He did not encounter her the next day either, at which point he grew concerned. Because if he was correct and it was his connection to Robert that had put her off, he feared discovering what his friend might have done to distress her so.
He knit his brow and considered the possibilities. As lads, Robert had been the wilder one—the one who snuck brandy and cheroots into the dorm at Eton and bravely took the blame the one time when they’d gotten caught.
Later, at Cambridge, Robert had started a private group that selected its members based on position and wealth. Joining had been a natural thing for Henry considering his longstanding friendship with Robert by then. And it had been fun for a while. He’d enjoyed the parties and the women Robert had managed to procure. Until he started becoming aware of Robert’s temper. Henry had witnessed it on a few occasions, like when Robert refused to pay for a woman he’d bedded because she’d failed to meet his expectations. A fight had ensued in the brothel they’d visited, and eventually they’d both been tossed out with a warning to never return.
Two days later, Henry had happened upon the demimondaine at the heart of the conflict. She’d been begging for coin when he’d gone into town. Bruised and with her lip cut, she’d screamed accusations at Henry as soon as she’d seen him, pointing to her beaten face and claiming his friend was to blame for her losing her job.
Shocked and embarrassed by the unwanted attention she’d drawn to him, Henry had fled. When he’d mentioned the incident later to Robert, Robert had said that such lies were what one could expect from a whore such as her. He’d denied ever laying a hand on the woman, but something in his eyes had made Henry wonder. It was part of the reason why they’d drifted apart in the years that had followed. Because somewhere deep down inside, Henry had known that his friend had returned to that brothel and taken revenge. He just hadn’t wanted to believe it.
Regardless of his wishes, Viola didn’t return until the following morning. Even though she’d pulled her hair back in the tightest knot he’d ever seen and her face conveyed nothing but the utmost professionalism, he still thought her stunning. A curious alertness pulled at his gut the moment her eyes found his. For although her expression was guarded and she seemed intent on refusing to smile, warmth emanated from her gaze—a testament to how she truly felt about him.
“You look well today, Mr. Lowell. According to what Emily tells me, you have continued to improve since I saw you. Having discussed your progress with her, I have concluded that you are ready to be discharged the day after tomorrow.”
Henry’s heart fell. He didn’t want to go home. He wanted to stay here and talk to her. He wanted to watch her gray eyes come alive with mischief, shrewdness and irritation. It didn’t matter which emotion she emitted, as long as it was directed at him.
“Perhaps you should check her prognosis yourself,” he suggested.
She shook her head. “No need. I trust Emily completely.”
“But...” He knew he was grasping for excuses now. Any would do. “My brother left me in your care. Surely you owe it to him to ensure my health is as sound as Emily claims.”
Viola’s jaw tightened and he could see her struggling with her decision. Eventually she sighed and went to clean her hands. “I do not like having the competence of my staff questioned, Mr. Lowell.”
“Forgive me. It is just, I believed we were getting along rather well, you and I, and then all of a sudden you were gone and refrained from coming to check on me for one full day and—”
“Running a hospital keeps me busy.” She set her supplies on the table next to the bed. “Socializing with my patients is a luxury I do not always have.”
“And yet you took the time to play cards with me.”
When she didn’t respond, he resolved to change the subject. Perhaps if they could discuss something else, something less personal and of greater interest to her, he could lure her conversational side back out again. It was worth a try.
“Florian says you’re building a rejuvenation center.”
She pulled at his sheet and tugged on his shirt, wrestling the fabric into the desired position with mechanical movements. “Yes.” She began untying his bandage while carefully avoiding making contact with his skin in a way she’d never bothered to do before.
Interesting.
“So how is it coming along? Is it almost finished?”
She glanced at him briefly and quickly averted her gaze once more. “It is.”
So much for encouraging her conversational side. He sighed and determined to try again with a different sort of question. “What prompted you to consider such a project?”
The bandage came off and she carefully pulled back the compress to study the wound. “It wasn’t my idea. The duchesses of Huntley and Redding came up with it when they learned the hospital needed a steadier income.” She explained why this was important, changing the compress to a clean one as she did so.
“From what I understand, this center will offer saunas, the relief of muscular aches through hand pressure, invigorating tonics, herbal compresses and other such things. Is that correct?”
She tied the fresh bandage she’d used to hold the compress in place and proceeded to pull down his shirt. “It is supposed to provide an alternative to going to Bath.”
Henry said the first thing that popped into his head. “I think it’s genius.”
Her face turned more fully toward him, just enough for him to see she was smiling. Not a lot, but enough to convey her appreciation. He tried to think of what to say next and settled on “What else are you planning?”
She straightened her posture and studied him for a brief moment as if unsure whether to encourage more conversation. Holding himself completely still, Henry gazed straight up at her with what he hoped would be construed as innocent curiosity rather than a deliberate attempt at increased contact.
To his relief, it worked after what felt like the longest pause he’d ever had to endure.
“I am thinking of having enriched spring water bottled and brought to London so we can serve it to our customers as an added exclusivity.”
