A Warriner to Tempt Her

by Virginia Heath

  ‘You’re getting better every day.’

  ‘But I am still a long way from healed. There is still too much irrational fear blocking the daylight. Clarissa is—’ He silenced her with a kiss. It was brief and gentle, but it still set his blood boiling with need for the brilliant, beautiful and complicated woman in his arms.

  ‘Will you forget Clarissa? Because I have. I forgot her a long time ago. In fact, if you want me to be brutally honest with you, now that I know what my heart wants I realise it never wanted her at all. Truth be told, I find her conversation dull.’ He winced, hoping she wouldn’t immediately leap to her sister’s defence. ‘She’s vain. A bit spoiled. She surrounds herself with admirers for her own amusement and lacks the depth of character I love in you. And if you require further proof of how misguided I was, I honestly cannot recall a single time my thoughts towards your sister were anything other than...pure.’ There really was no other way of saying it. ‘I never wanted her—like a man wants a woman.’ Her breath caught and she bit down on her bottom lip, and Joe hoped his admission didn’t send her thoughts back to Vauxhall Gardens. Her wary eyes never left his, but again she didn’t pull away.

  ‘Are you saying you want me?’

  He nodded. ‘Body and soul. Every intelligent, formidable, beautiful inch of you.’

  With a stunned gasp, she stepped back and he let her go, hoping that would reassure her she was perfectly safe with him, and tried not to feel hurt when she unconsciously wrapped her arms around her body and looked worried. Because he recognised her need for space, Joe stalked towards the wall.

  ‘I think I’ve wanted you from the outset. I found you maddening and fascinating then. As time has gone on and I’ve come to know the woman you truly are, I’ve come to care for you a great deal. The real you, Bella, not some fabrication of a woman I have created to keep my heart at arm’s length where it cannot truly be hurt. What I feel for you is more than friendship and certainly more than a quickly forgotten and meaningless crush. I’ve never felt like this before. But this—us—it feels right. Ever since that kiss I can’t stop wanting you. I came here tonight to tell you that. I thought it important you understand the full extent of my affections—I wanted you to know that what I feel for you is so very different to the nonsense I thought about Clarissa. I want you. All of you. Your clever mind. Your kind heart. You in my life and in my bed.’

  Her eyes widened and he felt sick, both at the extent of his confession and at the strength of his desires. Even now, when she was frightened and vulnerable, he couldn’t seem to stop wanting her. Perhaps he had said too much too soon? He should have waited. Slowly, over time, allowed her to see all the things which had just tumbled out of his mouth in a panic. The poor girl had borne the horrendous brunt of a brutal man’s desires and only just been brave enough to talk about it. And he was suggesting—what? A romance between them, a future? Marriage and all that entailed, when the physician in him knew now was probably too soon. However, that was the problem. Around Bella the calm, reasoned, pragmatic physician kept disappearing and leaving just Joe. The man.

  But it was clearly the wrong time, if her horrified reaction was any indication. There was twenty feet of ground between them and she had instinctively taken herself back towards the door. Ready to run. The sight cut like a blade, so he turned, braced his palms against the wall and stared sightlessly out at the stars, wishing he could turn back time and not say all he had just said. ‘I’m sorry. I should have keep my feelings to myself, but I wanted to be entirely honest with you. Be assured I would never act on my desires unless you wanted me to.’

  He heard her feet crunch on the gravel before he felt her hand come to rest tentatively on his shoulder. ‘I know that. I know you’re not the sort of man to ever hurt a woman. You are good and kind. Patient. Gentle... I also know my feelings for you extend beyond friendship. I know that in my heart... My heart wants more.’ Joe turned and smiled in relief until he saw her pained expression, then dreaded her next words.

  ‘But?’

  Her hand dropped away and her voice became small. ‘But my head is...scared...of all the things which extend beyond friendship.’

  ‘You don’t need to be scared of me.’ He reached out to touch her and she flinched, crushing him. She saw the hurt on his face and her expression became wretched.

  ‘It’s not you I’m scared of... It’s what you want to do with me. The physical side of things. It’s the biggest wall in my mind.’

