Page 37 of The Gentleman Physician

“It is my honor to serve you, Lady Heatherton.” He executed a very proper bow. “Doctor Hastings, if you would point me in the right direction?”

Nathaniel went to the door with his friend. “Thank you for giving her time to compose herself. If I can coax her to eat something, she should regain her strength.”

“I’ll send someone up with a tray.” Timothy’s wan smile gave Nathaniel pause. He knew his friend to be a good-humored soul. To see him straining for a lighter expression and failing worried him more than anything else had.

“It’s that bad?”

Timothy pressed his lips together, glancing down the hall, ensuring no servants lingered nearby. “It will be difficult to persuade the judiciary that Lady Heatherton’s actions were justified. There could have been better outcomes. I respect that you were trying to protect her interests and the privacy of your patient, but it may have been better to let the other doctor come. Then the argument would’ve been your word against another physician, instead of a family battle. We could have brought in character witnesses to you and the other man. Heard the testimonies of servants. But now the whole issue will be clouded by emotion and morality instead of medical fact and the reputation of physicians.”

Nathaniel listened attentively, his dread growing. “It all happened too fast. I thought we were in the right. He offered me a bribe.”

“And everyone in this house is under enough pressure that a little thing like that set you all off like a spark to a powder keg.” Timothy brought his hands up and mimicked an explosion, complete with the sound of air bursting from his lips. “I can’t say that I blame any of you. It was an act of protection, inspired by great emotion, but I’ll have the devil of a time cleaning the mess up.”

“I’m sorry for my part,” Nathaniel said with quiet feeling. He’d ruined everything.

“Never mind. It is done and we move forward to face a new battle.” Timothy tucked his hands behind his back. “You need to direct me to the study.”

Nathaniel gave him directions to the room before returning to check on Lady Heatherton and her husband. He kept her company until a maid arrived with a tray of food. After he charged her to eat as much as she could, Nathaniel slipped away with his coat and hat in hand, leaving the maid to attend to her. He had a number of people he was supposed to see, but he could summon little enthusiasm for continuing his rounds.

He put the articles on as he walked down the steps, then he went through the house towards the gardens. His bag remained outside and he couldn’t leave without it.

Nathaniel entered the conservatory, but he had only made it a few steps before sudden movement drew his eye to a bench near several potted ferns.

Julia came to her feet, one hand holding a gray shawl tight around her shoulders. With wide eyes and no color in her cheeks, she looked as though she’d stepped from a painting depicting a Grecian tragedy. Nathaniel went to her, his arms coming up with the desire to offer comfort.

He came to himself, however, when he saw his medical bag clutched in her other hand.

I am the doctor, and nothing more. He did not slow in his movement, but instead of reaching to hold her as he had no right to hold her, he carefully took the bag from her hands.

“Thank you for retrieving this.”

Her free hand joined the other, grasping tightly at the ends of her wrap. “Thank you for all your help.”

Ought he to tell her of Timothy’s reproof, or let her find out on her own? He couldn’t decide. The discouragement and shame he felt for his part in worsening Lady Heatherton’s position weighed on him. He stood still, gazing into her lovely copper-brown eyes, trying to arrange the words in his thoughts so they might come out gently.

“I am afraid I may have made matters worse, sending everyone into a frenzy as I did.”

She appeared unsurprised; her shoulders dropped and she lowered her eyes. “I cannot pretend to understand matters of law, but as I have been thinking on things, I wondered if we acted in too much haste. I have been telling everyone that all is well, but there’s been this feeling in my heart that things were not right.”

“Mr. Olivier will explain it to you. He is interviewing everyone who was privy to the situation.” Nathaniel shifted his bag from one hand to the other, noticing the gentle curve of her cheek and the pale pink of her pursed lips. He wanted to linger to coax those lips into a smile again and inhale the calming scent of lilac which lingered about her. But what could he say? Matters were hardly simple between them.

She moved away, looking out the window into the gardens, her fingers twisting in the fringe of her shawl. “I sometimes think on our acquaintance, Dr. Hastings, and why it came to be. I cannot profess to be an expert on spiritual matters, but I do believe many things in this life can be used to serve a greater purpose. Though our friendship did not end well, I like to think that Providence has such a purpose in store for us. Why else would we meet again, after such a long a time, and in such a circumstance as this?”

Julia darted a quick glance at him, then lowered her eyes to her fingers. “You have done a great deal of good for Virginia. I think, even if we did not act rightly, today’s events will serve a greater good too.”

He regarded her closely, tipping his head to one side. The turbulent emotions of the day had weakened his resolve to keep distance between them. He could not let all her words stand, just as he could no longer keep the wall of his own making between them.

“Miss Devon?” She looked up after a brief hesitation, meeting his eyes. His heart flooded with warmth when he realized that she did not know how he would react to her softly spoken beliefs. “Thank you. I should like to see the world as you do. But in one thing I must contradict you.”

The corners of her mouth pulled upward, and her eyes met his with curiosity dancing in them. “It is the height of rudeness to contradict a lady, sir.”

“I am aware. I think you will forgive me this once.” He stepped closer and held out his hand. “You say our friendship did not end well. I think it best that we say it did not end at all. After a day like today, I wish very much to call you my friend.”

She blinked at him and a light pink hue came back into her cheeks. “You do?”

He held his hand higher and she hesitantly put hers within. He closed his fingers around hers, feeling the strength in them. Nathaniel bowed over her hand, in a gesture he knew to be far too courtly and grand for the occasion, yet it felt right.

“You are a woman of honor and loyalty, and whatever our past may be, I greatly respect your devotion to your family.” He straightened and released her, missing the warmth of her touch immediately. “I am honored to count you among my friends, if you will consent to be mine.” He held his breath waiting for an answer, knowing the plea might sound desperate. He no longer wanted to severe his connection wit her, even if it meant they could only ever be friends.