The Surgeon's Blade (15 page)

Their house was in a leafy suburb of the city, and with the fine weather, most people were enjoying the evening sunshine out in their back gardens. Stephanie was holding court from her chair on their patio as Graham escorted Libby over to her, and they exchanged hugs. Stephanie looked well, and no one would have known about her recent car accident but for her plastered leg.

“Libby! I’m so glad you made it. You look gorgeous! Where did you find that dress? But where’s that fiancé of yours? Don’t tell me you’re on your own?”

Smiling, Libby sat in the spare seat next to her, wondering which question to answer first. “I’m sorry, but Nigel couldn’t make it after all. I’m afraid he has an urgent meeting in London. He sends his apologies and hopes your party is a success. I bought the dress today in The Wardrobe in West Quay. I’m pleased with it too.”

“It really suits you and is so daring. I’m not sure I’d have either the figure or nerve to wear it!”

Libby laughed. “Yes, it is a bit risqué, isn’t it? Between you and me, I wasn’t too sure if it was a tad too much, but the saleslady was very persuasive.”

Libby’s dress was a figure-hugging sheath of green jersey with a deep low cowl neckline at both the front and back. She had spent time over her make-up and hair and the effort showed. She looked beautiful.

“So how are you? You look well, I must say.”

“I feel fine. The leg plaster is a bit of a pain, especially when it comes to having a shower, but I put a waterproof covering over it, and I can manage okay. Graham’s being wonderful. He does all the difficult household chores and makes me sit down. He does draw a line at ironing though. I’ve found I can manage quite well sitting down to do it, especially if I can watch a film at the same time. Mind you, I swear I’m putting on weight with the lack of exercise. As for you, you look positively skinny.”

Libby nodded and smiled, but she wasn’t giving Stephanie her whole-hearted attention. She knew that Robert must be here somewhere. She cast a quick look round the other partygoers but didn’t recognise anyone.

“Sorry, what was that you said?”

Stephanie took a sip of her Pimm’s before replying. “I said it was too bad that Robert might not be able to make it tonight.”

Despite that morning’s shock on seeing Robert with the gorgeous red-head, Libby felt her heart sink. She gave herself a mental shake. What was the matter with her? He was nothing but all talk and probably a womaniser as well. “Oh? And why is that?”

“He didn’t say, just that he might be tied up this weekend. I know he’s not duty pilot, so it’s probably something to do with his boat. You, of all people, should know that a man’s yacht is always his first priority. What’s the common phrase among sailors? Something about ‘first lady’ I believe.” She laughed, not spotting Libby’s lukewarm reaction.

“I see.” Libby knew with whom he would be tied up. Suddenly, the life seemed to go out of her. She felt tired and listless. With Nigel away too, her weekend was proving to be one big disappointment.

Stephanie peered at her. “Libby are you all right? You look a bit pale.”

She smiled at her hostess. “I have a slight headache. I’d better go easy on the alcohol. It’s probably the weather.”

Stephanie looked doubtful but nodded. “Mmm. I’m only allowed one drink and a weak one at that. Mind you, I can’t say I miss it all that much.”

Graham wandered out from the house and asked Stephanie if he should start letting people have some food. He smiled at Libby and complimented her again on how nice she looked.

“Can I help in any way?” she asked, standing up. “What about handing round plates of canapés?”

Graham paused. “Well, if you don’t mind. I was going to do it all by myself because the caterer is up to her neck in the kitchen. Yes, if you’re sure, that would be a big help.”

Grateful to have her mind taken off Robert and what he might be doing, Libby followed him back into the kitchen.

A delicious aroma greeted them, and Libby could see that the caterer had her hands full. “They’re plated up and ready to go out to your guests,” she said as Graham eyed the food laid out on the pine table.

“Libby, meet Pauline, cook extraordinaire!”

The two women smiled at each other and Pauline indicated which plates Libby was supposed to hand round.

It was a great way for Libby to get to meet everyone, and the next couple of hours flew by. She made sure everyone had enough to eat and managed to snatch a dance or two. She forgot how many glasses of Pimm’s she had drunk. By twelve o’clock, her feet ached in her high heels. She felt decidedly tipsy, and she was beginning to flag. With a sigh of pleasure, she eased her feet out of her shoes and sank down into an easy chair. Graham brought her a plateful of delicacies and a glass of champagne.

“Here you are, love. You’ve earned it. I don’t think I could have managed without your help. Cheers!”

Libby took an appreciative sip and smiled at him over the rim of her glass. “I’m sure you’d have found someone else.”

He grinned. “Maybe, but not from anyone as pretty as you. You did a grand job. Stephanie’s grateful too. By the way, I’ve just had a call from Robert saying he’ll be here in a short while.”

He gave her a grin. Libby didn’t know what to say. From the look on his face, it appeared Graham knew nothing about her row with Robert. As Stephanie hadn’t mentioned it, Libby decided Robert must have kept it to himself. Graham wandered off back outside leaving Libby to finish her meal. Suddenly she felt trapped. He would be bringing that gorgeous creature with the perfect hair and body with him. Libby made a decision. She had experienced one episode of Robert ignoring her and didn’t want another.