  ‘You didn’t enjoy the kiss?’ How could he have missed that? He must have been so consumed with lust he had lost all reason.

  Her hand came up to touch his face, her fingers brushed over his mouth while she stared mournfully into his eyes. ‘I did. Very much. But he never kissed me, so my mind couldn’t link it to him.’

  That was something. Perhaps the rest would come in time. ‘I’m in no hurry, Bella. Just as long as I know you have feelings for me, then I will wait for ever if that is what it takes.’

  ‘For ever is a long time.’

  ‘You’re worth it.’ As he said it, Joe realised she was. ‘And I have faith in you. You’re strong and brave, Bella. That brilliant mind of yours will work it out. We can knock that wall down together. Brick by brick.’ The answer seemed to please her. Despite the tears swimming in her eyes, they no longer appeared despondent. She was tempted. Thank God. ‘In the meantime, would you mind if I kissed you again?’

  The tiny shake of her head was all the encouragement Joe needed. Resisting the need to drag her into his arms, Joe bent his head and joined his mouth to hers and felt her sigh against his lips as she relaxed against them. Only then did he allow one arm to slide around her waist. They would take this one step at a time. It didn’t matter that she was nervous or scared of the physical; her heart wanted him. Right now, this was perfect. She was perfect. This kiss, this heartfelt, sensuous and magnificent simple kiss, was all he needed.

  Behind them the door opened and Bella jumped away like a frightened deer. The sensuous spell they were under ruthlessly broken. When Jake’s dark head popped out, Joe’s temper snapped.

  ‘Go away!’

  ‘I’m sorry, Joe, but you’re needed. I think the worst has happened.’

  Chapter Eighteen

  Bella followed both brothers around the rear of the assembly hall and across the deserted market square to the inn. The other two Warriner men were waiting outside, both wearing grave expressions. Next to them, also stony-faced, was Mr Mellor the constable.

  ‘The innkeeper came to find me.’ Mellor got straight to the point. ‘The guard on the evening post was unwell and the driver insisted he rest at the inn while the horses were changed. It was Nelly, the innkeeper’s wife, who first noticed the rash on his neck. She sent for that fool Bentley, and when he refused to attend she sent her husband to find me. So far, the news is contained, but I doubt that will last long.’

  ‘There’s a chance it isn’t smallpox. Chickenpox has also been doing the rounds and that can also make people, especially adults, feel very unwell.’ The ever-optimistic Joe didn’t look convinced. ‘I’d best go and examine the poor fellow before we create a panic.’

  Bella went to follow him inside and he shook his head. ‘Stay here, Bella. I don’t want to put you at risk.’

  She listened for all of two minutes before she decided to ignore him. If the man inside did have smallpox and he had come into contact with people at the inn or in the square, then they were not facing one case, but many, and Joe would need her help. Whether he wanted it or not, he was going to get it. Bella had read all of Dr Jenner’s research in the last fortnight, research which suggested his vaccination was effective in days, so there was unlikely to be any risk to her at all. She pushed open the door of the inn and took in a sea of terrified faces inside, but no Joe. ‘Where is Dr Warriner?’

  ‘He’s in the back room.’ The innkeeper pointed. ‘We thought it prudent to put the man in there, away from the rest of us.’

  Bella recognis
ed the innkeeper, his wife and son as people who had been vaccinated by Joe on the first day. They were safe. The barmaid and ostler she didn’t know, but she hoped they had availed themselves of it while she had been out in the cart with Jake. The others were not from Retford and therefore probably at risk. ‘Who here has been vaccinated or inoculated against smallpox?’ All the locals raised their hands. As she’d feared, the strangers hadn’t. One man appeared quite terrified. ‘We were in the carriage. Does that mean we’ve got it?’

  Probably.

  ‘Not necessarily, but you will need to remain under observation for a few days in case the symptoms present themselves. Were you all in the carriage?’ Four people nodded.

