Miss Majors inspected the surgeon's neck and shoulders .sx " Miss Villiers has worked up an excellent erythema here .sx You look quite pink , Mr Buchanan .sx " .sx " She's done a very thorough and professional job , Miss Majors , especially with her deep kneading .sx " .sx " I'm so glad we've been of service , Mr Buchanan , " the clinical instructor cooed delightedly .sx " And any time you feel the need , I'm sure we can accommodate you again .sx " And off she went .sx Fleur would have made her escape quickly too , but Max caught her gently by the elbow and whispered , " Thanks , Fleur , I really enjoyed the experience .sx We could continue any time you like at my house .sx " .sx " No way !sx " She sounded defiant .sx " All I want you to remember is the stimulating massage .sx " .sx " Ah .sx .. yes , " he replied laconically .sx " I enjoy nothing better than a stimulating woman .sx " .sx Fleur cringed inwardly .sx Max had tuned the situation upside down with his remark .sx Damn him , why did he always win !sx .sx CHAPTER EIGHT .sx EVEN three weeks after the massage incident with Max , Fleur still recoiled at the recollection .sx Thank goodness all her other patients were sane !sx .sx It was directly after lunch and she was rubbing the name of a discharged patient from the board in the department .sx " That's a piece of luck .sx " Fleur swung round to see Miss Majors holding a treatment card .sx " I've got a businessman outside who needs a lunchtime sic !sx appointment .sx Would you like to treat a Dupuytren's contracture ?sx " .sx Fleur said eagerly , " Yes , I'd love to .sx I've never treated one before .sx " .sx " Good .sx Jim Beacon is one of Mr Buchanan's patients .sx There are some specific instructions for treatment .sx " Miss Majors pointed to the front of the card .sx " You see , after his time in North America , Mr Buchanan is interested in using some higher therapeutic ultrasound doses .sx He'd like this patient treated at 1.0 W/cm 2 pulsed .sx " .sx " That's high , " Fleur commented .sx " Yes .sx I've examined the man's hand , but I think the skin will tolerate it .sx But call me periodically so that I can take a look and keep an eye on things .sx " .sx Fleur walked out into Reception and called her new patient's name .sx Jim Beacon was a stocky man of about fifty .sx He wore a well - cut executive suit that was slightly baggy at the knees .sx " Thank you for taking me so quickly .sx " He was all smiles .sx " When you run a company your time isn't your own - this is my lunch hour .sx " .sx " It was lucky timing , " Fleur explained .sx Then she led him into a cubicle .sx Here she pulled out a chair and an arm table with a pillow on top .sx When he had removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeve , she began her examination .sx She knew that a Dupuytren's contracture was a contracture of the palmar aponeurosis .sx Fortunately Jim's condition didn't look as though it had been long - standing .sx There was a nodule of thickened tissue in his palm and a slight puckering of the skin , but she couldn't see any flexion contractures in the flexor tendons of his ring or little finger .sx " I don't know what caused it , " he said , looking steadfastly at his hand .sx " It's a tricky condition , " Fleur told him .sx " Often people can't pinpoint any injury .sx But there is a hereditary predisposition .sx " .sx But Jim didn't know of anyone else in his family who had the condition .sx To get to the deeper facts Fleur had to ask for more details .sx " What kind of company do you run ?sx " .sx " We manufacture and supply fire alarm systems .sx The company has been in the family for generations .sx " .sx " Do you ever work any heavy duty machines ?sx Anything that would cause a vibration into the palm of your hand ?sx " .sx " No such luck any more , " he sighed .sx " Now I'm at the top , all I seem to do is push paper , spend my time in meetings , and troubleshoot .sx " .sx Fleur laughed easily with him .sx Jim looked serious .sx " Mr Buchanan said I must have injured my palmar apon .sx .. " .sx " Aponeurosis , " she supplied .sx " Yes .sx What exactly is that ?sx " .sx " It's a thin but tough membrane .sx It lies directly under the skin , and runs from the wrist to the near ends of your fingers .sx " .sx Fleur asked many more questions and then , " Is there anything you can do to make your hand feel better ?sx " .sx " Funny you should say that - only last night I was helping defrost the freezer and I found that after I'd been handling the frozen food this rucked - up part felt easier .sx " .sx It was unusual to treat a hand with ice .sx But , if Fleur explained to Miss Majors , this treatment could be instigated .sx " What are you going to do to make me better ?sx " Jim asked .sx " The main treatment will be high - frequency sound waves .sx You won't hear them because the human ear can't pick them up .sx " .sx " Will it hurt ?sx " .sx " No , not in the least .sx All you'll feel is a flat piece of metal , the treatment head , moving across your palm .sx " .sx When Jim was satisfied with the explanations Fleur went to find Miss Majors , and reported the information about the ice .sx Miss Majors considered the matter .sx " If the patient feels it helps , then go ahead with wet ice .sx Dupuytren's is a curious condition , and I'll be interested to see how Jim Beacon responds .sx " .sx Having cleared the treatment , Fleur set her patient up for his ice .sx She placed a plastic sheet and a towel on top of the pillow on the arm table , and positioned a wet towelling bag full of crushed ice under his palm .sx " This is just a ten - minute treatment , " she explained .sx " But if your hand begins to feel very painful for any reason , then ring this bell .sx " .sx When the time was up Fleur dried Jim's hand and applied transmission gel in preparation for the ultrasound .sx Then she placed the ultrasound head of the machine on Jim's palm .sx This was the size and shape of small hand torch , but the head was a plain metal face .sx Before switching on the machine she gave Jim the customary warning .sx " If you should feel