Page 24 (1/2)

"Indeed it does," the doctor said "But you are with us Which makes me rather happy"

"Who are you?" she asked

"He’s the surgeon" King replied

She looked to hieon"

"I’m not certain of his skill"

She returned her attention to the doctor "Do try not to kill me, sir"

The other man nodded "I shall do my best"

"And is it entirely necessary to pour that on my wounds?" she added, "I didn’t care for it"

"There is some speculation that the alcohol helps with infection," the doctor replied "I do hope that’s the case, as I would like to think that I haven’t wasted a half a bottle of gin"

Neither Sophie nor King found the jest a that , "Please hold her down," before saying to Sophie, "I’’s hands were barely on her when the doctor began the bullet extraction, Sophie screa a thousand ti this entire situation to happen She protested his grip, writhing beneath hiy to hold her still rather than pull the doctor from her and end her pain

"Finished," the doctor said eventually, re beforeto his bag oncewas riveted to Sophie, who had returned to the table, eyes closed, with a sigh that became a lohie to strangle the handsoht have, had the doctor not returned with needle and thread "Madaht well dull the pain"

Sophie, already pale, blanched further and nodded The doctor thrust his chin in the direction of the sideboard "There is whiskey there"

That, King could rasped the bottle and uncorked it "As this is for business rather than pleasure, I’ the bottle to her lips She tilted her head back and drank deep "Good girl," he said quietly before she coughed, the alcohol no doubt stinging down her throat

She shook her head "Bollocks!"

He smiled at that "You say that word like it is second nature"

She looked at the needle "More coal hed, but the sound was cut off by her gasp of pain as the doctor began stitching King did his best to distract her "Do you aze found his "Life before London?" He nodded, and she turned aatching the needle do its work "I do I’ve never felt quite right there" She so back They’ll never havethat if Sophie Talbot decided to return to London, she could make them take her back "What happened at the Liverpool party?"

She met his eyes "I shall tell you what happened to me if you tell me what happened to you"

His brows rose "You knohat happened to ed

"I suppose I can," she said, and there was so soft in her tone Censure Disappoint end of such disdain before; he had He’d just never cared He made his reputation on it But so done nothing at all wrong

"Excellent," said the doctor, see the string on his perfect row of stitches and halting King’s thoughts as he produced a pot of honey

"What is that for?" King asked