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CHAPTER ONE

The doctor's exah, but Victoria's tenseness still h of relief when it was over and the little et dressed now, Miss Brown'

'Thank you' She was too taut to smile

Once seated in front of the doctor's desk, the brilliant Tunisian sun outside theentle-faced elderly man stared at her for a few moments before he said, his voice, with its heavy accent, faintly embarrassed, 'Miss Brohat made you think you were ill?'

Victoria stared back at him, her vivid blue eyes apprehensive as she answered, 'I…I told you I haven't been feeling too well, sick and dizzy, and lately it's got worse I've been feeling very tired too, and… Oh, just generally ill And then when I started to get constant nausea and couldn't keep anything down…'

'Yes, I see' He cleared his throat loudly and her apprehension increased tenfold 'Miss Brown, to the best of e you appear perfectly healthy,' he said quietly, 'but you do realise—?' He stopped abruptly, , 'You do understand you are expecting a child?' He raised his dark eyes to her shocked face

Victoria stared at him, too stunned to react

'Miss Brown?' The doctor was clearly finding it aard

'I'm not… I can't be…' She looked at him in total confusion 'I can't be,' she whispered bewilderedly, her eyes huge

'With your perently, 'just to confirs, but I am sure that I felt a twelve-to-fourteen-week uterus Now, you say you have only missed one menstrual period?' he asked briskly

'Yes' Victoria nodded dazedly 'Although…'

'Yes?' he asked encouragingly 'You have thought of so?'

'The last teren't nor…' She couldn't believe this; he had to be wrong

'That can happen with a first pregnancy—the body takes time to settle into its new role I take it this is your first pregnancy?' he added carefully, his face bland and professional

Victoria nodded, her nancy! She had considered various possibilities over the last feeeks, frorowth of soht with a slight touch of hysteria She couldn't be; she just couldn't They had only done it once That would be too unlucky, wouldn't it?

'Dr Fenez?' She spoke out as on her nant the first time you…?' She waved her hands helplessly