Page 48 of Love with a Notorious Rake

Yet a stubborn part of her rejected what she had witnessed. It made no sense whatsoever. Aidan would not act this way. But he had.

Paris laid his hand on her arm, but she shook it off. She did not require comfort. “I’m fine. See McRae about the vaccines. I’ll wait here.” Her voice was flat, devoid of emotion.

“I am sorry Mr. Black is not what you had hoped.” Paris sounded sorry, but she didn’t want his pity.

Cristyn paced the courtyard, tempted to follow Aidan into the mill and confront him, but it would serve no purpose—and it would jeopardize their treating the children.

Paris returned within minutes. “He said no special appointments. But we can give the inoculations during our regular visit next Monday, as long as we do not go over the allotted time.” Paris scoffed. “Can you imagine the gall of the man? He invited me to his dinner party Friday night.”

“Did you refuse?”

“No. I wish to see this animal in his natural habitat. And I wouldn’t mind a formal dinner. He said I could bring a guest. I suppose I could ask Mrs. Trubshaw….” Paris rubbed his chin, as if mulling it over.

“I will go with you.”

“You think it wise under the circumstances? Mr. Black is sure to be in attendance.”

She cocked an eyebrow at Paris in reply.

“And you wish me to mind my own business,” he said.

“I do. Allow me to handle the situation with Aidan.”

“I will contrive to keep my nose out in the future. But do know I am here if you wish to converse about any of it.”

As they made their way back to the office, Cristyn decided she could not let this pass. She must hear from Aidan. Allow him to explain his abhorrent behavior toward the child. Crying and sulking alone in her room was not an option. Most shifts at the mill ended at different times throughout the week. Tonight’s was six o’clock. As soon as she was finished at the clinic, she would head immediately to the Dog and Gun Inn. Blast proprieties. Time to demand answers.

It was close to thirty minutes past six when she headed to the inn. Still plenty of daylight. To ward off thieves, she did not carry a reticule, but made sure a hat pin held her straw hat in place—she could readily use it as a weapon.

Following the same path she’d used before, Cristyn stealthily made her way through the rear yard. She slipped through the inn’s back entrance and started when she discovered Tessie from the mill standing at the bottom of the stairs.

“Tessie, you startled me.” Cristyn stared at the dirty bandage on the young woman’s arm. “You never came to have the dressing changed.”

“I got no money, Miss Bevan.”

“It was included in the original payment.” Cristyn gently peeled aside part of the tattered binding. “These stitches should be removed.”

“I’ll come tomorrow.” Tessie pulled her arm away. “I’ll have money then. I’m here to earn coin.”

How exasperating. Why couldn’t she understand that Cristyn would treat her for free? But then, regardless of their poverty, many of these people had their pride. She couldn’t fault Tessie for that. “I’m not sure I follow. Earn coin?”

“I do what I have to do to feed me family.”

Oh. Oh.

“I only tell you so you know I’m earning the coin, not stealing it like others,” Tessie continued in a low voice. “I know what happened to you. That were wrong. You’re doing good here. But when one is desperate…when all is hopeless…” She shifted from one foot to the other, plainly uncomfortable.

“When you come to the doctor’s office tomorrow, we can talk more. There are rinses I can give you. It will help avoid pregnancies, and disease. Promise me you will come tomorrow.” Cristyn clasped Tessie’s oil-stained hand. “I worry about you.”

The young woman’s look softened. “I’ve never had anyone worry about me, outside of me mother and brother. I’ll come tomorrow, I promise. Now, I’ve business upstairs.” Tessie patted her hand, then released it.

No. Not Aidan. Surely not. Her stomach plummeted with the thought.

Tessie ascended the stairs, and after a moment Cristyn followed, far enough that she could see where Tessie was heading. She stopped in front of Aidan’s room and knocked. Cristyn’s heart seized, then it started to ache. Not only bullying his workers, but now buying sexual favors from a vulnerable young woman. The door opened and Tessie was pulled across the threshold. Cristyn ducked out of sight, but not before catching a glimpse of a familiar perfect profile.

Aidan.

Grabbing the banister, she descended, her legs trembling, bile clawing its way up her throat. She covered her mouth with her hand and swallowed hard. How could she have been so wrong about him? She wasn’t one to shrink away; she should march up the stairs, bang on his door, and demand an explanation. But not with Tessie there. She couldn’t make a scene, as much as she was tempted to do exactly that. If she were a young lady of society, she would probably run to her room and sob her heart out. Take to her bed and nurse her broken heart for days.