Not Always a Saint (6 page)

Dear God, was she Randall's wife?

The stabbing pang he felt lasted only a moment. When the smaller woman tucked her hand around Randall's arm, Daniel saw the deep intimacy between them. She must be his wife, Lady Julia.

Again Daniel found himself moving involuntarily toward the woman in black. For an instant he checked his movement because this was a woman who was too glamorous, too social, for a man like him. Then he continued on because he must find out who she was before he drove himself mad.

Rather than addressing her, he extended his hand to Randall. “It's a pleasure to see you again after all these years, Alex! I gather life has been treating you well?”

“Very well.” Randall returned the handshake with a wide smile. “I survived the army, and persuaded the woman of my dreams to marry me.” He gave the petite woman a warm glance. “Allow me to introduce my wife, Lady Julia. Julia, meet Daniel Herbert, the newly fledged Lord Romayne.”

Randall's wife smiled. “Even without the introduction, I'd know you for Laurel's brother. I'm so glad to meet you, Lord Romayne.”

Daniel returned the smile. “You're a midwife, aren't you? We shall have to have a professional discussion later.”

Lady Julia laughed. “I fear we'd run out of conversation quickly. I'm a mere midwife while you are a physician, surgeon, bonesetter, apothecary, and now a lord!”

“And of those, being a lord is the least interesting,” he said ruefully. “With medical work, I do what needs to be done, but I'm not equally skilled in all areas.”

Lady Julia nodded with understanding. “It was much the same in the village where I lived for a number of years. There was no other medical help for miles around, so I treated wounds and set bones and did what I could.”

Daniel thought wryly that it was a pity she was already married, for surely they would suit well. Though he'd still have to find an estate manager.

“Let me introduce our friend, Lady Kelham, as well,” Randall said. “Jessie, the new Lord Romayne was a class behind me in school, and had the remarkably irritating habit of almost always being right.”

“With age, I've realized that right and wrong are much harder to tell apart than I thought when I was younger,” Daniel said as he turned to Lady Kelham.

Now that they'd been properly introduced, Daniel allowed himself to look directly into the eyes of his lady in black. And lightning shattered him again.

D
amn the man! When had he become a lord? Jessie had recognized him immediately at that cursed rout, but it had never occurred to her that a provincial doctor might turn up in this small, private gathering.

“Lady Kelham.” His words and bow were polite and civilized, his voice rich and compelling, but his eyes blazed with desire. Though she was used to men being drawn to her appearance, she was jarred by her response. She hadn't felt so attracted to a man since she was a foolish, desperate sixteen-year-old. And look how badly that had turned out!

“Lord Romayne.” She wanted to smile warmly and extend her hand, but he was not husband material. Too young, and they had met during a period of her life she'd done her best to forget. She returned his greeting with the cold courtesy she'd learned over the years. Ice was useful in suppressing a man's fire.

But her manner had no effect, for he continued to regard her with unsettling intensity. Odd that she remembered him clearly for his kindness, yet she'd forgotten how handsome he was. She didn't remember him as fashionable, either, but tonight his immaculately tailored black clothing and crisp white shirt and cravat would have done credit to Beau Brummell himself. The severity of his garments set off his blond good looks.

Instead of flirting, he said, “My condolences on your loss.”

The sincerity in his voice threw her off balance. Belatedly she realized his clothing might also be mourning. But no matter. She could use her widowhood to keep him at a distance. “Thank you. My husband died quite recently.” She swallowed back a genuine stab of grief. “He was quite possibly the best man who ever lived.”

“Then your loss is even greater,” he said quietly.

The sincerity was real, she could see it in his eyes, along with the knowledge of death that doctors had. But there was some other, subtler emotion visible, too. Regret that she might not be interested in a new husband, now or ever?

She reminded herself that she shouldn't be watching him so closely, but attraction could cloud sense, and he was unsettlingly attractive. Wanting to turn the conversation away from herself, she asked, “Are you also in mourning? It's harder to tell with men since they wear black more often.”

His blue-gray eyes shadowed. “Both my parents died suddenly.”

“I'm so sorry.” She realized that Julia and Randall had moved on and were talking with others, leaving her and Lord Romayne with too much privacy.

She was about to excuse herself when he snagged two glasses of sparkling champagne from the tray of a passing footman. As he handed her a glass, he asked, “Forgive me, Lady Kelham, but you seem familiar. Have we met before?”

His fingers brushed hers as she accepted the champagne. Even through her gloves, she felt a sear of heat as if she'd touched a candle flame. Dear God, she must kill this curiosity and get away from him! She took a sip of champagne as she steadied her nerves. “I doubt it,” she replied in her coolest tone. “I am new to London society.”

