“Am I really at Death’s door?” Lucy was secretly aghast at the drama she was causing, and tried to dismiss the fuss. “I thought he’d released me into your custody tonight—at the pier.” Striving for a little levity, she wasn’t as worried as he was, clearly, but her instincts watched the hopes of any chance for closeness between them fade away, just as the good humor had from his face when he’d become aware how cold she felt, and how drained of color.

“I’m undoubtedly overplaying the tragedic elements of the comedy,” he tried to laugh, aware of her embarrassment. “But you’ll have to indulge my cautious nature this one time.”

“I’ll try to be flattered.” Lucy attempted to tease, but Alex was single-minded, concentrating solely on the task at hand, oblivious to her ironic tones, which would have passed for flirtation to an observer.

Amel—trailed by peals of laughter from the skeleton staff at his appearance—soon followed them in, despite Alex’s pleas for him not to disturb the rest of his evening. “Are we going to lure you back from your beloved immunology, Alex?” Amel was amused to see that he was checking Lucy’s blood pressure and assuming full responsibility for her. “I think you’re overreacting, but I will just come and ascertain that an informed assessment and my instincts are not at odds. My dinner reservation will keep for half an hour.”

Lucy looked apologetic: this was just what she didn’t want. But as the monitor clicked with the readout, Amel made contented noises. He agreed with Alex, looking at his patient, that she was a little ghostly and unnaturally cold. “However, nothing to worry about, I am sure of it. Don’t even mention an angiogram. The heart is very strong, beating beautifully. The nerves are not even beginning to take, of course, but the heart itself is sound. Nevertheless, your face is pale, Lucy, and I can see in your eyes that something has given you a fright tonight. So I think my colleague here is right.” He threw an amused glance over his shoulder at Alex. “We should probably keep you in for observation just for one night. A formality on my behalf, Dr. Stafford,” he added, with a smile dedicated to the patient.

Alex was grateful to have Amel take charge personally; but when he left them for a moment to call Grace and explain her flatmate wouldn’t be home tonight, she communicated her disappointment to her surgeon with the look of a child whose hopes had been crushed on her birthday.