Page 8 of Tutoring a Lady into Sin
He had noticed as much when he first set eyes upon her the day before. She was rather petite, with an exquisite figure, made all the more attractive because of the simple white muslin day dress that hung in a long white column all the way to her feet. Phineas was reminded of a Greek goddess when he looked upon Lady Christianna because she carried herself so very well, moving gracefully and elegantly with each small and precise step she took.
Her hair was whitish blonde, and she wore it twisted into various braids before piling the curls near the crown of her head. As it was still the morning, her locks were unadorned by the presence of flowers or jewellery, and Phineas liked how they looked soft and sleek.
Lady Christianna’s face was oval-shaped, and her complexion was pale. Her soft lips were full and pouty, and her eyes drew his attention at once. They were a vibrant lavender shade which was unique in and of itself.
He allowed himself to be bewitched for just a moment by her dazzling eyes but then came to his senses and invited her to take a seat next to him. “Join me then, Lady Christianna. It will be my pleasure to rescue you once more from the rigours of arranging this marriage.”
She slid into the seat next to him and sat tall, primly folding her hands in her lap. “I do not mean for you to misunderstand me, Doctor Radcliff,” she said quietly in her perfectly refined voice. “Idowish to get married. It is only that I do not like spending my days in such an idle manner. Once the modiste has taken my measurements once, must she do it repeatedly?”
Phineas shrugged. “That is a good question and one it would probably be best to level at the seamstress herself.”
“Well,” Lady Christianna huffed, allowing some of her well-polished veneer to show cracks, “I think there are many better ways to employ one’s time.”
“And here you are with me,” Phineas replied as he gave her a gregarious smile. “You know, some people would claim spending the day indoors, reading our books…that is the true waste of time.”
Christianna laughed prettily. “The only people who would say such things have never had a book transport them to another world. They have never read about the travels of explorers or….” She paused and tapped her fingers on the spine of the book which sat between them. “…the necessity of inoculating the masses against smallpox. Ahhh…” She sighed heavily. “They do not know what they are missing.”
“Do you wish to continue then with our journey through Doctor Buchan’s work?” Phineas asked as he held the book out to her. “Or were you hoping for some lighter reading and a much less rigorous discourse today?”
Lady Christianna’s eyes screwed up tightly, and she chewed on her lower lip. “I do think, since you are an expert in the field, I should like to pursue our medical discussions.”
“I am hardly an expert, my lady,” Phineas retorted modestly.
“You are being too humble,” she returned as she placed a hand on his forearm. “I know we have not known each other for long, but you speak with the authority of someone who is well-learned in your profession. I trust that you take prodigious care of your patients, but you also supplement your learning through the avid reading of others’ findings.”
She took her hand away from his arm, leaving behind a warm, tingling sensation. “I think I shall find no better tutor.”
“Tutor?” Phineas asked as he looked at her expectant face.
She nodded gleefully. “I was so pleased that your mother agreed to seat us next to one another at dinner last night, but I cannot bank on having such good fortune again. I was hoping that we might continue our conversations on a more regular basis, one that cannot be left up to chance.”
“So, I am to tutor you? In which subject?” Phineas questioned.
Her slim eyebrows wrinkled comically. “In the subject of medicine, of course.”
“And your aunt…and my brother…they approve of this?” Phineas already knew the answer to that question. He was quite certain Lady Christianna had not asked the permission of the others before coming to him. While they were doing nothing scandalous, it was likely that the others would frown upon Lady Christianna’s compulsion to learn more about Phineas’ profession.
It was, as she intimated previously, considered unladylike behaviour for a young woman such as Lady Christianna to pursue this subject so ardently. But Phineas could not help himself. He wished to make Lady Christianna his pupil as he had yet to meet someone who approached the subject with a zeal so closely equal to his own.
“Must we tell them?” Lady Christianna asked.
Phineas laughed. “I was just thinking it might be better if we did not.”
“Very good then,” she said as she reached for the book. “Shall we pick up where we left off yesterday?”
“Yes, I think that would be a good place to start,” Phineas replied as he handed her the book. She quickly flipped to the right spot and pointed at the words which were written at the top of the page.
She started to read, then stopped herself. She gave him a sidelong glance. “Thank you, Phineas,” she murmured.
“Phineas? So, you are inclined to use my Christian name now?” He teased.
She blushed profusely, and the apples of her cheeks became bright pink with embarrassment. “Is that…would you prefer I revert to calling you Doctor Radcliff?” She faltered with her words.
“Please, do call me Phineas, Christianna. If we are going to be master and pupil, I should like for us to be comfortable with one another,” he replied.
“Good,” she said as a small smile graced her lips. “That is exactly what I was thinking.”
She began to read aloud then, articulating each word beautifully, pronouncing even the most difficult terms with aplomb, and Phineas marvelled at her.