“As am I,” he said, unfazed by her coolness. “I'm from the West Country and I've lived in or near Bristol most of my life. Are you from that area?”

“My home is in Kent. It's unlikely our paths have crossed.” Which wasn't quite a lie but should be enough to deter his questions.

Undeterred, he said, “I went to school in Kent. Perhaps I saw you there.”

He'd have been well past his school days by the time she'd settled in Kent, but Jessie felt no need to tell him that. “Perhaps.”

Even though she knew she should leave, she found that she didn't want to. Succumbing to curiosity instead, she asked, “Was Lady Julia serious when she said you have such a range of medical skills, Lord Romayne? Surely all the training required must have been very time-consuming.”

“I didn't sleep much for a decade or so,” he replied with an engaging chuckle. “The different medical disciplines are not unrelated, so separating them does patients no service. Physicians may be highly educated and considered gentlemen, but it's hard to diagnose disease from the opposite side of the room because they would consider it vulgar to actually touch human bodies.”

She laughed, thinking of the more hidebound physicians she'd met. “Which is why you learned the ungentlemanly trade of surgery? That most certainly requires physical examination.”

“Exactly. Healing requires understanding how bodies work, which comes more from clinical experience than theory.” He shook his head. “There is so much we don't know. But good men are working constantly to increase our knowledge.”

“And perhaps some good women as well,” she pointed out. “Lady Julia told me that she was fascinated by all forms of medicine from the time she was a child, and she spent as many hours as she could with the local practitioners.”

“Really? I did the same,” he said, intrigued. “Medicine is a calling, I think, and very hard to deny. Lady Julia's patients are fortunate that she was called to midwifery. I've always suspected that a female midwife has a better respect and understanding for the territory.”

“How remarkably enlightened you are,” she said with admiration. His passion for his work was obvious, and it made him even more attractive. She shouldn't enjoy the growing warmth between them, but how dangerous could it be when they were in a room full of people? “Have you been successful at combining your various skills?”

He grinned, and she realized that he was younger than she'd thought. Only a few years older than she was. “That depends on how you define success,” he replied. “I never lack for patients, but since I run a free infirmary, that's not surprising.”

She knew about his infirmary, but better to pretend she didn't. “I imagine all kinds of patients come seeking help.”

“Exactly. I might not be as knowledgeable about midwifery as Lady Julia, but if I'm the only medical help available when a baby comes, I'll do my best. I haven't lost a mother yet,” he said seriously. “I can also set bones and compound medications if necessary, though again, an experienced bonesetter or apothecary would be better.”

The man was a saint in a world that could use more like him. “You are wasted as a lord,” she said. “What do lords contribute to society, after all? While a good and versatile doctor like you saves lives. What is most challenging in your work?”

“Knowing when to do nothing,” he said wryly. “Hippocrates said physicians should first do no harm, but it's difficult to know when it's best to act, and when it's best to step away.”

“I've never thought of that,” Jessie said slowly. “When seeing a person in distress, the first impulse is to help. But it's true that if left to its own devices, a body will often heal itself.”

“And medical treatment will sometimes make a condition worse.” His mouth twisted. “But often one doesn't know if that's the case until it's too late.”

She wondered how many times he'd guessed wrong about a treatment and still felt guilty about the results. Even once would be too often. “I see that it takes courage to be a doctor.”

“Courage or arrogance,” he agreed with a self-deprecating smile.

“Are you involved with the Sisters Foundation? Mariah and Lady Julia told me that your sister is a valuable part of the organization.”

“Laurel and I worked together, but Zion House, the women's sanctuary, was primarily hers,” he explained. “I supported it and provided medical treatment, of course. I also did the pastoral work. Counseling, baptism, funerals, and even some weddings.”

His words were like a splash of ice water on the warmth that had been growing between them. This was a man she shouldn't even be talking to. “You're a vicar as well as everything else?” she said coldly. “I'm surprised you sleep at all. If you'll excuse me, I want to meet Lady Agnes. I've heard so much about her.”

She turned and walked away, but she could feel his gaze on her retreating back. With any luck, her rudeness would discourage him from pursuing a further acquaintance.

But she feared she wouldn't be so lucky. Not when so much unspoken tension had thrummed between them.

 

 

After the guests left, Daniel, Laurel, and Kirkland settled in the drawing room to unwind and discuss the evening. Accepting a glass of claret from Kirkland, Daniel said, “Thank you for having this dinner party, Kirkland. It was a real pleasure to see so many old schoolmates. They all seem to be doing well.”

