Jensen tightened his grip on my hand. ‘Thanks, Clare, but I’ll go; the Butterworths are her employers after all and this was a work-related injury.’

‘Good idea,’ said Betsy. ‘We’ll get Sidney settled in; you look after Lottie and phone me as soon as you have news.’

Someone sucked in air, Godfrey I thought, and a muttered conversation started up about insurance claims and compensation. I wanted to tell Betsy that she needn’t worry on that score but just then the two paramedics transferred me to a stretcher and wheeled me towards the back of the ambulance.

Sidney loomed into view. ‘And I’m so sorry. I feel responsible.’

I tried to shake my head but it wouldn’t move. ‘Not your fault. Thank you for coming.’

Then I was on a ramp being pushed into the ambulance.

Jensen patted Sidney’s back and climbed in beside me.

‘No. Party,’ I murmured, remembering something about Jensen needing to be in London with gorgeous women. ‘Party.’

The female paramedic chuckled. ‘The party’s over for you, I’m afraid, Lottie.’

Chapter 16

The journey to the hospital took around fifteen minutes, but I only remembered two things about it: that the female paramedic, whose name was Julie, put something on my forehead which stung like hell and that she flirted shamelessly with Jensen the whole way there.

As the paramedics wheeled me along a brightly lit corridor, lined with seats full of waiting patients and smelling strongly of disinfectant, Jensen walked alongside, his face alternating between over-bright smiles and concerned frowns when he thought I wasn’t looking. On the other side of me was a nurse whom my male paramedic was bringing up to speed with my ailments.

‘Head injury to the rear and bruising to the left side of forehead, blood pressure low, vomiting, possible concussion, possibly had a few too many sherbets.’ He winked at me. ‘That’s a technical term.’

The nurse asked me for my personal details. I gave her my full name and date of birth easily but I struggled with my address. It was the first time I’d ever had to list it as the vineyard, which was weird enough, and the nurse exchanged glances with Julie the flirt when I couldn’t recall the postcode. Luckily, Jensen knew it, which seemed to act as confirmation that we were a couple. We reached the end of the corridor and arrived in a noisy open area with telephones ringing, staff dashing about and lots of injured and ill-looking people slumped in uncomfortable plastic chairs. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw two policemen trying to control a man who was doing his best to lash out at everyone, despite being handcuffed to both of them. He was covered in mud and had a large bloody gash on the side of his head.

‘This is ridiculous,’ the man drawled drunkenly. ‘Police harassment. You should be out there nicking real criminals.’