Marriage By Arrangement. Sally Wentworth
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caught him up inside. ‘Which ward?’ he said impatiently.
‘Queen’s. It’s on the second floor.’
They went up in the lift and Red led the way down the corridor, but once in the ward their way was blocked by a buxom senior nurse who looked as if the frown she was wearing was etched into her face. ‘Visiting time is from two till eight,’ she said shortly.
‘We’ve come to see Mrs St Aubyn. She was brought in as an accident case last night.’
‘We’ve brought some things for her,’ Red added.
‘I’ll give them to her. Come again this afternoon.’
‘I’m very worried about her and I insist on seeing her now,’ Linus said stubbornly, his face and voice sharp, determined not to take any denial.
Looking at him, the nurse knew that she’d met her match, but still said belligerently, ‘Only close family members are allowed to come out of visiting hours.’
‘I couldn’t be any closer,’ Linus said shortly. ‘She’s my mother.’
The nurse heard Red’s involuntary gasp of surprise and raised her eyebrows. ‘Your name?’
‘Linus Hunt. My mother married twice,’ he added, before the woman could point out the difference in surnames.
Grudgingly, the nurse said, ‘Very well, you can see her for a few minutes. She’s down there on the right.’ Linus started down the ward and Red went to follow, but the nurse said in a voice of evident disbelief, ‘And who are you—her daughter?’
Taken aback, Red said, ‘Well, no, I...’
At the same time Linus said, ‘Yes,’ adding smoothly as her voice petered off, ‘She’s Mrs St Aubyn’s daughter-in-law—my wife.’ And, taking Red’s arm, he strode down the ward.
Red giggled as the nurse stared after them. ‘Nice one. That was a great idea, to say you were her son. She’d never have let you in if you’d admitted you were only a boyfriend.’
Linus stopped and swung round to give her an incredulous look. ‘What did you say?’
‘That you...’ Her voice dried as Red stared up at his amazed face in dawning realisation. ‘You—you mean you really are her son?’ she gasped.
His jaw hardened; his eyes shrivelled her. ‘Of course I am.’
Turning, he strode on ahead, leaving Red to gaze after him. She laughed in incredulous amazement, and suddenly the sun came bursting through the windows and it was a gorgeous day.
CHAPTER TWO
LINUS strode into the sectioned-off part of the ward where his mother lay, and Red tactfully waited outside for several minutes. She guessed that their meeting would be emotional, especially on Felicia St Aubyn’s part, and didn’t want to intrude. Not only that, she was glad of a few minutes alone in which to reassess her opinion of Linus—an opinion that, with just a few words, had been turned completely upside down.
So he wasn’t a toy boy after all. Red felt strangely pleased about that, and wondered if her first impression of him as a drunk might also have been wrong. He seemed so self-confident today, so completely in control that the first image she’d had of Linus was almost impossible to recognise as the same man. But they were one and the same, which made him something of an enigma—and Red’s big failing had always been her inability to contain her avid curiosity.
When she judged it would be OK to join them, she walked into the side-ward and was pleased to see that Mrs St Aubyn was sitting up and smiling, her hand held in her son’s. She let go when she saw Red and beckoned her over. ‘Linus, find a chair for Red,’ she ordered, and held out her hand for Red to take.
‘How are you feeling, Mrs St Aubyn?’
‘Much better, thank you. And so pleased to see you.’
Linus placed a chair on the other side of the bed for her and Red sat down.
‘Linus tells me you gave each other quite a fright last night.’
‘I’m afraid I threw a vase at him. I’m sorry about that.’
‘Nonsense. I’ve often felt like throwing things at him,’ his mother lied fondly.
‘Oh, I didn’t mean I was sorry for throwing it—just for breaking the vase.’
‘Thank you so much,’ Linus said sardonically.
Mrs St Aubyn glanced at them both with some amusement. ‘It was very kind of you to spend the night at the house. I really appreciate it,’ she said to Red.
‘It was no trouble. Will you be able to go home soon?’ she asked, to change the subject.
‘The doctor hasn’t been round yet, but I feel so much better that I’m sure it will be very soon. Perhaps even today,’ she added hopefully.
‘You had a nasty fall and you’re not leaving until you’re fully recovered,’ Linus stated categorically.
Recognising the masterful edge in his voice, Red and Mrs St Aubyn exchanged a glance and each gave the briefest of knowing smiles, both of them aware that the invalid was going to be out of that hospital just as fast as she could, whether Linus objected or not.
‘I’ve brought the things you wanted,’ Red told her.
‘Oh, that’s marvellous. I can’t wait to change out of this horrid nightdress.’
‘It certainly isn’t your usual style,’ Linus said with a grin.
The senior nurse came bustling up to them. ‘The doctors are beginning their rounds. We can’t have visitors here now.’
Linus gave her a frowning look, but leaned forward to kiss Mrs St Aubyn on the cheek. ‘We’ll leave you, then, Felicia. I’ll come back this afternoon.’
‘Goodbye, darling.’
‘Goodbye, Mrs St Aubyn. I’m glad you’re feeling better.’
‘Oh, please, my dear, call me Felicia, won’t you? And will you come back and see me this afternoon too?’
‘Well, I...’ Red gave Linus an uncertain glance, but he looked away, deliberately unhelpful.
‘Please do. There’s something I’d like you to do for me, but there isn’t time to discuss it now.’
‘In that case, I’ll certainly come.’
‘Thank you, my dear.’
The nurse shepherded them out, almost physically pushing them in her anxiety to be rid of them.
‘That officious, domineering female,’ Linus fumed when they were outside the hospital. ‘Give that kind of woman an inch of power and they think they own not only the hospital and the patients but you as well.’
‘I imagine men are much the same, if not worse,’ Red pointed out tartly.
Linus glanced at her, then gave a crooked grin. ‘I’m sure you’re right, but somehow it seems much worse when it’s a woman.’
‘Only because you’re a man.’
‘Of course,’ he said smoothly, and held up an arm to a cruising taxi. ‘Where are you going now?’
‘Oh, Home, I suppose. In Fulham,’ she explained.
‘Give the driver the address.’ She did so and got in the cab, but Linus didn’t join her, instead asking the cabbie what the fare would be and passing over some notes. Leaning in the open door, he said, ‘I suppose Felicia has your telephone number?’ Red nodded, but he didn’t immediately draw back, instead giving her a speculative look before saying, ‘Did you really think I was Felicia’s boyfriend?’
Red pushed