The Aquarian Orchid

By Julia Parker

A romance set in England, Egypt and Australia: the break-up of a marriage and the death of a child sets in motion events which plumb the erotic depths of the heroine's personality.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Julia Parker
• Release date: May 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301891016

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The Aquarian Orchid

by Julia Parker

Copyright 2013 Julia Parker

Smashwords edition

THE AQUARIAN ORCHID

Julia Parker

Prologue

'Sit still, Tansy, otherwise I'll never do it up properly.'

Coral was nervously adjusting the straps on the child's car seat.

'Mummy, why is your face all wet?'

'Oh, darling, it's hot - stop fidgeting!'

'But Mummy, it was hot yesterday and your face wasn't all wet then.'

'Be a good girl.'

. 'Mummy, you're crying - have you got a pain in your tummy?'

'Not exactly . . . '

'But a pain somewhere else?'

'Perhaps, precious - but look, we must go now.'

With shaking fingers she made three attempts to put the key into the ignition. The elderly Citroen Xantia roared into life. She turned from the car-port into Pembroke Road, then had to wait impatiently at traffic lights at a junction to join Earls Court Road, to turn right and eventually join the M.4 going West.

'Mummy, you're driving too fast - just like Daddy!'

'We're in a hurry, darling - we must get to Bristol to see Aunty Hilary and Uncle Rex as soon as we can.

Coral now on the motorway, glanced at the speedometer. She was doing eighty-five. In an attempt to relax she switched on the car radio.

ONE

Putting a plate of Rice Krispies in front of Tansy, Coral remarked, ‘You haven't asked me how I got on last night. But then, in your present mood I suppose I shouldn't expect you to.

Gregory Redman, obviously bored, crushed the copy of The Times into his lap and stared impatiently across the breakfast table at his wife.

'Okay, well . . . How did it go?'

'If you turn to the arts page you'll find out - that is, if you can drag yourself away from the business section - which is obviously so engrossing.'

Glaring at Coral he reluctantly fumbled with the pages, untidily folding them in half at the relevant paragraph.

CORAL REDMAN’S ‘CUMBRIA’ WINS TRAVEL WRITERS’ AWARD

‘So you won. How much is the prize money?'

'Two grand.'

'Well, I suppose that'll go towards your hairdo’s and all those designer clothes you now buy for Tansy as well as yourself. Don't expect me to pick up next month's Harrods’ bill.'

'As you well know, the bill from the children’s' department was for her school uniform. Aren't you going to congratulate me? Simon did, and so did . . . '

'Yes, I know - all those sycophantic writers who didn't win. They'll be saying quite different things behind your back any minute. And all that time you spent up in Cumbria, supposedly doing research with dear Simon. God, Coral, he’s your publisher, not your co-author - there was no need for him to be there, anyway. What the hell did you get up to while Mrs Dodds and Karen looked after Tansy? Innocent, you two? Like shit you are.'

'We've had all this out time and time again . . . You know full well . . . '

'Do I? Well to hell with it, I'm off. Mike's parked round the corner as usual. By the way, I'm changing the BMW for the latest Merc - the company can afford it, and now you can easily afford to continue to run the Citroen!'

'If the company can afford a new Merc, and you are the company - as you're only too keen to tell everyone - then you can afford to pay the next batch of store bills and I can do precisely what I like with my prize money, and my royalties.'

'Don't you anyway?’

'Oh, go to hell!'

'No. Not yet. Goodbye.'

He stormed out of the kitchen and Tansy, who had been very quiet throughout the uncomfortable scene, jumped as her father slammed the front door. She started to cry. Coral got up and hugged the child.’

'It's alright, darling, Daddy loves us very much.’

'But Mummy, he didn't kiss me goodbye, and he always does.'

'I think Daddy was in a hurry - he has a very busy day. Don't worry, come here - I'll give you two extra big kisses to make up.'

Coral, in her middle thirties, had been married to Greg for almost ten years. A beautiful woman who looked considerably younger than her years, she was above average height and slim. She could afford to dress in designer labels, and looked equally elegant in casual clothes. Her angular features gave her a vaguely haughty appearance, which contrasted vividly with her cornflower blue eyes. Her short, copper-coloured hair added a dramatic touch to her overall image, and heads still turned when she passed by - as much as they had done when she was younger. At school and university she had been considered aloof, but that was far from the truth, as those who became her friends very soon realised. She was extremely kind, always seeing where help was needed and giving her time, sometimes too freely, to those in need.