  ‘I’m the driver, miss. I work with Charlie. He’s been ill for days, but we both thought it was a bad chill. Up until today he was able to work.’ He looked down at his feet, ashamed. ‘I’m sorry, miss, but we don’t get paid, you see, unless we work. Charlie has a wife and a baby. He couldn’t afford the time off, and as we only run from Lincoln to Doncaster every day, I could carry him and do his job, too. He’d do the same for me.’

  Lincoln to Doncaster! Four hours at the most in a carriage. ‘You do the same route every day?’ Please say no.

  ‘Yes, miss. Every day. We leave Lincoln every morning at seven and do the return run at two.’

  ‘And do you always stop here in Retford to change the horses.’

  The driver nodded and Bella’s stomach sank to her toes. If the man had been ill for days and he had mingled with people here in the square and the inn on all those days, then there was a dangerously high chance a great many people had already come into contact with the disease. They were going to need premises big enough to house them whilst keeping them isolated from the rest of the community. If poor Charlie did have smallpox.

  If.

  Bella covered her concerns with a reassuring mask of calm. ‘Nelly, why don’t you move these people into the dining room and give them all some tea and food? I’m going to check on Dr Warriner.’ She walked briskly into the room at the back, took in Joe’s ashen face, the sick man sitting slumped in a chair, his face pale and waxy, his infected body shivering, and her worst fears were confirmed. ‘You are in no doubt?’

  She could tell Joe was considering ordering her out and pre-empted it. ‘You vaccinated me yourself. You know the risk to me is tiny at best and most likely non-existent, and I’m not moving.’ His mouth settled into a stubborn line as he nodded. He wasn’t happy about her decision but recognised it was hers to make.

  ‘The spots are just beginning to show. His mouth is filled with them and many have started to burst. Those on his face and neck are dimpled, not rounded, which is unique to smallpox. He’s also got dreadful back pain, a higher fever than one would not expect from a lesser disease, and you can see how he’s clutching his stomach. Severe abdominal pain is also a sign. The cluster of symptoms leaves me in no doubt. The rash is usually the last thing to appear and by then, of course, it is too late.’

  The patient seemed to be either sleeping or too ill to care what they were talking about, but even so Bella took Joe’s hand and pulled him out of earshot. ‘Will he survive?’

  ‘Difficult to say. Some people do. They recover fully. More are doomed to suffer the terrible after-effects. Blindness. Lung problems. Gangrene. In many cases, smallpox is a killer. Children and the elderly are more vulnerable, but that is not to say a healthy adult is less vulnerable. There is no rhyme or reason to it. Thank God Nelly had the good sense to keep them all in here and that the inn was quiet because of the assembly.’

  There was no way of softening the blow. ‘Oh, Joe, if only that were so. Unfortunately, he has been through Retford twice a day for the last week and ill for at least two days, according to the driver. Aside from today’s passengers waiting outside, and the many more who have had the misfortune to take that post carriage recently, he will have had contact with people here. Lots of contact. Retford is their usual stop to change the horses.’

  ‘Oh, dear.’ Joe appeared to deflate in front of her, as if the entire weight of the world rested solely on his shoulders. It was obvious he was running every possible scenario through his brain and hitting dead ends. When he sank down into a chair, defeated, Bella knew he needed her strength.

  ‘We have vaccinated over four hundred, Joe. All the children in the foundling home are protected. You did everything you could to prevent the worst from happening. If we put Retford under quarantine immediately, close up the businesses and confine everyone to their own homes, we can contain this. I know we can.’

  He nodded, unconvinced. ‘I doubt we can convince the whole town to remain indoors. You saw how disbelieving some of them are. They won’t listen to a Warriner.’

  ‘The threat of certain death from an epidemic is very persuasive and even those staunchly against the vaccination are not daft enough to put themselves at risk now that smallpox is here. The constable is on your side and he commands a great deal of respect. And despite your infamous surname, four hundred people listened to common sense, Joe. More will listen this time. Mark my words. It has to be worth a try.’

  ‘The logistics of what you are suggesting are huge. I’m not talking mere days, but weeks. It could take at least two weeks before all those infected begin to display symptoms. The market will need to close. Tradesmen will need to shut their businesses. The people will need supplies. Not everyone here has land to farm or animals. We would have to close the roads and stop anyone entering or leaving the town. We’ll need an army of volunteers to orchestrate it all.’

