Page 28 of The Highlander's Holiday Wife

Samantha had to resist the urge to shuffle her feet. She also had to stifle the impulse to whack John with her reticule for putting her in such an embarrassing position.

Kendrick turned to her again, but this time with a genuine and thoroughly devastating smile.

“Lady Samantha, you are most welcome here. I only wish my colleague had given me notice, so we could have prepared for your visit.”

“Oh, I . . . I’m sorry we interrupted you while you’re working,” she stammered.

“No, it’s perfectly fine. But if you’ll allow me a moment, I will then be able to give you my full attention.”

Concisely, he provided Mrs. Culp with instructions for the boy’s care. “If we can avoid a fever, he’ll be ready for travel within the week,” he finished up.

Mrs. Culp grimaced. “The lad’s father says he must be off tomorrow.”

Kendrick shook his head. “Absolutely not. He will not be fit for travel.”

“But the father was clear, sir. He can stay in town but one more night.”

“I’ll speak to him in the morning and tell him that we can send the lad home in my family’s traveling coach.”

The matron nodded before disappearing into the back room.

“And how much will you be charging for this patient’s care and transportation?” John asked in a humorous tone.

Kendrick slipped his spectacles into his vest pocket and shrugged into the frock coat that had been hanging on a hook by the shelves. “Nothing at all.”

“Do you ever charge your patients?” Samantha asked.

He waggled a hand. “Only if they insist on it. Since very few can afford coin, I am often paid with food or home-brewed ale. I rarely have to worry about feeding my patients.”

“How do you fund the clinic?”

“Some comes out of my own pocket, but I have a few generous donors.”

“All going by the name of Kendrick,” John noted.

“No, there’s a donor named Blackmore in there, too.”

John shook his head. “A minor one, I’m afraid. I wish I could do more.”

“Your volunteer work here is infinitely more valuable than money,” Kendrick replied.

“You still need a full-time physician to assist you. With all your other duties, you’re burning the candle at both ends, Braden.”

“I manage perfectly well.” Then Kendrick inclined his head to Samantha. “But I am forgetting my manners. Would you care to sit, my lady? I believe we can rustle up some tea and biscuits for you.”

She smiled. “I’m fine, thank you.”

“Then how can I help you?”

She looked at John, who gave her a nod as if to say,well, go ahead.

“I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?” said Kendrick, observing their silent exchange.

“I should hope you wouldn’t regret helping orphans,” she felt compelled to reply. “Dr. Blackmore assured me that you were the perfect man for the position we have in mind for you.”

As soon as her statement was out, Samantha felt herself color up to the roots of her hair. She glared at John, who suddenly became very interested in inspecting the contents of the clinic shelves.

After a short silence, she met Kendrick’s gaze. He seemed entirely unperturbed by her tart response.

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