‘He was spitting feathers.’
Shit, thought Darla, was she going to get sued? Could he get her prosecuted? That was the last thing she needed. ‘I’m really very sorry. You see—’
‘Oh lovey, not with you.’ Margy patted Darla’s knee. ‘With the fool who stole the yacht.’
‘I thought he’d blame me and sack me.’
‘Goodness, no. This isn’t your fault,’ said Margy.
Darla took a deep breath. ‘It kind of was. The man who tried to steal the yacht was my ex-boyfriend, so it was me he followed to the boat. I wouldn’t blame Mr Rogers if he didn’t want me anywhere near his yacht from now on.’
‘You silly thing. He’d have me to answer to if he suggested sacking you. And he wouldn’t dream of it. He thinks you do a wonderful job.’ Darla couldn’t help but feel a little stab of pride. ‘No, he doesn’t blame you at all. It’s all the fault of that kidnapper who almost murdered your friend. Terrible business. Is she in intensive care, your friend?’
‘Err, no, she’s gone home.’ Darla wasn’t sure if Margy looked relieved or disappointed. ‘But she has lots of stitches in her head and might have concussion,’ added Darla.
Margy gasped. ‘The poor thing. And you witnessed it all. Now tell me everything. I mean it, don’t leave anything out.’ Margy fixed her with a steely gaze.
Darla took another sip of brandy and winced. She feared this was going to be a long story.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Ros wasn’t used to being waited on hand and foot but she could see how a person could easily get used to it. Cameron couldn’t do enough for her, and there was a regular supply of hot and cold drinks. He was also checking her vision hourly and counting down to her next lot of medication. He’d insisted on her going to bed against her better judgement, but the doctor had said she should take it easy for a couple of days so it would have been churlish to argue.
‘I think you should have a snooze,’ he said.
‘I’m not eighty. I won’t sleep tonight if I have an afternoon nap.’
‘I thought I’d cook my paella tonight so I need to pop out to get the ingredients and I don’t like to leave you.’
‘It would still be leaving me if I was asleep,’ pointed out Ros.
‘True but I’d not feel as bad about it. Plus if you’re asleep you’re less likely to get up and injure yourself further.’
‘Cameron. I’m fine. All that you’re doing is really lovely but I’m fixed now so you don’t need to worry.’
He flopped onto the bed, making her bounce a little. ‘It scared the life out of me seeing you and all that blood. I thought . . .’ He swallowed and shook his head. ‘It makes you realise how fragile life can be. How one moment everything is fine and the next it’s not and you have no idea what is going to flip it.’ He was looking at her with an intensity she’d not seen from him before and it held her attention. ‘Sometimes it’s the oddest things that give you perspective.’ He took a deep breath. ‘You see it made me think that maybe—’ The entry buzzer sounded and interrupted him. ‘I’ll get that.’ He jumped to his feet and left.
Ros could only hear a muffled conversation so was more than a little startled when Alastair and Sonia walked into her bedroom. ‘Oh my word, your place is soooo fancy!’ said Sonia with a wave of her arm.
Alastair cleared his throat. ‘We heard you’d been hurt so I thought I’d better come and see how bad it was. We had a whip-round and got you these.’ He awkwardly held out a large bunch of flowers.
Ros was surprised and touched by the gesture. ‘You didn’t need to do that, but they’re beautiful and I appre-ciate it, thank you.’
Cameron hovered at the door. ‘I’ll put those in water when I get back. I just need to nip out to get the stuff for dinner. Okay?’
Ros smiled at him seizing the opportunity to not leave her alone. ‘Of course.’
Alastair handed Cameron the flowers and then shoved his hands in his pockets. ‘You look all right,’ he said.
‘Thankfully it was the back of my head.’ Ros twisted around and lifted her hair.
Sonia gasped. ‘Bloody hell. You proper cracked your head open. Shouldn’t you be in hospital?’
‘Really, I’m fine,’ said Ros, putting her hair back in place. She’d noticed that it was a lot more tender now than it had been when she’d done it. The human body had a remarkable way of managing serious pain and yet a paper cut was incredibly tender – baffling.
‘But you could have brain damage from something like that.’
Ros laughed and then realised Sonia was serious. ‘I have my skull to protect my brain. But thank you for your concern.’
‘Still, I’d be careful.’ Sonia pouted and had a look about her of someone who had seen it all before.
‘I expect your man is taking good care of you,’ said Alastair. As if on cue the front door clicked as Cameron let himself out.
‘Cameron has been great. I messaged him that someone was using threatening behaviour and that we were on the yacht and he came as fast as he could.’ Even though Patrick was a completely incompetent boat thief Ros wasn’t sure what they would have done if Cameron hadn’t arrived when he did. If Patrick had managed to reverse out of the mooring bay and sailed off with them on board it would have been an even bigger fiasco.
‘Cameron’s a proper knight in shining armour,’ said Sonia, although she was now paying more attention to the room than to Ros. ‘Do you rent this place?’
Even Alastair rolled his eyes at Sonia. ‘No, I own it,’ said Ros.
‘Must have cost a bit.’ Sonia was looking out of the window at the view of the harbour.
‘Anyway, we’re not stopping,’ said Alastair. ‘Just wanted to check you were all right.’
‘I thought we’d at least have a cuppa,’ said Sonia, looking at Ros.
‘Sorry. Did you want me to put the kettle on?’ asked Ros, sitting up.
Sonia nodded.