In the early stages of their relationship, although the attraction was mutual, her feelings for Greg had always seemed rather stronger than his for her. He had strikingly good looks. His dark brown, wavy hair always looked as if he'd just come out of the shower and he’d hardly bothered to dry it. In spite of too many expensive business lunches, dinners and breakfasts his muscular torso had lost none of its youthful firmness. He took great pride in his body and made obsession ally regular visits to his exclusive men’s gym to counter the unhealthy effects of rich food.

He had no brothers or sisters, and his mother, divorced when Greg was two years old, had been a very strong personality, showering him with love but at the same time subtly forming him into what she wanted him to become. He had inherited her estate - which wasn't much, apart from the elegant early Victorian terrace house in the middle of London's fashionable W.8 district. He and Coral had redecorated it and moved in from their Barratt’s New Homes suburbia estate in Essex.

By agreement they had decided to put off having children for a few years, until his embryo company involving the new media technology was established. It had grown steadily, and Tansy had been born just after Coral was thirty; by which time her career as a magazine columnist had stabilised. Their life-style had been possible mainly because of Mrs Rosie Dodds, their faithful, middle aged, sympathetic, somewhat rotund but very efficient daily, and a series of reliable, or not so reliable Scandinavian au pairs, which had made bringing up her little girl and continuing her journalistic commitments possible. In her magazine columns she had always supported causes and shown up injustices, but because she had the opportunity to travel with Greg, she had gradually changed direction, and her travel articles began to be popular with her editors. This eventually resulted in her being commissioned to write her prize-winning first book.

Success had come gradually to the couple over the last decade, but as their respective reputations grew, their relationship deteriorated. They had become distant, partly due to increasingly poor communication between them. When Coral tried to start a discussion there was always something Greg had to do - or if he decided the time was right then it was all too easy for her to allow herself to be distracted, because of some deadline she had to meet.

During the last three years scenes like the one she and Tansy had just experienced had become almost daily occurrences. At first, this puzzled Coral, but eventually she realised that the deterioration had seriously set in from about the time that Greg's mother had died. Was his grieving the cause? When she tried to question him about it he would shut up, or say she didn’t - couldn’t possibly - understand.

'Now dear, we'll go off to Sainsbury's, and you can choose what you'd like for supper.'

'Ice cream and strawberries, please Mummy!'

'Ice cream and strawberries it'll be! Then Mummy has to go to the agent to see about our getting another au pair to help us.'

'Like Karen used to? I liked Karen - she was nice.'

'Yes, darling, she was nice.’

Coral stacked the breakfast things in the dishwasher. She took Tansy by the hand, and they went out to her car, parked on the car-port in front of the house.

It only took mother and daughter about three quarters of an hour to get to the supermarket, park, shop and make the short journey back along the Cromwell Road.

The little girl helped her carry the load of food into the house and to the kitchen, and then went upstairs to play with her dolls’ house. The child was advanced for her years - she had an excellent vocabulary, and attended a weekly ballet class - it was apparent that she had talent in that direction. Her mother was keen for her to read, and she knew that would be no difficulty. Tansy couldn't wait to start school and had several times tried on all her new school uniform.

Thoughts of her little girl had been going through her mind, but now she began to go over the morning’s scene with Greg - there had been all too many such scenes over the past months. She tried to banish them by remembering the reception of the night before, the smiling faces, the applause. Her publishers had been confident that the award would increase sales of the winning book - and her agent, Maureen Goulding, was sure that the there would be a contract for a second, and with a considerably larger advance. The money would be nice, she thought; but the prospect of being able, maybe, to make a decent income from what she thought of as real writing - apart from her journalism - was a major pleasure.

But Tansy . . . If another book involved her being away from home again, how would her little girl react? When she had been in Cumbria all had been well. Tansy loved Mrs Dodds and Karen, and they loved her. Would a successor to Karen be as popular? Coral knew she could never take Tansy with her, no matter where she had to go. There would be a lot to do. Besides, she had to admit to herself that she had experienced a great sense of freedom and sexual fulfilment with Simon during those busy, heady days . . . If they occurred again could leave Tansy with a free heart? Putting the hypothetical problem on one side she told herself that the situation might never happen. Her thoughts reverted again to the previous evening. How much more enjoyable it would have been if Greg had been with her instead of at a meeting with some foreign buyers. Though she increasingly saw him with a dark face and a scowl that puckered his broad forehead, the smiling face of the Greg she had first known still, on the rare occasions when he showed it, delighted her, and to have seen him applauding with the rest of the audience would have pleased her as much as the prize itself. As it was, when he came home late, some time after she had gone to bed, he had not even asked how the evening had been. She had pretended tiredness, and had not enquired whether he had clinched the deal that he said was so important to him.

