Under a Siena Sun (Escape to Tuscany #1) - T.A. Williams Page 0,85

free hour of theatre time today and a bed for two or three nights at the clinic? I’d be happy to do the operation and I’ll also pay for her stay there. I’m sure I could persuade an anaesthetist and a nurse to help out.’ He didn’t respond immediately, so she hurried on. ‘The thing is, she’s the girlfriend of one of our staff members. I don’t suppose…’

There was the briefest of pauses before he replied. ‘After what you did for Mr Lorenzo, we owe you, and Ahmed’s always been a dedicated member of staff. Fine. Bring her here.’ She exhaled in relief.

‘Thank you so much, Professore.’

‘That’s okay and, Doctor Young, there’s no need for you to pay.’ There was a gentle note to his voice. ‘Tell Ahmed we’re glad to help.’

‘Thank you so very much.’ Lucy reflected that he really was a good man.

Together with Ahmed, she helped Rahel down the stairs and they laid her in a foetal position on the back seat of the little car which, fortunately, still had its wheels. Back at the clinic she found that Professor Gualtieri had already put things in motion and they were able to wheel Rahel straight down to the operating theatre. The operation was very straightforward and a complete success and at the end Lucy went out to give the waiting Ahmed the good news. He was grateful, but she made it clear where thanks were due.

‘All I did was a routine operation. It was Professor Gualtieri who authorised everything and who’s paying for it.’ She gave him a hug as she saw tears of joy running down his cheeks. ‘You and I have a good boss, Ahmed. We’re lucky to work here.’ She realised she meant it.

It was midday by the time she got home and she went straight to bed, setting the alarm for seven o’clock so she would be able to take a shower and eat something before hurrying back to work. In spite of feeling tired after so long on her feet, she also felt elated. After months here in Siena looking after the privileged few, it had felt good to do something for the less fortunate. Importantly, it underlined what a fine man Professor Gualtieri was. Whatever reservations she might have been having about private medicine, she knew she was proud to work for a man like him.

She was woken just after six o’clock that evening by her phone. As she reached lazily for it, she was delighted to see it was a call from David in the States. Her tiredness disappeared in a flash and she sat upright.

‘David, hi. It’s so good to hear from you.’ And it was. ‘How was your journey and how’s everything?’

‘It’s great to hear your voice too, Lucy.’ He went on to tell her that he had had his first meeting with his ‘legal people’ and he hoped everything was going to be concluded by the end of the week. Apparently most of the groundwork had already been done by his wife’s lawyers in the hope of a speedy conclusion. As the end of the week was little more than two days’ away, Lucy crossed her fingers that he was right.

‘And are you going to be meeting up with your wife?’

‘Friday afternoon, I believe. We both need to sign some papers.’

Lucy found herself yet again wondering what reaction his wife might have when she saw him. Might she find she still loved him and want to get back together with him? If so, Lucy wondered where that would leave her. Still, she told herself, there was nothing she could do about it, so she just had to hope for the best, although it was an uncomfortable feeling.

They chatted for almost half an hour before, reluctantly, she told him she had to get ready for work. Before ringing off, he came up with an invitation.

‘My sponsors – who, I’m pleased to say, are sticking with me – have invited me to a Palio party next Wednesday. I wonder if you’d like to come. We can watch the race from above the crowds.’

‘That sounds great, but it’s not the party organised by the local newspaper, is it? I’ve already turned down an invitation to that as I really don’t want to bump into Tommy… you know, the guy who ratted you out.’

He assured her it was a totally different party and she said yes, willingly. In fact, she didn’t really mind where she was going to be as long