He slowly lifted his free hand, and when she did not step back, he gently stroked her cheek. Pleasure tingled through her.
“You are lovely by candlelight.” His gaze roved her face and then settled on her lips.
He pressed his own lips together before abruptly drawing himself up and retreating a step. “As tempted as I am, I shall restrain myself and treat you with the respect you deserve.”
Disappointment was rapidly followed by admiration, even though at the moment she almost wished he were notquiteso principled.
Then she thought of Fanny and Rosa. Their clandestine courtships with Jude Dalby. The stolen moments and stolen kisses. Sneaking around and whispering in the dark, finding ways to be alone as often as possible...
Dr. Finch was right. Such things could easily lead to more. To regret. And heartache. Even shame.
As if conjured by her thoughts, Mr. Dalby came around the corner. His eyes glinted knowingly. “Well, well, well. What is happening here?”
Dr. Finch’s grip tightened on his bag. His jaw tensed as well.
Mr. Dalby continued, “I am surprised to find you alone in the dark, Dr. Finch, with an unmarried, unprotected female. Somewhat hypocritical, would you not say?”
“We were just in with your aunt. Nothing happened here.”
“If you say so.”
“I do. And if I learn you’ve said otherwise, I will...”
“What? Fail to protect a lady as you failed once before?”Jude smirked.
Dr. Finch’s nostrils flared.“I may have failed once, but I promise you, if you dare lay a finger on either young woman in this house, I will call you out as I should have done before.”
“Scary!” Jude waggled his fingers and gave a faux shudder. He walked to Katherine’s room, knocked, and when she responded, let himself inside.
Fearing Dr. Finch might pursue him and the two come to blows, Anne took his arm. “Come. I will walk you out.”
She placed the goose feather in the lock and led him down the stairs and to the side door.
“Sorry about that,” Anne said quietly. “Mr. Dalby enjoys provoking people.”
“Clearly. Well. Good-night, Miss Loveday. I will hope to see you again soon.”
“I shall look forward to it.”
After Dr. Finch departed, Anne took Louie out a final time, then went down to the kitchen for a glass of milk, hoping it would help her sleep, for she was indeed weary. She gave Louie a bedtime treat, then poured the milk and helped herself to an iced ginger biscuit from the tin, sitting on a stool at the counter to enjoy both.
Returning upstairs a short while later, she saw Mr. Dalby again, this time quietly exiting his aunt’s room.
“What were you doing in there?” she asked.
“Is it any of your business,nurse, if I wish to visit my aunt, to see how she gets on?”
“She was trying to sleep. Did you not see the feather in the lock?”
He bent and retrieved it from the floor. “This? An effective deterrent to be sure.”
“Did you ... do something in there? Give her something?”
“My best wishes and nothing more. Wait—do you accuse me? If anyone administered something to my aunt, it would have been you. Or perhaps one of her doctors. Marsland has his own grudge against Lady Celia, for all his obsequious ways.”
“Has he? Then he is not alone. For I heard the two of you arguing. About money and the possibility of revising her will?”
“Did you indeed?”