  ‘I didn’t say it would be easy. But it is necessary and it is the right thing to do. The people will understand that and hopefully will work with us to achieve it. I’m sure Mellor will help us.’ Bella’s mind was filling with lists, essentials which would need to be considered. ‘We are also going to need to set up a hospital and be ready to isolate and treat everyone who becomes ill. Hopefully that will only be a few, but we have to be prepared for the few hundred unprotected people to fall ill.’

  ‘The practicalities are enormous. The scale of what you are proposing is...’ he exhaled slowly and shook his head ‘...unprecedented.’

  ‘Which is why we are going to need help and we are going to need to be practical to achieve it all. But impractical is not impossible, Joe, and this is not just your fight. Let us talk to your brothers and Mr Mellor, and they can help organise it all. Between us we can limit the further spread of the disease.’

  Because his head needed time to absorb the enormity of it all, Bella started towards the door. There really was no time to lose if they were going to prevent an epidemic. They would need a stockpile of medicines, blankets and sheets, a team of vaccinated, capable women to be nurses. Mrs Patterson and Mrs Giles immediately sprang to mind. First of all she needed a pen and some paper. ‘I’ll talk to them.’

  ‘Wait. You can’t go outside. Letty and Cassie are pregnant. We might put them in danger if we get too close to Jack or Jamie.’ He stood, suddenly galvanised into action, and beat her through the door.

  Luckily, Nelly had heeded her advice and the taproom was empty, giving Joe the opportunity to say what he needed to without causing the coach passengers undue alarm. He called to his brothers through the heavy oak door. ‘I need you all to move back at least ten yards before I dare open this door.’ He waited a few moments while they complied, then cracked it open enough that they could see him. ‘It is smallpox, and whilst you are all quite safe from it, I have no idea if the disease can harm unborn children, so I daren’t risk coming any closer to you. Anything which has been in contact with a victim—skin, clothing, objects—has the potential to spread it. From this point on, I must insist on strict quarantine.’

  ‘How many people are affected?’ asked the eldest, Jack.

  ‘Difficult to say. There were four passengers in that carriage as well as the driver. However, we have a problem. A potentially dire complication. The victim has been travelling back and
forth through Retford for days and they always stop at the inn. I have no idea how many locals they have come into contact with during that time, but as their carriage is always here around lunchtime, I suspect a great many.’

  ‘Yesterday was market day.’ This came from Jamie and the brothers shared an ominous look.

  ‘Yes, it was, but as Bella has pointed out we have managed to protect at least four hundred with the cowpox. Even those who have only received it in the last few days will have some protection against the disease, although they will need longer for it to be entirely effective. My biggest concern is for those who refused to be treated.’

  ‘Surely we can do more than just stand around and wait for it to kill us?’ Mr Mellor was all business. ‘What can we do?’

  ‘Bella thinks we should quarantine the town. Shut up shop and confine everyone to their homes.’ He turned towards her and smiled, then reached for her hand. ‘I think she’s right.’

  None of the other men argued or threw down objections or obstructions. Instead, they plotted and planned for the next twenty minutes to make it happen. The eldest was going to address the crowded assembly room with the constable, apprise them of the plan, ask for volunteers and then send everyone else home. Once that was done, all three of Joe’s brothers were going to see to the evacuation of the foundling home, the only place big enough and equipped enough to be quickly commandeered as a hospital. The fifty children were going to be housed temporarily in Markham Manor, Jamie’s house, and, at Bella’s suggestion, with her parents. Mr Mellor was going to round up a team of men and barricade the roads. Nobody, he decreed, was visiting or leaving from tonight. Only then, and when the streets outside were deserted, did they dare move Charlie and the other passengers. Tomorrow, the Warriners would organise everything else so that Joe could do what he had been trained to do.

  Together, Bella and Joe explained the situation to the unfortunate passengers and driver of the carriage. They were all understandably shocked and scared, yet because he had explained it so carefully and kindly, they were also all reassured that being in Joe’s capable healing hands was the very best place for them to be.