There was a muffled noise from upstairs. Tansy had switched on the television in her bedroom. Sighing, Coral left the kitchen where she had been stacking the food in the refrigerator and cupboard, and as she went through to the hall to see what the little girl was watching her eye caught a slip of paper on the table. She’d not noticed it earlier, mystified, she picked it up.

I’m taking a break. We both need to think where this family is going and I need space. I’m paying three thousand pounds a month into your account. Greg.

She took it into the sitting room and sat, looking at it with disbelief rapidly turning to anger. What did it actually mean? ‘Where this family is going’ indeed - as if Tansy had contributed to whatever was bugging him. And where had he gone? And - she crumpled the note - who with?’

She got up, went over to the sideboard, took out the whisky bottle and poured herself a shot. The liquor burned her throat. She wiped the back of her hand furiously over her eyes. The whisky had made them smart. Or were they tears of anger? Certainly not tears of remorse or sorrow. The utter shit! What the hell was he up to?

She sat down again, smoothed out the note and stared at the quickly scrawled ball point words.

What he didn’t need, she was sure, was to think about ‘where they were going’. If he was capable of a note like this, they were clearly going nowhere. So what was going on? Another woman? She knew he was attractive to women - and he to them. He had always had a roving eye, though she had never actually caught him out in infidelity. Their sex-life had certainly not been brilliant, and for the last three years he had wanted her less and less frequently. When they did make love there seemed to be little of the pleasure he had taken in the first years of their marriage.

But she had seen no sign that he was particularly attracted to another woman. There was no-one at his office, and even Karen, the lovely lithe twenty-year-old Scandinavian . . . Yes, he had been friendly towards her, but Coral would have noticed if . . . Could it have been her? She had certainly had an eye for him, but Coral had disregarded it, believing that Greg was uninterested. But maybe . . .

‘The bitch’, she said aloud. ‘The bloody bitch’, as she realised that Karen had left them two weeks previously, supposedly to go back home. It was obvious she had been waiting somewhere for Greg . . . She leant forward and ran her hands through her short chestnut hair, almost tearing it.

‘The bitch!’ she repeated irrationally.

‘Mummy, who’s a bitch?’

Tansy was standing in the corner, Pooh Bear hanging by one arm from her hand. Coral felt the tears start, and stayed with her head in her hands.

‘Mummy, are you cross with me? Have I been naughty?’

‘No darling, of course you haven’t.’

Coral sat up and held out her arms. She clasped the little warm body to her, hiding the child’s face so that she could not see the tears streaming down her face - or the way her expression was twisted with anger at the very fact that she was weeping.

After a while, she wiped her face with one hand, and then lifted the child and smiled shakily at her.

‘Darling, Daddy’s had to go away for a little while. Shall we? Just for now, you go up and find your Pooh Bear book and show it to Pooh and his other friends, and soon I’ll have a nice surprise for you’.

Tansy smiled, and trailing Pooh went back upstairs.

Coral grabbed her mobile and dialled her sister’s number.

They were still within range of Capital Radio.

'And now here's the beautiful, gorgeous, sexy Bobbi! Say, guys, what would you give to spend the night with her? . . . Whaow! You should see these pix!. But here’s a number from her latest album release, Truthfully, forever.’

The pop singer's voice was soon filling the car.

Coral tried to listen. The song seemed one long wail. Dear God, if only I'd had some truth. It's been lies - all lies . . . Well, I hope she enjoys him more than I have recently - the bastard.'

Coral hurriedly changed the station . . . Classic F.M. Mozart. Now Your Days of Philandering are Over. It seemed that they had just begun for her cheating husband. The traffic eased slightly as they left the Heathrow slip road behind them. Looking in the driving mirror she was surprised to see that Tansy was asleep. She was cruising along in the middle lane at seventy and doing her best to keep her mind on the road, with half an ear on some soothing Chopin piano music, when Tansy stirred and said

'Mummy, I feel hot.'

'Well, dear, we'll stop at the next service station and have some cold drinks - it is very hot'.

