Page 58 of Mayfair Madame
Melinda returned, calmer than when she’d left the room. I didn’t want to argue with her. She was too good a friend for that, but there had to be something she wasn’t telling me.
“So, what are we doing today?” I sipped my coffee and savoured the flavour.
“Not much going on this week, although Oscar mentioned something about Marco on Saturday evening that concerned me. I wonder if we shouldn’t speak to him. I know his private life isnone of our concern, but—” She picked up her cup, realisation dawning that no one’s relationship was anyone’s business but their own.
I shrugged it off. Oscar had intimated as much to me, and while we didn’t interfere, Sam and Julian were our friends, and I wouldn’t have him putting their marriage at risk over some infatuation.
“I’ll speak to him. Find out what’s going on. I’m sure it’s nothing.” Marco was one of my most popular escorts. I knew he offered extras, and that was his choice, but when it came to my friends, I would get involved.
He knew my stance on cheating.
We covered a few other items. Jeffrey had called with details of the party. It was a couple of weeks away and thankfully wouldn’t be a late one. I knew to dress demurely and Oscar would find me the perfect gown, as usual.
We were about to cover the weekend when the phone rang.
I frowned at the caller. Why would Josh be ringing me?
“Hi, this is Naomi.” But all I heard was heavy breathing. What the fuck?
Finally, he spoke. “It’s Ellie. She’s on her way to the hospital. I thought you should know. I’m on my way there now.”
“What? Which one? I’m coming.” I rushed to the bedroom, phone at my ear, and grabbed my shoes. “I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”
Melinda handed me my bag without a word. The panic in my voice must have told her something was wrong.
“Ellie’s in hospital.” I hugged her quickly. “I’ll be back as soon as I can and let you know what’s happening. You’ll have to deal with anything that crops up. I’m on my mobile if you need me.”
I left her by the door, her mouth open. She’d said nothing, but then I’d not given her much chance.
The lift seemed to take forever, but within a few minutes, I was in a taxi, speeding as fast as we could to the hospital.
That had been two days ago, and now, sitting on her bed, clasping her hand, I could finally breathe.
Had the doctors here not been as efficient, I’d have brought in my own for a second opinion, but she was recovering well.
When I’d arrived, she’d been pale, her lips blue against the white of her face.
Colour had finally returned, but her sunken eyes and gaunt face told me all I needed to know about how ill she’d been.
And now she nibbled at the toast I’d brought to her.
“So,” I said, “the doctors say you should stay off work for a week at least. They want to run more tests to make sure you’re free of the infection. Will you be okay at home?”
I knew she had no one around, and I was more than happy to offer Mayfair Heights as a place for her to recuperate, but it needed to be her decision.
“I don’t know. I guess so.” She sighed and lay back, her toast forgotten. “I could ask my mum or sister to come down, but they’d need to sleep on the sofa.”
“You could always stay with me. I have plenty of space.”
“I couldn’t. You’ve already been too kind staying here. You didn’t need to.”
I didn’t, no, but there was no way I’d leave her here on her own. Josh’s call had freaked me out.
I’d barely kept down the coffee I’d drunk. My stomach had been so upset with worry. Until I’d seen her with my own eyes and confirmed she was still alive, a feeling of dread had plagued me.
Melinda thought it was too soon, but surely, this proved Ellie meant more to me than a casual acquaintance.
“Do you have food in your flat? And are you able to cook it?”
