Wicked Christmas by Mary Lancaster

Author:Mary Lancaster
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2019-05-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

SHAKEN TO THE core, Elizabeth watched him go. She felt incapable of calling him back, even had she wanted to.

One kiss and she was intrigued beyond propriety. Two and she was utterly seduced. For the doctor was not cool at all. He burned with passion. For her…

Only for some reason he wanted her to be a governess. A gentleman should not seduce a governess without marriage. It was not kind to ruin a lady whose means of support rested on her reputation. Did he hope to resist her on that basis?

Nervous laughter trembled on her lips as she walked to the sofa and sank down on it. She had spent years acquiring this air of casual sophistication. But in truth, her experience of romance was limited to a childish and unrequited love that quickly died from lack of sustenance and a greater acquaintance with its object. The doctor was…real.

She touched her lips. Why did he kiss her? Why did he kiss her and then bolt?

Would he do it again? Her stomach dived.

Oh, no. I will not feel this again. I won’t.

She grabbed the little bell that had been placed on the table beside the sofa and rang it forcefully. Lise’s door opened almost at once.

“Bring me the book from my chamber, will you?” Elizabeth said with a shade of desperation. “I believe I shall read for an hour and then retire early.”

*

DESPITE HER DETERMINATION to ignore what the doctor had made her feel, she woke in the morning with a pleasurable little flutter. It was Christmas Eve and the world was suddenly full of unspecific but powerful hope. It was possible the authorities would find those responsible for Miss Hale’s murder, and then Andreas would be safe for now.

She enjoyed breakfast in bed with Andreas sitting beside her, chattering away. When Gretchen took him away, Lise helped her wash and don the comfortable peignoir. The last pins were just being added to her hair when she heard a knock at the outer door. With an impatient tut, Lise went to answer it.

Elizabeth hoped it was Mr. Winslow with the news that Miss Hale’s murderer was arrested. A fresh upsurge of grief and rage washed over her. Miss Hale would have loved to take Andreas to the beach with the other children, mix with other governesses and ladies of refinement…

“It’s the doctor, madame,” Lise said from the door, causing Elizabeth to spin around too fast and hold onto the dressing table for support. “Shall I show him in?”

Panic soared, but she refused to give in to this kind of cowardice. “Of course,” she said languidly, turning back to the mirror. She placed the last pin while the doctor’s brisk footsteps sounded. He appeared behind her in the mirror, keeping his distance although he met her gaze in the glass.

“Good morning,” he said coolly.

“Good morning, Doctor. How can I help you?”

“I called to see if I could help you. May I look at your wound?”

Her body flushed. She did not want the doctor’s hands on her, not like that.

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