hew!' Sally ran up the remainder of the stairs she had been ascending as Olivia came out of Marcus's bedroom. 'Dad's in fine voice today,' she grimaced.

Olivia schooled her features into cool calmness, unwilling to let Sally see just how upset she had been by this last argument with Marcus. 'I didn't see you there,' she smiled. 'And yes, your father is in a fighting mood.'

Sally gave another grimace. 'He didn't like the idea of seeing Mr Fitzgerald, I take it?'

'No.' Olivia searched the younger girl's face, trying to ascertain just how much of the heated conversation she had actually heard. She didn't look too disturbed, so she probably hadn't heard much at all. 'In fact, he's refused to do so.'

'I thought as much,' Sally sighed. 'I couldn't hear what was being said, just the raised voices. I'll talk to him.'

'I shouldn't.' Olivia stopped the other girl with her hand on the door-handle, lowering her voice, remembering that Marcus could hear them through the closed door. 'Not yet anyway,' she soothed at Sally's frown. 'Give him a little time to think it over. Why not go down and ask Miss Podmore for some tea, and then talk to him when you take it in to him?' Perhaps by that time Marcus would have calmed down. Although she doubted it; he had seemed adamant in his decision. But she would leave it to him to tell Sally he had ordered her to leave, he couldn't evade the responsibility for his actions.

'Okay,' Sally agreed eagerly to her suggestion.

During the other girl's absence in the kitchen Olivia telephoned Simon at the hospital and told him exactly what had happened.

'Never mind,' he comforted. 'I'll talk to him myself this evening. I'll make it early, then he can have the rest of the evening to think about it.'

'There's something else.' She chewed worriedly on her bottom lip. 'He's told me to leave, and this time I think he meant it.'

'Hm,' Simon sighed. 'Well, don't do anything about it yet. Stay away from him and give him a chance to calm down.'

'And if he doesn't change his mind?'

'He will. He has to,' Simon added firmly. 'You're the best thing to happen to him. He has to be intelligent enough to realise that.'

Marcus gave no evidence of backing down from his decision, and when the time came for his early evening medication Olivia instructed Sally what to give him. Sally had told her that her father was still determined not to see Jason Fitzgerald, although he was calmer about it now. The last thing he needed was for Olivia to put in an appearance and upset him again!

And so she stayed away from him, his lack of curiosity as to her whereabouts telling her that he had assumed she had already left his house and his employ. She knew that she was being blamed unfairly for something that could, in the end, be Marcus's salvation, but he was in no mood to understand that right now. As far as Marcus was concerned she and Simon had deceived him, and that was unforgivable.

Simon arrived at seven-thirty, very handsome in a dark suit and light blue shirt. Olivia took him through to the lounge, all the time conscious of Sybil Carr's speculative looks as she and Sally had a pre-dinner drink.

'I may as well go straight up and see Marcus,'

Simon said briskly after polite greetings had been made. 'I think I know what's involved.'

'Good luck!' Olivia grimaced.

'I think I'll probably need it,' he nodded ruefully.

'I've had no joy with him at all,' Sally told Olivia once the young surgeon had gone upstairs. 'He refuses to even talk about it. In fact,' she frowned, 'he isn't talking much at all.'

'Because he knows a specialist is unnecessary,' Sybil put in coldly. 'Or a nurse either, for that matter.' Her gaze passed insultingly over Olivia. 'He just needs to be left alone.'

'To do… what?' Olivia challenged. The other woman's manner angered her.

'Why, to get well again, of course,' Sybil derided.

'And just how is he going to do that without professional help?' she snapped.

'Your sort of professional help he doesn't need!'

'Grandmother!' Sally gasped her surprise at the insult.

'If you'll both excuse me I think I'll go and finish getting ready for my dinner date,' Olivia said coldly. 'I wouldn't want to keep Simon waiting,' she taunted the older woman.

The blue eyes hardened questioningly. 'You're going out with Mr Brooks?'

'Yes,' she replied haughtily, 'I am. And I don't want to delay our leaving.' She swept out of the room.

Sybil Carr really was the most bitchily insulting woman she had ever met! Her innuendoes and insults made an already difficult job almost impossible. If it weren't for the fact that Olivia genuinely believed she was doing Marcus some good as his nurse she would leave here tonight and never come back. She might have to do that anyway if Marcus didn't change his mind. Despite what she had told him when she first came here, she couldn't stay against his will.

