Samuel flipped through the pages and stopped at the article about the inauguration of a children’s hospital in Chelsea.
There was Murdock. Polished, with fine clothes, but with the same evil eyes. “Bloody hell.”
“It’s Dr. Tucker.” Dobkins pointed at a man in the first row of doctors.
His blood seemed to freeze, and the phantom pain of Murdock’s cane stung his back. “It’s him. Murdock.”
Captain Jackson cursed under his breath.
Vivienne’s eyes flared wide. “Dr. Tucker…”
“That thug.” Dobkins tottered on her feet and grabbed the bedpost.
“Careful.” The captain steadied her.
The back of Samuel’s mouth grew tight as if a hand were choking him.
Dobkins rubbed her temples. “It was an exhausting evening.”
“I’ll ask Bernard to prepare the room next to this one for you,” Samuel said to Dobkins.
“I’ll do it.” Dobkins walked on unsteady legs. “I think I left the luggage downstairs.”
The captain was next to her in a moment. “Let me help you. A footman will bring it up. And I might need to check on you as well.” He took her elbow and led her out.
Samuel touched Vivienne’s hair.
She put the glass on the nightstand and squeezed him tightly, as much as her energy allowed her. “I felt it, that he was…evil, but I didn’t listen to my instinct. He saved my life when I got sick after the fall into the lake, and that muddled my judgement. But deep down, I knew he wasn’t to be trusted.”
“I’m responsible for all the pain you endured. Murdock targeted you because of me.”
“No, please. Don’t say that.” She pressed her face against his chest. “Please don’t feel guilty.”
He scattered kisses on her cheek. “Drink your tonic.”
She let out a dramatic sigh. “Fine.” She finished the tonic and scowled at it. “Every day to have to take this awful drink. But it serves me right. Dr. Tucker’s potions have always tasted delicious. That alone was suspicious.”
“I’ll ask Mrs. Foster to help you get ready for the night.”
“Thank you.” She took his hand.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“I wanted to leave my house, and you helped me.” She snuggled closer to him. “I’m looking forward to being your wife, feeling better, and travelling with you.”
“Where would you like to go?”
Her cheeks had regained their colour, and her eyes shone more brightly. “May I choose any place?”
“Of course.”
“Anywhere? Even Bath?”
“Bath?” It was his turn to scrunch up his face. “You can choose any place on Earth, and you want to go to a glorified spa?”
She laughed. “It’s lovely and ancient.”
“I was thinking of Paris, Rome, Madrid, New York City…or something less crowded, like Malta.”
