Miss Amber is waiting for you

Dear Dr. Johnson,

I am back in my rooms consulting my notes and wondering if I have taken one step too far. The decision I made might not even be considered unusual by you or any other qualified medically trained man, but I find myself questioning the motivations behind this choice. Let me explain. In the morning-room I found Miss Amber waiting with a delicate china cup of tea in one hand and a book in the other.

"Dr. Baxter." The dark-haired young woman was wearing a high collared blue dress with lace around her half-sleeves and hem. The light blue shade of the dress reminded me of the Earth sky and complimented her pale complexion perfectly. "I hope you don't mind that I waited for you."

"No of course not, I'm delighted" I confess Dr. Johnson that I had hoped she'd be somewhere I could speak to her in relative privacy. Hindustani servants entered and left periodically with fresh muffins and tea, but this was about as good as it was likely to get so I filled a plate with sausage links and eggs with a delicate hollandaise sauce before taking a seat by her side.

"Were you able to sleep last night?" I asked, deciding that it was pointless to avoid the topic.

"Yes, thank-you." Her quiet answer was so soft I could barely hear her and when I tried to catch her eye she looked into the tea-cup hoping to find answers in the milky liquid but then she sighed and raised her eyes to meet my gaze. "I've been having troubling dreams."

"I see." I told her, wishing I could see into her dreams to find the most troubling parts. Was this shy innocent picturing acts of sensual coupling? Or was she picturing unbridled acts of sexual depravity that would alarm even her adventurous sister?

"Can you give me something, Dr. Baxter." Her eyes were melting my heart, and I found it impossible to refuse her.

"I have a small amounts of sedatives that might help you sleep, but they co-" before I could even finish the warning of possible side effects the young debutant slipped from her seat and knelt at my feet taking my hand in hers and squeezing it fiercely.

"Thank-you, thank-you." Her trembling voice was full of relief. "Oh thank goodness, Dr. Baxter, I just knew you'd be able to help me." And so Dr. Johnson, I have provided Miss Amber with a small bottle of laudanum to help her find the sleep that has been eluding her. What troubles me, Sir Williard, is the knowledge that this exquisite creature would be sleeping soundly under the influence of this miraculous opioid. I must tell you, that I had to push away the image of Miss Amber sleeping in the moonlight. One thing has become clear to me. It will be critical for me to avoid the rooms of Miss Peach and her younger sister, as it has been sadly demonstrated that I lack the self control I had always prided myself on.

All in all, it will not hurt the young woman to have a few night's of peace, although I do wonder how long it will be before the clutches of this planet's curse take its toll on this sweet youngest member of the Peach family.