Mr. Berkly’s steady hands guided her forward and helped her locate a chair. She clasped the armrest and lowered herself to the seat.
“Are you comfortable?” Mr. Berkly asked once he’d removed his hold of her.
“Yes.” She heard the two men moving about, their shoes scraping over the hardwood floor.
“Before we proceed, I must insist you wash your hands, Mr. Winterly. There’s water and soap right here.”
“Where do you want me positioned?” Mr. Winterly’s sharper voice filled the room a few minutes later when both men were done cleaning up.
“Directly behind her,” Mr. Berkly replied. “You’ll have to keep her head steady while holding the end of this instrument firmly in place. Here, allow me to show you exactly what I mean.”
A shiver swept over Louise’s shoulders as Mr. Berkly positioned himself behind her, so close the back of her head pressed into his chest.
“I’m going to pull your right eyelid slightly forward, Lady Louise, after which I’ll hold it in place using a hook I’ve designed. Ordinarily, the handle is straight, but mine matches the curvature of the face, decreasing the risk of its wobbling about. You’ll feel a slight pull and a bit of discomfort whenever you’re ready.”
Louise gripped the armrests.Her heart increased its rhythm. She tried to ignore it so she could relax. It wasn’t easy. Instinct compelled her to resist having her eyes poked and prodded, but the deep desire to have them fixed for good kept her seated. She took a steadying breath. “Ready.”
Mr. Berkly pulled her eyelid forward, inserted the hook, and drew the lid upward, preventing her from blinking. She felt the spindly handle press against her brow. Mr. Berkly held it in place with one hand while using the other to cup her cheek.
“I’ll switch with you now, Mr. Winterly.” Mr. Berkly said. “Can you manage?”
“I believe so.”
The older man moved in closer. Louise felt a brief shift in pressure as he took control of the hook. And then Mr. Berkly started withdrawing his hand from her cheek. Slowly, as if…
Her heart began racing once more, not from wariness this time but rather because of the sensual caress he’d just given.
She shook herself. Of course he’d not rushed his movements. To interpret the gentle slide of his fingers against her skin as anything more than professional mindfulness would be the height of insanity.
“How do you feel?” he asked as he removed himself from her direct vicinity, taking his now-so-familiar sandalwood scent with him.
The sound of water splashing suggested he might be washing his hands once more.
“Not too bad,” Louise informed him, “but then again, I believe the worst is yet to come.”
“So it is,” Mr. Berkly confirmed.
She liked his frankness. Not once had he tried to suggest she had nothing to fear, no cause for alarm, or reason to worry there would be no pain. He’d told her there would, but he’d also assured her that it would be worth it. He was an expert in this field and she could find comfort in knowing she was in capable hands.
“As I mentioned, I’m going to add a few drops of belladonna to your eye in order to dilate your pupil,” Mr. Berkly informed her. “You’ll experience a burning sensation, though nothing too intolerable, according to what my patients have told me. Are you ready?”
Not really, Louise thought. Instead she said, “Please proceed, Mr. Berkly.”
Marcus filled the dropper and crossed to where Lady Louise sat, stiff as a board. Her white knuckles proved how hard she was gripping both armrests and served as further evidence of her apprehension.
He couldn’t blame her. Had their positions been reversed, he’d want to run for the hills as well. The best he could do was help her get through this as swiftly as possible, though not so swiftly he risked a mistake.
With steady hands, he administered the drops to her right eye.
Lady Louise sucked in a breath but didn’t otherwise flinch. He admired her for that.
Leaning forward, he studied her pupil as it began expanding. He met Mr. Winterly’s gaze. “It is imperative you hold her steady now. If she moves even a little, I risk cutting in the wrong spot.”
“I understand,” Mr. Winterly said.
“And while I know this will put your willpower to the test, my lady,” Marcus added, “you must do your best not to move.”
“Of course,” she gritted.
