Free Lucy and the Doctors by Ava Sinclair Page A

quietly guide her into an adult life. It’ll hurt like hell to see her walk away, but when we do it will be with the satisfaction of knowing we saved her, and gave her a future with someone who will love her.”
    Thomas swallowed hard. A future with someone who will love her. He’d always been the reasonable one, and here was Benedict assuming that mantle as he sat feeling like a lovesick schoolboy. He wanted to tell his friend and colleague that no one could love Lucy as much as he did. But he knew to say so would be to violate the pact they’d made as doctors and researchers. She was their ward, their patient, their subject. His friend was right.
    “Thank you,” he said, standing. “Sometimes it takes a more reasoned perspective to help one see things in a proper light.”
    Benedict laughed at this. “That’s a first, me being the reasoned one.” He stood and walked over to clap his friend on the shoulder. “Why don’t you go for a walk? I’ll go check on Lucy. The fresh air will do you good.”
    “Thanks, Ben.” Thomas reached for the coat by the door and pulled it on. “I left her in the parlor with orders to stay put. I’ll be back soon.”
    Benedict watched his friend go, wondering how he’d managed to sound so sensible when he was suffering from the same affliction where Lucy was concerned. He tried to remain emotionally detached, but the truth was, he could no longer imagine life without the sweet blonde with the sea green eyes that lit up when she saw him. She was perfectly adapted for life as their ward, and he’d not been surprised that she didn’t want it to end. But Thomas was right; it would have to. But not today. Today he would go to the parlor and spend the afternoon reading with her or playing whatever silly game her child’s heart desired. He was looking quite forward to it, so it was with disappointment and confusion that he discovered that she was not where Thomas had left her.
    He checked the study next; Lucy was fond of books, and of late had taken to curling up in an overstuffed chair with a thick volume filled with descriptions of birds native to the British Isles. But she wasn’t there, either.
    After checking the kitchen, he went upstairs. At first he only heard the ticking of the grandfather clock at the end of the hall, but as he approached her room he heard something else. It sounded at first like she was crying, and Benedict hurried to her door. Usually he knocked, but concerned for her state, he opened it without warning.
    What he saw stopped him in his tracks. Sweet little Lucy lay on her bed. Her head was to the side, and one arm was thrown across a face scrunched in passionate concentration. Her legs were spread, her bare pussy exposed to fingers working the slick folds and clit feverishly. He could not look away, and gripped the door, causing it to squeak on its hinges. Only then did Lucy look up and cry out, surprised and devastated to be caught pleasuring herself so boldly.

Chapter Eight: Lucy’s Secret
     
     
    When Lucy was twelve, she’d been caught eating berries Mrs. Priven had intended to use for a pie. The kindly woman had not told Lucy she could not eat the berries, but their intended purpose was obvious from where they sat next to a sack of flour, three eggs, and a pitcher of milk. And the look of disappointment on the older woman’s face had filled her charge with an acute sense of shame.
    That feeling was nothing compared to what Lucy felt when she looked up to see Dr. Crane standing in the doorway. She scrambled to sitting, her breath coming in gasps as she struggled to recover from the shock. How could he be there? He was in his office! Dr. Allard had said so, and had gone to join him. She was supposed to have an hour alone.
    “Doctor…” It was the only word she could get out, for it was supposed to be the beginning of an explanation she couldn’t give. And what was she supposed to tell him, anyway? The truth? That she’d been touching herself to