Page 26 of Tutoring a Lady into Sin
Phineas could not tell if she was teasing him or not. “While I could rage against this particular cordwainer all day, I would much prefer to hear your side of the story. You must have had him fit these to your feet. Why did you not tell him they were too tight? And moreover, what were you doing wearing them to the dance? You should have been wearing a pair of slippers, my lady.”
Christianna made a contrite face as she chewed on her lower lip. “I wanted to look my best….”
“You could have worn a flour sack, Christianna, and still been the most fetching person in that room,” he scolded. He put her left foot back on the ground and reached for her right one. His nimble fingers moved over her toes. Through her stocking, he massaged each one carefully, knowing that the fabric might be hiding all sorts of hurts. Then, he moved his hands to her heel.
“If you are so very angry with me for doing something so silly as wearing a fine pair of shoes, I wonder why you are taking the time to ease my pain,” Christianna mused.
“I care about you,” Phineas answered simply. “And as a doctor, I think I should attend to those who are hurt or injured.”
Christianna shifted a little on the window seat. “Does this mean you always massage the feet of your patients?”
“If that is what the remedy calls for,” he returned.
Her eyes brightened in surprise. “I thought most physicians kept their distance from their patients, not laying hands on them unless it was strictly necessary.”
“You know me,” Phineas returned as he lowered his chin and did not allow himself to meet her gaze. “I am always quite diligent.”
She giggled. “I think you are fibbing to me, Doctor Radcliff. If I am not mistaken, this is the first time you have performed this act, and you are just pretending otherwise, so neither of us will be embarrassed.”
“What have I to be embarrassed about?” he asked, then he pressed the pad of his thumb into her arch and moved it in one long, deep caress.
“Oh,” she moaned as her eyes fluttered closed, and she tipped her head back.
Phineas stopped his movements at once. “Did I…was that…a moan of relief?”
Christianna’s eyelids snapped wide open, and she snickered. “I am sorry, Doctor Radcliff. I was trying to hold it in, but that just felt so good.”
He placed her foot gently back on the carpeted floor. “Perhaps I have administered enough to you this evening.”
“But is my treatment done then, Doctor?” Christianna teased as she batted her eyelashes. “You claim to perform this service regularly. Tell me, am I perfectly well now?”
“You are going to be just fine,” he grumbled as he flounced her skirts, letting them fall back into place. Then, he got to his feet. “Just promise me you will never wear those shoes again.”
“But what should I do with them?” Christianna asked as she bent so she could scoop up the footwear.
“Give them away, sell them to a second-hand dealer, burn them for all I care,” Phineas said as he offered her his arm. She accepted it and rose slowly.
“Oh, I do not think I could set fire to something so beautiful,” she said, but as she did, she lifted her foot to take a step. Her face contorted into a grimace. “On second thought, I could be tempted to toss them on the hearth right now.”
Phineas took slow, carefully measured steps as he helped Christianna out of the library. He felt as if he was walking on his tiptoes because it seemed they were barely moving.
They whispered quietly to one another as they made their way down the hall, but blessedly, the staircase was situated before the ballroom. So, even though Phineas could hear the music still playing in that room, he did not fear someone coming out at this moment and seeing them all alone together.
“Do you wish for me to help you to your room, my lady?”
“No, thank you, Doctor Radcliff,” Christianna replied as a playful smile lit up her features. “You have already been exceedingly kind and helpful.”
“That is just the sort of thing a physician likes to hear, you know,” he replied.
“I think I will be able to make it to my room from here, but really, thank you, Doctor Radcliff. I am sure I would have been able to handle this situation on my own but having you with me somehow made the whole thing much less vexing.”
“I am at your disposal anytime, Lady Christianna,” Phineas said as he bowed toward her.
“Good night,” she whispered, and he echoed the sentiment. He stood for several long moments, watching her float up the staircase. She did not seem in nearly as much pain as she had before, and that made him feel infinitely better.
As she reached the landing, she paused and lifted her hand, waving to him before heading to bed. But then, she was gone, and yet Phineas stood firmly fixed to the spot.
She put herself through all that pain tonight simply because she wanted to impress Percy.