Putting her unfinished plate of food down on a table next to her, she hastily swallowed the glass of bubbly and stood up, brushing crumbs from her dress. If she was quick she could say ‘goodbye’ to Stephanie and Graham and get out of there before Robert arrived.

As she looked round for her handbag, she felt a draught from the front door, and turning, she found the subject of her misery looking thoughtfully at her from the doorway. Peering round him, Libby noticed he was alone. Tongue-tied, she didn’t know what to say. Should she ignore him and leave or try and brazen it out?

The decision was taken from her as Robert made the first move. He made as if to turn around and go into the garden, then he stopped and walked over to her. Libby felt her heart thumping in her chest as he approached.

“Robert,” she murmured, noting he looked like he had cut himself shaving.

“Libby. I just want to say, because this is my sister’s homecoming party, I don’t want to make either a scene or let her know the truth about our falling out. I—” He paused as he dragged a hand through his hair.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

“What?”

“I said I’m sorry. I’m sorry about that day on
Caterina.
I said some awful things, and I wished I hadn’t. I never meant them.”

Robert stared at Libby, trying to make up his mind whether he believed her or not. Libby hesitated. She felt sick inside and, for some reason, on the verge of tears. She had just apologised, and he hadn't made any comment. She attempted to walk past him when he grasped hold of her arm.

“Do you mean that? Are you sorry?”

Libby’s lip trembled, but she spoke in a firmer voice. “I said so, didn’t I?” She took a deep breath. She mustn’t let him think she cared one way or the other. “I had no right to say any of those things. Please let go of my arm, Robert, you’re hurting me.”

Robert’s eyes darkened and Libby thought he clearly didn’t believe her.

Her heart pounded and her mouth was dry. Libby rushed towards the kitchen, thinking there would be plenty of people there to talk to. She moved towards the group hanging and laughing round the bar. She needed a drink badly.

“Libby, what can I get you?” Graham asked. “Would you like some more champagne, or would you like another Pimm’s?”

“Champagne! After all, we’re celebrating Stephanie’s recovery. Thank you and cheers to everyone!” Libby forced a note of gaiety into her voice after raising her glass to the others. There was a chorus of well-wishers. Libby could see Robert in the corner of her eye as he followed her into the room. Glass in hand, she continued through to the garden.

Her earlier seat next to Stephanie was occupied, and Libby looked round in panic. She really wanted to leave. She was determined to say her goodbyes there and then. She had had more alcohol than usual and was in danger of becoming drunk if she stayed.

“Are you going? Oh, what a shame. Still if you have to work, then I do understand. Libby’s a sister at Southampton General,” Stephanie declared to the couple sitting near her. “She gave me wonderful care when I was on her ward.” The others looked over to Libby with interest and soon found she was fending off questions concerning the so-called watcher or stalker, as he was now called. Being a member of the hospital staff, all the guests seemed to think she had some inside information. However, once they realised she knew little more than they did, they soon joined Stephanie in saying 'goodbye'.

Libby and Stephanie agreed to get together during the week, and Libby was able to escape by the front door after locating her shoes and handbag.

As the door shut behind her, she drew a deep breath and steadied herself. She felt dreadful. Meeting Robert and behaving like a coward, she didn’t deserve to feel otherwise. She walked down the drive towards the direction of her parked Mini, wobbling dangerously in her high heels. Drat! She realised she had definitely had far too much to drink and was well over the legal limit. She would have to be ultra-careful once she got behind the wheel. She knew she should call a cab, but her first priority was to make a quick getaway from Robert.

She took a deep breath, attempting to sober up, and took a moment to look around her while she remembered where she had parked her car. Having arrived
Arriving
late, the spaces near Stephanie and Graham’s house had all been taken, so she had parked further down the road. It was a couple of hundred metres, and Libby set off along the path. At first, she imagined the figure moving stealthily between the trees on the other side of the road. When she finally realised she wasn't alone, she panicked. She fumbled in her handbag looking for her keys and ended up dropping them. After scrambling around on the pavement in terror, she managed to retrieve them and insert the correct one into the lock. Terrified, she felt nausea beginning to wash over her as she saw the figure getting closer…

If only she hadn’t had those last two glasses of champagne, she thought. She turned the key in the ignition.
Please start, please start,
she prayed. The engine was sluggish and backfired as she pumped the accelerator. Why on earth hadn’t she had the damn thing serviced? she remonstrated with herself, almost sobbing with fear. She turned the key again and waited – nothing happened. She was petrified as she sat there, not knowing what to do.
Lock the doors,
she thought. She turned in her seat towards the door knob and went to press the button down, God, she felt so woozy and sick again. Perhaps she…

A tap on the glass made her scream. She looked up and saw Robert next to her car, bending down at her window.

“Whoa, why are you so jumpy? Are you having trouble? What seems to be the problem?” he asked, speaking through the window.