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“Perhaps he’s changed?” Addie asked. “From what Grayson told me, Lord Sterling was an upright, honorable man until a few years ago. Then, he closed his London house, moved to Bath, and attempted to drink the city dry. He gambled into the wee hours, took mistress after mistress, flouted them even, and engaged in reckless behavior.”
“I wonder what happened that made him change so much?” Rayne asked. “He hinted at something, but never told me the story.”
Addie shrugged. “Sterling’s sister died a few months before he left London. That’s the only thing we knew. I wasn’t well acquainted with Lady Lydia myself, but I saw her at various events over the many,” she cringed, “years of my time in Society.”
“That is quite unfortunate. How did she die?” Rayne asked. She recalled asking him about his family one time when they were discussing her father, but he brushed her off. However, not before she saw the pained expression on his face.
“She retired from London to their country home without explanation. A few weeks later word spread that she had died from what her brother put out as an undiagnosed illness.”
“How very strange.” Rayne knew people passed away from such things, but that was mostly the elderly. It was not unheard of, but certainly uncommon in a young woman.
“In any event, I refused to let him drink while he was here. In fact, I threw two of his friends out and confiscated their flasks of brandy.” She smiled at the memory and gained a few chuckles from the other ladies. “He went through some difficult days at the beginning. Then as he got better, he started helping me with my books.” She sighed. “I am not very good at keeping records straight.”
“Not good at all if Lord Sterling knew you couldn’t afford to pay my maids,” Lottie said.
“Nevertheless, I will pay your maids.”
* * *
The next morning, the day after the train accident and all the chaos that had followed, Edwin made his way up the steps to the infirmary. He smiled when the door was locked, and then he dropped the knocker.
Hopefully, Rayne had gotten enough sleep after the difficult day she’d had. He’d spent a good deal of time after he left her remembering the kiss.
He’d had no intention of doing that while they spoke at the front door as he took his leave, but suddenly he was overcome with the need to taste her. The need to feel those enticing lips next to his. Although he hadn’t yet admitted it to himself, she affected him in a way no other woman ever had.
Yes, he would love to lure her to his bed, but more than that, he was taken by her intelligent, caring, and witty persona. There was depth and layers to Dr. Rayne Stevens. As much as he’d like to peel the clothing layers from her delectable body, he found peeling away the demeanor she showed to the world and seeing the real Rayne underneath could be quite the adventure.
She had more pride and courage in her than a lot of men he knew. However, he was determined to employ help for her. If she insisted on paying for it, he would make sure all her debts were collected.
“Good morning, my lord,” Walter greeted him as he opened the door, obviously dressed to venture outdoors. It was a rainy, drizzly sort of day where staying inside next to a nice warm fire, with a book and a brandy—ah, maybe not—was the best way to spend one’s time.
“Good morning, Walter. Is Dr. Stevens up and about?” He removed his gloves and hat and handed them off to Walter, who put them and his greatcoat in the closet next to the stairs.
“Yes. I was up at the crack of dawn and Dr. Stevens was already attending to those in the infirmary.” He shook his head as he buttoned his coat. “She is doing far too much, and I have a suspicion she has not been to bed yet.”
“Yes. I agree. She does tend to do too much, but I have a plan for that.” He grinned at the man and with his cane firmly in hand, made his way down the corridor to the infirmary.
“Good morning Dr. Stevens.” He tried his best not to cringe at her appearance as she turned to him. She had no doubt enjoyed very little sleep if any at all. Her hair was in disarray, the tender skin under her eyes dark, and her weariness was evident as she trudged from one patient’s bed to the next.
“Good morning, my lord. What brings you here so early?” She spoke over her shoulder as she attended to one of her patients.
“I am here to work on your books as promised. However, I have also arranged with an agency for a cook, an upstairs maid, a scullery maid, and a nursing assistant to arrive sometime this morning.”
He raised his hand as she began to speak. “You need the help and since I am in charge of your finances, I shall find the money to pay them.” There was absolutely no need to tell her he would be financing the wages for the help until he could collect what was due.
/> It was apparent to him that she was exhausted when she didn’t argue the point. “As you mentioned, I am quite behind in collecting on my outstanding bills.”
“Yes. But I intend to work on that today.” Leaning on his cane he walked up to her. “How much sleep did you get?”
“Some.” She turned and began to speak to a young man who looked almost fit to go home.
When she finished with him, he asked, “How many of these patients can leave today?”
Rayne placed her hands at her waist and glanced around the room. She swayed a bit and looked as though she would collapse at any moment. He wanted to take her in his arms and carry her upstairs and put her to bed. Except he couldn’t carry a child right now with a broken leg. And he doubted she would let him anywhere near her bed.
“Probably two, possibly three,” she answered. “Those are the ones who only need bandages changed and salve applied. The most serious one, a head injury, is no longer a problem because the young man woke up and aside from a bad headache, he’s fine. One of the luckier ones.”
“If you give me the information on who is able to safely leave, I can send messages out to the families to have them escorted home.”
