The Surgeon's Miracle / Dr Di Angelo's Baby Bombshell by Caroline Anderson / Janice Lynn Page A

softly as it boiled. There was a mountain of bread of every description in the larder, and he chose a lovely nutty wholemeal, sliced it and sandwiched it in the wire toasting gadget and clamped it under the hob cover, flipping it after a minute to toast the other side, and as he pulled it out the door opened and Libby came in, looking fresh as a daisy and squeaky-clean, and he just wanted to hug her.
    Instead, he smiled, poured boiling water on the tea bags and stacked the toast on a plate in the middle of the battered old table. ‘Just shove the dogs out of the way and sit down. Jam, marmalade, honey or Marmite?’
    ‘Oh, marmalade, please. Thanks. That smells fantastic. Hello, dogs, aren’t you lovely? Oh, tea—bless you!’
    And she buried her nose in the mug and breathed deeply, her fingers wrapped round it, the steam drifting around her like a wraith, and he wanted her as he hadn’t wanted a woman in years.
    Or maybe for ever…
    It really was the most gorgeous day. The wind was chilly, but she was well wrapped up. Andrew had kittedher out in borrowed wellies and a thick, warm jacket, and he took her down to the river, as he’d promised.
    ‘This is lovely,’ she sighed, leaning against a fence and staring out over the lightly ruffled water. The sunlight was sparkling on it, and she could see birds bobbing about near the shore.
    He propped his elbows on the rail beside her and gave her a wry smile. ‘I’m sorry it’s not the Seine.’
    ‘Oh, no, don’t be sorry, it’s beautiful,’ she murmured, watching a swan circling lazily in the water. ‘So peaceful—it’s bliss. I can’t think of anything better.’
    He smiled, and they strolled on, the dogs milling around and sniffing, and Lara appeared out of nowhere and joined them, the three of them racing off into the undergrowth after a rabbit.
    ‘Will can’t be far away,’ Andrew said, and a few moments later they heard the drum of approaching hoofbeats. Will pulled up alongside them, grinning down at them as the bay mare caught her breath, sides heaving, chest wet and flecked with foam.
    ‘Morning!’
    Libby smiled up at him. ‘Good morning. What a lovely day.’
    ‘Been somewhere in a hurry?’ Andrew asked mildly, eyeing the sweaty horse, but Will just laughed.
    ‘We went round the new cross-country course again. She’s brilliant, I love her.’
    ‘I thought she was a temperamental cow?’
    He laughed again. ‘She was—last week. That’s women for you, but she’s the bravest horse I’ve ever had. You ought to take her for a ride, you’ll love her.’
    ‘I’ll take your word for it, she’s a bit feisty for me,’ Andrew said, patting the mare’s wet, steaming neckand rubbing her nose. ‘I’m getting too old to break things, and so are you.’
    ‘Rubbish, you’re just a coward and, anyway, she’s a schoolmistress, safe as houses. I’d put a child on her.’
    ‘I shouldn’t tell Sally that,’ he muttered drily, but Will just laughed.
    ‘Seen Lara, by the way? She’s messed off again.’
    ‘Oh, she’s around somewhere. She got distracted by a rabbit and went off with the others. We’ll bring her back.’
    ‘No, she’ll come, she won’t want to miss breakfast. We’re having bacon and she’s already clocked it, the thief. Sally only just got there first. Never trust a lurcher, Libby,’ he advised with a grin, then he turned in the saddle and let out a piercing whistle, and Lara came bounding up, tongue lolling, grinning cheerfully. She’d obviously had a lovely run, and with a wave Will turned his mare towards the house and made his way back at a much more sedate pace, Lara trotting at the horse’s heels.
    ‘Is your brother a bit of a daredevil?’ Libby asked thoughtfully, watching him ride away, and Andrew gave a grunt of laughter.
    ‘Just a bit. Fortunately, he’s got the most natural seat I’ve ever seen, and he just stays stuck—which is a good job, because he’s got more courage than sense and he gives Mum and