The Doctor's Society Sweetheart by Lucy Clark Read Free Book Online Page B

providing.’
    ‘That’s good to know.’ Dart was pleased by her words. It only added to the strange awareness he felt towards her and with that he knew it was time for him to move away, to put some distance between them. Kind, reassuring, enigmatic women were people he tended to avoid because they created too much havoc within him.
    His fiancée Marta had been such a woman. Giving, encouraging, selfless, loving. She had been the type of woman who had always supported the underdog, who had always given far more than she’d ever received and who would fight to the nth degree for a good cause.
    He found it unnerving when he came across other women of such high integrity and where he’d thought Emerson-Rose to be a pampered little princess, playing at a game of public relations, he was starting to discover that there were a few more layers to her than he’d previously thought.
    He was definitely intrigued…and that spelled danger!

Chapter Four
    E MMY watched as Dart stood and without another word walked away, back to where the baby’s mother was busy still cutting up fruit, the young village children crowding around her and waiting for a piece of fresh…Emmy wasn’t sure what type of fruit it actually was, tasting between a pear and banana. Either way it was delicious as well as refreshing, which was why the children all wanted more.
    The mother was getting tired, standing up, doing the manual work, especially if her body was still recovering from a traumatic birth. Dart manoeuvred his way through the gaggle of children and with a gentle hand urged the mother away, sitting her down before handing her sleeping baby over. The woman smiled at him with gratitude, which he accepted with a simple nod of his head before turning to finish cutting up the fruit and giving it out to the children.
    ‘He is a man who always gives.’ Meeree had sat down quietly beside Emmy, startling her.
    ‘Huh? Sorry?’ She quickly tore her gaze away from the man who seemed able to captivate her thoughts.
    ‘Dartagnan.’ Meeree gestured in Dart’s direction.
    Emmy was confused for a split second longer then her eyes widened in surprise. ‘That’s his name? Dartagnan? I didn’t realise.’ She paused then said his name again. ‘Dartagnan.’ She allowed the sound of his name to roll around in her mouth,teasing her tongue. She liked it. It was a strong, brave name and it suited him perfectly. Another thought popped into her mind. ‘Wait. The baby is called J’tagnan.’
    Meeree nodded, her kind wise face highlighted in the glow from the fire. ‘He delivered the babe. Rescued the babe. Made it breathe again. The mother was filled with gratitude. She mixed the name of my par machkai , Jalak, with that of her rescuer and protector of her first child, Dartagnan. Jalak means protector and Dartagnan means leader. J’tagnan will grow to be a strong man for his village.’
    ‘Leader.’ Emmy spoke the word softly and couldn’t help the smile that touched her lips as she turned to once more look at Dart. He had finished his job of handing out fruit and was now crouched down beside J’tagnan’s mother, making sure she was feeling all right. ‘He’s quite a man, isn’t he, Meeree?’
    ‘Yes, he is. Our village is more rich when he is here. He gives to all. It doesn’t matter if people are high up in their village or not. He gives to all but, Emmy…’ There was a hint of sadness in Meeree’s tone. ‘Dartagnan has no one to give to him. ’
    ‘You care about him more than the other PMA staff, yes?’
    Meeree’s smile was calm and natural. ‘People come for many reasons. Some to help, some to seek, some for solace. It is the ones who come for solace who need the most love.’
    ‘Dart needs solace?’ Emmy was surprised at that.
    Meeree stretched out a hand and lightly touched Emmy’s cheek. ‘He is not the only one. You have much in common.’
    Emmy held the woman’s gaze, unsure for a brief moment what she meant. She didn’t