The Bargain by Mary J. Putney Page B

but willow bark is indeed good for aches and fevers. When I find something that works, I use it.”
    Now that David had been treated, Sally found herself curious about Kinlock the man rather than Kinlock the surgeon. “What are your other aims in life?”
    â€œTo save as many people from the Reaper as I can, for as long as I can. In the end, death always wins. But not without a struggle, by God.” His expression was bleak.
    Wanting to erase the sorrow from his eyes, she raised her glass. “A toast for today’s victory over the Reaper!”
    Expression lightening, he clinked his glass against hers, and they drank. Sally poured more for each of them, and they drifted into general conversation, both enjoying the post-surgery euphoria. Sally spoke of her governess job, Kinlock about his training in Edinburgh and London. After training as both physician and surgeon, he’d become a ship’s doctor, which had taken him to many strange parts of the world. Later, he’d been an army surgeon, refining his skills in the bloody crucible of battle.
    Sally could hear his passion for his calling in every word he said. Mad Scot indeed! She blessed Dr. Ramsey for sending her to this man, who was surely the only surgeon in England who could have saved her brother.

Chapter 8
    T ired from a long day away from home, Jocelyn almost walked past the salon when she finally returned, but paused when she heard a woman’s voice. Could Aunt Laura have recovered from her anger and returned to London?
    Hoping that was the case, she opened the drawing room door. To her disgust, she found not her aunt, but her uncouth sister-in-law in the process of getting drunk with some rumpled looking fellow Jocelyn had never seen before. Her face stiffened at such liberties being taken in her home. However, remembering her resolution to be more patient, she quietly started to withdraw. Sally might be in her cups, but she probably wouldn’t steal the silver, which wasn’t in the drawing room anyhow.
    Before she could escape, Sally glanced up and saw her. “I’ve bad news for you, Lady Jocelyn.”
    â€œOh, no. He . . . he has died?” Jocelyn froze, chilled to her marrow as sadness and loss swept over her. So David was gone, his wasted body growing cold upstairs, the green eyes closed forever. She had not even been at home. That brief visit yesterday had been good-bye. No wonder Sally had called for the brandy decanter.
    â€œOn the contrary,” Sally continued in her strong schoolteacher’s voice. “Dr. Kinlock here performed a rather splendid bit of surgery, and it seems likely that David will not only survive, but recover completely.”
    He was going to live ? The words were an even greater shock than his death would have been. Dizzy from trying to assimilate such contradictory news, Jocelyn moved forward and grasped the back of a chair to steady herself. How wonderful if what Sally had said was true. David deserved life and happiness.
    But in the midst of her gladness one powerful thought resonated: A live husband was not what she had bargained for!
    â€œI know you wanted him dead.” Sally rose and approached Jocelyn, her eyes glittering. “Perhaps I’d better stay here to guard him until he can be removed from your home. Since he isn’t about to die on his own, you may wish to remedy the situation.”
    Jocelyn felt the blood drain from her face. “What a despicable thing to say! While my intention was to become a widow, I didn’t want to see David dead. If you are capable of appreciating the distinction.” Blindly she fumbled around the chair and dropped into it, torn between faintness and a desire to claw Sally’s eyes out.
    She felt something cool in her hand and looked up to see the doctor pressing a glass of brandy on her, his eyes watching with professional concern. “Drink that, Lady Jocelyn. It will help with the shock.”
    Obediently she