hands and shoved Megan forward into the middle of the group.
Suddenly Megan was aware of the pristine white of new plaster again as she realised that sitting down in the midst of the group was Giles Elliottâs daughter, and by her side was the man himself.
âAh, Miss Jones,â he said, his blue eyes sparkling, âperhaps you would care to autograph my daughterâs plaster?â He put his arm casually around his daughterâs shoulders. âJoanna, can I introduce Megan Jones, Sister in Casualty.â
Joanna looked up and the same vivid blue eyes quizzed Megan. Then she smiled. âDaddy, we have already met. This is the girl I told you about, the one who looked after me when I had the accident.â
Giles looked at Megan. âIs this true?â he asked.
âYes, it is,â replied Megan. âBut of course, I didnât know then she was your daughter,â she added quickly.
âNo,â he rapped. âIf you had ,perhaps you wouldnât have told the police it was Joannaâs fault.â
âI most certainly would have done,â replied Megan, her brown eyes flashing indignantly. âThe fact that she is your daughter doesnât alter the fact that the motor cyclist was not to blame.â
âI really fail to understand how he hit her,â he said. âSurely he must have seen her? Are you certain you saw everything?â
Megan bristled. âAre you doubting my word?â she exclaimed angrily, forgetting where she was.
Joanna reached up and touched her fatherâs arm. âMegan is quite right,â she said. Then she heaved a big sigh. âI might as well tell you, because youâll find out anyway sooner or later. I was wearing those earphones you hate so much and listening to pop music.â
âAs you were walking along?â asked her father incredulously.
âYes,â whispered Joanna in a small voice.
Megan glanced at him; his face was as black as thunder. Suddenly she felt sorry for the young girl. It had been a silly thing to do and now she was paying the price. Impulsively she reached out and touched Joannaâs shoulder.
âAllâs well that ends well,â she said. Then she laughed, trying to bring a smile to Joannaâs rather worried-looking face. âI think we can safely tell your father that you wonât be doing it again.â
âYou bet,â said Joanna gratefully, thankful for Meganâs intervention. âIn fact, if you like, Dad, you can sell them. You can put the money towards that hi-fi Iâve been wanting,â she added cheekily, seeing her father smile.
âIâm sorry I doubted your word for a moment,â he said slowly to Megan, adding, âOne is always protective towards oneâs children, you know.â
âI wouldnât know,â replied Megan a trifle sharply. âI havenât got any!â
Before Giles Elliott had an opportunity to reply, her brother Richard joined them. He took one look at Joanna and it was quite obvious he liked what he saw. âCan I help you across to the refreshment table?â he asked her.
Joanna glanced questioningly at her father, who smiled and nodded in reply. âYes, that would be lovely,â she responded and off they went, a crutch supporting her on one side and Richard on the other.
âCan I get you any refreshments?â Giles asked Megan.
âNo thanks,â said Megan shortly. She didnât feel like socialising, least of all with Giles Elliott who had not only turned out to be married, but who had also doubted her word into the bargain.
âOh, come on,â he said in a soft, persuasive tone of voice that caused Meganâs heart to churn with bitter anguish. âDo have a sausage roll at the very least.â
âIt isnât even Christmas yet, and already I feel that if I see another sausage roll I shall scream!â said Megan ungraciously.
Giles Elliott chuckled.