any pain or undue heat during the treatment than tell me immediately .sx " .sx After a minute or two , while Fleur moved the treatment head in a steady circular motion , Jim said , " I can't feel anything at all .sx How do I know anything's happening ?sx " .sx Fleur laughed .sx " Lots of patients say this .sx I'll prove the machine is working after the treatment .sx " .sx Following the initial five - minute dose , she passed a tissue to Jim so that he could clean off the gel .sx Then after wiping the head of her machine she said , " I'm going to get some water and you'll see how the machine works .sx " .sx With the water from a plastic cup Fleur sprinkled a few drops so that they covered the treatment head .sx " Watch closely now , " she told Jim .sx Then she switched the machine to a constant beam , set the intensity high and turned on .sx The droplets of water began to bubble .sx " That's amazing !sx " exclaimed Jim , his eyes steadily fixed .sx As Fleur turned up the intensity the bubbling became more agitated .sx " If I turned it way up the water would boil , " she told him .sx " Don't upset your machine , " Jim advised .sx " You've proved your point , I'm a believer now .sx " .sx Next she gave the hand some thumb kneading over the thickened aponeurosis .sx She used a lanolin - type cream for this because it made the massage easier .sx Then she performed some passive stretching .sx This was to make sure that the flexor tendons of his fingers didn't contract .sx In extreme cases the nail could be forced right down into the palm of the hand .sx Afterwards Jim studied his hand .sx " I think it feels better , even after one session , " he said .sx " Good , " Fleur sounded pleased .sx " You'll have twelve treatments , then you'll be reviewed again by Mr Buchanan .sx " .sx Pulling on his jacket , Jim said , " I've just remembered something .sx My wife bought me a new toothbrush a couple of months ago , and now I think about it , the handle is rather short and it does tend to dig into my palm .sx Do you think that could have caused it ?sx " .sx " Ah .sx .. " Fleur raised her eyebrows , " that might be very significant .sx As I said before , the cause of Dupuytren's is generally unknown , but a repeated micro - trauma like that might have started some irritation .sx And the palm of the hand is very sensitive .sx " .sx Jim nodded .sx " I'll buy a toothbrush with a longer handle on my way back to work .sx Hmm .sx .. you all seem knowledgeable and efficient here .sx " .sx " I'm glad you think so , " smiled Fleur .sx They agreed on the day of the next treatment and Jim left the department .sx Fleur was late walking home that evening because she had stayed for a long time at the School chatting to Ros .sx Now , in the blazing summer heat , some road works forced her to take a detour down Dolphin Road .sx As she approached number sixty - two , she looked up at the handsome fa c - cedille ade .sx She was half angry , half sad when she thought of the master of this house .sx Angry because she believed that her father was literally working himself to death .sx Unfortunately he had placed all his hopes on winning the HDH research grant , and he spent long and punishing hours labouring late into the night .sx Fleur had even taken the precaution of looking up first aid treatment for possible heart attack .sx But she was sad too .sx Deep in her heart she knew she loved Max .sx If only he hadn't broken his promise and sent that last letter to the Journal .sx If only Mrs Bramley had retrieved the letter and sent it by mistake .sx Then she might feel free to really love him .sx Only yards away from the high hedge that fronted his house , Fleur began to be wary .sx She knew he had left the hospital early this afternoon , because he had some free time .sx If he saw her now he might well take the opportunity to rush out and play another retaliation prank .sx Huh , she wasn't going to fall for any more of his nonsense .sx If she saw him , she'd say " Good evening " politely and walk straight past with her head in the air .sx Coming level to Max's front drive , she saw some garden tools lying haphazardly on the lawn , and a garden fork leaning at an odd angle , half in the earth .sx Then to her horror she saw Max lying in an awkward slumped position .sx His head was partly under the hedge .sx A red alert warning of heart attack flashed across her mind .sx Instantly she was filled with fear .sx Heart attack was one of the commonest causes of death for people in the prime of life .sx She sped towards the crouching figure and skidded to a halt by his side .sx Turning him over quickly , she said urgently , " Max darling , it's all right , I'm here .sx I'll get you to the hospital as soon as possible !sx " .sx Automatically her fingers flew to his jeans belt buckle to loosen his tight clothing .sx But as she took a closer look at his face she was the one in shock .sx She had expected his face to be ashen , his lips blue , and his skin to be sweating profusely .sx Instead , she saw that his face was a healthy ruddy colour , and that his skin was not clammy but only slightly damp with perspiration .sx And it was quite obvious that he was breathing and his heart pumping blood .sx She turned a brilliant pink and stuttered , " I... I... thought .sx .. " .sx Max's faculties were firing on all cylinders .sx Before she knew it , he had pulled her down on to the springy grass and now his weight pinned her there .sx Between feverish kisses that covered her eyes , her cheeks and her mouth , he ground out , " Fleur darling , if you can't wait to rip my clothes off , we'll make love right here !sx " .sx She struggled beneath his weight , she was gasping to reply , but his mouth repeatedly covered hers .sx At last she managed to catch her breath .sx " For heaven's sake , Max , I thought you'd had a heart attack , but there's obviously nothing wrong with you .sx Now get off !sx " .sx Her cries were useless .sx He rasped close to her ear , " You're wrong , Fleur darling .sx There is a problem with my heart , and this is the best recovery position I can think of - " .sx