She opened the back windows.

'Is that better?'

'Yes Mummy - a bit.'

'Look, darling, at all those trees - and there's a lake.'

'Yes, Mummy, I see them.'

Coral left the motorway at the Reading service station, parked the car and helped the sleepy Tansy into the air-conditioned building.

'Shall we go to the loo now, or when we've had our drinks?'

'Don't want to pee yet, Mummy.'

'Right, darling - let’s find some fruit juice.'

They found a place near the middle of the busy circular seating area. A large glass dome let in the daylight and welcome wafts of cool, fresh air. An obese grey-haired woman who couldn’t find a seat near her coach-party friends, was already occupying the table and liberally covering her egg and chips with tomato sauce.

'Your little girl looks a bit peaky to me. Travel sick, is she? Don't tell me. I had years of it!'

Tansy, in spite of her malady said, 'No I don't get travel sick - though all my friends do, don't they Mummy?'

"Yes, she's quite right, but it’s so hot today.'

'Well, try to keep her cool, and buy her some barley sugar in the shop - that always worked for my lot.'

The elderly one noisily finished her tea, and banging the cup down called 'Alright, Lil, I'm here - want a piddle?'

She got up and left, joining another plump grey haired female. Together they toddled to the toilets.

'Feeling a bit better, darling?'

‘Yes, Mummy, a bit.’

But Coral could see that Tansy wasn't.

‘Let's go to the ladies, then to the shop for barley sugar sweets. That lady was right. I remember having them the car when I was little.’

They continued their journey, Coral doing her best to control her stress. For about forty miles Tansy was quiet and sleepy, then just as her mother was overtaking a huge lorry she squealed, ‘Mummy, quick! I’m going to be sick.’

Coral, startled, rather too quickly swerved into the inside lane, then onto the hard shoulder, where she slammed on the brakes. Fortunately the other driver’s quick reactions saved what could have been a bad accident. He simply cursed Coral, giving her the two finger gesture as he passed.

‘Sorry, Mummy, sorry! I couldn’t help it!’

‘Of course you couldn’t, dear.’

Tansy’s clothes were in a dreadful state.

Why, why today, of all days? Haven’t I got enough to cope with? She must have picked up my tension - I know she’s pretty sensitive. Poor lamb, she’s really upset.

‘Look ,darling, it’s going to be difficult for me to unpack the case here on the motorway, to get you some clean clothes, so as it’s hot let’s just take off your shirt and jeans, and you can stay in your pants and vest until we get to Aunty Hilary’s’.

She cleaned Tansy up with a damp cloth and some spa water, put the smelly, vomit-soaked garments in a Sainsbury’s carrier, and pushed them into a far corner of the boot. Taking an old beach towel she tucked it in around the little girl who slept for the rest of the journey.

‘So glad to see you. Thanks a million for suggesting we come and stay for a few days. ’

‘Come on in, it’s lovely to have you.’ Hilary noticed her niece still asleep in the car. ‘But Tansy, what’s wrong with her?’

‘Oh yes! Honestly Hili, that was the last straw! You know how she loves the car, but she was sick - soakingly, horribly sick.’

‘Poor little love. I’ll lift her out and carry her in. We’ll pop her up on the bed if she’s still snoozy. I expect she’s just picked up some silly summer chill or a bug. Don’t worry about her. She’ll be alright, and will probably be hungry by the time Rex gets back. He’ll be here by five - early today.’

Coral released the sleeping child from her car seat and handed her to her sister. She took the luggage from the boot and followed Hilary up the few steps to the late Georgian terrace house in Hampton Road, Redland, a pleasant district of the large West Country city.

Tansy woke up and rubbed her eyes, surprised to be in the arms of her Aunt who smiled down at her.

‘Hello, darling. How are you feeling?’

‘Not too bad.’

‘Let Mummy give you a bath, then perhaps you’d like something to eat.’

The child smiled, remembering that her Aunt and Uncle’s bath was very big and very deep.

‘I like your bath, Aunty. Is my toy duck still here?’

‘Yes, he’s waiting for you - I told him you were coming.’

Hilary, turning to Coral, quietly remarked that Tansy looked dreadfully pale.

Coral did her best to reassure the child.

‘But you’ll feel better when you’re really clean again - come to Mummy.’

The little girl wriggled from her Aunt’s arms and staggering slightly, ran over to her mother. They went upstairs.

About twenty minutes later Coral re-appeared without her.

