Chapter 24

twenty-four

I N THE PAST few days, Edith had spent more time with her father than in the past years, and each encounter had been charged with tension.

Yet the next conversation with him couldn’t be avoided. She shivered when she knocked on the door to his study.

“Come in.” His deep voice rumbled.

There had been a time when his voice had soothed her anxiety. She inched the door open. “Father, may I have a word?”

Mistrust tightened his features. “What happened?”

Well, she wasn’t surprised by the welcome. “I need to talk to you.”

“Let me guess, you changed your mind about your studies.”

“No.” She returned the harsh stare. “Honestly, you could stop being so aggressive. I don’t deny I made mistakes, but I’m serious about wanting to become a doctor, and I’d appreciate it if you showed some respect for my decisions.”

Was it her imagination, or did he give her a nod of approval? “Fair enough. What is it?”

“It’s about Dr. York.”

“Lord Ravenscroft’s personal physician? What about him?”

She ran her palms over her skirt. “There was a misunderstanding, and his medical licence has been challenged and might be revoked, and he needs help now to get it back.”

“Having a licence revoked is a serious business.” He leant back. “What did he do?”

Both Perry and Dr. York were ready to sacrifice themselves for her. She had to return the favour and swallow her pride. “I made a mistake…”

He steepled his fingers together on the desk and gave her a ‘No, you? Really?’ gaze.

“To help me get out of a legal situation, Dr. York falsely declared to have drugged me. As a consequence, he will be forced to go before a judge, and the medical board. But, in truth, he didn’t do anything. He invented a story and took the blame only to save me. If he hadn’t helped me, I might have ended up in in court and possibly sued for breach of contract.”

There. She hoped her father wouldn’t ask for further details because she didn’t want to talk about her stupid bet with Neville.

“Good Lord, Edith.” He removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “When is this endless string of troubles going to end?”

“I’m trying to make the situation better, Father, but Dr. York needs help. Can you intercede for him with the Royal Medical Council? He’s a brilliant physician who worked very hard to obtain his degree, and he’s specialising on alienism. He doesn’t deserve to have his licence revoked.”

“What did you do exactly?”

“Father…”

“I want the truth.” He tapped the desk with a finger. “If you want me to vouch for Dr. York, I must know what happened.”

She took a deep breath. Her throat burned with emotion. As she told him about the Scarlet Room, the awful contract, and Dr. York’s sacrifice, she skipped the part of Neville’s request. Still, the whole affair sounded horrible.

A long sigh came out of her father. “Do you realise now how your actions have ramifications and touch other people’s lives?”

She gave a curt nod, not trusting her voice.

“You do something without thinking, and good people get hurt. This isn’t reasonable conduct for a physician.”

“I know.”

“What were you—” He slouched back in the chair. “Never mind.” He remained silent for a long time.

Edith stood there, waiting, on the verge of running out of the room.

“Let’s make a deal,” he finally said in a grave tone. “You pass your admission test with flying colours, and I’ll vouch for Dr. York. I’ll do my best to help him.”

“Thank you, Father.” She itched to hug him, but his harsh expression wasn’t encouraging.

“The fate of Dr. York is in your hands.” His tone didn’t leave room for relief.

“Yes, thank you.” She hurried out of the study, her legs shaking.

She closed the door and leant against it, waiting for her pulse to slow down.

Now she had even more pressure and…a new reason to pass the test.

Perry couldn’t smile when Edith gave him the good news about Oliver because of yet another pounding headache.

Too much tension tightened his neck muscles. Not even the quiet and dim lights of his personal parlour helped soothe the ache.

“Is something the matter?” she asked, tilting her head. “You don’t seem relieved to know my father is going to help Dr. York.”

“I am.” He massaged his forehead. “Apologies. It’s a headache.”

“Come here.” She patted the spot next to her on the sofa as she’d done the other night.

He did as told.

“Lie down.” She patted her lap.

He sighed when he laid his head on her lap.

They’d gained a victory over Uncle Neville, but Oliver had jeopardised his career. Not that Perry would dismiss him and leave him alone, but the threat of prison, loomed over Oliver like Damocles’s sword.

“I have to pass the test though,” Edith said, rubbing his temples with gentle fingers.

“Then Oliver has nothing to worry about. You’ll pass.”

“I’m not so confident. I need to keep up with all the new findings in medical science.”

“I have complete faith in you.” He closed his eyes, enjoying her touch.

Her hand wandered down his neck and over his chest. “Your faith in me is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I owe you my new confidence.”

“Then I want a kiss,” he said as a joke, but it came out more serious and demanding than he meant.

She bent over and gave him an upside-down kiss that worked better than a numbing potion for the pain. The kiss was sweet and slow, exactly what he needed. But when she straightened up, breaking the kiss, he was far from satisfied.

“My turn,” he said.

After sitting up, he inched her skirts up, uncovering her lovely legs. Her stockings smelled of soap and wild jasmine. He inhaled deeply before slipping off the sofa. Keeping his gaze on her, he pushed her legs apart and nestled between them.

