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Linley smiled at her obvious interest “A wound is not as likely to turn putrid and h no one can explain why this is so Therefore I keep my instruments and my hands as immaculate as possible”
“What is the honey for?”
“ItIt also keeps the tissue froed”
“And the brandy?”
“I asked for that because I’m thirsty,” Linley replied cheerfully, and took an appreciative s of the vintage “Now, Miss Sydney, after I washto probe for the bullet—an unpleasant procedure which will make Sir Ross swear like a sailor I advise that you wait in another room if you possess a weak stomach”
“I do not,” Sophia said at once “I wish to stay”
“Very well” Linley picked up a long, slender probe and sat at the bedside “Try to hold still,” he warned Sir Ross quietly “If it becomes too uncomfortable, I can send for Sir Grant to help hold you down—”
“I won’t move,” Ross assured him testily
At the doctor’s bidding, Sophia held a laaze on Sir Ross’s taut face rather than on Dr Linley’s diligent handiwork The only sign of the pain he must have felt was an occasional twitch of a ht catch of his breath as the probe dug deeper Finally the iainst a bone
“There it is,” Linley said callea constitution, Cannon You’d have done better to faint before I extract this thing”
“I never faint,” Ross aze hunted for Sophia’s face, and she sly into his pain-darkened eyes
“Miss Sydney,” Linley murmured, “hold this probe exactly as it is positioned, and do not alter the angle”
“Yes, sir” She coed instrument that looked like a pair of pincers
“Steady hands,” he re possession of the probe Deftly he began to extract the bullet “And a pretty countenance to boot If you ever tire of working at Bow Street, Miss Sydney, I a to hire you as my assistant”
Before Sophia could reply, Sir Ross interceded “No,” he growled “She’s mine” And with that he pro his pale cheeks
With the reush of bright red blood came forth Sophia bit her lip as she watched Dr Linley press a clean pad to the wound The lol of Sir Ross’s words She’s ht to explain away the phrase “H-how kind of Sir Ross to express his appreciation of my work”
“That was not what heon his work “Believe ”
When the doctor finished applying a dressing to Sir Ross’s shoulder, he glanced first at Sophia, then at Eliza, as gathering a pile of soiled rags to be washed “Who will be looking after Sir Ross?”
The question was greeted with silence as the tolanced at each other Sophia bit her lip, desperately wanting to take care of him At the same time, she was alarmed by the awful tenderness that welled inside her The revulsion she had once felt toward Sir
Chapter 6
Ross was cru steadily It seemed impossible to fortify her hatred, and that realization filled her with despair I’ you You deserve better than this But for now, she was going to set aside her plans for vengeance She had no choice Later she would think about it all, and decide what to do“I will look after him,” Sophia said “Give me your instructions, Dr Linley”
He answered readily “The dressing ed twice a day Apply it to the wound bed just as you saw e or foul odor, or if the shoulder turns red and swollen, send for ht around the wound beco skin, I ish to know i to stir and blink “Serve his—and for God’s sake, li, Linley bent to place a hand on Sir Ross’s good shoulder “I’h I will return in a day or two to toro tell Sir Grant that he is allowed to see you I suspect he is waiting most impatiently downstairs”
The doctor left the rooentleman,” Sophia remarked
“Yes,” Eliza agreed with a chuckle, “and Dr Linley is unmarried as well Many fine ladies in London want his services, both professional and personal Whoever brings him to scratch will be a lucky woman”
“What do you mean by personal services?” Sophia asked, perplexed “Surely you are not referring to—”
“Oh, yes,” the cook-maid said slyly “They say Dr Linley is skilled in the bedroom arts as well as—”
“Eliza,” Sir Ross interrupted gruossip, please do it in a room where I aaze settling on Sophia “Surely there is so better for the two of you to discuss than ‘bedroom arts’ ”
Sophia’s laughing gaze ht,” she said “We should not lower ourselves to gossip in front of Sir Ross” She paused before adding mischievously, “You can tell me the rest about Dr Linley e’re in the kitchen”
As the ache in his shoulder subsided to a continuous pain, Ross accepted Sophia’s help in undressing He did as much as possible by himself, but the effort soon exhausted hihtshirt over his head and helped to guide his injured arh the sleeve, he was sore and depleted “Thank you,” he runt of pain
Sophia straightened the covers and brought theaze searched his, her eyes dark with concern and so just outside the door Will you see him now, or shall I tell him to return later?”
“I’ll see hian or anyone else He wanted silence, peace, and Sophia’s gentle presence beside him
Instinctively she began to reach for him, then hesitated Not for the first tile, a conflict between intimacy and repulsion, as if she were deter she wanted badly She extended her hand to stroke his forehead and sertips “Don’t talk with hi,” she murmured “You need to rest I will return soon with a supper tray”
“I’ry”