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d took his wrist, placing two fingers at his pulse, checking his heartbeat. “I doubt that.”
“You wound me, dear doctor. Do you doubt your charm?”
She huffed. Never having the normal social life of most young ladies, she had as much charm as an inkwell.
“Ah, I see you don’t believe me. What shall I do to convince you?” He smirked, eyelids drooping. The man was a master.
She pulled away. “Stop this!” She cringed when she realized both Miss Roberts and Mrs. Wilson were right on the other side of the screen.
Rayne took a deep breath. “I must check your injuries today.” She shook out her thermometer and placed it into his mouth. “I will be back. Keep that in place.”
He winked at her.
Sterling’s behavior would not be so bad if she could continue to act as a professional and ignore him. However, she had a hard time dismissing his comments which only proved the man’s wicked nature. No one had ever affected her that way. And she had gone through years of medical training with all men!
But then, she had never been the sort to attract male attention, anyway. Always studying, always with her hair pulled back into a neat bun, her clothes covered in blood and bodily fluids. Young debutantes right from the schoolroom probably had more experience than Rayne had.
While she waited to check his temperature, she assembled the items she needed to change the linens on his cuts and scrapes. No, she did not notice his eyes following her around the room. No, her heart did not speed up while she was ignoring him.
She stomped back to his bedside and whipped out the thermometer. “Normal.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?” The mirth in his eyes made her want to slap his face. Whatever was wrong with her? Hitting a patient? It was time to get him away from her.
“Yes. It is good, in fact the weather is quite pleasant today, so I will have Walter put you in the wheelchair after you’ve broken your fast and roll you out to the garden. Some fresh air will do you good.” She spoke to the space over his head.
And having you far away from me is even better.
“Have I done something wrong, Dr. Stevens?” He looked genuinely confused which irritated her further. Did he do these things so unconsciously that he wasn’t even aware of them? That was why she should ignore everything he said in a flirtatious manner. It meant nothing to him.
His question should be easy to answer, but she was too flustered to respond like a sane person. “No. You’ve done nothing wrong. In fact, you are quite fine. Very fine. I shall shout it from the rooftops.” She stopped when she realized all three patients could hear her. “Lean over,” she growled.
She removed the old bandages and cleaned each scrape carefully, added healing balm and a new bandage. She saw no sign of infection on any of the cuts and scrapes. Hopefully, the fever was due to his body recovering from the abuse it had taken over the years, compounded by his injuries.
Unfortunately, his face had healed quickly, which annoyed her since the man was handsome enough with injuries. “I shall send in breakfast shortly.” She gathered her things and headed to the door.
“Dr. Stevens?”
She gritted her teeth and walked back to him. “Yes, my lord?”
“Thank you for your efforts. I am aware of your dislike of me, so I appreciate your attention even more.”
Oh, lord. She had let her feelings about him show. That was not a thing to do when one was in the healing profession. Each person should be treated with compassion, respect, and dignity. She drew herself up. “I apologize if I’ve made you feel unwelcome but thank you. I appreciate your kind words.”
He winked again. “Someday I should like to murmur other words. Softly. In your ear.” He lowered his voice. “In the dark.”
He was laughing at her! She could see it in his eyes. The man was unbearable.
She turned in a fury and left the room. She should put a large dose of pepper in the man’s porridge! He had better heal fast before she found herself beating him about the head with a heavy object.
First do no harm. Ha!
* * *
Edwin watched the good doctor storm away from him and studied her with amusement. It was so effortless to rile her. At first, he thought he was doing it to pass the time while he lay in bed. With nothing to drink. No soft willing women alongside him. No card games. Nothing that had made up his life the past few years.
Then he realized he was enjoying it, looking forward to seeing her and doing his part to unsettle her. He’d even convinced himself that he was most likely doing her a favor. She obviously had no experience with men, even though she had most likely seen more naked male bodies in her studies than he had at Eton.
She was a pretty little thing. All fire and ice. She was obviously passionate about her work, despite it being such an odd profession for a gently reared woman. That fire could be quickly doused and the chill in the room drop by several degrees when she was displeased.
