‘There is that.’ He leaned closer, his arm moving protectively around her but not touching her. ‘There’s still time to change your mind. The press release won’t go out for another couple of hours.’
Maybe this was why he’d wanted her here with him. To give her one last chance to back out of the engagement.
‘I’m not changing my mind, Hugo. I’ve got the ring now.’ She’d be wearing it on her left hand and not her right tomorrow. But today it meant the same as it would tomorrow, a symbol of their agreement to protect each other.
‘Thank you for wearing it...’ He reached out, as if to take her hand, and Nell heard a stifled giggle coming from somewhere behind them. Two young nurses were at the other end of the corridor, staring at them. Adele bore down on them, shooing them back to work, and then shot a smile in Nell’s direction.
Hugo ushered her through the door and one look told Nell that this was the children’s ward. There was a riot of colour on the walls of the reception area and an open door revealed a play area, where young patients were being supervised by play leaders in bright tunics.
Hugo led Nell into a small ward, nodding a greeting to the nurse. Nell recognised the little girl who lay in one of the beds, as well as the teddy bear at her side.
‘Hey, Nadine.’ He dangled his fingers over the safety rail on the side of the bed, tapping the back of her hand, and she opened her eyes.
‘Uncle Hugo.’
‘I told you I’d come. I brought you something.’ He opened the box he was carrying and drew out a beautiful silk flower, dangling it over the rail so that Nadine could see it.
‘Thank you, Uncle Hugo.’
Nadine smiled, but didn’t reach for the flower. Nell saw concern in Hugo’s eyes and she knew what he was about to do next.
‘Speak to Dr Bertrand,’ she whispered in his ear and he ignored her.
‘How do you feel, sweetie?’ He reached forward to brush her forehead with his fingertips.
‘I’m all right, Uncle Hugo.’
Hugo went to reach for the notes at the end of the bed, and Nell bowed to the inevitable and fetched them for him. ‘I’m just reading about you.’ He smiled at Nadine and she gave him a smile back.
He studied the notes carefully, and then checked the monitors by Nadine’s bedside. From what Nell could see, everything was completely normal, and Nadine was just a little drowsy.
Hugo wasn’t giving up, though. He reached for the sheet covering Nadine’s body, pulling it back slightly to reveal her shoulders and a large plaster over the right side of her chest.
‘No, Hugo. You are not to examine that child. You’re on sick leave.’ He’d probably survive, but goodness only knew what kind of medical liability issues it might raise.
‘There’s clearly something the matter with her.’ He reached for a pair of surgical gloves from the dispenser on the wall, wincing slightly.
‘Then we’ll call for a doctor.’ Nell bec
koned to the nurse, asking her in French to fetch someone.
‘I’m a doctor. Nadine is my patient.’ She could hear the pain in Hugo’s hushed voice, and Nell wondered what she’d do in his shoes.
‘All right. Out of the way, I’ll do it.’ She grabbed the surgical gloves, pulling the heavy ring from her finger and putting it into his hand. Nell wasn’t entirely sure what kind of liability issues that might also raise, but at least she was officially fit and well. And the thought that Hugo knew Nadine, and his instinct told him there was something wrong, was nagging at her.
‘Thank you.’ His green eyes flashed with warmth, and he turned to Nadine. ‘Sweetie, this is Dr Nell. She’s my friend.’
He stepped back but Nell could feel his eyes on her as she carefully moved the sheet that covered Nadine’s chest further down. Everything seemed fine. The dressings were clean and there was no blockage that Nell could see in the surgical drain. When she gently touched Nadine’s skin, it was cool.
All the same, she took the thermometer from the cabinet by the bed, inserting it carefully into Nadine’s ear. The little girl was watching her solemnly. Nell looked at both her hands, and even her feet, for some sign that something might be wrong.
‘I don’t know, Hugo. I can’t find anything.’
‘Okay. We should try Claude.’ He nodded towards a teddy bear propped up at the side of the bed.
Nell picked up the teddy bear. ‘Hey, Nadine. Is Claude all right?’ She spoke slowly, in French.
Nadine shook her head.