“Might it help the duchess?” Bea looked at her hopefully, her eyes wide with inquiry.

She angled her head contemplatively. “It’s much too . . . untested. Charlotte is the only one who tried it.” Nora would want to know more about the duchess’s condition before she dosed her with the elixir. It would be too risky otherwise.

Bea reached for it. “You want me to try—”

“No!” Nora snapped her hand shut into a fist and tucked her arm behind her. “No, thank you.” The last thing she needed was Bea lost to the throes of desire and accosting some poor unaware footman.

“You needn’t shout,” Bea grumbled, moving away. “I’m only saying, if you have something that mitigates pain, then why are you keeping it from the duchess? Hasn’t she been through enough? Poor woman. She is in great pain.”

Nora uncurled her fingers and brought her hand back around to look down and examine the tiny bronze vial resting so innocently in her palm. Why not indeed?

The brew did, in fact, numb pain with no adverse consequences. She thought about that for a moment and mentally amended. No long-standing adverse consequences. It just happened to have one pesky side effect. A pesky potential side effect, she again amended. That was an important distinction. Who knew how the elixir would interact with another person? Everyone differed in their individual body composition.

What were the odds that Nora’s tonic would overcome the duchess’s good sense and modesty and turn her into . . .

Nora couldn’t even finish the thought. It was so ludicrous. The proper and dignified sixty-year-old lady would not lose her decorum and become mad with lust. It was impossible to envision such a thing.

Charlotte had been modest and prudent. Nora ignored the reminder, her mind continuing down a path of rationalization.

Could it really affect the duchess in such an extreme manner?

Perhaps if Nora reduced the dosage and started with a small fraction of what she administered to Charlotte?

Perhaps . . .

No. She gave a single swift shake of her head. Marian would tell her it was reckless and irresponsible. She could almost hear her sister’s voice in her ears.

Nora resumed exploring all her various remedies. Remedies that never turned anyone into a lust-afflicted beast.

She vowed not to think on it again. It was much too risky for the duchess.

Besides. She was done here. Soon she’d be back in Brambledon. Back to her life, her routines. It was doubtful she’d ever step foot in this city again. Warrington certainly was not compelled to visit Town.

She’d be gone and it would be the last she ever saw of Sinclair. She ignored the small pang in her chest that prompted. Perhaps he’d reveal her deception. Perhaps not.

Whatever the situation, she would finish packing and be on her way.