‘She’s still very tired. She said she didn’t want anything to eat so I’ve popped her into bed. You know, I think she’s feeling the heat. She’s been very languid for several days - not really her usual lively self.’

‘She’ll sleep it off. But now, tell me, did you . . . ?’

‘Yes, I won!’

‘Darling Sis! I’m so pleased - but that’s no news to me - I knew you would, so did Rex. Was himself jealous? But surely he must have been proud when he saw you go up and get your prize.’

‘No. Not exactly. He didn’t come with me.’

‘What? Well that was really shitty. He must have been jealous. Was it that that made him decide to clear off on the spur of the moment, do you think?’

‘I just don’t know. And, Hili, we had yet another row this morning. He ranted on about my royalties and the two grand prize money, and told me I’d now financially be on my own - then within the hour, he told me in the note he was putting a load of cash into my current account every month. It’s a complete turn about. I don’t understand. And when he left he said his driver was waiting around the corner.’

‘So he must have waited in the car, and popped back in after he saw you went to Sainsbury’s. Obviously he’s feeling very guilty. Coral, I know this is painful for you, but do you know who he’s gone off with.’

‘Yes, I think so - the little bitch.’ Coral burst into tears - tears of grief, anger, bitterness.

She told her sister what she had assumed.

‘It does seem plausible, I must admit. I think you’ll just have to let him get on with it. Leave him alone for a few days. Well, you can’t do anything else under the circumstances. Meanwhile, stay here with us. You can fix up everything with Mrs Dodds, can’t you?’

‘Yes, I did manage to write her some sort of note before we left - she comes and goes as she likes, thank goodness. A treasure, that woman.’

Rex appeared, his round, plump face somewhat more glowing than usual. He kissed his wife then went straight over to his sister-in-law.

‘Hi Rex, had a good day?’

Taking off his immaculate jacket and loosening his tie emblazoned with the Citroen car logo, he replied, ‘Yes, thanks. But you - poor love . . . I’m bloody sorry Coral, I really am.’

He glanced over at his wife as he spoke, as if to say ‘thank God we’re not like that’. She responded with a quick warm smile that she didn’t want Coral to see. He asked where Tansy was. Hilary explained, then said

‘Come on my two loves - let’s leave Tansy to sleep. Rex, why don’t you open a bottle of wine? Sis must be dying for a drink!’

Hilary was fifteen years older than Coral, and although the sisters had few shared interests their relationship was something special. Hilary was a typical home-maker and had always longed for children but had never succeeded in having any. Being Tansy’s Godmother as well as her Aunt had cemented a close bond with the child, and she was always particularly delighted when Coral brought her to stay. Hilary had never seriously wanted a career. She’d done secretarial work between school and marriage, but that was as far as it went. She had always devoted a lot of her energy to supporting her husband as he built up his business from a small back- street garage to an impressive city centre showroom. A thoroughly dependable woman, she immediately recognised and gave help where and when it was needed - a characteristic she shared with Coral, inherited from their mother.

Physically she had slipped up to a size sixteen, and her hair had rather more grey in it than Coral liked to see, but Hilary didn’t care too much about that - as long as it was well cut and she had a fair number of plain and ‘un-datable’ outfits in her wardrobe, she was satisfied. At functions organised by the car manufactures, she would trot out her little black number, and by cleverly dressing it up in one way or another managed to look, if not really elegant, then not entirely dowdy or too provincial.

Coral sighed as she relaxed into a huge, well cushioned chair.

‘It’s so peaceful here. You’d never know we were near the centre of a big city. We’re really well blest in Kensington, though the traffic never stops outside our windows.’ She paused and sighed, ‘Oh God, that bloody house! It’s always seemed a bit claustrophobic, but it closed right in on me when I read Greg’s note. You know, Hili, mother-in-law may be dead, but she’s never really gone away. I suppose it’s that portrait. Those dark eyes of hers - they glare at me, every time I go into the sitting-room. I don’t think I can stand much more of it.’

‘You may well not have to, dear.’

They had their drinks and an early dinner. During the course of the evening Coral several times went up to look at Tansy who was still sleeping. At eight-thirty when she was out of the room, Rex said ‘You know, I’ve never really trusted him. He’s an odd fish. Though I wish I’d had his looks when we were both younger.’

Hilary smiled - ‘If you had I’d certainly have had more competition! But don’t put yourself down, you’ve never lacked admiring birds - and well, you still raise the odd female eyebrow! Oh, don’t deny it - I see those women customers of yours.’

