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Why did he even care what the doctor said, or thought? Once he was well enough to be on his way, he would never see her again. She would join the very large group of people who disdained him.
He was used to it.
She returned to the room and stood before him, her arms crossed over her middle, a flask in each hand. He smiled at how her breasts were pushed up with her arms. The brandy had kicked in.
“Look at my face, please.” Her voice whipped around him like a crop.
He gulped, realizing he’d been staring at her charming breasts. “I apologize.”
“For what? There seems to be several issues here that need apology. Perhaps we can start with these.” She waved the flasks around.
“I did not ask them to bring that. In fact, I didn’t know they were even coming.” Why the devil did he feel the need to explain himself to her? She was not his mother, wife, or betrothed. He owed her nothing.
Except she probably saved my life.
Edwin came back at her. “I think what you should concern yourself with is how they got in here. Is there no man at the door?” Yes, he was trying to divert her, but he found himself concerned that she was here, alone most times with such an easy way to enter the building.
She stiffened, no doubt annoyed that he found a legitimate way to sidetrack the coming lecture. “Sometimes Walter is at the door, but if he is busy doing other things, maybe not. However, I run an infirmary. People must have access. The only time the door is locked is when I retire for the night.”
“That is dangerous.”
She waved him off. “I prefer to continue the conversation we started. Perhaps what you said is true, and you did not invite those men here. I have a feeling they go wherever they please, welcomed or not.” She stopped abruptly and stared at him. “Why did you drink?”
Anger burst forth. “Because I wanted to! You cannot tell me how to live my life!”
Her eyes flashed. “No. That is true. I cannot. However, while you are under my roof and care, I can tell you how to live your life. When you leave here if you wish to continue your debauched lifestyle, feel free to do so. But do not return here for treatment. Ever again.”
With those words ringing in the room, she turned and left.
And he felt like a fool.
* * *
After locking the front door—and no she did not do that because Sterling chastised her—she stomped up the stairs to her bedroom. The man was absolutely impossible. The sooner he finished with his healing, the better for her state of mind.
Even more annoying was the way her treacherous body reacted to him. He was a libertine, an alcoholic, a rake, rogue, a dissipated debaucher.
There. That should cover it.
Then why did she feel tingles in various parts of her body when she looked at him, and when he offered her that crooked, little boy smile?
Ha. He was no little boy. And although she had pretended she’d hadn’t noticed, she did indeed see his rising interest in her when he was looking at her breasts before. Then she cursed her own dampness and hardening nipples.
For heaven’s sake she was getting herself all twisted up.
Father would never approve of how she handled the situation tonight, either. He’d condemned her more than once for her soft heart. He would have thrown Sterling out the door, along with his friends.
She could not do that. The man needed help and that was what she swore to do when she managed to finagle her way into medical training. In fact, her dream was to expand her infirmary to not only accept more patients who did not have the funds to seek medical help, but also those who did have the funds but were considered hopeless.
Like Lord Sterling.
Even the wealthy had their needs, and Sterling was in dire need of straightening himself out. No, she would not become his champion, but she would send him back home free of his addiction. It would be up to him to keep it up, or spiral back down into dissipation.
Now that she as a bit calmer, she needed to fix dinner for the two of them, and Walter. She had sent him on a trip to the greengrocer and fishmonger. He should be back any time.
She took a quick look into her mirror to smooth back her hair. She stared at her reflection for a minute. What, exactly, did Sterling see when he looked at her? A staid old maid? A rigid doctor? Or a pretty woman?
Hell and damn, she was acting like a silly debutante. She hurried from the room, aware of the extra beats her heart took. Halfway down the stairs there was a knock on the door.
