Surgeon in a Tux

by Carol Marinelli

  ‘Leo, you are not listening to me.’

  ‘You are the one who is not listening to me, Francesca. Do you remember when I took over your care from my father? You made me promise that no one would ever be able to guess that you’d had some work done. I’ve kept that promise. You look stunning. Even knowing the work you have had done, I still can’t really see it and I’m the surgeon. What you’re asking me to do will have everybody knowing that you’ve been under the knife and that you’ve got a face pumped up with fillers, and I’m just not prepared to put my name to it.’

  ‘Leo, please!’

  ‘Francesca, we can arrange for some skin treatments in the lead-up to the wedding and as I said I will make sure that your—’

  ‘I want to have the surgery.’

  ‘And I’m not prepared to operate,’ Leo said. ‘There are risks with any surgery, Francesca, and at seventy-two years of age …’ Don’t mention the war, Leo thought as he watched her furious eyes widen, but Leo simply would not be swayed and he continued on with the truth. ‘It would be foolish at best to operate for absolutely no reason.’

  ‘So you are saying that I’m too old for surgery?’

  ‘For completely unnecessary surgery, yes,’ Leo said. ‘Francesca, why don’t we—?’

  But Francesca wasn’t listening. First making sure to drain the last of her brandy, angrily she stood. ‘You can’t say no to me.’

  ‘I can,’ Leo answered. ‘I just have. But I will—’ He didn’t get to finish. Francesca didn’t want to hear about fillers or skin treatments, she wanted surgery and she wanted it booked now! She stormed out in rage, hurling out her anger as she left.

  ‘I have been good to you, Leo! This is how you repay my loyalty, this is how you treat me …’

  Lizzie heard the fracas and chose not to ignore it. ‘Is everything okay?’ Lizzie checked, popping her head in.

  Leo rolled his eyes.

  ‘No jewellery to pick up?’ Lizzie checked.

  ‘Not this time.’ Leo gave a tight smile.

  ‘Not another lovers’ tiff, I hope!’

  ‘God, no.’ Leo actually laughed. ‘I do have some morals. Not many …’ Then his face went serious. ‘I refused to do the surgery she wanted.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘I did a full facelift on her last year. Francesca is seventy-two!’

  ‘Oh, my …’ Lizzie blinked. She could not believe that the woman she had seen was in her seventies. ‘I knew you were a good surgeon but …’ She shook her head. ‘She looks amazing.’

  ‘I’d love to take all the credit but, the fact is Francesca has the most amazing bone structure I’ve ever seen and still exercises daily and keeps herself in shape. She was a prima ballerina,’ Leo explained. ‘When I took over her care we both agreed to keep it minimal. Part of the reason she looks so good is that she doesn’t look as if she has had surgery—her face moves, she’s got lines …’ He let out a sigh. ‘Not for long, though.’

  ‘Meaning.’

  ‘The trouble with saying no to someone like Francesca is that she’ll find someone who is only too happy to say yes. The double trouble is …’ he shrugged ‘… she’s my favourite patient and I can’t stand to think of anyone else treating her. I know I’m the best and I want the best for her. I really do think a lot of her.’

  ‘Really?’ Lizzie smiled.

  ‘She’s so eccentric.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘She tells me all about Tony, the love of her life. How he wanted her to give up dancing yet she refused to. He wanted lots of bambinos and she wanted the stage so she ended it. There have been numerous young lovers and husbands since then but Tony is the love of her life. It turns out Tony is going to be at a wedding and she wants to look like she did the day she left him.’

  He headed over to a huge bookshelf and pulled down a ballet programme. ‘Signed.’ Leo smiled. ‘I asked her to bring in old photos to work from …’ He laughed at the memory. ‘I’d still be looking through them now if I hadn’t narrowed it down to this. She’s as neurotic and vain as most dancers are, and twice as temperamental. God, I hope she doesn’t go anywhere else.’

  He really did care about her, Lizzie thought, looking through the programme. Francesca was seriously beautiful now and in her day had been breath-taking. ‘A major part of her appeal is her gamine features,’ Leo explained, still flicking through the photos. ‘Look at that symmetry.’

  ‘Look at those eyes …’ Lizzie said.

  ‘They weren’t looking so doleful a few moments ago,’ Leo said. ‘She’s furious with me.’