‘All part of the job, my love. But Greg . . . Suddenly going off like that. Where d’you think he is? Hong Kong? Florida ? No - too many kids and old people there. Coral seems certain he’s with Karen. She’s a little minx, that’s for certain - came on strong to me.’

‘What? Well, don’t tell Coral that! But I’ll go up again and see how she’s getting on’

‘I’m terribly worried, Hi8li – she woke up just now, and said she’d got a terrible headache and a stiff neck.’

Hilary, surprised and shocked at her sister’s sudden reaction, and seeing her looking very anxiously at Tansy, hurriedly asked ‘What’s the matter? What are you thinking? Do you think it’s something really serious’

‘It’s her stiff neck it could be meningitis – that’s a symptom – we must find a Doctor right away’.

Knowing Coral tended to dramatise situations, Hilary attempted to reassure her.

‘Well look let’s not over-react. For all we know she probably got a stiff neck from the draught and the open window in the car, but to be sensible why don’t we send Rex to the chemist to get her some children’s Panadol?’ After all you know how sick children can be one moment then so much better the next.’

Hilary’s down-to-earth common sense attitude did a certain amount to calm Coral, who albeit reluctantly agreed.

Tansy stirred again and started to cry. She had half turned over and was now facing the very low-level bedside lamp. She started to rub her eyes. Between her pitiful cries she said. ‘Aunty, I don’t like that light - it’s hurting my eyes. Please can you switch it off? Quick!’

‘Of course, dear. Uncle’s getting you some panadol for your head-ache. He’ll be back any moment.’

The sisters looked anxiously at each other.

‘Odd - she always likes that pretty light. Oh, God, this is dreadful!’

‘It’s because she’s so unwell. Let’s see if she settles when she’s had the panadols.’

An hour later Tansy was no better. The tablets had had no effect. She was very restless and complaining that her back was also aching. By now Hilary, likeher sister, was extremely concerned. ‘I’m phoning Doctor Harris – she’s such a nice woman.’

‘I’m afraid your little girl will have to go to Bristol Infirmary. Her symptoms, Mrs Redman, as you suspected seem to suggest meningitis. If that’s the case, then she needs immediate treatment. I’ll arrange for an ambulance.’

‘Oh no! Poor lamb. But is hospital really necessary? Can’t we . . . ?’

‘No, Mrs Redman, it’s essential she’s tested in hospital.’

‘We can take her in the car.’

‘No, Mr Stuart, the ambulance will be best.’

Within twenty minutes they heard its siren.

The three adults followed the porter who was wheeling the patient on a trolley.

Rex was nearest to the lift buttons, and asked which floor.

‘Children’s Wards, Sir’.

A nursing sister took charge.

‘Doctor will see you in the relatives’ room. Come this way, please.’

They followed her along the corridor.

They had to wait for what seemed much longer than an hour. The fact that her husband had walked out on her that morning faded into the back of Coral’s mind. It was hard for Hilary not to break down, though she did her best to comfort her sister. Eventually the woman reappeared.

‘Doctor will see you now.’

A middle aged man in white coat with a stethoscope joined them.

‘I’m afraid, as Doctor Harris suspected, your little girl does have meningitis.’

‘But how can that be, Doctor? She’s been immunised, like all her friends,’

‘Unfortunately, Mrs Redman, it very much looks as if your daughter has an uncommon type of bacterial meningitis that immunisation doesn’t prevent. It’s far less common and not infectious.’

‘But will she be alright?’

‘It’s early days. She is very ill, and we’ll have to take one day at a time.’

‘Can I see her now, please?’

‘Yes, of course. We’ve put her in a side room so that she can be quiet and peaceful. We’ve taken blood samples and given her her first dose of antibiotics and some painkillers. Now, what about her father? I assume he isn’t with you at the moment. I advise you to contact him at once.’

The sisters exchanged anxious glances.

The doctor took them to an attractive little room near one of the children’s wards. Tansy was sleeping soundly in a comfortable cot, a small tube attached to her arm.. They watched her for a few moments, then, no less anxious and concerned, left her.

‘Can we come back in the morning, Doctor?’

‘Of course, as early as you like. Try to get some rest, my dear, but first contact your husband.’

Coral thanked him and they made their way to Rex’s car.

Back at the house they fell into a heated discussion.

‘I’ll