Slowly she raised the gla.s.s to her lips and swallowed a sip. The raised eyes caught Kenton's pleased

smile. "I hate you," she said simply and flung the remainder of the wine in his face.

Lord Jason retrieved his kerchief from her and dabbed his face dry. A more stoic expression replaced his smile.

Contrarily a bright smile now wreathed Joanne's face. She sat with her hands folded docilely in her lap.

A timid knock at the door turned Lord Jason, but not before he saw the girl tense, her fingers quickly clenched.

Cautiously Mrs. Caern opened the door-just enough to allow her to see inside. "You have a visitor,

milord," she informed him and jerked her head meaningfully at Lady Joanne.

Lord Jason followed the motion with a wry grin. "Who is it, Mrs. Caern?"

"That young Dr. Ames who called a week past."

"Ah, yes. Show him in at once.

"I believe he will be delighted at your progress, my lady," he told Joanne. He prayed that she would

remain seated and not fling anything at the good doctor.

"My lord, I am happy you were free to receive me," Dr. Ames said, genuinely pleased at the opportunity to visit. He stopped short when he saw Lady Joanne and bowed deeply.

Lord Jason rose and stepped forward. "Lady Joanne, may I present Dr. Ames.

"Dr. Aires, this is Lady Joanne Knoll of the House of Furness."

"This is indeed a great honour and privilege, my lady," Dr. Ames told her.

Joanne could only stare-startled and unaccustomed as she was to such an introduction and the young

man's obvious attention.

"And most pleased to see your recovery has been both rapid and complete," the doctor added sincerely. "It is not always one finds patients who are willing to follow my advice as you evidently have."

Having no idea what he meant, but responding to the genuine concern in his voice and manner, Joanne

smiled and nodded.

"Dr. Ames was kind enough to examine you after your unfortunate accident on the day of your arrival,"

Lord Jason threw her a partial explanation.

"And yours also?" Joanne offered with a hint of sarcasm and the lift of an eyebrow.

"Join us for a gla.s.s of wine?" Kenton asked, ignoring her jab. "Ah, I recall," he said to the physician,

"you wish to have a clear head for your patients. Some lemonade then-or tea?"

"Lemonade would quench my thirst," Dr. Ames said. He decided it best to ignore the young lady's

comment as his lordship had done but curiosity arouse about the underplay between them.

"Mrs. Caern, please bring three gla.s.ses of lemonade," Lord Jason said to the elderly woman, who had not budged from the doorway. It took a further, rea.s.suring nod from him to send her on her way.

"Take a chair, Dr. Ames. We are not high on formality here, as I have told you."

"Dr. Ames?"

Both men turned their attention to Lady Joanne. One politely interested. The other hopeful but wary.

"I was wondering if you were required to read Hippocrates' works during your studies?" Lady Joanne

asked, noting with supreme pleasure the look of surprise on her host's features.

"Hippocrates? Why I-I do not mean to appear presumptuous, my lady, but what can a gentle person of your state know of the man?" Dr. Ames asked.

"I read Greek, Latin, and French fluently, Doctor." Joann raised her chin proudly. "I-I have not been

overly occupied at home. Reading fills much of my time.

"Have you read his work?" she persisted.

A low blush rose across the young man's features. "I must admit I have not, although I know of his philosophy toward his patients. I subscribe to it, of course. As a matter of fact, one could say it inspired my coming to see Lord Jason," he said and turned momentarily to his host before winging back to Lady

Joanne.

"Would you consider discussing Hippocrates with me if I should call again?" he asked enthusiastically. "I

will speak to Dr. Fowler and see if he has a copy of the work in his library. I would need your aid-m knowledge of Greek is limited."

Mrs. Caern returned to serve the lemonade herself; evidently no one was taking a chance with Lady

Joanne, even with his lordship and Dr. Ames present. A lull in the conversation ensued.

"With Lord Jason's permission I would be pleased to help you, Doctor," Joanne said softly.

Kenton could scarce conceal his amazement as he closed the door behind Mrs. Caern.

"If it pleases you to do so, my lady, I can find no objection," Kenton replied, with a slight bow at

Joanne. He sat back down. "You mentioned a purpose to your visit, Dr. Ames?"

"Yes, my lord. Of course I was anxious to see how Lady Knoll had progressed." He smiled at Joanne

then looked back at Kenton. "But I must admit to further motive. Some business I wish to discuss with you, my lord."

Kenton nodded for him to continue, but distress crossed the doctor's features.

"We can go to the library if you wish," Lord Jason offered.

gentlewoman such as you. I beg you to excuse us."

There was no denying the young doctor's honesty. "Of course, Dr. Ames. It is kind of you to be so concerned," Joanne answered. She shifted her gaze to Kenton upon the last word, then rose and extended her hand to the physician. "It is a pleasure to have met you. Please do call again."

The startled doctor jumped to his feet as Joanne stood. He took her hand only after looking to Lord Jason for approval to do so. Giving it a gentle squeeze, he bowed over it. "The pleasure, must a.s.suredly, was mine," he said.

"There will be no need for you to depart," she haughtily informed Lord Jason. "I shall go to my chamber."

"A walk in the gardens would be much better at this time of clay, my lady," Kenton bantered back.

"Yes, yes," threw in the doctor.

"Until next we meet, Doctor," Joanne said with a flickering smile. When Ames bowed low, she stuck her tongue out at Lord Jason and strode out of the study.

"How delightful she is," the doctor noted after Joanne's departure.

"Ah, well, yes," Lord Jason agreed after making a mental reservation as to the adjective.

"What is it you wished to speak of?" he asked, curious to know what this young man had on his mind that would prove distressful to Joanne. Thus far the lady had shown herself much better at giving distress than experiencing it herself.

Chapter Eight.

Confidence temporarily deserted Dr. Ames. He gulped down half of his lemonade. Then he watched Lord Jason patiently sip from his gla.s.s.

"You mentioned your work at the Children's Hospital on your last visit," Kenton said, hoping to ease the young doctor into his purpose. "Do you miss working with youngsters what with the greater variety among your patients here?"

"Most curious that you should remember my speaking of the children's hospital, my lord," Dr. Ames said, regaining his crisp tone. "Do you have an interest in children?"

"Children? Why, I suppose I may. I have never found them objectionable but there have never been any about other than my brother's."

Ames's blanched under the explosion of a fearful new thought. "You find children of the lower cla.s.ses repulsive then, my lord?" he asked timorously.

Kenton burst into laughter. "I am sorry, Dr. Ames," he offered when he saw that he had disconcerted his visitor, "but you couldn't have asked that question if you had even once followed me about the combe. "My wife died childless only a year after our marriage and thus my brief stays at my brother's are my only experience with children in a household." He waved aside the condolences Ames was about to offer. "That was many years past and I am not unhappy.

"As for children-they follow me about like puppies. I do enjoy them. Most I find to be agreeable and eager to please."