My Seductive Innocent by Julie Johnstone Page A

special care of him,” Frank said, winking.
    Sophia nearly lost her grip on Nathan’s legs. Now she knew what Frank was up to, the fool.
    “Frank,” she hissed. “Your plan will not work!”
    Frank didn’t acknowledge her. Instead, he glanced around as they moved through the parted crowd and grinned as his eyes settled on Mr. Dalton who was leaning against the stairs and gaping at them. Sophia groaned. Mr. Dalton was married to the town’s biggest gossip. Frank’s scheming mind was turning rapidly if he’d thought far enough ahead to get him out here to witness whatever lies he intended to set up between her and Nathan.
    Frank paused right in front of the man. “Say, Dalton, could ye fetch yer wife to come help Sophia? I’m sure she could use an extra hand.”
    Sophia clenched her jaw and her fingers tightened around Nathan’s legs. “That won’t be necessary.”
    Mr. Dalton looked to Frank, who gave her a glacial look that made her shiver.
    “It’s necessary because I say it is. Understand, girl?” He fairly snarled the last word.
    She refused to agree. Instead, she eyed Dalton to see if it would do any good to plead with him, but he ignored her and ran off to get his wife.
    Frank bid a patron to help him carry Nathan up the stairs, and Sophia scrambled away to fetch hot water, clean rags, and brandy. She’d do what she could for Nathan before the physician arrived. By the time she reached the top of the stairs with her arms full of supplies and water sloshing over the sides of the bucket, she was panting and her heart was racing. She ran to the guest room and flew through the door, almost tripping over something on the floor. Glancing down, she grimaced at the sight of her bedroll shoved off to the side, but not far enough to prevent it being in the way of whoever entered the room.
    Sophia frowned as she hooked the tip of her shoe under the bedroll and cleared it away from the door. She strode into the room, set the bucket down, and then moved to Nathan’s side. He took up the full length of the bed with his long, lean frame. His skin glistened with sweat, and his eyes raced back and forth under his lids.
    Without acknowledging Frank, she said, “I know what you’re up to. I’ll not go along with it.”
    Frank yanked her around to face him. “You’ll participate, girl, or I’ll sell that brother ye hold so dear to the chimney master today instead of generously waiting until he’s nine. Understand?”
    Her gut twisted, and behind her, Nathan moaned. Fear for both Nathan’s and her brother’s lives danced down her spine. She heaved her arm loose and turned toward Nathan, whose eyes were fluttering open once again. Sinking down next to him, she locked her gaze with his wavering one. “Don’t worry. I know what to do.”
    Frank loomed over her. “How do ye know what to do? Yer a stupid girl.”
    She was smart enough not to tell Frank she’d been secretly reading books, some of them about medicine. She shrugged and twisted to answer Frank, in the hopes that Nathan would not overhear and become worried. “I’m simply soothing him,” she said in a low voice and then faced Nathan again.
    His forehead wrinkled and he looked around, as if he was trying to place her and the room, and then his eyes slowly focused on her once again. He licked his cracked lips, spurring her to reach for the liquor and pour him a glass. She slid one hand under his head, her fingers brushing through his thick curls to hold him while she gently lifted his head and pressed the cup to his lips. “Drink,” she urged.
    He took a long, slow sip and moved back slightly, letting her know to withdraw the cup. As she did, his lips lifted in a half-smile. “Trying to get me foxed to take advantage of me?”
    Goodness, the man had audacity. Even wounded he was still worried she was trying to trap him into marriage. Speaking of...
    She could feel Frank hovering, and she wished he would either go sit in the corner or actually help.