She was waiting downstairs in the small sitting-room when Simon came back downstairs half an hour later, standing up at his entrance, tall and slender in an emerald-coloured dress that reached just below her knees, her hair a fluffy red-gold cloud about her shoulders.

Simon's eyes darkened appreciatively, the strain he had been under while with Marcus leaving him as he smiled warmly at her. 'You look beautiful,' he told her huskily, bending down to kiss her lightly on the lips.

She was a little taken aback at the intimacy, especially as it had been uninvited. But she returned the light gesture, feeling in need of a little affection herself after being at the brunt of Marcus's caustic tongue this past week.

'Olivia, I—Oh!' Sally came to an abrupt halt in the doorway, a high flush to her cheeks. 'I didn't mean to—to interrupt,' she stumbled over her words in her embarrassment.

'You didn't.' Simon turned, his arm still about Olivia's shoulders. 'We've both had run-ins with your father today, and we were just comforting each other.' He made light of what had, after all, been only a platonic kiss, no passion existing on either side.

Sally grinned mischievously. 'I had one too, so do I merit a kiss?' She raised one dark brow questioningly.

Olivia could sense Simon's indecision, then he shrugged, his arm falling away from her shoulders as he moved to kiss Sally on the lips. 'Okay?' he murmured softly.

'Er—yes.' For a moment Sally looked disconcerted, and then she bounced back with her usual good humour. 'My first grown-up kiss!' she mocked Simon's first hesitation.

He laughed at the taunt. 'You'll get more than you bargained for if you don't behave yourself,' he threatened softly.

She gave him an impudent grin. 'Just say the word…!' She turned to Olivia. 'I wanted to apologise for my grandmother's behaviour. She's been acting very strangely since Daddy's accident,' she frowned.

'She's been under a lot of strain, Sally,' she dismissed with more sincerity than she felt. 'I don't take any notice of her barbs.'

'Well, if you're sure…?'

'I am,' she smiled, not wanting to upset Sally. 'Now go and have your dinner before it gets cold.'

'What was all that about?' Simon asked as he drove them to the restaurant.

'Nothing important,' she shrugged. 'Mrs Carr doesn't particularly like me in the house. But then she wouldn't like any nurse there.' She wasn't sure that was the truth; Sybil Carr's insults were highly personal for the main part. 'She doesn't think Marcus needs one.'

Simon frowned. 'I don't remember Anna having any trouble with her.'

'Then maybe it's just me she doesn't like,' Olivia dismissed lightly. 'I'm not worried about it, so I don't think anyone else should be either.'

'If you say so,' but he didn't sound convinced.

'How did you get on with Marcus?' She decided it would be best to change the subject.

He heaved a deep sigh. 'Not very well. Let's talk about it over dinner, shall we?'

She nodded, seeing that he was as worried about getting Marcus to see Jason Fitzgerald as she was.

'He refused, of course,' Simon told her as they ate their meal in the quietly intimate restaurant, where the atmosphere was conducive to conversation. 'But then I knew he would,' he shrugged.

'You did?'

'Oh yes,' he nodded, 'I think I would too in his place, in fact I'm sure I would. No news is good news as far as he's concerned. But I've given him something to think about,' he added with satisfaction. 'Fitzgerald has fitted this visit to England in between a very tight schedule, a schedule that doesn't leave him free again for six months. If Marcus turns down this opportunity I don't know when Jason will be able to see him again.'

'You told Marcus that?'

'Yes.'

'What was his reaction?'

'No interest,' Simon grimaced. 'But he has another sixteen hours to think about it. The appointment is for two o'clock. I think it would be better if you drove him to the—You can drive, can't you?'

'Yes,' she laughed. 'But if he changes his mind and agrees to go I'd willingly carry him there! You really think this time alone will convince him?' Her humour faded.

'If it doesn't we've failed.'

'I've already done that,' she told him softly. 'If Marcus goes to the hospital tomorrow it will be all your doing.'

'If—that's the real question,' he frowned. 'How do you think Sally is bearing up under the strain of all this?' he asked suddenly.

Olivia looked at him from beneath lowered lashes. 'Very maturely.' She knew by the instant flush to his cheeks that she had been right in her earlier surmise; Simon was more than a little interested in Sally, as she sensed the girl was more than a little interested in him.

'She likes to tease me,' he said ruefully. 'That kiss, for instance.'

