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Authors: Susan Krinard
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ordeal. Oscar's shirt and trousers
did not look as oversized on his lanky frame as she'd expected, nor did they detract
from his naturally elegant bearing .
Or his handsomeness—though he was in need of a good shave. And a haircut. But the
longer hair and the reddish beard starting on his chin only gave his features a more
roguish appeal. That slight roughness, combined with his aristocratic air, created a most
intriguing combination
She cleared her throat sharply .
Secret of the Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 03
Page 59 of 455
"What are you doing out of bed?" she demanded. "I do not remember giving you
permission to wander about the house.”
He uncrossed his arms and stepped into the room. "You never did arrive with my
breakfast.”
"I am sorry. I shall see to it shortly.”
"I can manage it myself, if you'll point the way to the kitchen." He glanced at her father.
"I didn't mean to intrude, but I couldn't help overhearing
This is the elder Dr. Schell, I
presume?”
Positioning herself to block his view, Johanna stood protectively by Papa's bedside.
"Yes. Now, if you will kindly go back to your room—”
With flagrant disobedience he came closer, gazing at her father's face. "I'm very sorry,"
he said. His expression was serious, as if he truly meant it. "It must have been a terrible
loss for you.”
Was it possible that he had experienced such losses? Something had driven him to
drink. Every one of their patients had suffered; such suffering could lead to madness, or
make a mild case of insanity worse .
"He is not dead," she said stiffly .
"But he needs care, and you have the other patients." Quentin looked past the bed to
the window, with its view of the small vineyard. "This place has a certain serenity that
must benefit your residents a great deal. It would be a pity if you had to sell any more of
it.”
Secret of the Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 03
Page 60 of 455
He'd come just a bit too close—close enough for the small hairs to rise on the back of
her neck. She moved nearer to the bed .
"Eavesdropping is not the act of a gentleman, Mr. Forster." She lifted her chin. "How
much did you overhear?”
"Enough to know that you could benefit by an influx of capital." He looked about for a
chair and, finding none, leaned against the wall. "Earlier, we were discussing the
possibility of your treating my
propensity for excessive drinking. As it happens, I can
pay you well for such treatment. Enough, I believe, to help in your current
circumstances.”
Johanna's skin grew hot. So he had overheard something she'd meant no one, not even
her father, to know. And he spoke with such
such presumption, as if he couldn't
imagine her refusing his offer .
"We are doctors. We can't turn away those who need our help." Papa had been
completely lucid when he spoke those words. He'd lived by them, and she believed in
them as much as he did. Even if Forster had been unable to pay, she would have
considered attempting treatment. But she hadn't decided. Now he was forcing her hand .
"If you've any doubts," Quentin Forster said, "the money is in my room. Over one
thousand dollars in cash and coin.”
So much? She'd never counted it, of course. The sum was considerable from her
current perspective .
"I won it quite honestly, in a game of cards." He looked up at her from beneath his
auburn lashes, unconsciously—or consciously—seductive .
Secret of the Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 03
Page 61 of 455
She turned her back on him and gazed out the window. He had made it extraordinarily
difficult for her to say no. The need for money was very real, for the sake of the Haven's
residents. With such an incentive, she could think of only one reason to turn him down .
A personal reason. He made her uncomfortable, uncertain. In his presence, she felt a
little of her normally unshakable confidence waver. And, at the same time, she was
drawn to him, woman to man. He
did not look as oversized on his lanky frame as she'd expected, nor did they detract
from his naturally elegant bearing .
Or his handsomeness—though he was in need of a good shave. And a haircut. But the
longer hair and the reddish beard starting on his chin only gave his features a more
roguish appeal. That slight roughness, combined with his aristocratic air, created a most
intriguing combination
She cleared her throat sharply .
Secret of the Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 03
Page 59 of 455
"What are you doing out of bed?" she demanded. "I do not remember giving you
permission to wander about the house.”
He uncrossed his arms and stepped into the room. "You never did arrive with my
breakfast.”
"I am sorry. I shall see to it shortly.”
"I can manage it myself, if you'll point the way to the kitchen." He glanced at her father.
"I didn't mean to intrude, but I couldn't help overhearing
This is the elder Dr. Schell, I
presume?”
Positioning herself to block his view, Johanna stood protectively by Papa's bedside.
"Yes. Now, if you will kindly go back to your room—”
With flagrant disobedience he came closer, gazing at her father's face. "I'm very sorry,"
he said. His expression was serious, as if he truly meant it. "It must have been a terrible
loss for you.”
Was it possible that he had experienced such losses? Something had driven him to
drink. Every one of their patients had suffered; such suffering could lead to madness, or
make a mild case of insanity worse .
"He is not dead," she said stiffly .
"But he needs care, and you have the other patients." Quentin looked past the bed to
the window, with its view of the small vineyard. "This place has a certain serenity that
must benefit your residents a great deal. It would be a pity if you had to sell any more of
it.”
Secret of the Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 03
Page 60 of 455
He'd come just a bit too close—close enough for the small hairs to rise on the back of
her neck. She moved nearer to the bed .
"Eavesdropping is not the act of a gentleman, Mr. Forster." She lifted her chin. "How
much did you overhear?”
"Enough to know that you could benefit by an influx of capital." He looked about for a
chair and, finding none, leaned against the wall. "Earlier, we were discussing the
possibility of your treating my
propensity for excessive drinking. As it happens, I can
pay you well for such treatment. Enough, I believe, to help in your current
circumstances.”
Johanna's skin grew hot. So he had overheard something she'd meant no one, not even
her father, to know. And he spoke with such
such presumption, as if he couldn't
imagine her refusing his offer .
"We are doctors. We can't turn away those who need our help." Papa had been
completely lucid when he spoke those words. He'd lived by them, and she believed in
them as much as he did. Even if Forster had been unable to pay, she would have
considered attempting treatment. But she hadn't decided. Now he was forcing her hand .
"If you've any doubts," Quentin Forster said, "the money is in my room. Over one
thousand dollars in cash and coin.”
So much? She'd never counted it, of course. The sum was considerable from her
current perspective .
"I won it quite honestly, in a game of cards." He looked up at her from beneath his
auburn lashes, unconsciously—or consciously—seductive .
Secret of the Wolf – 19th Century Werewolf 03
Page 61 of 455
She turned her back on him and gazed out the window. He had made it extraordinarily
difficult for her to say no. The need for money was very real, for the sake of the Haven's
residents. With such an incentive, she could think of only one reason to turn him down .
A personal reason. He made her uncomfortable, uncertain. In his presence, she felt a
little of her normally unshakable confidence waver. And, at the same time, she was
drawn to him, woman to man. He
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