Free Home for Christmas by Lizzie Lane Page B

even though Iris had suggested she could bring the child up in Dorset, Eric had refused. Iris had entertained the hope that having joint care of Lydia might have warmed his heart to her. Alas, it didn’t happen.
    Becoming a little light headed, she accepted another sherry, and looked around her. Eric’s study reflected the kind of man he was; the chairs were of dark green leather, the desk strong, hard mahogany. A bookshelf ran along the far end of the room, the books’ titles etched in gilt down their spines.
    A black slate fireplace graced the other end of the room and midway between them two matching windows framed by dark green curtains overlooked the street below.
    The room had no curving lines, no fancy lace to impede the light coming through the windowpanes. It was a handsome room, a man’s room and even though he was now middle aged, Doctor Eric Miller was still handsome and eminently masculine. No wonder her wild sister had mellowed at the sight of him – though only long enough to marry and produce a daughter.
    It occurred to her that even though her looks were more rugged than Emily’s were, they might still be a painful reminder of her charming sister. Perhaps that was why he kept pacing up and down, only stopping to replenish her glass.
    However, there were compensations for not being the more beautiful daughter. Her darling father had depended on her to run the rank of shops and the lemonade factory they owned and she’d risen ably to the challenge.
    ‘Your health,’ Eric said to her, raising what must have been his third drink. She did the same before gulping back half the sherry, feeling it warm the back of her throat.
    ‘Eric, are you sure you’re doing the right thing spending Christmas at this country house? Are you sure you won’t be overcome with melancholia seeing as it’s the time of year when Emily …’ She licked her bottom lip and let her gaze fall to her half-empty glass. ‘What I mean to say is … what about Lydia? I have been seriously considering my niece’s future. She is also of an age, my dear Eric, when a young girl needs a mother’s guidance. There are certain physical aspects …’
    Suddenly she felt her face burning and immediately began fanning her face with her hand. She was not comfortable pronouncing the fact that Lydia was now a young woman with a woman’s desires.
    Eric knew exactly what she meant and almost laughed. ‘I am a doctor, Iris, and Lydia is a nurse. She is also a very independent young woman. Do you have any idea how long she nagged me to let her enter the nursing profession? She never gave up. It was what she wanted to do and she’s now studying hard. Frankly, I think she will make a splendid nurse. She is also fully aware of what happens between a man and a woman. If the medical books still leave unanswered questions in her mind, she can ask me. After all, my dear, I am in a position to know! More so than you, my dear Iris.’
    Iris’s indignant expression froze on her face. ‘If you are saying that I am not, then that was quite cutting, Eric. And cruel.’
    ‘I’m sorry, Iris. I didn’t mean to sound …’ He had always tried hard to be polite to her whilst holding her off.
    Iris heaved her bosom again and downed the last of her drink. Her cheeks, he noticed, were turning a soft shade of cerise.
    ‘It’s all right. I know what you mean,’ she said, looking everywhere but into his eyes. ‘I have never been married, so am in no position to give advice, but I am a woman, Eric. I am a woman.’
    She lowered her eyelids, afraid he might see the longing in her eyes, her desire to know a man’s body – his body.
    He drained his glass, and poured himself another. He offered her one too. This time Iris declined.
    He took a sip, looked thoughtfully into the glass then looked at her.
    ‘Eric,’ she said, rising from her chair, the beautiful mauve muslin dress she was wearing lifting softly away from her body as she moved closer to him. Panels