Chapter Thirty
Max loved kissing Yihui. And it didn’t even bother him that it left him hard and achy all through the evening. Well, it didn’t bother him enough to regret the exquisite press of her lips and the sounds she made when he teased her mouth open and pressed her back in her bed.
He didn’t follow through to a full seduction, though his body had burned with the need to possess her. Instead, he’d taken his time as he thrust with his tongue, took delight in the taste of her mouth, and reveled in the sweet pressure of her hands gripping him as if he were her only lifeline.
He lingered in Yihui’s bedroom until the throb in his cock threatened to overpower his reason. Then he’d forced himself back and bowed deeply to her.
“I’ll begin looking for your apothecary shop tomorrow,” he promised.
It was the least he could do because he was sure his mother was going to start Yihui’s instruction in the morning.
Yihui was going to be a miserable, henpecked woman by the end of the day, to say nothing of the week.
But there was nothing he could do about it.
The banns had gone in this morning and would be read first thing on Sunday. This path was already set.
He was getting off cheap by setting her up with a business of her own.
Which was what he was explaining to Lord Benedict over a brandy at their favorite club.
Old Gold was located in a tiny corner of London, hidden away from the elite and political people alike.
Truly, it was more of a drawing room for those who wanted absolute privacy and Lord Benedict sponsored Max’s membership provided he never gave the location to anyone.
He hadn’t, but someone else had and the constant flow of souls through the doors never failed to surprise him.
Merchants, elites, even someone who looked like a wizard from a fairy tale slipped in and out of the doors in cloaked silence.
It was quite intriguing, but Max knew better than to ask anyone’s name.
In truth, he was perhaps the best-known man here simply because he was dressed in his usual attire without any attempt to hide his identity.
It made up for the fact that the brandy was of middling value.
“An apothecary shop? Really?” Lord Benedict was intrigued. “With Chinese herbs?”
“Their medical theories are very interesting. Different names, but the basis is similar to our idea of humors. They’ve taken it far beyond anything I understand.”
“But does it work?”
“She’s alive, and no one expected her to survive.”
Lord Benedict nodded, his long fingers tracing the sides of his brandy glass with a thoughtful gaze. “I should like to speak with her sometime.”
“You and everyone else. I was stopped by no less than seven people today as I walked here.”
Benedict’s eyes widened. “You didn’t tell them—”
“I said I was headed to Bond Street, as usual, then came here through the tobacconist.” There were actually several secret entrances to this building and the guarded staircase that led up to this floor.
Even Max didn’t know what happened in the two floors above this.
He had enough difficulties to manage without delving into secrets best left alone.
That Benedict was a frequent visitor upstairs was enough to tell Max that it was an area the government chose to utilize rather than expose.
“Once you have rid yourself of an unwanted fiancée, what will you do?”
“I’m out of Prinny’s good graces, so it’s a good time to explore other options.”
“You can’t go to war, Max. Napoleon might be on his heels, but his army kills rich and poor alike. Worse, as a peer, you’d be a target and you haven’t the training to be more useful than the cost of your protection.”
Max winced at the blunt phrasing. Fortunately, he’d already given up that idea. His parents would lose their minds if he stepped into battle, to say nothing of the worry that would descend upon Emmaline’s already overburdened shoulders.
“It’s a large world, Benedict. I don’t have to go to the continent.”
“You’re thinking of China.”
“We understand so little of such a large part of the world.”
“They don’t want us to know them. We had to force them to allow us into Canton.”
Max grimaced. “I’m aware.” Then his gaze lifted to his friend’s. “What if they have medicines, treatments, ways to combat things we don’t understand?”
“I’m sure they do. The world is too large for England to have discovered everything first.”
“Why not bring that information back to us?”
“How?”
“With a Chinese apothecary shop in London. With Chinese doctors who will teach us.”
Benedict snorted. “Where will you find English doctors willing to learn from heathens?”
“There has to be a few whose pride will not get in the way. Young women, if no one else.”
“Women!”
“Why not? Lady Kimberly’s knowledge far surpasses many doctors. Surely you don’t believe that only men can learn such things.”