'That was teasing?' she mocked gently.

'Of course.' His face hardened, as if he were angry with himself for even mentioning it. 'Sally is a child.'

Her expression softened sympathetically. 'A woman of eighteen is as capable of falling in love as one of twenty-five. I know, I did it myself,' she added softly.

Simon looked despondent. 'But it wasn't the sort of love that lasted, was it.' 'Yes—yes, it was.'

He gave her a searching look, realisation dawning at the steady glow of love in her face. 'I had no idea…' he groaned. 'I imagined you'd got over what you and Marcus had.'

'What I had,' -she corrected. 'Marcus had no idea that I ever loved him.'

'Then being with him now must be hell for you.' 'No more than your believing Sally is still a child. Believe me,' she touched his hands, 'she isn't.'

'Maybe when all this is over—'

'If it ever is. It's a possibility that has to be faced,' she realised heavily.

'Not yet, not until after Marcus has seen Fitzgerald.'

Her eyes were wide. 'You sound pretty confident that he will see him.'

'Wishful thinking,' Simon grimaced. 'But that's enough about work for now. Tell me about Olivia King,' he smiled encouragingly.

Olivia laughed softly. 'Only if you'll tell me about Simon Brooks.' 'Deal!' he grinned.

It was a pleasant evening, made the more so because both of them knew they met only as friends, colleagues, that both their romantic interests lay elsewhere.

From dinner they went on to a club, dancing together until after twelve, when Olivia decided she really should get back. She had left instructions with Sally about Marcus's medication, nevertheless she wanted to check on him before she herself went to bed; she had made that a nightly ritual.

'I'll see you tomorrow,' Simon smiled as he left her at the door.

'You hope,' she warned before quietly letting herself into the house.

Everyone had gone to bed, but that wasn't really surprising, it was almost one o'clock in the morning. There was no note from Sally tonight, but she checked that there was no coffee in the kitchen anyway, delaying the moment when she would have to go to Marcus's room. She felt nervous about seeing him again, even when he was asleep.

But finally she couldn't delay any longer, not surprised to see the light showing under his door; it was left on most nights. But she sensed that tonight it was different; she knew it as soon as she opened the door. Instead of being sprawled on the bed as he usually was Marcus sat in the armchair in front of the window, still fully dressed, the curtains drawn against the night as he faced only the brown velvet.

He turned sharply as Olivia closed the door, frowning, his head slightly tilted to one side in puzzlement, his features harshly defined, his expression fierce.

She hadn't dreamt he would still be out of bed, let alone that he would be awake too! Another confrontation between them was the last thing he needed. 'I'm sorry, Marcus, I thought—I thought you would be asleep,' she finished lamely.

Instead of the angry tirade she had been expecting he gave a choked sound, his hands tightly grasping the chair. 'I thought you'd gone!'

She put out her hands appealingly, then dropped them back to her sides as she realised he couldn't see her. 'I won't do that, Marcus,' she told him dully. 'No matter how many times you tell me to go.'

He frowned. 'Sally said you'd left the house.'

'I did. I've been out for the evening,' she revealed reluctantly.

'With Simon?' he rasped. 'Don't bother to deny it,' his mouth twisted. 'I can smell his aftershave on you! It's very potent, Olivia—is the man as effective?'

'Marcus!' she gasped her dismay.

'Is he?' His hand came out to grasp her wrist. 'Tell me!'

'I'm not telling you anything!' She wrenched away from him, rubbing her bruised wrist. 'I came in here to see if you're all right—I can see that you are. Goodnight!' and she hurried from the room before she said anything to make matters worse.

She could hear him moving restlessly about the next room as she lay in her bed, knew of his disturbed thoughts as he paced the floor minute after minute, hour after hour. She wanted to go to him, wanted to comfort him, to help him through this. But she knew he wouldn't welcome her understanding, that she was the last person he wanted around him in his emotional torment. But she couldn't stand his pacing, was aware of his every move, finally pulling her pillow over her head to block out the sound of his movements. He couldn't go on like that all night, if he finally did decide to see Jason Fitzgerald he wouldn't be fit enough for the examination. And neither would she!

'Olivia?'

She froze in the bed, slowly removing the pillow from her head. In the gloom of the room she could clearly see Marcus standing beside the bed. In that moment she could think only of the fact that Marcus had left his bedroom, that he had finally made the effort to leave the room that had become his prison. 'Olivia!' he rasped again,-more uncertainly this time. 'I'm here,' she told him huskily, swinging her legs to the floor as she sat up in front of him. 'I'm here, Marcus.' She clasped his hands in hers as she looked up at him.

