Mr. Worthington gave his head a quick shake, and then, wonder of all wonders, began to clear the table. Gemma uttered a feminine noise of protest and moved to stand, but it was Mr. Worthington's turn to wave her back to her seat.

She remained in an entirely enjoyable state of bemusement while a tall, handsome gentleman did her washing up.

Of course, he failed to heat the water in the kettle hot enough to properly scald the dishes, and he made such a lather with the lye soap that she suspected it would not entirely rinse away, but her wrist ached too much to spur her to action on behalf of perfection. Besides, from her current position at the table, she had the most marvelous view of his broad shoulders and backside. Gemma sat back and looked her fill.

He removed his coat and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt as naturally as if he were in his own house. She did love nice forearms on a man. Hmm, with rippling tendons and wide, capable hands.

The throbbing in her arm eventually bid her to rise in order to fetch herself a bit of willow bark from her stillroom. A cup of the hot bitter brew sweetened with a touch of last summer's honey would be a wonderful accompaniment to her voyeurism.

She had taken no more than three steps when he was at her side, drying his hands on a towel. He followed her to the stillroom and reached down the glass jar of willow bark shavings for her. He followed her directions closely, wrapping the brittle bark in a piece of linen and pounding it small, then measuring it into the teapot and filling it with steaming water from the kettle on the stove.

She found herself seated on her throne once more with her cup. He put the small pot of honey before her as well. Imagine it, a pot of tea without ever lifting a finger herself!

Briefly, she wondered if this in any way resembled having a wife. Or perhaps a really, really helpful husband.

Dr. Oakes had been patient and kind, and hardworking — really, so devoted to the dale folk — but if Edmund had ever made a pot of tea on his own, Gemma would likely have dropped dead on the spot in surprise.