Only Marriage Will Do by Jenna Jaxon

breeches. “A moment.” He donned the garment, reluctant to appear before her in dishabille. He glanced at the shirt tossed on the chair last night but dismissed it. Not enough time. Tying the robe’s sash around his waist armored him somewhat against her. How could any woman make him feel so vulnerable?
    He ran a hand through his hair and crept to the door. He wasn’t sure what to expect. Always anticipate the unexpected with this woman. Had she come to seduce him yet again? He took a breath, paused, and opened it.
    His senses snapped back on alert.
    Juliet stood at the door, completely dressed, not a hint of seductress about her. Instead, the frightened damsel had returned. Her face showed fine lines and she shifted from one foot to the other, wringing her hands. She had not, however, been crying. The wide gold–brown eyes pled for help, nothing more.
    “My dear, what is the matter?” He drew her into the room, concern for her distraught state overriding everything else. He made a grab for his shirt but it slithered to the floor as she sat.
    “Oh, Amiable. They have taken Glynis away.”
    “Took Glynis away? Who took her away? When?” Had his charge been kidnapped?
    “The doctor. He has taken her to the hospital in Brackley.”
    He stared at her, stunned. “Hospital?” God, what had happened? “Why?”
    Her lips trembled. “Smallpox.”
    “Smallpox?” Her grim countenance made altogether too much sense now. “She showed no sign of illness yesterday.”
    Juliet sagged in the chair, looking like a small rag doll, limp and lifeless. “Neither did she when we went to bed. Then sometime after midnight she awakened me, complaining of fever, headache, and aching all over. I got a cool cloth, but she seemed to get worse. Then she got very ill indeed.” Her face drooped. “I began to suspect then it was smallpox.”
    He would never have connected those symptoms to that horrible disease, even though he had known men in his regiment who had contracted it. “Why would you even think—”
    “My last maid, Janet, had it. Three years ago.” Juliet rubbed at her eyes. “She had the exact same symptoms and she…” Juliet swallowed hard. “That is when Glynis came to me.”
    “My dear.” He knelt at her feet and put his arms around her. “I am so sorry. So the doctor affirmed it?” He straightened, putting distance between them. “Why did you not summon me?”
    “I didn’t want your night disturbed if it turned out to be something else. I simply went to Mr. Nuthatch and said my maid had taken a bad turn, could he please fetch the local doctor. Unfortunately, my suspicions were correct. Then, of course, I did not want you to get sick. I did not know if you had been inoculated.” She sat still, hands folded demurely in her lap, and spoke in a calm, reasoned manner.
    “No, I have not.”
    “Then I am glad I did not wake you. I would never forgive myself if you had contracted it.” She closed her eyes and her shoulders slumped.
    “My God, Juliet. What if you have caught it?” His heart raced. So many people died of the dread disease.
    “Oh, no, Amiable.” She placed a hand on his arm. “I was inoculated three years ago after Janet took ill. Duncan insisted on it. I am in no danger.”
    “Did the doctor confirm she has smallpox?”
    “Glynis admitted she had been given the variolation almost two weeks ago. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it gives you the disease.” She shook her head sadly, eyes filling with tears. “Poor Glynis is one of the unfortunate ones. However, the doctor promised to take good care of her. I paid him handsomely for her care. He will send me word if…when she is recovered.”
    “You do not intend to stay here until she is well?” He’d have thought he would have to forcibly remove her from the vicinity.
    Juliet hung her head. “I know it sounds cruel, but I think it best to travel on. She cannot recover in less than three weeks.”
    “Three weeks.”
    “According to