Temptations of Anna Jacobs

by Robyn DeHart

  She rolled her eyes, then shook her head. “And they sent Simon to Edinburgh. Idiots.” She propped a feminine fist onto her book. “Well, perhaps this will be what they require to bring him back home.”

  “Perhaps. I should appreciate his take on this.” Drew shook his head. Simon would be able to answer all of Drew’s questions.

  “The bodies are badly mutilated. Simon told me that much,” she said. “Would you like for me to order a tray of tea to settle your stomach?”

  Drew shook his head. “I believe I shall be all right.”

  “I wonder why he returned to the East End,” she said. “The Ripper, that is. It seemed he was making himself quite comfortable on our side of town.”

  “Precisely my thought.” He nearly said more, about the wounds on the woman, about her fearful expression, but, medical student or not, Anna was a genteel lady.

  “I suppose trying to make sense of a madman’s ways is pointless. How do you think you’ll fare as an inspector? I’m guessing you had no affinity toward the profession until recently.”

  “It is not my profession. I am merely in a unique position to assist.”

  “Yes, but do you believe you have skills to bring to the proverbial table?”

  “I’ve always been observant.” That keen sense of observation had led to his discovering the circumstances of his birth. And then he’d used liquor to dull his senses. “I haven’t given much though to what happens after the Ripper case.” He shook his head. “I don’t know that the invitation extends past this particular assignment.”

  “Something to consider.” She was quiet a moment, kept her eyes on his face. “You don’t exactly strike me as one of the leisure-loving aristocrats.” She yawned and put her hand over her mouth. “My apologies.” She came to her feet. “I should be returning home.”

  He stood. He was struck by how petite she suddenly appeared, her head barely at his shoulder. “Wait. How are you getting home?” Drew wasn’t about to allow Anna to walk outside into danger on her own.

  “My other brother—the viscount—his townhome is not too far from here. That is where I reside. I shall have Rutherford hail a hack for me.”

  “That’s too dangerous.”

  “Not any more dangerous than it has been the last year. I shall survive. I go home at this hour all the time.” She turned and looked out the windows. “It is not even completely dark yet,” she said.

  “I shall feel better if you have an escort,” he said.

  “You intend to see me home?” she asked, her voice getting thin.

  “Of course not.” He rang the bell. “I shall have Rutherford send a footman with you.”

  “That is completely unnecessary.” A crease appeared between her eyebrows. It was the most pleasant thing he’d seen in the last four hours, and it was far too appealing.

  He ignored her protests and instructed Rutherford on the carriage and the footman.

  “Very good,” the butler said with a nod and then he left the room.

  “You are quite arrogant,” she said.

  Drew shrugged. “I am a Foster. It is in our blood, I’m afraid.” It was one of the few things he’d inherited from his father.

  “It is most irritating.”

  “Yes, well, you have two older brothers, so I suspect you’re quite accustomed to men telling you what to do.”

  “Indeed, I am.” She fell quiet for a moment.

  Rutherford stepped inside. “The carriage is ready.”

  “Lord Carrington,” she said. “Despite that arrogance, I am glad you are working on the investigation.”

  “I’m doing it to salvage my own name; for no other reason.”

  She nodded knowingly, as if they shared a common secret. “Good night to you.” Then she disappeared into the corridor.

  The very last thing he needed was some starry-eyed chit making him into a hero.

  ***

  The following day Anna stood at her laboratory table, scalpel in hand.

  “Yes, very good, Miss Jacobs, you are doing an excellent job,” Doctor Harrison said. “Class, do you see here what Miss Jacobs has done with this incision?”

  Several of her classmates rolled their eyes, but Anna ignored them. It was not her fault she took her studies quite seriously. It would do no one any good for her to be a physician who had no actual medical skills. She wanted to become a doctor to help people, especially those who could not afford medical assistance.

  Angela, one of her friends, leaned over closely. “Is this correct?” she asked, holding her scalpel against the cadaver.

  “No, try to cut from the other side.” Anna moved Angela’s hand slightly. “Yes, that’s the right angle; it will work better that way,” Anna said.

  The door to the classroom opened and Anna nearly dropped her scalpel as Drew Foster strode in. He looked positively dashing today, as he was wearing tailored clothes and was clean-shaven. His tawny hair was pulled back from his face, but a few stray waves had fallen over his forehead. Anna sucked in a breath, then shook her head for being such a featherbrained ninny. Only she would moon over someone while standing over a cadaver.

  He walked over to Doctor Harrison and they spoke for a few moments. The good doctor motioned toward her and Drew nodded. Then he took a seat at the front of the room and locked his eyes on her face. Heat radiated through her body, down her arms, up her legs, prickled at her neck.

  “Now then, class, I’d like you to perform a cross-lateral incision.”

  Anna forced herself to look away from Drew and focus back on her work.

  “Who is that man?” Angela whispered.

  “An acquaintance.”

  “He’s staring at you.” Angela sucked in a breath. “Oh, Annabelle, he’s positively dashing.”

  Anna concentrated on her breathing to make certain there was not even the slightest hitch. “I hadn’t noticed.” Truth was, she couldn’t even concentrate on the incision Doctor Harrison had just requested. She could feel Drew’s eyes on her.