Her breathing sped up. He was glad she was experienced because they both could be themselves and do what they wanted with each other.

“Perry,” she whispered, all breathy.

He kissed her knee and inner thigh through the stockings. The garter at the top was a simple pink satin ribbon he promptly unfastened. The delicate fabric of the stocking slipped down her leg when he tugged at it. Another inhale.

The sweet fragrance of jasmine drove him mad with need. There was no better scent for the star goddess.

He traced the curve of her thigh and followed it to her drawers. She was all silky skin and tempting curves. He caressed her leg, widening her thighs until the slit of her drawers opened. They both paused. Her chest rose and fell quickly as he stared at her beauty. When he dipped his head and kissed her, she moaned loudly.

Her thighs tightened around him in a scented embrace as he lavished her with his tongue. He wanted to hear her scream and feel her fingers through his hair, so he deepened the kiss, tasting her sweetness. Her hips jolted, but he held them in place.

As he added two fingers, her warm velvet squeezed around them. Her moans became quicker and louder until she sagged against the sofa with a scream. The sound seized his chest with a yearning so deep he was sure he could never desire a woman more than his Star Goddess. The pulse of her flesh sent a stir of desire through him.

He smiled against her pink skin, kissing her inner thigh. “I could do this all day.”

“Oh, I’d like that.”

He kept his gaze on her as he crawled back onto the sofa. She pressed a finger on his sensitive lips, tracing them. That was all the warning he had before she kissed him, pressing her mouth against his. No more sweetness or slowness. The kiss was raw and unapologetic. But it held a familiarity that enhanced it.

He tangled a hand through her hair and pulled her closer, his headache vanishing. She poured all her passion into the kiss, pressing her body against his. The heat and hunger in her kiss made his body clench with an unbearable ache.

When her hand searched for the falls of his trousers, he growled and couldn’t stop himself from kissing her deeper.

She didn’t want to be courted now, and he wouldn’t press the matter on her, but the truth was he desperately wanted her to be his wife, which was selfish of him. He’d have to wait until she passed the test at least.

“I love you, Edith,” he said because he couldn’t keep the truth to himself any longer. He cupped her stunned face and stared into her lovely forest-green eyes. “I love you, and I’ll wait for you, whatever you decide.”

“Perry.” She hugged him with enough strength to squeeze him against her body.

She didn’t say anything else, and it was all right for him. Because it didn’t matter if she didn’t love him as much as he loved her; he would still help her become the woman she wanted to be. He would still wait. She was worth the wait.

I love you . Now a new set of Perry’s words echoed in Edith’s mind as she walked to his house the next day.

After he’d declared his love for her, they’d held each other until they’d fallen asleep under the watchful gaze of the Star Maiden. Then he’d escorted her home, and it’d been sweet and beautiful.

Why was everything that he said so devastatingly powerful and beautiful? She wanted nothing more than to be with him, but she wanted to rebuild her life first. She wasn’t sure she could embrace all the feelings she had for him, not until she sorted out her life, which included passing the admission test, becoming a medical student, and saving Dr. York’s licence.

She entered Perry’s study with her heart thudding in her throat.

“Edith.” He rose from the chair, smiling so widely to brighten the day.

Not an ounce of hurt or frustration came from him. He’d told her he loved her, and she’d asked for time. Yet here he was, smiling at her, happy to see her.

Something broke in her chest, and all the pain and loneliness of the past years came out, like water from a crack in a dam. She’d never been surrounded by people as much as in the past years, but she’d never been more lonely. Perhaps she didn’t need all of them, only a selected few.

She rushed to him, and he opened his arms. Without asking questions, he held her, surrounding her with warmth and comfort. He caressed the top of her head.

She raised her gaze to his. Her love for him suddenly could no longer be contained. “Perry.”

The butler, knocking on the door, interrupted them. “My lord?”

Edith disentangled from Perry’s embrace.

“Mason,” he said.

“Dr. Winkworth is here and asks to see you,” Mason said, opening the door.

“My father?”

Perry frowned. “Is something the matter?”

“I don’t know.” Edith stiffened when her father strode into the room like a stormy cloud.

Father eyed the closeness between them, not at all pleased. “Lord Ravenscroft.”

“Dr. Winkworth. You wished to see me?”

“I must speak my mind, my lord.”

Edith moved towards the door. “I’ll leave you to talk then.”

“No. I wish to speak with you as well.” If Father had looked stern the other day, he was positively furious now.

“I hope I can assist with whatever happened,” Perry said.

“I’m glad you’re eager to assist, Ravenscroft, because it’s a matter that involves you.” Her father put both hands on the pommel of his walking stick. “I spoke with a few colleagues and friends of mine this morning, respectable physicians who would be the perfect examiners for Edith’s test.”

She didn’t allow herself to be relieved.

Father twitched his hands over the pommel. “My friends categorically refused to have anything to do with my daughter because of a rumour circulating recently. Witnesses claim to have seen Edith and you, Ravenscroft, in a scandalous…position in Hyde Park, of all places. My daughter was seen with….” He paused, anger flashing red across his face. “With her skirts up while you…I can’t end the sentence.”