Laurel laughed. “Once or twice I caught Lady Agnes surveying the room with the satisfied expression of a farmer pleased with her crops.”

Both men joined her laughter. “She has every reason to be pleased,” Kirkland said. “In many cases her seed corn was unpromising.”

“I think she succeeded because she was subversive,” Daniel said. “On the surface, she was giving us a good, aristocratic education, but her real lessons were on how to fit into society's boxes while being true to ourselves. If not for her, I don't think I would have pursued a medical career since my parents were dead set against it.”

Kirkland smiled reminiscently as he settled on the sofa by Laurel, his left hand clasping hers. “My aristocratic English relatives wanted me to develop a proper distaste for trade and for my low Scottish mercantile relations. Lady Agnes confirmed my belief in the worth of both.”

“Which helped you prosper in so many commercial areas.” Laurel smiled fondly at her husband. “The more money you make, the more I can plunder for my philanthropic projects.”

“I live to be plundered by you, my love,” Kirkland said with a gleam in his eyes.

To Daniel's relief, Laurel did not pursue the point. Some things were better said in private, especially when a man's sister was involved.

Unfortunately, the topic she chose next was worse. Eying her brother, she remarked, “You seemed to enjoy talking to Lady Kelham.”

He sipped his claret as he decided what to say. His feelings for the lady were too powerful and confused for discussion. “She's the woman I saw at the rout that I thought I recognized.”

“Oh? She didn't look familiar to me, so probably not from the Bristol area.”

“She's from Kent. Perhaps I saw her in passing when I was at school.”

Though he had trouble believing he could have seen her and not remembered. Hoping Laurel had learned more, he continued. “Lady Kelham is an intriguing woman. A new widow, I gather?”

“Mariah said it's only been a few weeks since her husband died,” Laurel said. “Apparently they were devoted to each other.”

Daniel said lightly, as if the subject was of no importance, “If her loss is recent, she's not likely to be interested in remarrying anytime soon. I'll have to look elsewhere.”

Laurel's glance was shrewd. She knew him too well. “Actually, I believe she's in London to discreetly look for a new husband.”

“That's rather sudden,” Daniel said, surprised. “But with her beauty, she won't have any trouble securing wealth and a grander title.”

“I'm sure she has her reasons for wanting to remarry so quickly.” A hint of reproach sounded in his sister's voice. “And not necessarily obvious ones.”

“I shouldn't make assumptions,” Daniel said contritely. “But this proves that I'm not a prime marriage mart target, Kirkland, since it was clear that she had no interest in me. She couldn't wait to get away.”

“I'm told she wants to find a kind, reliable, older man,” Laurel said. “Which is how I learned all this. Julia told me what Lady Kelham wants so I could keep my eyes open for possibilities.”

Daniel felt a wave of deep compassion. “She'll never find a man who can be just like her husband. It's a mistake to try.”

“She probably knows that, but perhaps on some level she feels that she can only be happy with a man who is similar.” Kirkland looked thoughtful. “I only spoke with her briefly, but she seems intelligent and not easily known.” He sipped at his wine. “I'm told they're calling her the Black Widow in the clubs.”

Daniel frowned, feeling oddly protective of Lady Kelham. “Do they think she looks for rich old husbands so she can be widowed quickly?”

“I'm told that a sprig from the mighty Howard tree with delusions of poetry wrote some drivel to the effect that she sprang unheralded from nowhere, and so great is her beauty that a man could die happy for having once held her in his arms,” Kirkland said wryly. “One of the caricaturists immediately drew a print illustrating her as an alluring black widow spider, if you can imagine. It's in his shop window now.”

“That's revolting!” Laurel exclaimed. “And very quick. She hasn't been in London for long at all.”

“Lady Kelham is a woman who is always noticed.” Kirkland poured more claret. “She has my sympathies.”

“Maybe that's why she wants another husband,” Laurel speculated. “As protection against such harassment.”

“Perhaps.” Daniel considered their interaction. Usually he was very good at reading people, but he didn't know what to think of Lady Kelham.
Jessie.
She had seemed attracted to him at first and, realistically, he was prime husband material. Then she'd abruptly terminated what had been a mutually enjoyable conversation. Apparently she didn't like vicars, but her reaction had been extreme. “I have a feeling that her life has been more complicated than merely growing up in Kent and marrying a local man.”

“Do you want me to see what more I can learn about her?” Kirkland offered. “Unlike Aphrodite, she can't have sprung full grown from nowhere.”