Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine (reading an ebook TXT) 📕

Sam did not move, then almost reluctantly he squatted down beside Tim and felt below his ear for his pulse. Judy held her breath. She felt very sick.

"He's okay, " Sam said at last. His voice was calm again. "But you'd better call an ambulance in case. " He stood up. "I'm sorry. I lost my temper. "

Judy backed away from him. "You lousy shit!" Her eyes were blazing. "Get out of here, Sam! Get out, or I swear I'll see you go to prison for the rest of your life. You should be in a straitjacket!"

She ran to the bed and grabbed the phone, then with a sob she flung it down. "I'll have to go and call from the apartment downstairs. Shall I put a pillow under his head?"

"No, don't touch him. " Sam was still standing looking down at Tim's inert body. After a moment he pulled a blanket off the bed and tucked it around him, then he looked at Judy. "You'd better phone quickly, " he said.

Music echoed out of the open windows in Berkeley Street as the party warmed up. Jane was sitting on Jim Greerson's lap when the phone rang and for a while neither bothered about it. Then finally Jane leaned forward and picked up the receiver.

"Nick?" she called. "Anyone here seen the boss man? There's a guy here on the end of the line says it's an emergency. "

Nick materialized at last, a glass of champagne in his hand. He was grinning. "A phone call at this hour? It's probably a complaint. " He pulled himself onto the desk. "Hello?"

On the other end of the line the voice of Judy's downstairs neighbor launched into an excited and apologetic monologue. For a moment Nick listened, puzzled, then abruptly he stood up. "An accident, you said? Who's hurt?"

"I don't know, " the unknown voice at the other end was out of breath. "A very nice gentleman, very tall. He hit his head. Miss Curzon went with him. They took him to St. Stephen's.... "

Judy was sitting alone in the dimly lit hospital waiting area. Her eyes were red with crying.

"What happened?" Nick put his arms around her and held her close.

She shook her head and sniffed. "They think he's cracked his skull. They've taken him up to the operating room. "

"Who?" He pushed her away from him so he could see her face. "Who is hurt, Judy?"

"Tim. It's Tim Heacham!"

"Tim?" Nick stood quite still for a moment. "But for God's sake, what happened?"

"He came over to take some photos of my paintings and your brother arrived. He threatened Tim, and... " She began to sob again.

"Sam hit him?" Nick sat down abruptly next to her.

"No. " She sniffed hard and groped in the pocket of her jeans for a soggy tissue. "No, he tried to and Tim dodged. He slipped on my stupid rug. Oh, Nick! Supposing he dies!"

"What were they fighting about?"

"Sam called him de Clare. I think they were fighting about Jo. He talked about his daughter. "

Nick's lips tightened imperceptibly. "My brother really is insane, " he said at last. He rested his elbows on his knees and put his head in his hands. "God, what a mess! Where is he? Did he come to the hospital?"

She shook her head. "I don't know where he went. "

They both looked up as a young fair-haired woman in a white coat appeared. She carried a clipboard.

She sat down beside them with a tired smile. "I understand you came in with Mr. Heacham?"

Judy nodded. "How is he?"

The young woman shrugged. "He's still in the operating room. We'll know more later. I wondered if you could give me details of his next of kin?"

Judy clutched at Nick's hand. "He's dying?"

"No, no. It's normal procedure. We have to try to contact his family. "

They looked at each other. "I know nothing about his family, " Nick said slowly. "I'm sorry. We're just friends of his. "

"I see. " She slipped her pen back into the pocket of her coat. "You don't know his wife?"

"He has no wife, " Judy said softly.

The young woman frowned. "He was conscious for a few minutes upstairs before he went into surgery. He was talking about his daughter. Matilda, was it? Perhaps if we could find her?"

Nick stood up. His face was very tense. "He has no daughter either, " he said.

As the woman disappeared through the swinging doors Nick turned on Judy. "Aren't you going to rush to the phone and call Leveson? I should imagine this will make a juicy headline!"

Judy colored. "Of course I'm not. " She sat slumped in her chair. "How long do you think the operation will take?"

Nick shrugged. "I suppose I should call Bet Gunning. She knows Tim best. She must know where his family is. " He glanced at his watch.

"Jo might know, " Judy said softly. "I wonder if Sam's gone back there? He said he had come from her apartment. Nick?"

Nick had stood up. His face was white. "Are you sure?" Already he was striding toward the door. "You stay here, Judy. " It was all he said, then he was gone.

Judy subsided onto the chair and began to sob again. It was midnight.

"Jo? Jo, can you hear me?" Nick crouched beside her and took her hand in his. It was ice-cold. She was staring unblinkingly at the blank TV screen. Automatically Nick reached to switch it off, then he passed his hand up and down in front of Jo's eyes. Her eyelids did not move. He felt cautiously for her pulse. It was there, very slow and unsteady.

"Jo? Jo, love, listen to me! You must listen. Please. " He chafed her hands vigorously in turn. "Jo, I need you. For God's sake, my love. " He took a deep breath. "Jo, I am going to count backward from ten. When I reach one, you will awaken, do you hear me?" His voice was shaking badly. Gently