  ‘But surely Francesca knows that you’ve got her best interests covered?’ Lizzie said, but Leo shook his head.

  ‘She determined that this is what she needs and, believe me, when Francesca sets her mind on something …’ He replaced the programme then chewed around the base of his thumbnail, pondering what to do. ‘Will you give Francesca a follow-up call?’ Leo asked. ‘See if she will come in and speak with me again—she’ll just hang up on me if I try to call.’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Women,’ Leo said.

  ‘Men,’ Lizzie sighed.

  ‘We’re not all bad.’

  ‘You are!’

  ‘I’m afraid so.’

  It was a warning and Lizzie heeded it but they stared at each other for a very long moment, a moment when Lizzie felt he might just lower that head and kiss her.

  She was imagining things surely.

  Except she was having to hold onto her tongue just to stop herself licking her lips in delicious anticipation.

  How did he do it? How, with just a look, could she almost taste his mouth?

  The door knocked and Ethan came in. Lizzie could feel the crackling tension between the brothers and she didn’t really understand Ethan’s slightly disapproving look that he shot in her direction.

  ‘I wanted to talk to you, Leo, about the patients I’ve got in mind. We can only take one and it’s proving impossible to choose …’ He had two files with him and on the front were images of two terribly disfigured children. ‘Burns,’ Ethan explained to Lizzie. ‘There aren’t any too many fireguards where they come from. Both need surgery, it’s just hell trying to decide …’

  ‘That one.’ Lizzie blinked as Leo’s finger jabbed at an image.

  ‘Why that one?’ Ethan asked.

  ‘Why not?’ Leo shrugged.

  ‘You’re an arrogant jerk …’

  There had always been tension between them, Lizzie was in no doubt as to that, but it was the first time she’d actually witnessed such a terse exchange. Maybe it was because Leo assumed Ethan and she had actually spoken about him, but in truth, till the morning of Marianna’s surgery, Ethan never really had.

  ‘No,’ Leo said evenly. ‘I’m practical. You can’t save the world, Ethan.’ He glanced at Lizzie. ‘Go and get your coat.’

  ‘My coat?’

  ‘I’ve got a couple of house calls to make.’

  As Lizzie went to get her coat, Leo pulled his on as Ethan stood there.

  ‘Since when have you taken the head nurse on house calls?’

  ‘I’m seeing Marianna,’ Leo hissed. ‘Continuity of care.’

  ‘And you’re taking Lizzie to the ball.’

  ‘I’m trying to be more serious about our charity work,’ Leo said. ‘I thought it might be more professional to take staff …’ He turned. ‘Does it bother you?’

  ‘You know it does. I warned you to leave well alone.’

  Leo needed to know more. There was a part of their past they both avoided discussing, but if Ethan had dated Lizzie, well, she was off limits.

  ‘Are you worried history might repeat itself?’ Leo said carefully, loathed, even now, to mention Olivia’s name.

  Leo had fallen hard for the paediatric plastics nurse but she’d only ever seen him as a friend.

  It had been Ethan that Olivia had fallen for.

  Leo closed his eyes for a brief moment, recalling the terrible row that had erupted and Olivia’s hor
ror when she had walked in on it in time to hear Ethan telling Leo that he was only using her anyway.

  Leo and Ethan’s already fractured relationship had from that point seemed broken beyond repair.

  Maybe it was, Leo thought as he opened his eyes to his brother.

  ‘There’s nothing between Lizzie and I,’ Ethan said. ‘But she’s probably the best thing that could happen to this place and I don’t want my elder brother screwing it up.’

  ‘I don’t screw,’ Leo said. ‘I make love …’

  ‘It’s all a joke to you,’ Ethan said. ‘I’m warning you, Leo.’

  ‘I don’t take warnings from my little brother.’

  ‘Take this one!’

  ‘We really are very protective of Lizzie,’ Leo sneered.

  ‘Of course I am—she was the one who got me talking, she was the one—’

  ‘Ethan.’ Leo was serious now. ‘What the hell happened to you out there?’ But Ethan didn’t answer. ‘You’ve changed …’

  ‘War tends to do that to you.’

  It was all Leo was going to get because Ethan moved back to the original conversation. ‘Why are you taking Lizzie to the ball? Why can’t you just leave her alone?’