'I need you,' he stated simply. 'Need…?' She swallowed hard.

'I need to be with you, to be held by you. I just need to be with you,' he finished in a tortured voice. 'Is that asking too much?'

He looked so vulnerable standing rigidly in the moonlight, shadows cast over his harsh face, and there was no thought of denial in her mind—or her heart. 'No,' she said huskily, 'that isn't asking too much.'

'Will Simon mind?' he sneered in the face of his deep need. 'Marcus—'

'Forget I said that!' He turned away. 'Forget I ever came here. It was a mistake. I just—I thought you'd really gone earlier—' He ran a hand across his face in a weary gesture.

'I'm here, Marcus,' Olivia repeated reassuringly, and stood up, her arms going about his waist from behind, her hands moving up his chest as she leant her cheek against the rigidity of his firm back. 'And I'm going to stay here. Come to bed and let me—let me hold you.' She could feel the tension in his body, his breathing ragged.

'You're sure?' he ground out.

'Very,' she answered without reserve.

Marcus turned with a heartfelt sigh, his arms like steel bands about her. 'I'll see Fitzgerald,' he rasped harshly, his face buried in her scented hair as he trembled against her.

'You will?' she cried excitedly, looking up into his grim face.

'I will,' he confirmed abruptly. 'But he's the last one. If he says there's no chance then that's it. Agreed?'

'Marcus—'

'I said no more, Olivia. Do you agree?' he demanded hardly.

She chewed her bottom lip. Jason Fitzgerald was the top man in his field, and if he said Marcus would never see again then that was probably final. But there was always that lingering doubt. Could she make such a promise and keep to it?

'I mean it, Olivia,' Marcus bit out at her hesitation. 'There will be no more specialists, no more tests.'

'All right,' she agreed with a deep sigh, knowing he was implacable. 'Let me help you,' she offered as he began to unbutton his shirt. Marcus was a man who needed no one, and the fact that he had come to her filled her with gratitude.

'All right.' His hands dropped to his sides.

Her hands trembled as she unbuttoned the rest of his shirt and stripped it from his shoulders, his skin deeply bronzed in the moonlight. He stood motionless as she released the catch to his trousers and slipped them down his legs, his only clothing now a pair of black underpants.

'No!' his hand stilled hers as she would have removed those too. 'That's enough. Just show me where the bed is,' he requested wearily.

She held his hand as she guided him into the bed. 'It's only a single,' she frowned as he lay down. 'Maybe we should use your room?'

'No,' he held out his hands for her to join him. 'This will do just fine.'

Olivia looked down at him with all the love inside her, then she slid into the bed beside him, knowing she would go to this man whenever he needed her. The fact that she would just be another female body to him didn't matter; he needed her.

His arms came about her and pulled her close in the confines of the bed, resting his hand against her silk-covered breasts with a ragged sigh of satisfaction. 'I'm so tired, Olivia. So very tired,' he told her weakly.

His legs were entwined with hers, his body pressed intimately against hers, and yet within minutes, by the deep and even tenor of his breathing, she knew he was fast asleep!

Her main emotion was disappointment. She had thought when he said he needed her that… God, she had wanted him to make love to her, had thought that was what he needed—and what she surely needed too! It was torture to lie beside him like this when her hands ached to caress him, to arouse him to the heights of passion, to know his full and absolute possession.

Marcus moved restlessly in his sleep, and in the narrow width of the bed each movement was exquisite torture to Olivia as she lay awake beside him hour after hour, needing to sleep but needing Marcus more. She felt like a wanton as she finally gave in to the temptation to caress and touch his body, loving the firm feel of his flesh, the warmth of his skin, his masculine beauty.

As her caresses became bolder, more intimate, he rolled away from her, pushing her hands away with a groan of protest. 'I don't want you, can't you understand that,' he muttered in his sleep. 'Ruth! Don't go, for God's sake don't leave me again. I love you, I've always loved you.' He was becoming more and more agitated. 'Olivia, no! Why did you leave me? Oh God, why did you leave me?' he cried out his pain.

It seemed that only when he was asleep, in his subconscious, could Marcus remember that he had once known a little nurse called Olivia King, a young girl who had merely been a diversion to him, while Ruth was the woman he really loved.