Benedict chuckled. “Oh, I have a great deal of faith in the intelligence of women.” He abruptly leaned forward. “Very well, I shall support you in this endeavor.”
Elated, Max grinned. “Really? How?”
Benedict shrugged. “I know of several people open to new elixirs, special teas, all sorts of cures. Provided she doesn’t kill anyone, I can nudge them her way.”
“An excellent idea.” And one that he’d already had. It was the reason he’d brought up the topic in the first place.
“But I have a condition.”
“Yes?”
At this, his friend looked decidedly uncomfortable. He took refuge in his brandy and then looked at a point somewhere over Max’s left shoulder. “I can no longer refuse to wed. My parents are aging, and…” He sighed. “Like you, I cannot in good conscience leave England until I have an heir.”
Max nodded. It was the same problem he faced every day. “How can I help?”
“I have found a woman perfect to my needs. I respect who she is and believe she will make me an excellent wife.”
“I cannot wait to meet this paragon of virtue.”
“She is a midwife.”
Max nearly choked on his brandy. He had nothing against midwives, in general. Indeed, he thought them important women providing a vital service to those who could not afford a proper doctor. But the idea of a peer of the realm marrying one shocked him to the core.
“You mean to marry her?”
“Yes.”
“Your father will never allow it. Your mother—”
“They will have no say in this. The lady has an adequate pedigree.”
“Then she cannot really be a midwife.”
“And yet, she is.” His gaze fixed on Max. “I need your help in hiding her activities.”
“You want her to continue?”
“I want her occupied with something other than gossip, parties, and mucking about in my affairs.”
“Then get her a charity!” Max leaned forward. “You understand, Benedict, that a wife can be a significant boon to a man’s career. Especially in politics.”
“I do not need help. I need heirs and a wife who allows me my freedom.”
Max snorted. “There are any number of society women who will do that. Hell, Kimberly might even do that if it meant she could skip the folderol of stepping into the Marriage Mart.”
“I have made my decision. If I am to steer people to your lady’s apothecary, then you can help me in—”
“What? Bringing your lady customers?”
Benedict shook his head. “I should like you to introduce her to Yihui. I believe they could aid one another. Provided, of course, that the shop remains above reproach.”
Max huffed. “You just said she need not kill anyone. Now you want her to be above reproach?”
“It would not benefit my wife to associate with a shop filled with charlatans.”
The idea was preposterous. Benedict could not marry a working woman. And yet, he had never seen his friend more determined.
“You are mad.”
“Just be sure that the apothecary is of good quality. Leave the handling of my wife to me.”
Max stared at his friend. The man was crazy.
He was adept at many things. Indeed, as a diplomat, he had successfully balanced the demands of warring nations, greedy tyrants, and bizarre customs. But this was not something he could do.
He could not marry a working woman without setting the entire ton on its ear.
“It won’t work. You know it won’t.”
“It will never work until someone makes it so.” And with that, Benedict relaxed back in his chair and lifted his drink will all appearance of calm. Except Max had known him for years now. He knew Benedict wasn’t nearly as confident as he pretended.
“You’re heading for a disaster,” Max said.
“But if you want, I shall stand by the side of the road and watch you destroy yourself.” He said the words.
Indeed, he meant them, but as he spoke, he thought about the joy he had seen in Yihui’s face as she inspected her herbs.
She’d been happy at her task, blissfully so.
Why had he been taught to disdain such a joyous occupation in a woman?
Why was the wife of a peer disallowed from productive occupation?
“You will do more than watch me, Max,” Benedict said, his voice hard. “You will help me hide her passion from those who would destroy her.”
Max nodded. That was indeed the promise he had given Benedict. He truly did believe it would be a disaster, but he could not fault a man for pursuing the woman of his dreams.
“You must love her very much.”
Benedict’s eyes jerked back to him in shock. “Love? Good God, I’m not so idiotic as that.”
“But—”
“She suits my needs perfectly, Max. That is all.”
And that is where he intended to end the conversation, but Max couldn’t keep himself from poking one last time. “I look forward to your coming courtship.” Benedict had already told him that he hadn’t yet made his intentions known to the lady in question. “When do you plan to begin?”
“Soon. As in diplomacy, timing is everything.”