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

Sam had seated himself near her on the arm of another chair. "I am a doctor, Jo, " he said softly. "You're producing a bit of milk, right?"

She nodded, blushing. He smiled. He got up to kneel before her. "May I see?" Softly he pulled her robe open and looked at her breasts. He touched one lightly. Then he closed the robe again. He smiled. "It's nothing to worry about, Jo. Spontaneous lactation is unusual but not unheard of. It'll be a bit uncomfortable for a day or two but it will ease off. Stick some tissues in your bra. " He crossed over to the table and picked up the whisky bottle. "I'll get some glasses, shall I?"

She followed him into the kitchen, pulling the knot of her belt tighter. "But how is it possible?" she asked huskily. "Is this another of your physiological reactions, like my hands?" She took the glass from him and sipped the neat whisky.

"I suppose so, in a way. You obviously went through all the emotional trauma of childbirth yesterday and in some women that would be enough to stimulate the glands. The breast is far more of a machine than people realize. It doesn't necessarily always need a pregnancy and a birth to start it working. Adoptive mothers have been known to produce milk for their babies, you know. Anyway, you mustn't worry about it. It's perfectly natural. Just leave things well alone and it will calm down on its own in a day or two. " He leaned forward and tipped some more whisky into her glass. His hand was shaking slightly.

"Our dog had a phantom pregnancy once, when I was a child. Is that what I've had?" She managed a grin.

He laughed. "Something like that. But I don't expect you to produce any puppies. "

"You are sure Nick wasn't there?" Her smile had vanished already as she turned away from him. "You checked in his room?" She paced up the small kitchen and then back, her arms wrapped around herself to stop herself shaking, the glass still clutched in one hand. "I still love him, Sam. That's the stupid thing. I love the bastard. " She stopped in front of the sink, staring at the pink geranium in its pot on the draining board. Absently she leaned forward to pick off a dead leaf and so she did not see Sam's face. The cords in his neck stood out violently as he stared at Jo's back.

With a little laugh she went on without turning. "You won't tell him I said that, will you?"

"No, Jo. " Shaking his head, he recovered himself with an effort. "I won't tell him. That I promise you. "

Sam was whistling softly to himself as he nodded to the janitor at Lynwood House, where Nick had his apartment, and let himself into the elevator. It was still not quite eight o'clock. He pushed open the apartment door and stood for a moment, listening.

"You've been out early. " Nick appeared at the bathroom door, razor in hand. "Pour out some juice will you? I'll be there in a minute. "

Sam smiled. "Whatever you say, little brother. I trust you slept well?" He pulled Nick's jacket off and hung it up.

Nick was looking at his watch. "I'm going to give Jo a ring to see if she is okay. I half expected her to phone last night, the state she was in—"

"No!" Sam said sharply. He withdrew the copy of the Daily Telegraph he had under his arm and held it up to scan the headlines. "Leave her in peace, Nicholas, for God's sake. If everything you told me last night about her session with Bennet is true the last thing she will want is to be wakened at this hour of the morning by the telephone. "

Nick had turned back to the bathroom. He unplugged the razor. "I suppose you're right.... "

"I know I'm right. " Sam raised his eyes for a moment from the paper to give his brother a penetrating look. "I suggest you go down to see our mother this morning as arranged and let Jo alone for a couple of days. In fact, leave her alone until you get back from your wanderings across Europe. She does know you are going away?"

Nick shrugged. He was buttoning his shirt. "Scotland I can't cancel, but the trip to France I could postpone. "

"Don't. " Sam walked into the kitchen and rummaged on the shelf for the jar of coffee. "It isn't worth it. Jo has made it clear enough it is over between you. Don't let a temporary wave of sentiment because you saw her unhappy and emotional undo all the good you achieved by walking out on her. You'll just make the poor girl more neurotic than she already is. "

"Why did she ask me to go with her yesterday then, if she doesn't want to see me anymore?" Nick followed him into the kitchen, tucking his shirt into the waistband of his trousers.

"Did she, though?" Sam glanced at him.

He fished a loaf out of the bin and began to cut meticulously thin slices, which he tossed into the toaster. "Have you any marmalade? I haven't been able to find it. "

Nick sat down at the kitchen table. He reached for the paper and stared at it unseeing. "She shouldn't be alone, though, Sam, " he said at last.

"She won't be, " Sam replied. "I'll call her later. Remember, I am a doctor as well as a friend. I'll give her a quick check over, if necessary, and make sure she's in good spirits and while I'm at it read her the riot act about ignoring our warnings. "

"And you'll phone me if she wants me?"

"She won't want you, Nicholas. " Sam looked at him solicitously. "Get that into your thick head before you are really hurt. "

Judy stared morosely beyond the reflection of the dimly lit bar, through the indigo windows, at