Free Never a Mistress, No Longer a Maid by Maureen Driscoll Page B

it to soften it up.  Over the next few days I noticed the soldiers who’d
been sewn with the horse hair had fewer infections than those who’d been sewn
with the regular thread.  I believe it was something in the boiling process
that neutralized those spirits of disease.”
    “But how do you know there wasn’t something about the horse
hair that healed them?”
    Jane looked up to see if Ned was making sport of her.  But he
showed no sign of mocking her.  He looked sincerely interested in what she had
to say.
    “I don’t know for sure.  It’s impossible to use the horse
hair without boiling it because it’s so tough.  And even if it were possible, I
already know it works with the boiling.  I wouldn’t want to experiment on
someone and possibly make them sick.”
    “So how do you know the whiskey counteracts the agents as
well?”
    “My father used it, as did several surgeons in Belgium.”
    “Did your father encourage your interest in medicine?”
    “Absolutely.  I think he would’ve liked to have had a son to
carry on his work.  But whenever possible, I accompanied him on his visits to
patients.  I not only learned about medicine, but about how people lived who
weren’t born into money.  He taught me lessons much more valuable than any I
could’ve learned in school.”
    “Does he no longer live?”
    “Unfortunately, both my parents are dead.”
    “I’m sorry for your loss.  Do you live alone?”
    Something flashed in her eyes.  Was she covering up the
existence of a lover? 
    “Well, here you are,” she said as they arrived at Barrington
Manor.  “I trust you can find your way up the drive and to the house, despite
your lamentable sense of direction.  That must’ve  made spying particularly
difficult for you.”
    “Minx,” he said.  “I confess I’ve never spent this much time
talking about horse hair and invisible agents of disease before, but it’s a
conversation I would very much like to continue.  May I see you tomorrow,
Jane?”
    “I thank you for your offer, my lord, but I must decline.”
    With that she turned for home and it took every bit of Ned’s
strength not to follow.  Instead, he turned toward Barrington knowing he had a
long day ahead.

CHAPTER SIX
     
     
     
     
     
     
    An insufferable evening had yielded to a sleepless night
spent in contemplation of a certain lady surgeon.  The morning had led to
luncheon with Madeline and her friends at an inn.  And that had resulted in Ned
excusing himself to have a word with one of the footmen, but which was really
just an excuse to get away.  As he walked the streets of the tiny village, he
wondered how long he could remain out of doors before his absence would be
noted.  He’d tried speaking with Lord Barrington in an effort to dissolve the
understanding, but he’d no sooner gotten the words “Unfortunately, we have a
serious matter to discuss” out of his mouth, than the man had invented an
excuse to leave the room immediately and had been making himself scarce ever
since.   
    Ned had been unable to make his sentiments known to Miss
Merriman because the very nature of the conversation required some degree of
privacy and every time they were alone he feared for his virtue.  The chit
didn’t want to take no as an answer to anything.
    At the very least, he needed an excuse to remove himself
from the manor and take lodgings at the inn.  It wasn’t Marston Vale he wanted
to leave.  It was just the Barrington Manor portion of it.
    “Ned!”
    He turned to see who was calling him.
    “Over here!”
    Ned turned to see Vi, barefoot again, sitting on the grass
in the village green, sketching on a pad.  He walked toward her, wondering if
anyone was looking out for the girl.
    “I’m drawing a picture.”
    “May I see?”
    “Absolutely not.”
    Ned chuckled at the girl’s indignation.  “Why would you tell
me you’re drawing a picture if you won’t let me see it?”
    “Why would you want to see a picture