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'You won't I can walk' She put her feet down on the floor and stood up She still felt a little shaky, but the roo round and round Cass hovered, much too close, and she eyed him sideways 'I'm fine now'

The doctor stepped nearer and offered his aro down to my car, shall we?'

Cass followed and over her shoulder as they negotiated the stairs Sian said remotely, 'There's no need for you to come to the hospital'

They h-vaulted hallway: oak-panelled and fragrant with lavender furniture-polish and sureat earthenware bowls Sian was concentrating on walking without that betraying little tre pale and worried Soh she wondered if she was i it Cass went to speak to his aunt while the doctor helped Sian down the stone steps from the front door He put her into a co her eyes briefly, because her head hurt and she still felt weak The doctor paused before getting behind the wheel; she heard hi her, but didn't look that way

Sitting up, she stared ahead of her while the doctor caot into the seat next to her The engine caravel Cass was standing outside the house on the steps, staring after thethe pallor of his skin and his dark hair blowing around in the wind until he raked it doith one hand in an iesture

Sian looked away, dry-ht he was Disillusionment ached inside her as the doctor headed for the black ironwork gates

'You're a reporter, I gather,' he said, and she started, looking round at him

'Yes'

He gave her a brief, wry sda tellsleft at the altar?'

'That's right' Her voice was defiant; she wasn't apologising for that She would never feel guilty about Cass again; he had deserved everything that happened to him

The doctor fell silent, and after a few moments it was Sian who re-started the conversation

'You're a family friend, not their doctor?'

'I'ain, with more warmth

'I suppose you're Mrs Cassidy's doctor, then?'

He nodded 'I'm one of the local GPs—we have four at the health care centre a couple of miles away I'm Piers Brand, by the way—please call me Piers'