Page 26 of The Gentleman Physician

“Yes. But not as desperate to draw breath.”

Nathaniel checked his temperature again and shook his head. “I am sorry, my lord.”

The baron coughed and his wife came to sit by his side, putting her hand to his forehead. “I love you, Charles. If I could take away this pain, I would.”

“It does not matter,” he said at last. “It will soon be over. All will be well.”

Nathaniel watched her expression turn from sorrowful to troubled, but she did no more than lean forward to kiss her husband’s forehead.

When they moved away from the bed, both of them to wash their hands, Virginia spoke quietly. “How much longer?” she asked, her eyes darkened with worry.

“This is where the illness is most strange,” Nathaniel told her, determined to be fully honest with her. “It could happen in the night, in his sleep. Or there could be a raging fever for days. Consumption is not a disease we can explain or understand. Sometimes it takes a person in days, and others it weakens over years.”

She dropped her chin in a quick nod of acknowledgement. “You have been most helpful, Doctor Hastings. I don’t know how we would have managed without you. I appreciate your candor.” She swallowed and set her jaw, appearing determined, putting on a mantle of quiet strength. “Would you please take tea with me? Charles will sleep for a time. His valet will sit with him.”

“If that is what you would like, Lady Heatherton.”

She took him to a sitting room he had only been in once before, when she and her husband sat together on the sofa, interviewing him as a potential physician. On that day, the baron had only appeared tired, perhaps a little pale and thin. But a quick physical examination had left Nathaniel in little doubt as to the seriousness of his illness.

She rang for tea and they both sat. He wondered if he ought to try to make conversation, but she quickly took on the role of hostess. Her fortitude would serve her well in the coming days.

“I was informed that when you helped us with Edward you were coming from a concert. Thank you for allowing us to interrupt your evening.”

“It is my duty, my lady.”

“My cousin was the one who thought to send for you with such haste,” the baroness added, her tone careful and even. “I confess, I went to pieces for several minutes.”

“That is understandable, my lady. There is much weighing on you, and Edward is very young. Has your cousin been of great help to you, in her time here?” He told himself good manners required him to inquire after a guest in the home.

“Immeasurably. She is visiting the shops for me today. I cannot imagine how I would do this without her. I am glad that her father sent her to us, though I confess it unlikely he was motivated by charity.” She looked away as she made the curious admission. “I will take full advantage of it and keep her with me as long as possible, though Julia has a desire to be independent. I actually wondered if I might solicit your assistance, Doctor Hastings. You are a man of discretion and good judgement. You may be able to help us with your connections.”

Nathaniel could not remember the last time someone thought he had any sort of connections in society, given that he did not have much in the way of influence.

“I will help you in any way I can, Lady Heatherton.”

“Excellent. You see, my cousin Julia does not wish to return home. Her situation there is rather unpleasant.”

Nathaniel could well imagine, given the man she had for a father, but he wondered what he was expected to do about this. Surely, he was not meant to help play matchmaker in some way? Miss Devon was past the age most ladies of society were married, should they marry at all, and had yet to catch a husband. He told himself most sternly he did not wonder why.

“We are hoping to find her a position as a governess,” the baroness continued, her words jerking him completely out of his somewhat contradictory thoughts.

“What? Why?” he asked, but hastily covered his surprise when she raised her eyebrows at him. “I’m sorry. I did not—it’s not my business. But—I’m startled, is all. I know something of the family,” he admitted at last, trying to cover his verbal floundering.

“Then you know that her father is a tyrant,” she said bluntly, her eyebrows still two high arches on her forehead. “And perhaps you may also know that her sister has lately married in a way that displeases him.”

“I—I had not heard,” Nathaniel said. His cravat felt too tight when her eyes slowly narrowed, piercing him. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”

Virginia Macon had always struck him as an intelligent woman, and he had admired that about her, until this moment. She had turned her mind most firmly to him during this exchange, and he felt incredibly unsteady under her gaze.

“I am trusting to your discretion, Doctor Hastings. I will explain it to you. Julia’s father has dictated to his daughters most of their lives. When Julia’s sister, Christine, elected to marry for love to a man without a vast fortune or titles, my uncle nearly disowned her. But she thwarted him, and though those details do not matter, their effect was to upset Mr. Devon enough that he banished Julia and his youngest daughter from his home. I do not think he intends for Julia to come back until she has been made to suffer, in his mind, for what her sister has done.”

The tea tray came in and Lady Heatherton cut her narrative until after the maid put down the tray and went away. To his irritation, her ladyship took the time to prepare his tea and a plate for him, then for herself. Although normally a man of great patience, he grew anxious that she may not even take up Julia’s story again.

He finally cleared his throat, watching her take a sip from her cup. “What does Miss Devon intend to do? She would not really consider the life of a servant, would she?”

The woman lowered the cup and took her time in answering him. “She is considering it, which is why I think you could be of help. You have many acquaintances in Bath, through your practice of medicine, and may learn of a position appropriate to someone of her character and background.”

“Oh. I see.” He took a sip from his cup, his mind turning over this new information. Although his personal experience with Julia’s father had not been pleasant, he had never given any thought to how the man might be likewise to his own family. It intrigued him, this new idea, that Julia’s father would treat her poorly enough that she would rather turn to employment than wait on his forgiveness.