  “Is there a problem, Miss Jacobs?” Doctor Harrison asked. He was standing next to her and she hadn’t even noticed his approach.

  “Of course not. I was merely assisting Miss Bentley.” Anna gave Angela a weak smile.

  “Carry on, then,” he said.

  Anna made the incision with great concentration.

  “Excellent work.”

  Drew sat at the front of the room until class was concluded.

  “Miss Jacobs,” Doctor Harrison said, “a moment, if you please. Ladies, the rest of you, don’t forget to study for the upcoming examination.”

  She stepped up to the front of the room, where Drew stood. “Mr. Foster,” she said. Several of her classmates whispered and giggled on their way out of the room.

  “Oh, the two of you already know one another. Splendid,” Doctor Harrison said. “Miss Jacobs, you may speak in my office across the hall; it will afford you some privacy with this delicate matter.”

  Anna led the way out the classroom and across the hall into her professor’s office. She stepped inside and sat in one of the chairs across from the desk. “What are you doing here?” she finally asked.

  “Is my presence distressing to you?”

  “No, it is merely curious that you are here.”

  “I came to see you. I need some assistance. A consultation, if you will,” he said.

  She frowned. “Consultation for what?”

  “I want you to look at the new victim. See if you agree with the police surgeon’s assessment.”

  “I am not trained for looking at murder victims,” she said.

  “But you intend to be a doctor. That is all police surgeons are; they are medical doctors who are employed to give us the medical explanations for cause of death and whatnot.”

  “Why me?” she asked.


  “Your professor says you’re the best in the class,” he said.

  “Yes, but you did not know that when you showed up today. Certainly there are male medical students who could assist, or better yet, other doctors. My professor, even,” she said.

  “You happen to be the only physician I know. And I know you can be trusted with sensitive information.”

  “Very well.”

  “Your professor merely confirmed my suspicions about you.” He swallowed, and his jaw tensed. “This is something I’m doing on my own. I want to better understand how the conclusions are made.” He forked his hand through his hair. He shook his head. “I cannot very well expect the police surgeon to walk me through every aspect.”

  “But you can expect that of me?” she asked.

  “I can pay you for your time. Lady Anna, I plead with you. I have no experience with this, but I want to make absolutely certain. I believe it to be what your brother would do.”

  It wasn’t so much his plea, but rather his earnest expression that convinced her. Not that she needed too much persuasion—she’d been begging Simon for years to allow her to assist with an investigation. She couldn’t very well allow him to see her eagerness, though, so she narrowed her eyes. “Appealing to my sense of loyalty toward my brother? Quite clever, Lord Carrington, I shall grant you that.”

  “Please stop calling me that,” he said.

  “That is the proper way to address you—unless you prefer ‘Inspector’?” she asked.

  “No, I meant, please simply call me Drew. Will you help me?”

  She looked out into the corridor. Several of the other students lingered, no doubt waiting to pry for details. A futile exercise. Anna turned back to Drew. “What all will this entail?” she asked.

  “Going into the morgue with me and inspecting the body,” he said.

  “That’s all?”

  “Well, yes, except we would technically be going in after hours,” he said. “After the police surgeon has already done his examination. The body will be moved tomorrow.”

  “You intend to break into the morgue?” she asked.

  He inclined his head. “If I must. I doubt they’d grant my petition to have a second physician examine the body. I’m barely on this investigation.”

  She eyed him for a moment. “That’s illegal.” Yet she found herself thrilled by the notion. What had got into her? She might be odd compared to most ladies her age, but she’d never before considered illegalities as titillating.

  “Yes, it is. But it is a risk I’m willing to take.” He shook his head. “Will you help me?”

  Her heart beat so quickly she feared it might leap from her chest. But of course she knew that would be a medical impossibility. Drew, with his ridiculously handsome face, was standing there asking for her assistance. She knew in that moment that even if she’d wanted to, she would not be able to say no to him. She nodded. “Very well, I shall help you.”

  “Thank you, Lady Annabelle,” he said.

  “Anna. You may simply call me Anna.”

  “Thank you, Anna. I shall send a carriage to retrieve you tonight,” he said.

  “I shall look forward to it.”

  Chapter Five

  Drew knew his brother, the Duke of Carrington, and his new bride had returned from their honeymoon and were back at Alex’s townhome. He suspected that his brother would applaud the recent developments in Drew’s life, since he had been released from prison and had accepted a position with the Scotland Yard while they’d been away from London. Not only that, but he hadn’t had a drink since his arrest.

  The truth of the matter was the first time he’d met his now-sister-in-law, Mia, Drew had been a crude ass. He’d thought her a servant girl and he’d propositioned her. Of course she had suspected him to be the infamous murderer, so he supposed they were even to some extent. But Drew knew he owed both Alex and Mia an apology. His brother had done everything in his power to prevent Drew’s arrest, and Drew hadn’t lifted a finger to help him. He’d merely kept drinking and pretended it would all disappear.

