“Me? Oh, no. I am quite hale. The hospital has dissecting rooms and surgical theaters.” Nora’s eyes were now as round as saucers, watching him as though he were announcing words that signified life and death for her. It was deliberate, of course. He knew what he was doing.

She really was the most peculiar female. Other girls cared about shopping and gossip. Especially girls with means, and as the sister-in-law of the Duke of Warrington, she had the means to be as spoiled and vain as any debutante.

Except she wasn’t. She chose not to be. Instead, she was someone who became glassy-eyed with excitement at the mention of visiting a hospital.

“Surgical theaters? My, that sounds impressive,” the duchess said as she selected another biscuit.

“I thought Miss Langley might like to visit and observe them with me.”

“Oh, yes. Yes, yes, yes.” Nora nodded wildly, rising from the sofa, mindless of the small plate on her lap. It slid to the floor, the biscuits and cakes tumbling onto the rug.

“Oh!” Nora dropped to the floor and hastily picked up the food.

He could not help feeling a happy swelling in his chest. He had suspected this would interest her, but to see her this overjoyed and over such a small thing . . . well, he felt so gratified.

The duchess giggled. “I think you can take that as assent. She would like to accompany you, my good sir.”

Nora rose hurriedly to her feet, fairly bouncing in place. “When? Now? Today? When shall we go?”

“Yes. I was thinking today. Mortimer Street isn’t too far a carriage ride.” He glanced at the duchess. “Unless you are needed here?”

The duchess waved at them. “I have no need of either one of you. Go, go. Enjoy yourselves. Be young and merry whilst you can.”

Nora glanced down at her gown. “Give me a moment to change and I will meet you right back here.” She pointed to the floor as though it were imperative he understand where they should meet.

“Very well—”

His words faded as he watched her whirl around and flee the room.

The duchess giggled again. “Well, you have made her the happiest of women.”

He suppressed a smile. “It’s only a small thing. No hardship.”

“You are a good and generous man, Sinclair, to go out of your way and do such a thing for our Miss Langley,” she praised. “I’m certain you can’t be interested in touring a hospital. Not when you could be spending your time with lovely Elise.”

“Of course,” he said tightly.

Spending an afternoon with Nora was no chore at all, but he had no wish to argue the point with the duchess for fear that she might suspect the truth—that spending time with Nora was something he actually longed to do, that he had orchestrated this outing because he wanted to. For himself.