Temptations of Anna Jacobs Read Online Free PDF Page B

had every right to be here, and she was the one who perhaps owed the explanation.
    “I came here to study. I usually study here, as my mother cannot abide my books,” Anna said.
    He shrugged. “It is not my home, so do as you normally would and let me know if I get in your way.”
    Anna flipped over her bag and it landed with a heavy thud. She retrieved the books and set them out, along with her notes. She should apologize to him. She knew that. She hated the very idea, but it was true. She’d been rude to him.
    He eyed her, then went back to reading Simon’s notes.
    “I should apologize,” she said.
    “Very well,” he said.
    She opened her book and was quiet for several moments.
    “Are you going to?” he asked.
    “Going to what?”
    “Apologize?”
    She frowned.
    “You said you
should
apologize,” he said. He opened his palm up as if waiting for her justification.
    His grin was irritating. Not to mention attractive, which made it all the more irritating. “I see,” she said. “Yes, well, then I am quite sorry I was so rude to you the other evening at the theatre.”
    He nodded. “Apology accepted.”
    “You could apologize to me as well.”
    “I don’t recall being rude to you at the theatre.”
    “No, but your demeanor was appalling the night I stitched you up.” The moment she said the words, her mind was filled with images of his bare chest. Her cheeks flamed.
    “You don’t believe I should be given some leave considering I’d just been beaten in the street? That tends to tax one’s congeniality.”
    “Is that your excuse?” she asked. “You were rather insulting about my choice in profession.” What was the matter with her? That made it seem as if his attitude affected her in some fashion, which it most certainly did not. “Not that I’m not accustomed to that attitude, I assure you.”
    “You attend the London School of Medicine for Women.” He was quiet a moment.
    Here it came, the typical response. She waited for him to say something rude or condescending. Lady Finkle had once commented on how wonderful modern conventions were so that if a girl couldn’t snag a husband, she had options other than becoming a governess. She’d also overheard Elizabeth Frank gossiping with a group of girls and then saying that her parents had to put her in medical school because she simply didn’t have the requisite skills to manage a household.
    People made all sorts of excuses for why Anna wanted to be a physician, but no one ever thought the reason might simply be because she wanted to help people. And because she had always been fascinated by the human body and all the ways in which it worked.
    “Yes, I suppose I was rather beastly about your profession. For that I do owe you an apology.”
    She opened her mouth to defend herself, then realized he had, in fact, apologized. “You do not think I am foolish?”
    He frowned. “Why would it be foolish for someone to go to medical school?”
    “Because I am a woman.”
    “And therefore incapable in some way?” he asked.
    She watched him, expecting him to start to laugh, jest over the entire scenario, but he seemed completely honest. But how could that be? As far as she knew there were exactly three people in the world who thought her becoming a doctor wasn’t so unusual; her late father, her brother Simon, and her professor.
    “Besides, is it not a medical school designed for women specifically? Certainly you are not the only one there?”
    “Well, of course not. There are plenty of other women in the school with me. I merely . . . The other evening, that is, you seemed rather indignant about the fact that you did not wish to have a woman tend your injuries.” She shook her head. “Never mind.” It would seem that Andrew Foster was not at all the man she’d expected him to be.
    “Perhaps I was merely embarrassed at being bested by some drunkards.”
    ***
    They sat in quiet, each reading their own material for the better part of an