'Marcus!' She had to wake him, he was beginning to shout, he would wake the whole household. And the last thing they needed was for him to be found in her bed. 'Marcus, it's all right!' She shook him slightly as he seemed to be in a deep sleep.

'What the—' The long dark lashes were raised as he woke up. 'Where am I?' he asked raggedly. 'Who are you?' he demanded as he felt the softness of the female body beside him. 'Olivia…?' he questioned uncertainly.

'Yes,' she confirmed. 'You were having a—a nightmare.' Her voice shook at the wealth of love Marcus still had for Ruth. And she had thought he had come in here to make love to her! 'You were shouting,' she calmed him.

'I'm sorry.' He ran a hand over his eyes. 'Is it still night?'

'Yes. You've only been asleep a couple of hours.' Her voice was low.

His arms tightened about her. 'Olivia…!' His mouth covered hers in rough demand.

Olivia knew that she should deny him. He still loved his wife, would always love her even though she was dead. But as his body hardened against hers she was unable to move away from him.

'You feel so soft,' he murmured against her shoulder. 'Like silk,' he added throatily, gently pushing the ribbon straps of her nightgown down her arms, baring her breasts to his searching lips, capturing one taut nipple to caress it with his tongue and teeth, tugging gently on the sensitive nub until its twin ached for the same pleasure.

His hand moved surely to feel her rising excitement, caressing the moist nipple his lips had just left, while his mouth moved to the other rosy peak, satisfying its hunger with a thoroughness that had her arching her body against his, her hips moving restlessly in erotic need. With deft hands Marcus removed her nightgown altogether, his dark underpants quickly following, and all thought of Ruth, of the love Marcus still had for the other woman, fled as their naked bodies became entwined, Marcus's thighs throbbing with desire.

They clung together damply as the desire grew to frightening proportions, and Olivia gasped as Marcus kissed her inner thigh, till she cried out with pleasure.

'Have there been many lovers, Olivia?' His lips returned to her mouth, his breath warm on her face.

Olivia was still lost in the euphoric glow of the pleasure he had so easily created, looking up at him dazedly. 'I don't—'

'Have there?' he demanded, shaking her slightly, above her in the moonlight. 'Your body reacts too quickly and satisfyingly for you to be a novice.'

She stiffened at the insult. 'Marcus—'

'I need to know,' he ground out. 'Don't you understand?'

'Why do you need to know?' Passion was fading fast in the face of his insistence. 'Do you want to know the strength of your competition?'

'No,' he groaned, 'it isn't that.'

'Then what is it?' She moved completely away from him, getting out of bed to pick up her pale green nightgown from the floor, pulling it on over her nakedness, feeling more confident with its protective covering, despite the fact that Marcus couldn't see her. She looked down at him, the man on the bed unable to see her aroused loveliness, the drugging sensuality of her eyes. 'Why do you need to know, Marcus?' she demanded. 'I've asked nothing of you. Nothing!'

'Then perhaps you should have,' he snapped grimly, unconcerned with his own nakedness.

'What do you want me to do, ask for a list of the women you've slept with since your wife died?'

His mouth twisted. 'It wouldn't be much of a list.'

No, of course it wouldn't. Loving his wife as he did, Marcus wouldn't want to make love to anyone else. He was a sensual man, she had always known that, but it was a sensuality he could control. She doubted there had been any women for him since Ruth.

'I'm sorry,' she said dully, moving away.

'Where are you going?' he rasped.

'To get some hot milk,' she told him jerkily. 'I would appreciate it if you would be gone by the time I get back.'

'Olivia—'

'Please, Marcus!' Her voice broke with the strain she was under. 'I realise that what happened just now makes me look completely selfish, that you didn't— well, I'm sorry that I—and you didn't.' She stopped before the conversation became too embarrassing, never having completely lost control before, embarrassed at the shuddering response Marcus had induced in her. 'I want you to go. And don't—don't ever come in here again. I don't provide those sort of services!' She was blinded so badly by her tears that she could hardly see where she was going, stumbling out of the door and down the stairs to the kitchen.

She didn't really want the hot milk, and yet she prepared it anyway, relieved to have something to do. Although the task didn't occupy her mind, her thoughts were all too self-condemning. She had been a fool to respond to him so freely, had allowed herself to be betrayed by her own love, all the time knowing Marcus didn't return her feelings.

