Page 37 of The Chef and the Countess

Chapter 12

Since it was Thursday, Doctor Drew Hornsby arrived to offer medical care to the unfortunates lined up to receive free stew. Celia slipped on her woolen coat, scarf, and fur-lined gloves and hurried toward the doctor with a hot mug of tea. It was cold today, and many people standing in line shivered from the brisk breeze.

“Doctor Hornsby, I’ve brought you tea and a bag of ginger biscuits to hand out to your patients. Can I assist you for a while? Liam said I could.”

“Yes, of course. Thank you.” He took the offered mug and took a sip. “Have a seat next to me. It is bitterly cold, and because of it, I will be swift in my assessments today. Hand the patient a piece of paper from the pile before you. It lists the names and locations of the free clinics my family supports. That’s if they want the paper--many cannot read. There is also a crate of used winter boots for children. If I point to the box, have a child select a pair. We don’t have time for them to try on various pairs. Just judge by the size of their feet. I also have woolen socks for the adults. Give each one a pair.”

“Yes, doctor.”

“We also need to take a count of everyone we serve. Will you do that?” When Celia nodded, he added, “Use the pencil and paper before you.”

Celia was shocked at the state of the individuals in the line: threadbare clothes, improper footwear for the weather, and a look of weariness borne from ceaseless poverty. Celia silently thanked Providence that Liam had taken her in, or she would have been in this exact predicament. It also made her admire Liam and Drew for doing what they could to aid those who needed it most.

In under an hour, the crowd had dissipated. “Fifty-four patients, doctor.”

“Thank you for the assistance, my lady.”

“Please, call me Celia. I just discovered the baroness nurse who assisted you is one of the friends I hoped to make contact with.”

“Corrine?”

“Yes. Liam explained she was away on her honeymoon. He also told me in confidence of your blood connection with each other and Corrine’s new husband.”

The doctor pushed his gold spectacles up his nose. “Indeed? Liam told you this? How interesting.”

Celia smiled. “Because he does not often reveal personal aspects or let people close?”

Doctor Hornsby’s mouth quirked with amusement. “Yes, exactly that.”

“Doctor Hornsby, I have another friend. We were together at school with Corrine. Her name is Selena Seaton, and she is married to Lombard Woodhouse, the Duke of Barnsdale. I need to find her, and Liam thought you might be able to help. I was told that Selena is away and the duke is ill, but I do not believe the source. Liam said he would ask you if you know the address.”

He stood and gently took her arm. “I haven’t seen Liam today. Come, let us head inside where it is warm. And call me Drew.” He escorted her through the rear door. “Lads,” Drew said to the boys, chopping onions and carrots. “If you could, please place the boots, socks, and other boxes in the shed, lock it, and return the key to me. Thank you.” Drew held out a key, and Tommy took it and hurried outside.

“Liam,” Drew called out. “May we use your office for a moment?”

Liam turned from the oven where he was basting a large turkey. “Aye. Go on.”

Celia loved roast turkey, and the odor of sage, meat, and onion filled the air. Fiona stood at the preparation table, trussing two more turkeys for roasting. This was a wise choice for a main dish, as leftover turkey could make several other dishes, including sandwiches—or so Celia had just learned.

Once inside Liam’s small office, Drew and Celia took their seats. Tommy came in with the key and gave it to Drew, and Timmy was right behind him with mugs of tea. Left alone, Drew unwound the wool scarf from around his neck.

“I was called to the Duke of Barnsdale’s residence last year. April, I believe it was. The duke stated that his wife had fallen down the stairs. I have been practicing medicine long enough, and have dealt with patients from all walks of life and economic spheres to understand that ‘falling down the stairs’ is often a euphemism for physical abuse.”

Celia gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. “I-I-I wondered. Oh, how awful. I haven’t seen my friends since school—well over a decade. We met at your aunt’s tea party at the end of this past November. Selena was distant, not like herself at all. Corrine and I knew something was wrong. Corrine came right out and asked if Barnsdale had hurt her. Selena said if he laid his hands on her again, she would shoot him. Here.” Celia pointed to her forehead, right between the eyes.

Drew shook his head sadly. “Mistreatment is common, even among the elite of society. I asked the duke if I could contact her doctor. Barnsdale said they didn’t have one, which is rare among the peerage. All wealthy families have a physician or two on retainer. To me, it explained more than I cared to know. Abusive men often use different doctors after each episode, so there is no discernable pattern of the beatings. The duchess said it only happened once, and I believed her.” Drew sipped his tea. “Barnsdale was clever; he did not touch her face, but there were a few bruises on her torso. She told me that he kicked her.”

“Oh, my God,” Celia cried, tears welling. “And there was nothing you could do.”

“No. When Barnsdale left us alone, I asked the duchess if she wished me to take her to her family or call the police. She gave me an emphatic no. I slipped her my card, but she never contacted me.”

“Selena is estranged from her parents. They’d pushed her to marry Barnsdale even when we were still in finishing school.” Celia could not believe this, or maybe she could. How astounding that she and her two friends had terrible marriages, although in dissimilar ways. “What would have transpired if you called in the police?”

“Because Barnsdale is a duke--nothing. Even if he weren’t a duke, there are no legal ramifications for any man who beats his wife. However, since ‘78, a wife can obtain a legal separation from an abusive husband, but it’s not easy. There is a bylaw in London saying a man cannot beat his wife between the hours of ten at night and seven in the morning because it keeps the neighbors awake.”

“I had no idea the bylaw existed. That is horrendous!”

“Laws are made by, and for, men.”