Page 34 of How Not to Marry a Duke

When she was finally finished, five dozen neat stitches closed the wound.

“It stopped bleeding, but there is risk of infection.” Adeline straightened, the first time in more than two long hours. She rubbed her lower back and Warwick had to clench his fists to prevent himself from stepping forward to massage the muscles for her.

“You must visit daily so that I can check on the sutures. If you feel fevered, send your son to fetch me no matter the hour, even in the middle of the night.”

Mr. Simmons nodded. His son spoke up. “Thank you, lady! We don’t have much to pay you but a chicken and—”

Mr. Simmons slowly slid off the table, then sagged against it, leaning heavily on his uninjured leg. “This table wobbles. I can make you a fine new table and fix your shutters. I noticed a crooked shutter outside.”

Warwick was impressed he’d even noticed the shutters when he’d arrived here with that nasty wound.

“A table would be wonderful, Mr. Simmons. But not until you are completely healed.”

Adeline’s smile caught Warwick off guard, and he froze, his heart pounding in his chest.

Bloody hell. Their simple ruse was becoming more complicated by the minute.

…

“You arrived earlier than expected today, Your Grace,” Adeline said.

After Hasmik had accompanied Mr. Simmons and his son back to their home to see the father comfortably settled, Warwick stayed behind. Adeline disposed of the dirty rags, then slipped the bloodstained apron over her head. She was bone weary, her whole body limp with fatigue, and she wanted nothing more than to collapse on her sofa and rest her feet on the ottoman. Her back ached from bending over her patient and her eyes were tired from focusing on the needle in her hand.

Warwick pushed away from the wall and came closer, his steps measured, his gaze steady. Adeline’s heart thumped an irregular beat. “I finished my work on the engine for the day, and I longed to see you.”

Adeline stared at him as he stood before her. An unwanted warmth flooded her body, her skin tingling beneath her blue dress. Sunlight from the parlor window cast his chiseled features half in light, half in shadow. What in heaven did he mean when he said he longed to see her?

“You have seen my workshop. I was interested in your herbs—local and mid-eastern ones—as well as your medicinal concoctions,” he said. “But I learned much more than I thought I would. I was also taken by surprise.”

“Oh? What do you mean?”

“Your abilities, for one. You are much more skilled than a simple healer with a batch of medicinal herbs at your disposal.”

The way he looked at her—intense, heated, and full of something akin to suspicion—made her nervous. She began putting away her suture kit, her movements quick and measured. “I don’t know whether to be insulted or pleased by your assumptions.”

“Pleased. My comments were meant to be complimentary.”

She arched an eyebrow and met his gaze. “And here I thought you took me seriously after treating your burn.”

His jaw tightened. “I did. I do. But then I watched you stitch up that man’s jagged and bloody wound with calm and precision. You have done that before.”

She had. Five times to be exact.

“You are a surgeon.” The statement was more accusation than fact.

“No. You are mistaken. I am no surgeon. I am an herbalist and healer who helps people who cannot afford or do not have access to a fancy London doctor. I still have much to learn.”

The tightness in his expression eased. “So do most of the men who call themselves London doctors.”

She grinned. She couldn’t help herself.

“The carpenter’s recovery will be due entirely to your ability.” He crossed his arms over his chest. It was a very broad chest, and she found it hard to tear her gaze away.

She inwardly shook herself. “I’ve learned to wait and see. I meant what I said about the risk of fever.”

“It’s expected.” He bowed, then moved to the door. “You must be tired, Lady Adeline. I will leave you to recover.”

To her surprise, she wasn’t ready for him to leave. Questions remained and she wanted answers from the elusive duke. “Wait. I still want to understand your motives. Why the interest in my herbs in the first place?”