Anne Fraser - The Playboy of Harley Street

‘Fabio.’ Amelia walked towards them, hand held outstretched. She seemed pleased, even relieved to see him. He bent to let her kiss him on both cheeks. ‘How lovely to see you again,’ Amelia said. ‘We can’t thank you enough for coming.’

Amelia looked elegantly cool in a vanilla-white trouser suit with just the merest pink lace of her camisole peeking out. She was made up but no amount of make-up could hide the fear and sadness in her eyes. She turned to Katie and held out her hand. ‘Miss Simpson, I can’t tell you how delighted I am that you could come too. Lucy has been dy …’ she bit her lip ‘… longing to see her daddy race, but we couldn’t bring her. Until now. I’m told that you are an expert in the field of physio for CF.’

‘I’m happy to be here too, Mrs Hargreaves. I gave Lucy her physio on the plane. Didn’t I, Luce?’

‘Please, do call me Amelia.’ She knelt beside her daughter. ‘Did you sleep on the plane, sweet pea?’

‘Yes. A little.’

‘Hey, Fabio!’ Mark called out. ‘Great to see you again.’

Katie watched as the two men greeted each other warmly, hugging and slapping each other on the back. Fabio clearly had a stronger relationship with the family than most doctors did with patients and their families.

After introductions all round, Mark gathered Lucy up into his arms again. ‘Sorry I have to leave you straight away, sweetie, but there’s a team meeting I have to attend.’ Giving his wife a lingering kiss, Mark sketched a wave and jumped into a low-slung sports car, then roared away.

‘I’ll take you to the yacht,’ Amelia said. ‘The firm my husband races for has given us sole use of it for however long we need, whenever we need it. There’s plenty of room. I hope you’ll be comfortable.’

They all piled into the back of a stretch limo. The limo was another first for Katie and she sank back in the leather seat.

As Lucy chatted away to her mother, Katie stared out of the darkened rear windows of the car. She had heard about Monaco. With its international reputation for being the playground of the rich and famous, who hadn’t?

It was like being on a film set. Sleek sports cars purred around. She didn’t know the names of most of them, but they could have come straight out of a James Bond movie. Most of them were open to the sunshine and were driven by men and women who looked as if they’d just stepped out of the pages of a glossy magazine or starred in that same movie.

Fabio found himself tuning out from Lucy’s excited chatter, watching Katie instead. Every now and again, her eyes would light up and then just as quickly she would bite her lip and look anxious. It was extraordinary—and curiously refreshing—to see every reaction reflected in her face. Most women he knew thought it gauche to show emotion, especially to reveal that they were anything but bored by their surroundings. Katie Simpson intrigued him.

Not that she was his cup of tea. She was prim and serious in her buttoned-up suit, and there was that disconcerting shadow in her eyes. He liked his women sophisticated and, well, to put it frankly, not too deep.

And there were definitely deep layers to Katie Simpson. He had yet to meet someone who didn’t enjoy talking about themselves but it was obvious that she was the exception to the rule. There were times on the plane when he could have sworn she was hiding something. Back there on the tarmac, he’d seen sadness wash over her face as she’d witnessed the Hargreaves’ reunion. Was she recovering from a broken heart? A jilted lover, perhaps? It was a possibility. So that sealed it. Even if she had been his type, he would never have an affair with a vulnerable woman who was on the rebound. That was a complication he could do without. And he didn’t do complicated.

Despite the evidence of wealth everywhere, nothing could have prepared Katie for the actual size of the yacht.

Moored alongside several others, it wasn’t the biggest in the bay, but it was still larger than anything Katie had ever seen. More like a small cruise ship than a pleasure boat.

‘I’ll show you to your cabins,’ Amelia said as she led them up the gangway. ‘Then, if you think Lucy’s up to it, I promised I’d take her to the track. Mark is due to start a practice session in an hour.’ Her anxious eyes found Fabio’s. ‘If you think it would be okay for Lucy to be there? You will come too, won’t you?’

Fabio touched her on the shoulder. ‘Lucy’s doing really well at the moment and of course we’ll come to the track. That’s what we’re here for.’

‘You’re such a worry-wart, Mummy,’ Lucy said. ‘I keep telling you I’m okay. There’s no way I’m not going to watch Daddy.’ The little girl’s mouth was set in a firm line. This was the determined side to Lucy Dr Cavendish had told her about. Determination was good.

‘I guess all mothers and fathers worry about their children,’ Amelia said lightly. ‘Even when they’re all grown up. It’s part of loving someone very much.’

It was true, Katie thought, her heart twisting. Unfortunately all the worrying in the world didn’t stop bad things from happening.

Amelia hooked her arm through Fabio’s, leaving Katie to follow in their wake. To her surprise she felt a small hand slip into hers. She looked down to find Lucy looking up at her.

‘Don’t be sad,’ she said. ‘I’ll look after you.’

Katie squeezed Lucy’s hand. No doubt the little girl was used to seeing the hurt in adults’ eyes. Katie gave herself a mental shake and forced a smile. For as long as she was there, she would make certain Lucy had one less adult to worry about.

‘Sure,’ Katie replied. She dropped her voice and bent to whisper in the little girl’s ear. ‘This is a bit bigger than the boat I was on as a little girl, you know.’

Lucy giggled. ‘It’s not that big, silly.’ She pulled on Katie’s arm. ‘Come and see.’

It was that big. There was a hot tub surrounded by padded seating and a raised deck for sunbathing. To the stern was a covered area where, Lucy explained, they had breakfast. A number of white-uniformed staff drifted around with trays of cool drinks and Katie helped herself to a glass of chilled freshly squeezed orange juice. It was the perfect cure for her tight, aching throat.

After showing her the top deck, Lucy led her down some steps.

The inside was even more spectacular. An enormous lounge with what looked like a working fireplace was furnished with soft white leather couches and antique pieces, including a polished rosewood table that held a silver decanter and crystal goblets. The dining room was equally impressive. A chandelier hung over a French-polished dining table with matching chairs. It was big enough to seat sixteen. Katie hardly had time to take it all in as Lucy kept pulling her along until they came to a door. Lucy opened it with a flourish.

‘This is your cabin. Dr Fabio’s is right next door. And mine is across the passage, next to Mummy and Daddy’s.’

Cabin wasn’t the word Katie would have used to describe the room. There was a double bed, a sitting area with a television and a marble bathroom with a full bath and shower. Katie, with Lucy still watching her reaction, stepped out onto a small balcony. The marina was crammed full of yachts, most of which had people on the decks either sunbathing or sipping drinks while they chatted. Katie couldn’t be sure, but she thought she recognised at least one famous actor.

‘Wow!’ she said to Lucy. She couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Suddenly the little girl seemed exhausted and she sank back on Katie’s bed. Katie was instantly alarmed. The long journey plus the excitement had taken it out of the child.

‘Tell you what,’ she said. ‘While I unpack, why don’t you have a nap on my bed before it’s time to go to the race track? Then, if you don’t feel better, I’ll ask Dr Lineham to come and have a listen to your chest.’