Free With This Ring by Amanda Quick Page A

water."
    "Ignore her, Finch." Leo sank wearily down onto a stool in front of the hearth. "If you value your position in this household, you will pay no heed to Mrs. Poole."
    Beatrice assumed her most reassuring smile and turned it full force on Finch. "His lordship is not himself at the moment. Do as I say. Quickly, please."
    Finch hesitated briefly and then appeared to come to a decision. "I shall return in a moment, madam." He rushed off in the direction of the kitchens.
     
    Beatrice walked briskly into the library. Elf rested his head on Leo's knee and watched her with an intent gaze.
    "Let me see your shoulder, sir."
    Leo glowered at her. "Do you always get your own way, Mrs. Poole?"
    "When the matter is sufficiently important to me, I insist upon it." She eased the cloak off his shoulder and tossed it aside.
    Leo clenched his jaw but he did not resist. Beatrice caught her breath when she saw the blood on his white linen shirt.
    "Dear heaven."
    "If you intend to faint, Mrs. Poole, kindly do it somewhere else. In my present state, I don't think I can catch you.-
    "I have never fainted in my life." She was relieved to see that the red stain had already begun to dry. "You are fortunate. The bleeding appears to have nearly stopped. I shall need a pair of scissors to cut the shirt away from the wound."
    "In my desk. Top right drawer." Leo reached for the brandy bottle with his right hand. "What experience?"
    She went quickly to the desk. "I beg your pardon?" "You told Finch you'd had some experience with this sort of thing." He splashed brandy into a glass, tossed it down in a single swallow, and refilled his glass. "Considering the fact that you have forced me into the role of your patient, I think I have a right to know the extent of your medical expertise."
    "MY father was a vicar before he retired." Beatrice opened the drawer and found the scissors. "My mother was, of course, a vicar's wife."
    "Meaning?" Beatrice started toward him with the scissors. "She took her responsibilities very seriously. She not only in-
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    volved herself in acts of charity, she frequently assisted the village doctor and the midwife."
    "And she taught you what she learned?" Leo eyed the scissors warily.
    "When I was old enough, I accompanied her whenever she was called out to attend the sick or injured." Beatrice clipped the shirt away from the wound with swift, careful movements. "I naturally learned a great deal."
    "Your mother is, I take it, the irritating sort who devotes herself to good works?"
    Beatrice smiled slightly. "My mother, sir, is the sort who takes command of whatever project she feels requires her attention. If she had not married my father, I expect she would have busied herself giving advice to Wellington during the war.'
    "You have obviously inherited her talent for assuming command." He drew a sharp breath as she peeled away the last of the linen. "Have a care, madam. That shoulder has already suffered enough tonight."
    She surveyed the raw, red crease, relieved to note that it was superficial. "I have seen one or two bullet wounds." "You appear to have led an adventurous life, Mrs. Poole."
    "They were the result of hunting accidents. Such injuries can be quite nasty. But in this case the ball appears to have merely grazed you on its way past. Had it struck you a couple of inches lower-"
    "I had some warning." He turned his head to examine his shoulder. "I told you it was not serious."
    "Any injury such as this can become serious if it is not properly attended."
    Finch loomed in the doorway. "The fresh linen and water you requested, madam."
    "Bring them here, please. Then you may fetch his lordship a clean shirt."
     
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    "Yes, madam." Finch set the tray down on a table and hurried away once more.
    "Poor Finch," Leo muttered. "I fear he'll never be the man he once was. You have quite vanquished him, Mrs. Poole."
    "Nonsense. He is simply displaying common sense, which is more than I can say for