‘I heard that!’ Cynthia’s tears ended abruptly and she glared at another nurse, who was standing beside her. ‘I want a taxi calling, one that’ll take me back to Perth. I’ll pay for this stupid blanket or send it back or whatever. I’m not staying with that heartless harridan for one minute longer!’

She scowled across at Megan, ‘And as for you and your husband, I hope you both catch double pneumonia. You’ve turned him into a stupid clod like yourself and I think the pair of you richly deserve one other. If I’d realised how besotted he was with his little Cinderella, I’d not have wasted my time with him. He used to be fun to know once!’

She stormed across to the nurses’ desk. ‘Have you got me that taxi yet?’

Megan sat there bemused, then a smile crept across her face. Besotted? Could Ben really be besotted with her? Cynthia seemed to think so.

Megan frowned, not quite daring to believe this. How could Cynthia know? Had he told her?

Suddenly she had to know. She ran across to the door and caught Cynthia’s arm just as the other woman was stepping into a taxi. ‘What do you mean by saying Ben’s ‘besotted’ with me? Why did you say that?’

Cynthia tried to shake her off, but Megan wouldn’t let go.

‘Tell me!’

‘Are you really too stupid to see how he looks at you? It’s rather amusing, you know. The almighty Ben Saunders hooked at last – and by a nobody like you.’

She pushed her face closer to Megan’s, almost snarling, ‘It won’t last, though. It definitely will not last. You’re a novelty at the moment, but he’ll soon get bored with your naiveté and your lost causes.’

Megan let go and stepped back, feeling joy run through her. ‘I’ll make very sure he doesn’t, believe me. Go back and look after that nice husband of yours, for once.’

She didn’t wait to see the taxi leave, but turned back into the hospital. Was Cynthia right? Did Ben indeed love her? What if she told him she loved him? Dare she do that? She drew in a deep breath, then nodded. Yes, she did dare. She must.

She couldn’t go on like this, tiptoeing around her husband. Better a clean break than a lingering pain. Only – Cynthia had said ‘besotted’. Oh, please, let that be true!

A nurse took the cup from her hands and said something. Megan blinked at her. ‘Sorry! I was miles away.’

‘I was just asking how you’re feeling.’

‘Better now. You’ve been very kind. Sorry Cynthia was so rude to you.’