Read Online An Inconvenient Mistress by Caroline Kimberly - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Caroline Kimberly
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“These men go months without female companionship. You’re distracting them from their duties and putting yourself in potential jeopardy.”
Bella shook her head. “I haven’t asked anyone to abandon their post. And to be quite clear, no one on this ship has made a single untoward advance or made me even the least bit uncomfortable.” The look she shot him was crushing. “Except for you, Captain.”
“You’re done,” Phillip said again.
“This is absurd,” she stormed. “You told me you didn’t want to lay eyes on me, so I stayed in the infirmary. But upon seeing me here, you tell me I can’t be here. What am I supposed to do? Lock myself in my cabin for the remainder of the voyage?”
“Precisely,” Phillip hissed.
“That’s ridiculous!” she declared. “I won’t do it.”
He was about to shout her down when Sully reappeared. The doctor raised a hand, stopping the stream of vitriol Phillip was about to unleash. Phillip watched in amused anger as the old man took Bella by the arm and began walking her toward the door.
He patted her hand and soothed, “You’ve done all you can do this morning, my dear. Why don’t you wash up and get a little something to eat while I talk to Captain Ashford?”
Rather than protest, as Phillip had expected, Isabella looked at the doctor and nodded obediently. “As you wish, sir. Please send for me if you need my assistance.” She shot an icy glance over her shoulder. “I’ll be in my cabin.”
Sully closed the door behind her, and Phillip was on him in a trice. “What were you thinking, Sully?”
Rather than answering, Sully gestured for him to sit on the stool that Isabella had vacated. Phillip chose to pace the length of the infirmary instead. Perching on the table, the doctor folded his arms across his chest and studied Phillip for a moment. Finally he snorted and said, “Confining her to her cabin is a bit severe, don’t you think?”
Phillip shook his head. “It’s inappropriate for her to be tending men. Brownie was half naked and she was touching him! That sort of behavior would destroy her reputation.”
“Her reputation?” Dr. Sullivan scratched his jaw absent-mindedly. “We’re not in a ballroom, Phillip. I know in polite society a female would never tend to a wounded man, but the reality is that it’s not unusual for a woman—particularly a widow and a mother like Mrs. Marshall—to have some experience in healing. It’s necessary even. From what I gathered, her father was an excellent physician and he imparted much of his wisdom to his daughter.”
Sully’s chest puffed out proudly as he spoke, resembling a somewhat raggedy peacock. “She’s quite sharp. I’ve never had a more capable assistant.”
“I cannot have her distracting the crew,” Phillip argued.
“They’re simply curious,” Sully said patiently. “She’s a young, lovely widow who’s far more educated and refined than most women of their acquaintance. Now that they’ve met her, they’ll leave her be.”
“Or they’ll stalk her like a pack of ravenous wolves,” Phillip said.
Sully considered that for a moment then nodded in agreement. “Which is precisely why she should spend her days in the infirmary, where I can keep a watchful eye on her.”
Phillip snorted derisively. “I imagine you will, doc. From what I could see, you’re the biggest wolf in the pack.”
“Maybe not the biggest,” Sully said pointedly.
Phillip’s brow shot up. “What are you suggesting?”
“I’m suggesting,” Sully said calmly, “that you let the enchanting Mrs. Marshall spend her days here, where she’ll be safely hidden from wandering eyes. I won’t let her treat the men if it bothers you. She can still be useful in other ways—sorting supplies, mending bandages, mixing tonics. And in the evenings, you can keep an eye on her.”
“Me?” Phillip nearly choked. “Are you insane?”
The old man shook his head. “Not at all. If it appears you have
Bella shook her head. “I haven’t asked anyone to abandon their post. And to be quite clear, no one on this ship has made a single untoward advance or made me even the least bit uncomfortable.” The look she shot him was crushing. “Except for you, Captain.”
“You’re done,” Phillip said again.
“This is absurd,” she stormed. “You told me you didn’t want to lay eyes on me, so I stayed in the infirmary. But upon seeing me here, you tell me I can’t be here. What am I supposed to do? Lock myself in my cabin for the remainder of the voyage?”
“Precisely,” Phillip hissed.
“That’s ridiculous!” she declared. “I won’t do it.”
He was about to shout her down when Sully reappeared. The doctor raised a hand, stopping the stream of vitriol Phillip was about to unleash. Phillip watched in amused anger as the old man took Bella by the arm and began walking her toward the door.
He patted her hand and soothed, “You’ve done all you can do this morning, my dear. Why don’t you wash up and get a little something to eat while I talk to Captain Ashford?”
Rather than protest, as Phillip had expected, Isabella looked at the doctor and nodded obediently. “As you wish, sir. Please send for me if you need my assistance.” She shot an icy glance over her shoulder. “I’ll be in my cabin.”
Sully closed the door behind her, and Phillip was on him in a trice. “What were you thinking, Sully?”
Rather than answering, Sully gestured for him to sit on the stool that Isabella had vacated. Phillip chose to pace the length of the infirmary instead. Perching on the table, the doctor folded his arms across his chest and studied Phillip for a moment. Finally he snorted and said, “Confining her to her cabin is a bit severe, don’t you think?”
Phillip shook his head. “It’s inappropriate for her to be tending men. Brownie was half naked and she was touching him! That sort of behavior would destroy her reputation.”
“Her reputation?” Dr. Sullivan scratched his jaw absent-mindedly. “We’re not in a ballroom, Phillip. I know in polite society a female would never tend to a wounded man, but the reality is that it’s not unusual for a woman—particularly a widow and a mother like Mrs. Marshall—to have some experience in healing. It’s necessary even. From what I gathered, her father was an excellent physician and he imparted much of his wisdom to his daughter.”
Sully’s chest puffed out proudly as he spoke, resembling a somewhat raggedy peacock. “She’s quite sharp. I’ve never had a more capable assistant.”
“I cannot have her distracting the crew,” Phillip argued.
“They’re simply curious,” Sully said patiently. “She’s a young, lovely widow who’s far more educated and refined than most women of their acquaintance. Now that they’ve met her, they’ll leave her be.”
“Or they’ll stalk her like a pack of ravenous wolves,” Phillip said.
Sully considered that for a moment then nodded in agreement. “Which is precisely why she should spend her days in the infirmary, where I can keep a watchful eye on her.”
Phillip snorted derisively. “I imagine you will, doc. From what I could see, you’re the biggest wolf in the pack.”
“Maybe not the biggest,” Sully said pointedly.
Phillip’s brow shot up. “What are you suggesting?”
“I’m suggesting,” Sully said calmly, “that you let the enchanting Mrs. Marshall spend her days here, where she’ll be safely hidden from wandering eyes. I won’t let her treat the men if it bothers you. She can still be useful in other ways—sorting supplies, mending bandages, mixing tonics. And in the evenings, you can keep an eye on her.”
“Me?” Phillip nearly choked. “Are you insane?”
The old man shook his head. “Not at all. If it appears you have
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