Read Online The Rebel and the Baby Doctor by Joanna Neil - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Joanna Neil
Ads: Link
far,’ he announced when they had been travelling for around three quarters of an hour.
Phoebe nodded and relaxed a little, glancing out of the window at the rolling countryside. They were crossing Exmoor and the moorland heather spread out like a rich blanket of purple, lilac and yellow. In the distance she could see the rugged coastline where the blue waters of the Bristol Channel lapped at the shore.
‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’ Connor murmured, following her gaze.
‘Yes.’ Her mouth softened. ‘I’ve always loved the scenery around this part of the coast, especially the boatsin the harbours. The seashore always has a soothing effect on me and helps to make me feel tranquil.’
‘The countryside around here has a lot going for it as well, don’t you think?’ He pointed out the line of the river, burbling its way through the hills and valleys towards the sea. ‘I used to love going for walks along the banks of the river near my home. I’d go with my friends along to the packhorse bridge and we’d hang out amongst the trees and generally waste hours in the summertime, messing about.’
‘I remember,’ she said. ‘There was a special place that you would go to from time to time, wasn’t there? It wasn’t too far from the headland, a mile or so from the woodland near your house. There were gnarled old trees, I recall, in a small copse, where the river meandered and you could walk out onto a small wooden landing stage.’
‘How did you know about that?’ he asked, looking at her curiously. ‘I thought that was my hideout, known only to me.’
She gave a brief, secretive smile. ‘How did you know about my volunteering at the activity centre?’ she countered. ‘Did Amy tell you? I know that my sister kept in touch with you after you went to London.’
‘We met up from time to time when she brought Emily to the hospital where I was working.’ His mouth made a wry shape. ‘I think she felt sorry for me, being the village miscreant, and she might have had the idea that I’d been sorely misjudged.’
‘Misjudged…hah.’ She eyed him scornfully. ‘That’s a good one. Still, my sister’s a great one for listeningand sorting out the world’s ills.’ Phoebe’s blue eyes softened. ‘Though I recall she said you had been a great help to her when Emily was so poorly. She said you gave her some good advice.’
‘I hope it was useful. I was actually working in Cardiology back then, when Emily was due to have her first surgery.’
‘Oh, I see. That explains things. It must have been a comfort to her to be able to talk to you.’
‘Possibly.’
Phoebe frowned. ‘So, if you know all about me being at the activity centre, she must have filled you in on what I was up to from time to time?’
‘Occasionally. Though I must admit I found out about your volunteer activities from Mr Kirk.’
‘From Mr Kirk?’ Her brows shot up. ‘I don’t think I follow you. Why on earth would Mr Kirk tell you about that? I’m not even on his team.’
‘No, but he said you were in the department for a short time, on a colleague’s team. He had some dealings with the people who run the centre, apparently, as his patients go to stay there from time to time, and he was quite impressed with what they had to say about how helpful you were. I think he has a good opinion of you in general and he’d been hoping that you would apply to work in Cardiac Care.’
‘Heavens.’ She blinked. ‘I hadn’t realised. That’s useful to know for when I have to decide where to apply for my next training rotation.’ She sent him a puzzled look. ‘But I still don’t see why he would tell you any of that.’
His expression was rueful. ‘It’s probably because Igot up his nose, as you put it the other day. I had to refer a child for cardiac surgery, and I suggested to him that we should be making better use of the operating theatres. As you pointed out, it didn’t go down too well with him. In fact, he seemed
Phoebe nodded and relaxed a little, glancing out of the window at the rolling countryside. They were crossing Exmoor and the moorland heather spread out like a rich blanket of purple, lilac and yellow. In the distance she could see the rugged coastline where the blue waters of the Bristol Channel lapped at the shore.
‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’ Connor murmured, following her gaze.
‘Yes.’ Her mouth softened. ‘I’ve always loved the scenery around this part of the coast, especially the boatsin the harbours. The seashore always has a soothing effect on me and helps to make me feel tranquil.’
‘The countryside around here has a lot going for it as well, don’t you think?’ He pointed out the line of the river, burbling its way through the hills and valleys towards the sea. ‘I used to love going for walks along the banks of the river near my home. I’d go with my friends along to the packhorse bridge and we’d hang out amongst the trees and generally waste hours in the summertime, messing about.’
‘I remember,’ she said. ‘There was a special place that you would go to from time to time, wasn’t there? It wasn’t too far from the headland, a mile or so from the woodland near your house. There were gnarled old trees, I recall, in a small copse, where the river meandered and you could walk out onto a small wooden landing stage.’
‘How did you know about that?’ he asked, looking at her curiously. ‘I thought that was my hideout, known only to me.’
She gave a brief, secretive smile. ‘How did you know about my volunteering at the activity centre?’ she countered. ‘Did Amy tell you? I know that my sister kept in touch with you after you went to London.’
‘We met up from time to time when she brought Emily to the hospital where I was working.’ His mouth made a wry shape. ‘I think she felt sorry for me, being the village miscreant, and she might have had the idea that I’d been sorely misjudged.’
‘Misjudged…hah.’ She eyed him scornfully. ‘That’s a good one. Still, my sister’s a great one for listeningand sorting out the world’s ills.’ Phoebe’s blue eyes softened. ‘Though I recall she said you had been a great help to her when Emily was so poorly. She said you gave her some good advice.’
‘I hope it was useful. I was actually working in Cardiology back then, when Emily was due to have her first surgery.’
‘Oh, I see. That explains things. It must have been a comfort to her to be able to talk to you.’
‘Possibly.’
Phoebe frowned. ‘So, if you know all about me being at the activity centre, she must have filled you in on what I was up to from time to time?’
‘Occasionally. Though I must admit I found out about your volunteer activities from Mr Kirk.’
‘From Mr Kirk?’ Her brows shot up. ‘I don’t think I follow you. Why on earth would Mr Kirk tell you about that? I’m not even on his team.’
‘No, but he said you were in the department for a short time, on a colleague’s team. He had some dealings with the people who run the centre, apparently, as his patients go to stay there from time to time, and he was quite impressed with what they had to say about how helpful you were. I think he has a good opinion of you in general and he’d been hoping that you would apply to work in Cardiac Care.’
‘Heavens.’ She blinked. ‘I hadn’t realised. That’s useful to know for when I have to decide where to apply for my next training rotation.’ She sent him a puzzled look. ‘But I still don’t see why he would tell you any of that.’
His expression was rueful. ‘It’s probably because Igot up his nose, as you put it the other day. I had to refer a child for cardiac surgery, and I suggested to him that we should be making better use of the operating theatres. As you pointed out, it didn’t go down too well with him. In fact, he seemed
Similar Books