  This time it was Leo who was evasive.

  Without answering, he walked out into the foyer where Lizzie was waiting and they stepped out into the grey wintery morning. Lizzie shivered and stamped her feet as they waited for a taxi. Leo knew full well the answer and it was a very inconvenient one.

  He wanted Lizzie in bed.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  THEY TOOK A taxi and he felt her eyes on him and Leo knew she thought he had been unkind to Ethan about choosing the charity patient. ‘If you thought about it you’d never be able to choose and my brother proves my point.’ He looked at her tight lips. ‘I don’t have to beat myself up to do charity work.’

  ‘Okay.’ Lizzie turned and gazed out of the window but Leo prolonged the conversation. ‘Was he as cheerful when you were looking after him?’ he asked, and sighed when Lizzie didn’t answer. ‘I’m not asking you to break confidence, I’m just making idle conversation …’

  ‘Terrible weather,’ Lizzie said. ‘That’s idle conversation.’

  Leo was wise enough to know that Lizzie wasn’t going to reveal anything and so they drove in silence to the hotel. Leo spoke to a receptionist and Lizzie noticed he didn’t use his title and neither did he give the patient’s name.

  It was just all very smooth and discreet.

  They walked to the lift and Leo explained that it wasn’t just Marianna they would be visiting but Jessica too.

  ‘Hello.’ Leo smiled at Jessica as she let them in. ‘As Gwen explained, Iain’s in Theatre all day but I wanted to see for myself how you are doing.’

  ‘I’m feeling much better.’ Jessica smiled and she really did seem a whole lot better than she had on Monday. ‘And thank you, Lizzie, for the other day, I’m sorry—I was in a right state.’

  ‘You did really well,’ Lizzie said, because Jessica had—it had taken ages to remove the tiny sutures and even though Iain had soaked them, it had still been uncomfortable and unpleasant, on top of everything else Jessica was already going through.

  Leo washed his hands and Jessica lifted her hair as Leo examined the wound carefully.

  ‘Iain has done an amazing job,’ Leo said. ‘How are you?’

  This time she didn’t look at Lizzie to leave, and it was good to see Jessica looking far more relaxed.

  ‘Better. My mum’s staying with me and I’ve spoken to a lawyer …’ Then she did glance at Lizzie.

  ‘Lizzie’s fine,’ Leo said.

  ‘It wasn’t the first time,’ Jessica admitted.

  ‘It rarely is,’ Leo said.

  ‘That time I said that I fell down the stairs …’ Jessica said, and Leo nodded. ‘Did you know?’

  ‘I asked you outright.’

  ‘I know.’ Jessica screwed up her face. ‘I just wasn’t ready to tell anyone. I am now, though.’

  ‘Good for you. You know that if there’s anything we can do …’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘I mean it,’ Leo said. ‘And not just with paperwork for lawyers—we’ve got a marvellous psychologist at the clinic, Tanya is …’

  ‘I spoke to her.’

  ‘Good,’ Leo said. ‘Keep speaking to her.’

  He was extremely nice to Jessica and they chatted some more but Leo declined when she offered to ring down for coffee.

  ‘I’m afraid we have to go.’ He glanced at his watch but still didn’t dash off.

  ‘Of course you do.’ Jessica smiled. ‘It’s just so nice to have company. I’m getting cabin fever.’

  ‘Have you been out?’

  Jessica shook her head.

  ‘You should go for a little walk.’

  ‘I’m worried I’ll be seen or photographed. It’s all over the papers, it’s just all so embarrassing …’

  ‘Not for you it isn’t.’ Leo stood. ‘You have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about.’ He did stand then. ‘Put a big scarf on and go for a walk with your head held high.’

  He wasn’t smiling when they took the lift.

  ‘Bastard,’ Leo grumbled. ‘I re-set his nose once. I’d love to break it again.’ Instead of going down, they were going up.

  ‘Are we going to see Marianna?’

  ‘Why else would we be going up to the top floor?’ Leo winked. ‘Unless …’ He didn’t finish. He saw her blush and, unbelievably, Leo almost did the same.

  Though, of course, it must be the heating!

  ‘Come on, now for the nicer part of the job,’ Leo said.