He had gone by the time she returned to her room, and unable to fight the emotion any longer, she sat down on the bed and sobbed out her pain.

It was late when she woke the next morning, and after a hurried shower she dressed in a blue and red patterned skirt and navy blue tee-shirt, going down to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee before she had to face Marcus, her embarrassment about last night, her uninhibited response, still acute.

'Have some breakfast too,' Miss Podmore insisted warmly.

'At ten-thirty it's almost lunch-time!' Olivia grimaced, surprised that no one had woken her. Although Marcus was probably no more eager for them to meet again than she was. 'I'll wait, thanks. I have to get back up to Mr Hamilton,' she smiled to hide her lack of confidence about the meeting.

'He isn't upstairs,' the housekeeper told her with a shake of her head.

'He isn't?' Olivia frowned.

'He's in the garden. He had breakfast out there this morning.'

She could hardly believe it; Marcus had made yet another move to break out of his self-imposed prison! 'I—How did he get downstairs?' she asked.

'He just walked down on his own—with a lot of swearing,' Miss Podmore added disapprovingly, a small bustling woman who was easily shocked. 'I think he knocked his shins a few times,' she confided. 'It was the shock of my life when he walked in here and demanded his breakfast!'

'I can imagine.' Olivia could too, although she couldn't possibly guess what had brought about this change in Marcus. She hurriedly swallowed the last of her coffee. 'I'll go out to him now.'

The sun was shining brightly in the secluded garden, and Marcus was seated under the shade of a gaily-coloured sun-umbrella, a glass of lemonade on the table beside him. Jasper became aware of her presence first, getting up from his position at Marcus's feet to bound over and give her an ecstatic greeting; she and the Labrador had become good friends in the last few days.

Marcus turned in her direction as the dog gave excited barks, the dark glasses he wore hiding a lot of his face, and in turn a lot of his thoughts. 'Olivia?' he questioned softly.

Hot colour flooded her cheeks as she remembered the magic of those firm sensual lips. 'Yes,' she confirmed huskily, patting the dog absently as he stayed at her side.

'Come and sit down,' he invited.

She did so, sitting on the edge of her chair opposite him, Jasper nudging at her hand.

'He wants the biscuit you usually bring him,' Marcus drawled.

Olivia flushed. 'How did you know…?'

'He nudged my hand for one when I came out here,' he explained derisively.

'Oh.' She chewed on her bottom lip, her embarrassment making it hard for her to talk to him.

Marcus seemed to sense her confusion. 'About last night,' he said suddenly. 'I want to say I'm sorry.'

'That's all right. I—It was my own fault. I shouldn't have—'

'You don't understand,' he rasped impatiently. 'I'm not sorry for what happened, I'm sorry I pried into your personal life and broke the mood.'

She swallowed hard. 'I see.'

'I doubt it,' his mouth twisted. 'And I'm not in a position to tell you. I may never be,' he added with bitterness.

Olivia frowned at his vehemence. 'I don't understand.'

'And I don't want you to.' He stood up jerkily. 'Would you take me up to my room now, I'd like to lie down for a while. I had a—a disturbed night,' he added tauntingly.

'Of course.' She put his hand in the crook of her arm, giving him soft decisive instructions as they went into the house and up the stairs. 'Do you want me to stay with you?' she asked quietly as he sat back in the chair with his eyes closed, the dark glasses discarded now he was once again in the house.

'No,' he replied abruptly. 'I'll see you at two o'clock.'

'Your lunch—'

'Not today, Olivia,' he bit out tautly.

She respected his wish to be alone, knowing how genuinely disturbed he was by the thought of going to the hospital. She was disturbed herself, remembering her promise to him last night. So much depended on Marcus's meeting with Jason Fitzgerald this afternoon.

This unexpected time alone gave her time for thought when she would really rather not have had any time at all! Marcus's apology, especially the nature of it, had come as a surprise. He really had wanted to make love to her, would have done so if his curiosity about her past hadn't got the better of him.

Did he remember her? Could he possibly have realised she was the gullible little first-year nurse he had known six years ago? He had given no indication that he knew that, and yet she felt an uneasiness. Six years ago he must have known of her infatuation with him; what construction would he put on her actions of last night if he ever realised she was the same girl?

