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She flashed him a tight smile. “I have not wasted all of these years of study; I assure you of that.”

“We shall see,” he repeated. “After all, I have just put my son’s life in your hands.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

“What did you say you used?” the doctor asked, his eyes flitting nervously from William to Marina and back again.

“A concoction of honey, rosemary extract, peppermint, and sleepy grass. Then, a cooling salve of aloe vera and eucalyptus,” Marina replied, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

Had she been a man, a doctor in her own right, this physician would not have questioned her.

“Sleepy grass? What is that?” The doctor checked William’s brow again as if he suddenly expected the boy’s improved condition to deteriorate.

“It is difficult to get hold of and not well known,” Marina replied.

I am not giving you my secrets, Doctor. You can research them yourself, as I had to.

“Are you quite sure he was feverish, Your Grace?” The doctor turned his attention to the duke. “Could it be that he was simply holding his breath or had been near the fire or that he had been out in the sun for too long?”

The duke came forward. “He had a terrible fever, Doctor. I assure you. It was so hot I thought I had burned my hand when I touched his brow.”

“I feel none of that now,” the doctor said, frowning. “Some latent warmth, but not a worrisome heat.”

It was dark outside, the late afternoon having blended slowly into a starry summer evening. Almost six hours, in fact, since Marina had arrived at the townhouse.

“Remind me of what you used again,” the doctor urged.

Marina shook her head. “I already told you.” She gently patted William’s hand, the boy still fast asleep. “He is not yet out of danger. I could still feel a mild fever before you arrived. He will need to be watched throughout the night and given more of the… medicine over the next few days until I am content that he is well again.”

“And who are you, exactly?” A haughty tone sharpened the doctor’s voice. “Is your father a physician?”

“My father is dead,” she replied bluntly.

The man blinked in astonishment. “Well, that is… very sad, but how do you come to have this knowledge? Who has taught you? You know it is impossible for a lady to learn medicine.”

“To study it at an institution, yes. To learn it, no. I am able to read just as well as you,” she corrected with a smile.

“You realize I could have you punished for this, do you not?” the doctor warned.

The duke shot the man a cold look. “You will do no such thing. When my footman came to fetch you, you said you would arrive within the hour. You were four hours late. If this lady had not been here, something could have happened to my son. I suggest you think of that before you make idle threats.”

Apparently, the footman had been all over London, trying to find a doctor who was not already out tending to the sickly of the Capital. This doctor, a Doctor Lansing, had been the last call… and Marina could see why, for he was clearly more concerned with his own pride than healing a patient.

Indeed, you should be glad that I did your work for you, and you will still be paid.

“You will say nothing of this, or it is you who shall receive rather unpleasant consequences,” the duke commanded, eyes burning.

Glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, Marina felt a little strange. No one had ever stood up for her before. No one had ever had a reason to, considering she kept to herself. Certainly, no duke had ever threatened a man on her behalf.

Doctor Lansing balked. “I meant no disrespect, Your Grace. It is just so… unnatural. I am worried that your son may not have been tended to appropriately, that is all.”

“Women have been healers for centuries,” Marina could not help but point out, albeit less ferociously than usual. “That is what I am: a healer.”

The doctor’s lip twitched. “Yes, well, let us hope that your… folk remedies are not detrimental to the boy.” He bowed his head to the duke. “I shall come by again at noon tomorrow, to see how he is faring.”

“Do not be late,” the duke said sharply.

“Of course, Your Grace.” The doctor walked out with the air of a schoolboy who had just been scolded, leaving Marina and the duke alone in the room, while William slept soundly.