200 Harley Street: The Enigmatic Surgeon

Charlotte wondered whether he would ask, but he didn’t. Instead he set to, examining the skin on the side of April’s face. ‘That’s healing very nicely, April. What do you think of it?’

‘It’s...different. Good... It itches a bit still.’

‘Yes, that’s natural. It itches as it heals.’ Edward smiled. ‘You’ve been massaging the oil that Charlotte gave you into it? And I can see you’ve been keeping out of the sun.’

‘Yes.’

‘Good.’ Edward returned to his chair. ‘Well, I don’t think that I need to see you again.’ He smiled at April and she grinned back.

Experience had taught Charlotte that this was the point where she stepped in.

‘You will, of course, be seeing Charlotte again, and she’ll monitor your progress. But I was wondering whether you had any questions for me.’

Okay. This was new. Usually he left the questions part to the nurses.

‘Um... Not really...’

‘Hmm. So what’s this question you don’t really need to ask, then?’

April smiled self-consciously at him. ‘Well, I’m going to my end-of-year party at school in a couple of weeks’ time.’

‘Ah. That might be a little out of my area of expertise.’

He looked at Charlotte and she raised her eyebrows at him. So he was going to leave her something to do, at least.

‘I think that April would be interested in knowing whether another couple of weeks is going to make an appreciable difference to the look of the scar. And whether she can use a little make-up. Is that right?’

April nodded. ‘Yeah. There’s someone I...’

‘Yes. Of course. Well, the wound’s been dry for a while now, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t start to use light cosmetics occasionally, as long as they don’t irritate your skin. Charlotte can advise on which types to use and so on. As to the look of it...’ He paused, thinking for a while. ‘Generally speaking, I’d expect that area to look better in two or three weeks’ time than it does now. May I ask you a question, April?’

‘Sure. What is it?’

‘Well, it’s a long time since I was your age...’ He paused, as if waiting for a contradiction.

‘Mmm,’ April agreed.

‘But I can certainly remember it.’ He shot a stern look at Charlotte, who was barely repressing her laughter. ‘And I have to say that any young man who disregards your smile and your personality, and who only sees a scar, isn’t worth your time.’

‘That’s what my mother says...’ April gave him a wry look.

‘Well, it must be right, then.’ Edward snapped his notepad shut with an air of finality.

‘But...’ April looked at him thoughtfully. ‘But when I said I wanted my scar done she was all for it. So was my dad.’

Some of Isaac’s questions prompted that very same baffled look from Edward, but he regrouped almost instantly. ‘I look at it like this. What I do can’t change who you are, because you’re already special. My aim is to give you what you deserve.’

A slow smile spread across April’s face. ‘Nice one. Thanks.’

‘You’re very welcome, April.’ Edward rose from his seat. ‘Well, I can see that you ladies have some...um...things to talk about. Is your mother outside? I’d just like to have a quick word with her.’

April nodded and watched him go, before turning to Charlotte. ‘You know, I thought that Dr North was a bit stand-offish. But he’s really nice, isn’t he?’

Charlotte laughed. ‘Yes, he is. Really nice.’

* * *

Charlotte wished Paula a good weekend and watched her go through the doors to the outside lobby. She waited for a few minutes and then made for Edward’s office. She’d been saving her good news until they could talk uninterrupted.