"All right. What should I do?"
"The same as before, only this time hold him steady by the upper arm. The shoulder is dislocated. We'll set the arm first, though. I'm afraid if we gave this part of the arm a good jerk to set it, the shoulder might pop out again."
"I understand. You're a very good doctor. Very patient and kind."
He looked away from her remarkable blue-violet eyes, suddenly shy, though he had not felt that emotion since he had been about twenty.
She gripped the upper arm and he set the bone with a pop. She wadded and wrapped it carefully while he held it steady. Her fingers brushed his on occasion.
Everywhere Belle touched him, he seemed to go on fire. By the time they finished the arm and came to the end of yet another prayer, Blake was feeling more like his old self. Perhaps too good to be so near this young beauty.
"What next?" she asked, gazing at him expectantly.
He dragged his attention away from her lovely mouth and took a quick survey of the shoulder with his fingers.
"We have to try to pull the upper arm and push the joint back in the socket. Normally I would just stick my foot in his armpit and tug, but I can't do that without damaging the arm. How hard can you pull?"
"I'm pretty strong. But maybe you should pull and I push?"
"Tug on my arm."
She gave him a demonstration.
He nodded and looked around. "Here, get between the seats again, and brace one foot against the corner. If that doesn't work, we can try it the other way."
He shrugged off the blanket and jackets from his shoulders and wrapped one blanket around her, brushing a stray strand of hair which had fallen into her eyes out of the way.
He helped her sit in the confined space and gave her back the hot water bottle.
Then he knelt down. "All right. We're going to try you pull, and I push. Ready? Good firm grip, and pull."
The bone didn't go in, but Blake said, "That was good. Just a bit more and then we need to bind it up. Ready?"
"Yes."
She tugged with all her might. This time they got the bone back in the socket with a loud click. Blake sat Mr. Greengage up and held him in place while she wrapped the shoulder and made him a makeshift sling to support it. While they worked they prayed once more, until at last he said, "There. Perfect. If you ever want a job or to volunteer in my clinic, just say so."
She grinned. "Thanks for the offer."
He sighed, and hated the unworthy impulse which caused him to pursue his next line of questioning.
"Now, Belle, I'm a doctor, so you need to tell me the truth. Are you really not hurt anywhere else except your ribs?"
"No, just there. They're better now that I'm not being crushed."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm fine. I trust you. I would tell you if there was something wrong."
"You probably just bruised your ribs against your stays."
She shook her head. "Fortunately I'm not wearing any. If I had I think I would have split my sides for sure."
He wasn't sure why the thought of her not wearing a corset was such a thrill to him, but he could feel himself growing heated again. It had obviously been too long since he had had any outlet for his desires…
But it was only natural. The young woman was so incredibly beautiful, he would have wondered if he hadn't been interested in her.
"And you're sure you're not married or, um-"
"No, I told you we aren't- I'm not- Drat this." She scowled. "What business is it of yours if I were?"
Because he felt a raging jealousy...
"Because a potential miscarriage would be a dangerous thing, of course. As a doctor I need to consider every eventuality."
"You're right," she conceded with a blush. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have raised my voice like that."
"Quite all right. I'm told I ask too many direct questions," Blake said, hating the way she was silently withdrawing from him into shyness though she had not moved a muscle.
"I do beg your pardon if I shocked or embarrassed you. In our polite society we never discuss such things."
She shrugged. "No, but perhaps we should. Ignorance can kill, after all."
He looked at her in surprise and nodded. "That's very true. It's what I tell my patients when I try to educate them."
"Do you want to examine me?"
He shook his head. It was far too risky on every level.
"I think I'll just wrap you in flannel for now and get us out of here."
She stood up with his assistance and held up her arms as he wrapped the strips around her. "Like a mummy," she said with a small smile.