Page 82

Nor should she. A lot of things started to make sense about his darling actress. Her debonair name wasn’t just for vanity, it was to save her from unwanted advances. Her insistence on not being a mistress wasn’t just her pride, but it was her attempt to not repeat the mistakes of the past.

Jo sobbed against his chest, crying her poor heart out. And now she’d rushed back to the man who’d treated her poorly so that her dear friend wouldn’t suffer the same fate.

How brave, how wonderfully resilient she was.

He held her close to his chest, running soothing circles down her back. Eventually, she went silent, and her breaths slowly evened out.

Was she falling asleep? Richard peered at her, but she stared ahead with an unseeing gaze. He wanted to lighten the mood, but after the recounting of the most terrible part of her life, how could he?

“What was your name?” he finally asked.

It seemed to have worked because she smiled as she looked up at him, although tears still glistened in her eyes. “Hattie. But I haven’t been called that in ages.”

“Hattie. Hm…” Richard stroked her hair as he tried out her real name on his tongue. “I think Josephine fits you better.”

Jo chuckled and settled back into his arms. “I think so, too.”

Chapter 20

When Jo first opened her eyes, she had trouble understanding what was going on. She was lying in bed, tucked in comfortably with a blanket, a fire blazing a few feet from her. She shifted in bed and peered at the chair by the hearth.

Richard sat there, his head thrown back, his eyes closed, and his mouth slightly open. He was sleeping. They must have both fallen asleep while waiting for Selena’s procedure to be finished.

It wasn’t a wonder, truly, since the morning was fast approaching. Sun shone into the room through the crack in the drapes, and she could hear the birds chirping.

She didn’t remember falling asleep or how exactly she wound up in bed, but she appreciated Richard’s gentlemanly conduct in taking the chair instead of the bed.

She wouldn’t have minded waking up next to him. She would have preferred it, really. But the way things were between them, she was glad that wasn’t the case.

She sat up, propping herself against the pillows, watching Richard’s relaxed features. He looked so young when he slept, unburdened. Jo realized this was the first time she’d seen him this way. And she hoped desperately it wouldn’t be the last.

She turned away and noticed a glass of water by the bed. She took a sip and scrambled up. She wanted to know how Selena was faring. Had they slept through her procedure? Was it still ongoing? Jo did not know what to expect since her own experience was vastly different.

She’d only just reached the door when it opened, and the doctor entered the room. He was young, perhaps the same age as Richard, and she had worried that he was not experienced enough. But Richard had assured her that he was the best doctor in town, and Jo was inclined to believe him.

The doctor threw a glance toward the sleeping viscount before leaning closer to Jo.

“She is awake. Everything went well. You can go see her now.”

Jo’s heart jumped in her chest. “Oh, thank God! No, thank you, Doctor.” She turned to rush from the room but paused. “Pardon. I wanted to speak to you about the matter of payment for your services.”

The doctor frowned at her then glanced back at the viscount. “Gage didn’t tell you? I owe him a debt. I never take payment from him.”

Jo blinked from the doctor to Richard before nodding. She didn’t understand what was going on. Why hadn’t Richard told her about this? But she counted her blessings. She didn’t have a lot, and she had no idea how much the services of a qualified physician like Dr. Blair would cost. As long as she wasn’t indebted to Richard—

Oh, who was she trying to fool? She would be indebted to him no matter what. He’d just saved her friend. Jo threw a smile toward the doctor, thanked him again, and dashed to Selena’s side.

Selena lay in bed, looking pale and sickly.

“How do you feel?” Jo asked as she propped herself on the bed and enveloped Selena’s fingers in hers.

Selena looked at her with tear-stricken eyes and a small smile appeared on her lips. “I feel… relieved,” she said hoarsely. “Did you feel relief when you did it?”

Jo shook her head and cleared a large lump stuck in her throat. “No,” she whispered. “I felt sad.” At least that’s what she’d felt after the shock and horror of the terrible experience had passed. After she’d mopped the blood and bile off the floor, she’d sat and cried for hours. Yes. She’d felt sad.

“I don’t feel sad,” Selena said. “Am I a bad person for feeling relieved?” Her eyes were imploring.

“No.” Jo squeezed her fingers. “No, Selena. You know quite well that this wasn’t a sin. You didn’t do anything wrong.” Tears burned the back of Jo’s eyes, and she swallowed. She shouldn’t cry in front of Selena. Not now. “Relief is a very appropriate feeling. The only bad person here is Mick. And he should pay for forcing you into the sordid affair to begin with. Forcing you to endure all this.”