Chapter 8
Hours later, Linette sat nestled beneath the thick fur blanket Adam had settled upon her before Prudie had a chance to. The flickering lantern in one corner of the carriage illuminated his long legs, though she couldn’t see his face in the shadows.
In the opposite corner, Prudie sat with her head bobbing occasionally, which told Linette the ever-vigilant maidservant washaving a very hard time staying awake.
No wonder, really. It had grown pitch-dark outside but for the pair of lanterns flanking the outside of the carriage that lit the road.
Adam’s examination of all those children had taken a lot longer than he had anticipated, but thankfully he’d only found a half dozen with any sign of croup. Mrs. Tate had insisted upon providing them a hearty meal of fishstew and fresh-baked bread before they left her cottage, and then the coachman had driven them past Arundale’s Kitchen so Adam might see where the men and older youths worked in the mine.
By then it had been near dusk, so Adam had said he would return tomorrow on Samson to meet the mine captains and perhaps even descend into the mine to meet some of the tinners. He had every expectation thatthe men’s wives and children would tell them that evening all about the new doctor, so Adam had said with some regret that he wouldn’t need Linette to accompany him to make introductions.
In truth, she would have done so gladly. Anything to further atone for the rudeness she’d displayed toward him, but at least she felt now that she’d made some amends. The two of them had spoken little on thereturn ride home, pleasantries mostly about the day and its events, as to not alarm Prudie after what had happened on the way to the tinners’ homes.
Linette closed her eyes and leaned her head against the velvet cushion, still astonished that she would have called Adam by his given name. How inappropriate and forward of her!
Prudie Dwyer had been with Donovan and Corie’s household for severalyears now, and had always been a diligent worker who took great pride in her position. A chambermaid originally, she had worked her way up to an apprentice lady’s maid, her usual duty until she’d been called upon as Linette’s impromptu chaperone.
Given that diligence, Linette’s anxiety had only increased that Prudie might speak with Corie, at the very least, about what she’d heard today—ah, butthe thing had been done! She could not undo it, nor her near tumble from the seat when Adam had caught her around the waist with his strong hands—oh, Lord…
She glanced in Adam’s direction, but still she couldn’t see his face. He sat so quietly, but she doubted he was sleeping. Every once in a while he would shift in the seat or drum his fingers lightly upon his black bag set beside him…as ifimpatiently waiting for something, though what, Linette didn’t have a clue.
Then she heard it, a distinct snore coming from Prudie’s corner, the maidservant’s chin dropped to her chest.
“Finally!”
Startled by Adam’s low-spoken outburst, Linette had to catch her breath as he leaned toward her. His handsome face illuminated now, he smiled at her, shaking his head.
“I thought she’d never fallasleep. Now at least we can speak to each other without her listening to our every word. May I sit next to you, Miss Easton?”
She gaped at him in surprise when he didn’t wait for her reply, but made himself comfortable beside her though he didn’t go so far as to lift the blanket to share it with her.
Heavens,nowwho was being so boldly forward? As if reading her thoughts, he leaned closer,his broad shoulder brushing hers.
“If you’d prefer, I can go back to my seat. I thought this way we could keep our voices low as we visit and not awaken Prudie. What do you think?”
Linette wasn’t quite sure what she thought, other than that the sensation of his shoulder rubbing against hers was most disorienting. Yet she nodded, which made him smile at her and seem to relax.
“Good. I’ve hadsomething on my mind since yesterday to ask you, but no chance until now. Is it true you’re leaving in three months for London? I didn’t want to just take Rose Polkinghorne’s word for it. Your father said she was a frightful gossip, so I’d wager a quarter to half of what she shared with me might be grossly exaggerated—”
“Mrs. Polkinghorne spoke with you aboutme?” Linette’s voice no more thana squeak, she was amazed from her shock at this news that she had any voice to speak at all. “About…about London?”
“Why are you so surprised? Are you and your sisters immune from her chatter? Oh, yes, the parson’s daughters. I suppose that might lead you to think your comings and goings are above interest…but I would think them more so, really—”
“Are you teasing me again, sir?” she hissed, glancingat Prudie to note with relief that the maidservant slept on, her snoring growing louder. “That’s it, isn’t it? You’re so thoughtful when it’s time to act the doctor, but otherwise you only want to provoke me and—and ask questions of me that are truly none of your business!”
She looked sideways at him now to find his face so very close to hers, disconcertingly so, his smile faded into a seriousexpression. Yet it was his gaze that held hers, his eyes appearing dark as night in the flickering lantern light.
“It’s true that your plans are none of my business, Linette, but I would very much like to be a part of them if you might consider it. You have bewitched me.”
She blinked at him, her breath caught, the astonishing realization that he’d just spoken her given name nothing to her amazementat what he’d said afterward.
You have bewitched me.
His gaze had fallen to her mouth…dropped open, she realized with chagrin. She pressed her lips together even as he reached up to cradle her chin with his fingers.
Long masculine fingers that felt so warm upon her skin…and she shivered, but not from the chill in the carriage.
He was going to kiss her! Truly, his face coming closer while herthoughts whirled and spun.