  He really loved his work, and there was so much more to it than Lizzie had realised.

  ‘I can’t believe how good it already looks!’ Marianna exclaimed. ‘I thought I would have two black eyes …’

  ‘I’m just brilliant.’ Leo smiled and carefully checked them. ‘I’m really pleased.’ Marianna was flying out to join Ferdinand the next day and they chatted for a little while longer before Lizzie and Leo headed back to the clinic, but as they walked through the hotel foyer and reached the doors, Leo suddenly changed his mind.

  ‘How about afternoon tea?’

  ‘We’ll never get a table,’ Lizzie said, because she’d rung up at the weekend and found out that if you weren’t a guest you had to book weeks in advance.

  Not if your name was Leo Hunter, apparently.

  ‘They should pay me commission.’ Leo grinned as they took a seat. ‘I’ve sent more clients their way than I can count.’

  Lizzie wasn’t used to being spoiled.

  Afternoon tea was sumptuous and Leo was very good company. ‘Do you do this a lot?’ Lizzie asked.

  ‘Not too often,’ Leo said. ‘It’s nice to pause sometimes.’

  She felt dreadfully gauche. It was a pause in Leo’s day and yet Lizzie felt tempted to whip out her phone and take a photo as afternoon tea was delivered to their table and the china cups filled. ‘My mum would have loved this.’ She glanced up. ‘Sorry, that sounds really maudlin. My mum loved anything to do with food—she was a wonderful cook.’

  ‘Was?’

  ‘She has Alzheimer’s.’

  ‘How bad is she?’

  ‘She had good days and bad,’ Lizzie said. ‘Mainly she has no idea who I am but every now and then her face lights up and we talk, though it’s mainly a teenage Lizzie she’s talking about. It’s good to know that she does recognise me sometimes.’

  ‘What about your father?’

  He’s in the same home as Mum. He’s relatively well, though …’ She didn’t really want to discuss it. Yes, she’d chatted away to Ethan about how her father, despite her best efforts, refused to even come out for a coffee with her. How he didn’t even want to go out to the shops. But she just didn’t want to bore Leo. ‘This is lovely.’ She looked at the gorgeous surroundings. ‘It’s a big change from my old job.’

  ‘You’re from Brighton?
’ Leo checked, recalling her résumé.

  ‘I came to London a couple of years ago, once my …’ She stopped. All her conversations seemed to lead back to her parents. ‘Mind you, I’m seeing a different side to things since I started the job. I’ve never been to a formal ball.’

  ‘It will be fun,’ Leo said, taking out a sweetener and flicking it into his tea.

  Lizzie let out her breath and asked the question that had been plaguing her, though of course she knew the answer. She was just fishing for a hint about what Leo would expect her to wear. ‘What’s the dress code for the ball?’

  ‘Evening wear, formal.’ Leo was spreading jam on a scone when he glanced up. ‘You’ll be fine.’

  It was all so easy for him.

  ‘I’m just a bit worried—’

  ‘You’ll look stunning,’ Leo interrupted, doing his best to put her at ease and failing miserably.

  For Lizzie things came to a head just before home time when she heard Kara, one of the plastic surgeons, talking about the ball. She kindly tried to bring Lizzie into the conversation. ‘Do you know what you’re wearing yet, Lizzie? I hear Leo’s taking you.’

  ‘That’s right.’ Lizzie nodded. ‘I haven’t decided yet.’

  God, she had to say something to him. She wouldn’t just be letting herself down. Leo expected glamour on his arm and later in that afternoon Lizzie finally caved, knocking on his door.

  ‘Who is it?’

  ‘Lizzie.’

  ‘Come in.’ He turned briefly from the basin as she entered. ‘I’m surprised you bothered knocking.’

  ‘What are you doing?’ Lizzie asked, and if she sounded brusque it was to cover up her embarrassment at the sight of Leo. He was naked from the hips up, his suit pants sat low on his hips and there was a fresh shirt over the chair. He had, she presumed, just finished shaving and was now trying to take out his own stitches. ‘You can’t take your own stitches out.’

  ‘It’s harder than I thought,’ Leo admitted.

  They were tiny sutures, and Leo was having more trouble than he’d expected, getting the tiny blade to snip the thread, but, given where he was going, it was essential he looked his best.