Oh, no. The darn snake incident. “Father, nothing untoward happened.”

“The incident is not what it seems,” Perry said. “A snake slid under Edith’s skirts, and I was assisting her in taking it out. Safety, not debauchery.”

“Do you expect me to believe this story?” Father raised his voice. “A snake? In Hyde Park in early spring? Please, do not insult my intelligence, Ravenscroft.”

“We aren’t lying, Father. That’s exactly what happened. Do you think I’m stupid enough to behave in such a wanton manner with an earl in a public park?”

“You’ve changed so much in the past years. I’m not sure I know you at all, Edith.” His words were like a punch in her stomach.

She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “I would never do that, and Perry would never behave in such a fashion.”

“Many people are now saying Lord Ravenscroft isn’t a gentleman,” her father insisted.

Perry paled, and a tremor went through him. He fiddled with the collar of his shirt, taking deep breaths.

“Do you realise what will happen to your sister’s reputation when the rumour reaches her?” Father huffed. “There was a time when you cared about Marianne.”

“I do care, and maybe it escaped your notice, but such a rumour would ruin me as well.”

“Dr. Winkworth,” Perry said. “Tell me what I can do to make the situation better.”

Father turned his glacial stare to him. “You should know there’s only one solution to end the rumours and save my daughter’s reputation.”

Marriage. Edith closed her fists as worry flared in her chest. Perry would surely do the honourable thing and marry her, which wasn’t the reason she was worried. They shouldn’t be forced to get married because of a rumour.

Perry cleared his throat. “But if Edith marries me, she won’t be able to find employment.”

“Edith’s medical career will end anyway if her reputation is nothing short of impeccable,” Father said.

“Rumours come and go, Father. If I stay quiet for a while and avoid going out, people will stop gossiping about me.”

“What about your tutor? I don’t have the qualifications to examine and validate your admission test. You need a certified professor. How will you find a tutor who wants to work with you? I’ve exhausted my rather extensive list of friends.”

“Dr. Winkworth.” Perry held up his hand. “I’ve been around physicians, hospitals, and doctors of all sorts. Plus as Ravenscroft, I have some influence. Allow me to ask the people I know. I’m sure I’ll find someone, and needless to say, I’m more than willing to marry Edith, should this be the most suitable solution. No, even if it shouldn’t. I want to marry your daughter.”

Father’s stance slouched a fraction. “I didn’t expect that, Ravenscroft.” He glanced at Edith. “I’m pleasantly surprised.”

Perry bowed his head. “You can count on me. I’ll do everything to protect…” He barely finished talking when he dropped to the floor, his body stiffening.

“Perry.” She rushed to him.

Her father copied her. “Ravenscroft.”

Perry lay stiff on the floor. His legs spasmed, and his eyes flared wide open. Edith held his head on her lap while Father blocked his legs and arms.

“We’re here, Ravenscroft,” Father said. “Breathe deeply, if you can hear me. Control your breathing.”

“Perry,” she whispered, caressing his forehead.

The spasms slowly died down. His muscles relaxed, and his eyes rolled back into his skull.

“Open his mouth lest he choke on his tongue,” Father said. “If he casts up his accounts, make sure he doesn’t suffocate.”

She did as she was told and gently opened Perry’s mouth. “I know you don’t trust me, Father, but I’ve changed. Perry is helping me, and nothing happened in Hyde Park.”

Perry blinked slowly, his breathing returning to normal.

“He’s an honourable man.” She caressed his cheek. “I trust him, and so should you.”

Perry swallowed a couple of times.

Without saying anything, Father rose to pour a glass of water. He helped Perry drink it. “Do you know what I want more than anything for you?”

“That I stop being wild, I guess.”

“No.” He scowled. “I want you to be happy. I don’t care if you become a doctor or not, or if you get married or become a spinster. I want to see you do whatever makes you happy, and in the past years, you’ve been anything but. That worries me more than gossip or your medical degree. I know I’m grumpy, and it’s not easy to talk to me, but I love you, your mother, and your sister more than anything else, and it pains me to see you sad and lost. I can stitch a wound or fix a bone, but I can’t mend a soul.”

“I’m not sad anymore. I know what I want.”

He moved to hold Perry up. “Help me lay him on the sofa.”

She took Perry’s legs up while Father carried him to the sofa.

“Thank you,” Perry said in a quivering voice. “I’m better now.”

“You’re welcome, Ravenscroft,” Father said in the compassionate tone he used for his patients. He covered him with a blanket before facing Edith. “Whatever you choose, be sure it’s what you want. I can live if you decide you don’t want to be a doctor. I can’t live if you’re miserable.” He hugged her. It was a crushing bear hug that filled her with love and hope.

She rested her head on his chest. “Thank you.”

He patted the top of her as he’d used to do when she was a child. “And just so you know, Mrs. Richards will receive fully funded care for her recovery.”

“Oh, Father.” She returned the hug, squeezing him as hard as she could.

Her father’s love was the best motivation to pass the test.