Miss Foxworth's Fate Read Free Page B

over his audience, most of whom had come simply out of curiosity. Within a few minutes, however, Abby and the rest of the crowd were hanging on his every word.
    He touched on the history of mesmerism, the theories behind it, both pro and con, the confusion that surrounded its practice, and the realistic results of experiments that had been performed using the various techniques involved.
    Abby tried hard to focus, to concentrate on the science he was expounding, but for once in her life, failed dismally.
    All she could think of was the pounding of her heart and the growing dampness between her thighs as his eyes brushed hers.
    And they seemed to do that a lot .
    As the first part of the lecture concluded, he stepped forward and smiled, and Abby blinked. His smile lightened his harsh features and made her want to smile back. And get very naked, very quickly.
    Her nipples were hard against her bodice and she could feel them rubbing the fabric with every breath. She wondered if they’d actually pop out, just so that they could have a look at this man too. She wasn’t even sure if she’d mind. Perhaps he’d do something about it if they did.
    Like cover them with his hands—or even better, with his mouth. Pulling her softness between those full, sensuous lips of his. She squirmed, surprised to note that there was now some laughter and conversation around her.
    Apparently, Sir Philip was calling for a volunteer to help him in a little “demonstration” of mesmerism.
    A gentleman from the back of the room called out. “If you can rid me of this plaguey gout, Sir Philip, I’ll be your biggest supporter...”
    A general laugh rang across the room and Philip smiled once more, doing increasingly dreadful things to Abby’s pulse rate.
    “Well, step up Sir, and let’s see what can be done for you,” he replied.
    A portly gentleman limped and lumbered his way onto the dais, and Philip Ashton arranged a comfortable chair for him, seating him so that he was half-facing the audience.
    Silence fell, as Philip produced a fob from his pocket and let it dangle freely from his fingers. “Now, Sir,” he said calmly. “Simply allow your eyes to follow the movement of this fob, and listen to my voice.”
    Philip spoke smoothly and softly and the man’s eyes glazed over slightly as the fob swung in a rhythmic pattern before his face.
    Abby found herself watching closely too. Taking in Philip’s movements, his quiet tones, the way he relaxed his patient and allowed the man’s focus to center on the fob and Philip’s voice, nothing else. It was fascinating, especially to one whose mind was always open to new ideas and thoughts.
    So why on earth was she wondering about what hid behind his breeches? She snorted mentally at herself, and followed that with a good swift kick to the brain. She needed to get back into herself, and fast. She must stop being some silly ninny who had been struck dumb by a pair of fine eyes.
    “You are feeling relaxed, Sir Arthur,” murmured Philip, and indeed the man seemed to unroll his erect spine and lean back into the chair. “Any pain you have been experiencing will ease, and your foot will begin to feel warm as the discomfort departs.”
    He glanced around at the audience, as if asking them to share in this moment. “Do you feel the warmth?”
    “I do, lad. ‘Tis incredible,” answered the man, smiling slightly.
    “Excellent.” Philip paused for a moment and addressed the crowd. “As you can see, ladies and gentlemen, Sir Arthur is quite conscious, and able to respond to all my questions. I have simply suggested to him that his pain is lessening. I have not cured his condition, but focused his thoughts away from it, and onto my voice.”
    Abby found herself nodding in agreement. Once more she felt that strange thrill as his eyes glanced over at her.
    A small smile crossed his face, then was gone in an instant as he turned back to Sir Arthur. “Now, Sir, I am going to ask you to promise that