Indeed it was no hardship at all—not in the way the duchess made it sound, but he could not rightly protest to that. Not without making it appear he did not want to spend time with Lady Elise. Lady Elise, the very woman with whom he ought to be spending time. After his conversation with the duke, that much was abundantly understood. At least he’d agreed to that.

The notion for this outing with Nora had come to him rather suddenly when he spotted her strolling the gardens with the Duchess of Birchwood. He had been seized with the spontaneous impulse to invite her on an excursion to Middlesex Hospital, of all places. He knew she would want to go as it was the site of a medical school, and they offered tours to the public.

Some ladies longed for a trip to Bond Street, but Nora Langley was not like most ladies. She was not like anyone he had ever met. He knew she would rather see an infirmary or visit a maternity floor or observe the surgical theater at Middlesex. He surmised that for her such a thing would be equitable to Christmas morning, and strangely, he felt compelled to give her that. He wanted to see her smile.

Chapter 14

Nora emerged from the surgical theater alongside Mr. Sinclair, feeling a little dazed and lightheaded and breathless—but only in the best respect.

She fanned herself with her reticule. It was quite the most extraordinary spectacle she had ever seen. She and Sinclair had been allowed to sit in the theater and observe the removal of an appendix! It was quite the most marvelous day.

They’d sat on one of the top rows, above several medical students. There were more students on the ground floor observing, too. Nora assumed they were further along in their studies as they were granted such close access. All were men, of course. Other than a few sidelong glances, no one had paid her presence much attention, too riveted upon the surgery being performed.

“That was extraordinary. Can you imagine cutting into someone and holding his life in your hands?” She cupped her hands before her and flexed her fingers as though she were holding an actual human organ, as though she herself possessed the talent and skill to save a life.

“No, I cannot imagine doing that myself.” He smiled mildly as he strolled alongside her.

She took several deep breaths to regain her composure and temper her excitement. He must think her overly stimulated and provincial.

Nora had cut into flesh before, but nothing like what she had witnessed today. Even as her father’s assistant, she had never seen him perform anything like that. “It was all terribly exciting.”

Mr. Sinclair lifted one shoulder. “I have seen enough blood to last a lifetime.”