‘That’s different,’ she said impatiently.
‘But fighting, Charlie?’
The thin shoulders hunched defensively. ‘He was much bigger than me; I wouldn’t hit a little kid. And I didn’t hurt him; I fell down the steps before I had the chance to,’ she admitted honestly.
‘Mrs French?’ The nurse stepped into the room. ‘If she gets any of the symptoms on this card—’ Rachel skimmed anxiously over the card which was pushed into her hand ‘—bring her back. Ten days for the sutures. Your GP will remove them; here’s a letter for him. Sorry to rush you but we’re busy this afternoon.’
She’d whipped the paper sheet off the trolley which Charlie had just vacated and disappeared before Rachel could mumble her thanks.
The headmistress was deep in conversation with Benedict when they returned to the reception area; she looked almost animated as she listened to what he was saying and a lot more relaxed. For once Rachel had reason to be grateful for his effortless charm; she needed the head mistress as softened up as possible. This was one tête-à-tête she wasn’t looking forward to.
‘Miss French, perhaps we could have a word?’ Her eyes slid to Charlie. ‘Alone?’
‘I know you don’t get into cars with strangers, Charlie, but with your mother’s permission perhaps you’d like to look over mine,’ Benedict said.
‘What do you drive?’
‘A Mercedes.’
‘What sort?’
He told her, and her eyes widened in admiration.
‘Wow!’ She looked hopefully in her mother’s direction.
When Rachel returned to Benedict’s car a few minutes later her daughter was deep in what appeared to be a technical discussion with Benedict.
‘Sorry to keep you waiting,’ she said, looking through the open window of the passenger seat.
‘I wasn’t bored,’ Charlie said happily. ‘He doesn’t know anything about this car,’ she informed her embarrassed mother.
‘I do now,’ Benedict said drily.
‘I was apologising to Mr Arden, not you, Charlie. We’ll get a taxi home of course.’
‘Don’t be stupid, Rachel.’ Before Rachel had an opportunity to complain at this form of address she was distracted.
‘Rachel!’
She spun around, startled at the sound of a familiar voice. ‘Nigel!’ she said, staring at him in blank amazement. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I work here, remember? More to the point, what are you doing here?’ His expression changed as he recognised the small, spiky-headed figure in the front seat of the car. ‘Charlie’s been in the wars, I see. Why didn’t you ring me, darling?’
So that was why the name of the hospital had sounded so familiar. The sound of the endearment made her feel oddly embarrassed.
‘It was all such a rush. I got a phone call at work and Mr Arden kindly offered me a lift. How are you feeling? Is the cold better?’ How could she admit she hadn’t even thought about Nigel? She’d forgotten he even worked in the hospital!
‘I’m fine…fine,’ he said hurriedly. ‘That was kind of Mr Arden. Have me met?’ he asked, looking directly at Benedict, a puzzled frown pleating his brow.
Rachel held her breath.
‘It’s possible,’ Benedict admitted calmly. ‘Ben Arden’s the name.’
‘Any relation to Sir Stuart Arden?’
‘My father.’
‘I can see the resemblance.’ Benedict nodded neutrally; he knew he was a genetic throwback to his Italian maternal grandfather and bore no resemblance to his very Anglo-Saxon-looking parent. ‘We’re in the same golf club,’ Nigel explained affably.
Rachel could see the umbrella of social acceptability obviously extended to Sir Stuart’s offspring.
‘Give me a minute, Rachel, and I’ll take you home.’ He reached in the breast pocket of his white coat to retrieve his urgently buzzing pager.
‘Don’t worry yourself; it’s on my way,’ Benedict assured him.
Rachel met Benedict’s benign smile with a look of seething frustration. Now that the immediate panic was over the last thing in the world she wanted was to get in that car with him.
‘That’s very good of you,’ Nigel responded, with a grateful smile. ‘I’ll ring you tonight, Rachel.’
Whilst she was receiving a peck on the cheek—Nigel wasn’t the most tactile person in the world—she was overwhelmingly aware of the brown eyes watching her every move. This awareness probably had something to do with the fact that she turned her head and kissed a somewhat surprised Nigel full on the lips.