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Richard dropped her hands and leaned back. “You are not? I thought you said—” He ran a hand through his hair.
“It’s not me,” she said, swallowing a chuckle.
“Oh.” Richard grimaced. Did he just make a complete fool of himself? “But you said… And then you didn’t want whisky…”
She licked her lips, her features turning somber. “It’s Selena. She doesn’t want the babe, nor can she afford to raise it. Even if she wanted to, she’d lose her job.”
“Oh!” Relief flooded Richard, but the next moment he grimaced. He remembered Jo’s friend. She was young, beautiful, and talented. Many men chased after her during the house party. She seemed like a loyal friend. No wonder Jo traversed half the town and turned up at his doorstep. She came here to save her friend.
She came to him.
Richard couldn’t help but feel warmth from the thought. But if Jo had Richard, it seemed like Selena didn’t have anyone. Had she? “What about the father?”
Jo shook her head. “It’s Mick. And you know that—”
Richard stood sharply. “That bastard!”
“No!” Jo stood, too, and placed a calming hand on his chest, her palm burning his skin through the layers of his clothing. “Please, do not interfere. Selena would never forgive me. I just want her to have a safe procedure. Safer than—” She took a deep breath and looked away.
Richard covered her hand with his, his heart beating rapidly beneath her fingers. “Safer than what?”
Jo swallowed. “Safer than I had.” Her voice was barely an audible whisper, but it was laced with so much pain that it cut through to his soul.
What had she gone through, his dear little actress? What was her life like before she ever met him?
She spoke of a brief period when she was young when she’d been the happiest, but Richard knew nothing of her life before or after. He cursed himself for not asking. He cursed himself for using her so cruelly and adding to her pain.
But this wasn’t the time for questions. This wasn’t even the time to soothe her. Neither was it the time to envelop her in his arms and hold her close like he wanted to.
No. This was the time for action. She needed his help.
She’d rejected him brazenly before and now she was back at his doorstep. Begging.
And this told him everything he needed to know about the dire situation at hand.
“She hasn’t passed the quickening,” Jo continued. “Which means it isn’t illegal and neither is it a sin. The doctor should have no issues assisting her. But I didn’t want her to suffer through the dangerous tonics—” Her breath hitched. “I want her to be safe.”
Richard couldn’t resist raising her hand to his lips and kissing her fingers. “I know a good doctor. I shall send for him immediately. And you don’t need to worry about compensation—”
“I have the money,” she protested with an adorable pucker between her brows. Richard wanted to lean in and kiss away the frown.
“I know. But I owe you more than that.”
She shook her head. “You don’t owe me anything, Richard. And I don’t want to owe you either once this is over.” She looked down, unwilling to meet his gaze.
Her message was clear. This didn’t change anything between them.
He placed his finger under her chin and gently lifted her face to his. “I would never hold it against you. You came here for help and you will get it. Besides, I am not doing it for you.” He shrugged. “I am doing it for Selena.”
Tears shone in her eyes as she watched him with a puzzled expression on her face, which then turned to relief and then gratitude.
Richard didn’t need her gratitude. He just wanted her to be safe and peaceful. “Go find your friend. I shall get the doctor as soon as I can.”
She nodded and was about to turn away, but he stopped her.
“Wait. Take the carriage. I’ll ask the coachman to drive you.”
She shook her head. “No. Your carriage will draw too much attention. I want it done as quietly as possible.”
