Swept up in her emotion, Mark demanded, “And what of here in London? How many of these incubators do we use?”
Ellen stopped, and her delighted face grew forlorn. “None, as far as I know.”
“None?”
“Great Britain has treated our women so badly that it is a struggle to even provide the mothers proper care, let alone consider weak babies.”
“So you are the leading expert in all of England on premature babies.”
Ellen paused, chewing on the words. “Well, yes. I suppose I am.”
Mark stared at her, stunned. “And you attend deliveries where the babies will be early?”
Her face was solemn. “Only the ones who have a chance to survive. Amelia knows not to call me to any deliveries before six months. I...I cannot handle those. It’s too similar to what I experienced. That, or any expecting mother who’s itching.”
Mark had thought she delivered Constance full-term, but he wasn’t going to ask for details right now.Itching?
“So, what’s your answer? Can I move back in and continue my work with Amelia?”
Mark straightened and stepped toward her. He wasn’t a tall man, but she wasn’t a tall woman, either, and he remembered he loved the way they fit together. Ellen didn’t back away as he stepped close. “Yes, on three conditions.”
“Three?” Ellen’s upper lip curled. “You said two earlier.”
“That was before I heard your story,” he explained calmly, resisting the urge to clasp her arms. “The first is that you share breakfast with me every morning.”
“What if my work calls me away? I work every day.”
“Then we can reschedule for supper. One meal, every day, we eat together.”
“Why?” Ellen crossed her arms.
“Because we’re married and, by Jove, I wish we could learn to get along.”
“Unlikely, but fine. I’ll agree to breakfast.”
“Second, you must take an escort with you when you go anywhere after dark. Especially if it’s outside Mayfair.”
She opened her mouth, but he raised a finger. “That includes SoHo.” Their house practically straddled the line between the neighborhoods, but SoHo had far too many seedy alleys for his comfort.
Ellen nodded wordlessly. “I assume you’ve hired a footman? Or I can take that grumpy valet of yours.”
“Or myself, if they’re busy.”Don’t press too hard,he warned himself.Easy, now.
She looked at him skeptically.
“And third, I want to see this dispensary where you work.”
Her skeptical look grew.
“We can go now, if that fits your schedule.”
The corner of her mouth tugged upward, a smile trying to escape, and Mark almost kissed it. “Very well.”
“You have your freedom, milady, as well as free room and board, and that’s all you have to say?” he teased.We’re doing this. Hell and damnation, we’re actually going to live together again.His pulse quickened and his breath caught, apprehension mixed with hope filling his lungs. He should be excited about getting one step closer to preserving his family legacy. Instead he was focused on getting a step closer to understanding the captivating, intelligent woman before him.
Ellen gave a broad, yet close-mouthed smile. “Thank you.”
He backed away and pulled the shirt off his bed and threw it on, buttoning it up without looking away.