose. ‘She’s harmless really. She just has the hots for my dear cousin here. She can’t resist having a go at the opposition.’

  Opposition? Her? Was she out of her mind?

  Out of the corner of her eye, Rose caught a glimpse of Jonathan elbowing his cousin in the ribs.

  ‘And my dear cousin likes to exaggerate,’ he drawled. ‘I’m sure Summer has no interest in me whatsoever.’

  Ashley raised one perfectly groomed eyebrow. ‘Don’t be naïve, sweetie. You know her type as well as I do. Just because her daddy earns millions, she thinks she should be marrying into aristocracy. And I’m afraid it’s you she has her sights on.’

  ‘I’m sure Rose isn’t interested in whatever fantasies are filling your brain, Ash.’ Although his voice was cool it was evident in the way he looked at his cousin that he held her in very real affection. ‘Besides, I’ve made it perfectly clear that I’m not in the market for a wife. Not now. Maybe never.’

  ‘Hey.’ Ashley laid a hand on his arm. ‘You mustn’t talk like that. Just because Uncle Charles can’t stay married for five minutes, it doesn’t mean some people don’t make a go of it.’

  ‘I think that’s enough on that subject for now.’ Jonathan’s tone was light, but there was a note of warning in his voice. ‘So, Rose, have you seen enough? What do you say we get out of here?’

  There was nothing that Rose wanted more. But she didn’t want to drag Jonathan away from the party. Especially when they’d only been there for an hour.

  Suddenly there was a cry of alarm from the other side of the boat. ‘David! Help me, someone! Oh, God, I can’t see him.’

  Jonathan spun away, making for the other side of the boat where a crowd was forming. Rose followed close behind. Everyone was looking down at the water, muttering and pointing.

  ‘David jumped in. I can’t see him.’ The girl’s voice was frantic. ‘I told him he’d had too much to drink to even think of going in the water, but he wouldn’t listen. God, where is he?’

  Jonathan was pulling off his shoes and top.

  ‘Where did he go in?’

  The distraught girl pointed. ‘He dived in over the side. I think he hit his head. Please, Johnny, help him.’

  Jonathan balanced himself on the side of the railings before diving into the water. Everyone waited in silence as he surfaced and looked around wildly. Then he dived again and again, each time coming up and shaking his head. Finally, just as some of the other men were preparing to join him in the water, he rose to the surface again. This time he was holding a body in his arms. Rose held her breath as willing hands hauled them back onto the deck. The man Jonathan had pulled from the sea didn’t seem to be breathing. There were cries of distress and alarm. The girl who had called out dropped to her knees and cradled the head of the man in her lap.

  ‘David,’ she cried. ‘Please wake up. You have to wake up.’

  Rose pushed her gently aside. ‘Let me have a look,’ she said quietly. By this time a sopping-wet Jonathan had joined her on deck. She bent her head and breathed into the unconscious man’s mouth. One twice, fifteen times. She watched to see if his chest would move, but it didn’t. She looked up to find Jonathan’s eyes on hers. She knew he was thinking the same thing she was. They would have to get the water out of his lungs before they could get him breathing again.

  Together, they worked to pump the water from his lungs until, to their relief, David coughed, bringing up a large amount of water.

  ‘Has someone called for an ambulance?’ Jonathan asked.

  ‘I have,’ Ashley replied.

  ‘Okay, I need a hand to get him into the little boat,’ Jonathan said. ‘Tell the ambulance to meet us at the jetty.’

  David had regained consciousness, but looked confused and bewildered. His head was bleeding copiously. Jonathan examined the wound with gentle fingers. ‘It’s pretty superficial,’ he said. ‘Does anyone have anything we could use to stop the bleeding?’

  Rose ripped a piece of fabric from her dress and used the material to staunch the wound. Oh, well, as Summer had pointed out, it had seen better days.

  ‘What happened?’ David moaned.

  ‘You idiot,’ his girlfriend cried out, before bending over and hugging him. ‘You could have killed yourself. If it hadn’t been for Jonathan and his friend, you’d be dead. Don’t you ever do that to me again.’

  Rose touched her on the shoulder. ‘David’s going to be fine, but we still need to get him to hospital. Inhaling sea water isn’t the best thing for a person’s lungs. Is there a medical kit on board? I’d like to put a proper bandage on his head.’

  A medical kit appeared in Jonathan’s hand. He quickly found a bandage and wrapped it around the piece of cloth from Rose’s dress. It was crude, but it would do until the ambulance arrived.

  Rose led David’s distraught girlfriend to the side, while Jonathan and some of the other men lifted the small boat onto the deck and laid him inside. Then Jonathan looked at her, so she moved forward and stepped into the boat.

  ‘As soon as we get this lowered, I’ll join y
ou,’ Jonathan said.

  Rose nodded and hiking her skirt up settled herself in the boat beside the injured man. In the distance she could hear the wailing of an ambulance.

  As soon as the dingy was back in the water, Jonathan let himself down the ladder and joined her. He started the outboard motor and headed the boat back towards land. Rose kept a close eye on David’s vital signs, but it seemed as if he was going to be okay. Jonathan was still drenched to the skin but showed no sign of discomfort.

  When they reached the shore, the ambulance crew took over. They asked a couple of questions and Jonathan brought them up to date. Soon the ambulance was speeding away with David on board.

  ‘Well, that’s one way of ending a party,’ Jonathan said grimly, watching the ambulance disappear. ‘I guess he’s going to have a sore head in the morning. I don’t suppose you want to go back?’

  ‘Not on your life,’ Rose said vehemently. Then she could have bitten her tongue. She softened her voice. ‘Look, it was kind of you to ask me to the party, but all this…’ she waved her hand in the general direction of the yacht’…is not really my cup of tea. I’m sure your friends are great but, well, to be honest with you, I think I’d rather be out for a walk and then curl up with a good book. I know it all sounds very boring, but it’s what I like.’ She smiled. ‘An added bonus is that I don’t spend too much of my time rescuing my friends after they’ve jumped into the water under the influence and bashed their heads.’

  ‘Okay, then. Look, no one is expecting you back home for another few hours so why don’t we spend the rest of the day together and you can give me another chance? We can do whatever you want to do.’

  ‘Slum it, you mean?’

  Jonathan looked offended. ‘I wouldn’t consider it slumming. For some crazy reason, Rose Taylor, everything you do interests me. I’d also like to show you my other side.’ He grinned and Rose’s heart flipped. She couldn’t believe he was really interested in her. She so wasn’t his type and that was okay, it wasn’t as if there could ever be anything between them, even if she didn’t have this awful thing in her head. And even if he was the most exciting, gorgeous man she had ever met. Anyway, when he realised she truly wasn’t kidding about her life, she wouldn’t see him for dust. The thought sent her heart crashing to her boots. However awful the day had been so far, she wasn’t ready for it to come to an end.