“Let me show you.” Luke picked up another quill and demonstrated for her.
Emily frowned and tried to imitate him. Her fingers seemed uncooperative, and he shook his head. Without thinking, he reached over and corrected her grip.
The warmth of her fingers against his seemed to spread through him as he guided them into the correct position. “Like this.”
Her sharp intake of breath made him realise what he was doing and he hastily let go of her hand, moving back as though stung. A waft of lavender washed over him and he shook his head as if to clear it.
“Try again.” Luke cleared his throat and gestured at Emily.
She swallowed and tried again. Her placement was nearly perfect. She began to write and Luke nodded.
“Does that feel better?” he asked.
He watched as Emily’s cheeks coloured, and expected a sharp retort. But to his surprise, she looked away and said, “To be honest, I have often felt more comfortable when using my left hand.”
“Then use that.” Luke gestured to her left hand.
Emily looked at him, her eyes wide and suspicious “Really? You wish me to use my left hand?”
“Yes, why else would I have suggested it?” Luke frowned.
Emily’s cheeks coloured and she said, “My governess told me I was defective. That it was a sign of evil.”
Luke remembered that way his tutors had tried to convince Rodger of the same thing. He himself had been forced to write with his right hand, but had done his utmost to spare his brother that pain.
Anger flared to life as he remembered the sharp raps on his knuckles every time he tried to write left-handed. It was only deepened when he imagined the same fate befalling Emily. “Your governess was a fool.”
“I would have thought you agreed with her. Writing with one’s left hand is hardly seen as proper.”
“And I would have thought that the prospect of going against propriety would greatly appeal to you.” Luke pointed out.
“I do not wish to be defective.” Her voice was small, and he could hear traces of hurt in it.
He felt a sharp spike of emotion and pushed it away. “Rodger writes with his left-hand. He can use his right, but his letters are uglier and untidier. It harms no one for him to use his left hand,and I have found nowhere in the scripture that says it is the mark of the devil.”
“What do you mean?”
“I spent several hours combing through the Bible to find a reference to it being a mark of the devil, found nothing.” Luke explained.
Emily gave him a curious look. “But I have heard people say it is a defect. Physcians.”
Luke raised an eyebrow at her. “Would you say my brother is defective?”
Emily shook her head. “I would not, no.”
“Then you are not either.”
“To you. But others may think differently.”
“And what does it matter what they think? You seem to care little enough for your reputation.” Luke canted his head towards her.
“That is because I can do very little to correct it.” He heard the anger and frustration in her voice.
“Writing with your left hand would give you a good explanation as to why you did not come forward sooner. And if you have asuitable support, then no one would dare cast aspersions against you.” Luke explained reasonably.Then that man would get just what he deserved.
She scoffed. “You say that like I would have such a thing.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Why are you so convinced you would not? Unless you intend on driving all sources of help away.”