He sat rigidly at her side as they drove to the hospital later that afternoon, disinclined to talk, his expression stony. Olivia had learnt from Miss Podmore that Marcus had insisted Sally go to college today rather than accompany him, and while she knew the young girl must have put up an argument, she had obeyed her father in this. She could understand his reluctance to have his daughter with him; if the examination proved to be negative then at least Sally wouldn't have to witness her father's desolation until the worst of it was over, and if it was positive then there would be plenty of time for celebration this evening. Whatever the result, it would be better if Sally didn't witness her father's reaction, not when he already felt so vulnerable.

Simon met them outside the main hospital doors, shaking Marcus warmly by the hand, giving Olivia's shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

Several people greeted Marcus as they made their way to the consulting-room, and Olivia could see his tension rising with each step they took.

'I want you to wait here,' he instructed Olivia as they stood in the waiting area.

She glanced at Simon, seeing his frown. 'Oh, but—'

'I said wait here!' Marcus bit out forcefully, his agitation evident from his clenched fists at his sides.

She swallowed hard at his vehemence. 'All right,' she choked her agreement.

'Marcus, I really think—'

'Do you imagine I want a witness to this?' Marcus ground out savagely, glaring in the other man's direction. 'Stay and keep her company if it makes you feel better,' he rasped. 'Just don't let her in there with me. I don't want her there, don't you understand?'

'Only too well, Marcus.' Olivia was the one to answer him, turning shakily to walk away. There was only so much of his abuse she could take in her own emotional state. She knew she should never have become his nurse, knew she should never have become involved with the Hamilton family a second time.

'Olivia,' Simon touched her arm gently a few seconds later as she sat outside in one of the luxurious leather armchairs.

She turned with a frown. 'Marcus…?'

'In with Fitzgerald. He told me to come after you,' he added gently.

'So that you could pick up the pieces he'd ripped me to?' she said bitterly.

'I think so that you wouldn't leave,' Simon told her softly.

'Isn't that what he wants me to do?' she asked moodily.

'You know it isn't,' he chided. 'At the moment Marcus just wants to hit out at everyone. We just happen to be in the firing line.'

'Yes,' she sighed, some of the tension leaving her. 'I know that really, it's just—well, it doesn't make it any easier to accept his cutting barbs.'

'Because you're emotionally involved,' Simon. pointed out gently. 'I'm sure Marcus is far from the first rude patient you've had,' he teased.

'Yes,' she admitted ruefully.

'Then just bear with him for a while longer, hmm?'

'You know I will,' she sighed again. 'I shouldn't let him get to me. I just—I love him,' she stated simply. 'That makes everything about this case different.'

'I understand,' he squeezed her hand. 'But you'll wait here, won't you?'

She nodded. 'How long do you think they'll be?'

'I have no idea,' Simon shrugged. 'I'm going to slip back in in a couple of minutes. Want to come with me?'

Olivia shivered as she envisaged Marcus's anger if she went against his instructions, shaking her head.

But as the time passed she began to wish she had gone with Simon. It was one thing to be in there and see what was going on, it was something else completely to sit out here, the minutes slowly ticking by. After another hour she was almost going crazy wondering how the tests were going. No one had come back into the waiting-area, and no one had come out of the consulting-room in all that time—and she was going insane wondering what was going on behind that brown-painted door.

Ten minutes later it seemed she wouldn't have to wait any longer, a tall fair-haired man leaving the consulting-room, his long easy strides telling of his relaxed state, his mode of dress informal, casual brown trousers and a cream shirt. Somehow she knew this had to be Jason Fitzgerald.

His blue gaze flickered over her impersonally as he closed the door, coming back to rest appreciatively on her face. A tall good-looking man with sun-bleached blond hair and a lithe attractive body, he was confident of his own attraction.

But Olivia was oblivious to his appreciative glances, going over to him anxiously. 'Have you finished your examination?'

Dark brows rose questioningly. 'You would be…?' he drawled softly.

'Olivia. Er—Olivia King,' she explained as he still looked puzzled. 'Mr Hamilton's nurse.'

'I didn't think you could be his daughter.' His humour faded, his expression grave. 'How can I help you, Miss King?' His tone was kind.

'How did the examination go? Can you operate?' She couldn't keep the eagerness out of her voice.

'An operation wouldn't do Mr Hamilton the least bit of good. He—'

Olivia didn't hear any more; there was a sudden rushing noise in her head, then blackness forcing in on her. Marcus was going to remain blind for the rest of his life!