Free ThePleasureDevice by Regina Kammer Page B

a strange man?”
    “But you aren’t strange. We’ve been introduced.”
    “But we are alone,” he reminded her.
    She glanced down and bit her lip. “Yes, I suppose we are.
Well, not really. I mean, Lady Banbury is only over there.” She pointed across
the terrace.
    There he saw Lady Banbury lying, probably asleep, on a
chaise longue. He chuckled. “Why don’t I escort you nearer your chaperon?” He
held out his arm.
    She slipped her hand around his elbow. As she had earlier
that afternoon, she gripped him as if needing stability, sparking a pang of
desire in his core. A moment later, she loosened her hold, the warmth of her
touch and her closeness sustaining the excitement within him.
    “And really, Dr. Ramsay, it’s all right. You’re just a
doctor and I’m supposed to marry a duke or something.”
    Just a doctor . The words hurt even though he knew
they weren’t intended to. “What about an earl?”
    “I think I can marry one of those too. Aren’t they all old?”
    “Earls?”
    “Men with titles.”
    “I suspect your parents want you to marry an heir to a
title. They’re not always old.” He leaned in just a bit. “Some are even
handsome.”
    She glanced up at him, then quickly looked away, her cheeks rosy.
    Her artless modesty was beguiling—and thrilling. The
excitement deep down flared, warming him all over, a heat intensified with the
afternoon sun. Never had such innocence aroused him, her arm in his, their
perfect ambling rhythm, her subtly seductive scent—
    “What sort of doctor are you?” she said at last, changing
the subject.
    “Family doctor. At least, I’m in training to be one.”
    “Like for children?”
    “Yes, mothers, children, that sort of thing.”
    “Did you have to study a long time to do that?”
    “Well, I have been studying a long time, but I’ve only just
secured practical work in a medical office.”
    “Why did you want to become a doctor?” she asked with
sincere interest.
    He thought a moment. “I wanted to help people, to heal them.”
A memory of his mother flashed in his mind, distracting him for a moment before
the delicate weight of Miss Phillips’ hand on his arm brought him back to his
rather enchanting present. “And I like science, I suppose.”
    “I like science too,” she said with giddy energy.
    Nicholas stopped and turned to her, seeing for himself the
enthusiasm in her eyes. “You do?” It was simply too much to ask.
    “Oh yes. I’ve just read On the Origin of Species ,”
she said proudly, then quickly lowered her voice. “Although Mama says I’m not
to tell anyone that.”
    “You read Charles Darwin?” He had to dampen his incredulity
so as not to appear impolite. He resumed their stroll as if he met debutantes
who read scientific treatises every day.
    “Oh yes! I found it ever so fascinating.” She bit her lip, a
charming little quirk that seemed to indicate girlish mischievousness. “Those
are the sorts of books I usually read, Dr. Ramsay.”
    Nicholas laughed. “And what compelled you to read Mr.
Darwin?”
    “Papa bought a very fine copy for his library and he
recommended it. He knows I’m interested in the natural world and we were
discussing why some of the plants he sees on his travels are so different from
what we have here.” Her eyes twinkled at him. “I even know the Latin names.”
    “You know Latin?” This was too good to be true.
    “No, not really. Just for plant names and such. I just
studied by myself a little. Nothing formal in school.”
    Good God. She was inspired enough to learn Latin on her own?
Nicholas broke out in a grin.
    She giggled, at what he did not know, but it was a lovely
sound, a sound that was music to his ears. She giggled again, then blushed and
bit her lower lip. A very plump and enticing lower lip.
    “What’s so funny?” he asked.
    “Speaking of Mr. Darwin,” she said quietly, “I think we’ve
witnessed a bit of natural selection today.”
    “Because the Roxton twins have