  Losing himself in a bottle had been his primary defense for so long, he hardly knew what to do with himself now that he wasn’t drinking. Even now, when it had been weeks since his last drink, he yearned for it. For the sweet oblivion it provided, but for its ease as well. In all honesty, he’d spent so much of his adult life drunk, he hardly knew how to behave in polite society. Hardly knew how to talk to a proper lady such as Mia.

  Yet converse with her, he must. She was his sister now. She would be in his life a long time. Moreover, she had brought his brother great happiness. Even though he and Alex hadn’t been close since they were boys, and despite the years of tension that lay between them, he was glad his brother had found such joy. His brother’s current happiness gave him a modicum of hope. For if Alex could find peace, then surely there was hope for him to find it as well. Outside of a bottle.

  Drew didn’t bother knocking at the front door, but let himself in. He passed the butler in the corridor. “Are the duke and duchess otherwise occupied?”

  “Not at the moment, my lord. They are in the parlor awaiting dinner. Shall I introduce you?”

  “I don’t believe that’s necessary. I know the way.” He patted the old man on the back and followed the corridor to the parlor outside of the dining room. He opened the door and Alex looked up. His brows rose and he offered Drew a smile.

  “Drew, what a surprise,” he said, coming to his feet.

  Drew stepped inside the room and nodded to his brother, but then immediately went over to his sister-in-law. “Mia, I do believe I owe you an apology.”

  She looked at him with her startling eyes, colored a deep blue, though he knew she could not see him. Mia had been struck blind after a riding accident when she’d been but a girl. Despite her disability, she was a remarkable woman, having lived on her own for the better part of her adulthood. Tears formed in her eyes. “Drew?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  His unspoken words caught in his gut. How could he possibly apologize for the slight he’d given her? What could he say to make up for his insulting behavior? Once again he fought the yearning deep in his gut. This would be so much easier with just a finger or two of brandy to ease the words from him. However he didn’t dare ask for a drink from Alex. He had come this far; certainly he could push out his apology.

  In the end, all he could give her were his honesty and regret. “You must believe me a complete and utter ass, and frankly I don’t blame you. But I am doing my best to stay away from the drink, as it tends to dull my mind and bring out the very worst in me,” Drew said. “Forgive me?”

  Emotion flickered across Mia’s face. Even though he knew she could not see, he got the impression she could see right through him. Despite that, he was startled when she brought her hand to his face and the featherlight touch of her fingers trailed over his cheeks. As if the touch somehow reassured her, she smiled. “Of course, Drew.”

  Like a fool, he felt himself tearing up. He’d never pegged himself as a sensitive sort, but his brief stint in prison had taught him how important family was. Of course it had helped that his brother had never given up on him—had never, for a moment, thought the worst. Drew pinched the bridge of his nose, feigning a headache so he could swipe the tears from his eyes.

  Alex grabbed him and pulled him into a sturdy embrace. “Good of you to come by. I see you’ve put on some of the weight you lost in that wretched place.”

  Drew patted his stomach. “Indeed. Mrs. Huddleston is doing her best to fatten me up.”

  “I knew she’d be a good housekeeper for you,” Alex said with a grin. He draped a loving arm over Mia’s shoulders.

  “Drew, you simply must join us for dinner,” Mia said.

  “Yes,” he found himself saying. How could it be that all was forgiven so quickly? He knew he didn’t
deserve absolution that fast, but he was grateful for it nonetheless.

  Right then a footman opened the adjoining door to the dining room. “Dinner, Your Grace, is served,” he said.

  Alex grabbed Mia’s hand and draped it through his arm and led her into the next room. “We’ll need another place setting,” Alex said. And the footman rushed about setting a place for Drew to sit.

  Once they’d been seated and served the first course, Drew cleared his throat. “I should like to speak with both of you about an important matter.” They both turned their attention to him. “Simon visited me while I was in prison. A couple of times,” he said, not knowing precisely how to tell them what had occurred. “He made me a proposition, and I accepted it. It is only temporary, and I’m not officially an inspector, but I am working with Scotland Yard on their investigation. Simon thought I’d have a unique perspective since the Ripper tried to frame me.” Both of them were silent for several moments, and he felt tension crawl through his stomach. For a moment, he was sure they would disapprove. His own doubts raced through his mind, then finally Mia clapped her hands.

  “That’s so clever of Simon,” Mia said. “I think it’s perfect.”

  Alex didn’t look so convinced, though. A frown had furrowed his brow. “Is it safe? That is, if the killer was targeting you specifically, which it certainly appeared he was doing, then doesn’t this put you within his reach?”

  “Not exactly. Since the Yard isn’t announcing my association, I should be safe. Right now Simon is in Edinburgh, where he was supposedly sent to train investigators, but everyone knows it’s because the Commissioner is angry with how things were left unresolved with the case. In the meantime I’m working with Bernard Jeffries,” Drew said. “I won’t be speaking to the newspapers anytime soon.”

  Alex still didn’t appear convinced, but he nodded nonetheless. “Simon is a smart man; perhaps the most intelligent I’ve ever known. If he thinks you can bring something to the investigation, then he’s probably right.”

  “Of course he is, love,” Mia said. “Are you going to tell Drew about your mother?”