Bachelor Cure. Marion Lennox

      ‘But maybe not?’

      ‘I can’t tell how bad the stroke was,’ Mike said. ‘Not until we get him rehydrated, get the intravenous antibiotics working on his chest and get him over his shock. He’s had a hell of an ordeal and he has a massive chest infection.’

      ‘He looks dreadful.’

      ‘You’ve seen him?’

      ‘I poked my head around the door when I got in.’

      ‘Are his obs OK? They were settling when I left him at midnight and no one’s rung to say there’s a problem. There’s been no change?’

      ‘Tessa’s happy with them.’

      ‘Tessa…’ Mike stared. ‘Tessa’s asleep. I set Hannah to special him.’

      ‘Tessa’s sitting by his bedside,’ Bill said blandly. ‘Hannah’s down in the nursery with Billy and his croup. Billy’s a real handful—he’s been giving the night staff hell—and Tessa told her she wasn’t needed. She’d look after her grandpa herself.’

      ‘But I told Tessa to go to bed.’

      ‘She’s not the sort of girl to follow orders,’ Bill said, a faint grin playing over his face. ‘At least, not unless she agrees with them.’

      ‘She’s exhausted,’ Mike said grimly. ‘That’s stupid.’

      ‘Is she as tired as you, then?’

      ‘I’m not tired.’

      ‘Oh, no?’ Bill leaned back and folded his arms across his large chest. ‘You’ve had on average of—let me guess—about four hours’ sleep a night for the last two weeks. And you’re telling me you’re not tired.’