Carefully he stroked a few stray strands from the side of her face and she murmured something so softly that he could not hear. Then she opened her eyes, looked startled for a moment, then relaxed again.

‘I’m glad it didn’t last,’ said Gary softly.

‘Mmm? What?’

‘That frightened look. Do you want some coffee?’

Sarah shook her head. ‘No. Tea. Please.’

Gary bent down and kissed her on the cheek, then slid out of bed and walked down the few steps that led into the living area. He crossed to the kitchen in the far corner.

Sarah watched him go. ‘Nice bum.’

‘Thank you.’

‘For someone your age.’

He turned and looked at her.

Sarah rolled over in the sheets until she was lying on her stomach looking directly at him. ‘Nice other things as well.’

Gary picked up a towel from a pile of washing in the kitchen and wrapped it round himself.

‘Well, well…’ said Sarah.

‘What?’ asked Gary, filling the kettle at the tap.

‘That’s not a word I would ever have associated with you.’

‘What isn’t?’

‘Embarrassment.’

He put the kettle on the hob and walked back towards the bed. ‘How do you know I’m embarrassed?’

‘Because you’ve gone just a tiny bit pink.’

Gary pushed her so that she rolled onto her back once more, then he pulled the sheet away from her and gazed at her body. ‘And you’re quite a lot pink,’ he said, bending down and feathering her stomach with kisses.

They had their tea and coffee later, when they could no longer stand the insistent whistling of the kettle.

Chapter 15

If you would be happy for a week take a wife; if you would be happy for a month kill a pig; but if you would be happy all your life plant a garden.

Anon, mid-17th century

Christopher was shaking by the time he drank his own cup of coffee in the kitchen at the Manor House. But at least he had done it. Cleared his conscience. Up to a point. Whether it would make any difference only time would tell. And how would he know? Now that he was no longer a part of the scene, how could he tell what went on on a daily basis?

But the alternative–to make a formal complaint about Cummings–would have thrown the local practice into chaos; undermined all confidence in the other doctors whom he knew had nothing to do with Cummings’ Machiavellian manoeuvres.