All About Seduction by Madison Katy

Author:Madison, Katy [Madison, Katy]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harper Collins, Inc.
Published: 2011-10-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Caroline pushed the papers to the side and tried to keep her scratchy lids open. With her nightly excursions, she wasn’t getting near enough sleep. Every night at midnight she crept down the stairs and read to Jack, her finger following the words, so he could trail along with his gaze.

On Saturday after work she’d taken the gig to the bookstore in Warrington and purchased a couple of children’s books and a dictionary for him to study when she was working. Each night she questioned her sanity.

Just because he had been concerned about her didn’t mean any great thing. He’d been “concerned” enough about Mattie to keep her from being hit by a broken belt.

For goodness sake he was an engaged man.

“Ma’am, the doctor’s here,” said Mr. Smythe. “Would you like for him to wait?”

“Yes.” She popped out of the chair and reached for her cloak before she thought. Her eagerness gave her pause. It was as if seeing Jack was the best part of her day.

Hurrying outside, she tied her hat under her chin.

After they dispensed with pleasantries, Caroline felt that, outwardly at least, she had regained control of her emotions. Inside, she quivered like a pennant flapping in a gale.

Dr. Hein handed her up into his curricle. “How is our patient, today?”

“He was sleeping soundly when I last saw him this morning.” Caroline settled on the seat. Jack was getting better and increasingly restless. He kept asking for clothes and she kept staving him off. Which was silly. If she didn’t mean to use him to father a baby then there was no reason to keep him at the house, except he provided a safe haven when she was sneaking about pretending to conduct an affair. “But I can tell you, he is quite anxious to use his crutches more.”

“As he should. He will need to rebuild his strength.” The physician climbed into his gig and unwrapped the reins from the brake handle. “Has he been able to move his toes?”

Caroline shook her head. The inability to move his foot concerned Jack.

The doctor sighed. “I suppose he must have damaged a nerve in the accident.”

“Will it heal?”

“It is in God’s hands.” The doctor shrugged. “He may never have full use of his foot. Or it might fully heal. Only time will tell. At least he seems to have escaped sepsis.”

If his ankle didn’t heal properly, Jack might need to work as a clerk permanently.

Dr. Hein slapped the reins, starting the horse forward. “And our other patient? He has been taking the foxglove a few days, long enough to see improvement.”

Caroline frowned. His words didn’t seem to make sense in her head.

“Is your husband feeling better?” asked the doctor anxiously. “Perhaps I should look in on him first.”

Goodness, was she so concerned about Jack, she’d forgotten Mr. Broadhurst? “He has been well.”

“Remember, your husband must not take too much of the foxglove, but exactly as I prescribed it,” the doctor was saying. “Those who think the prescribed amount makes them feel so well that more would make them feel better are sadly disabused of the notion.

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