Page 51 of The Gentleman Physician

“Yes, miss.” Mrs. Rainey sighed and shook her head. “Do you know when we might be goin’ back to the country house?”

Mrs. Rainey was a permanent member of the Macon household, brought with them to Bath because the entire family adored her cooking.

“I am not certain any plans have been made in that regard. Have you a need to return home?” Julia asked as kindly as she could, noting the kitchen maid putting together a tray at another table.

“Not at all, miss. It’s only—and please, forgive my saying this—it’s only that I don’t think her ladyship ought to go back to that big, quiet house alone. It’s a pile of cold stone, as pretty as it is, and it’s no place for a person already thinking sad thoughts.”

Julia pursed her lips and regarded the cook thoughtfully. She had never been to the seat of the baron’s estate before, but she’d heard it described as a seventeenth century fortress, built by the first noble family member to show off his military might to the community during an uncertain religious upheaval. With that sort of description in her mind, she could not imagine the home to be a cheerful place.

“I think you must be right,” she said, studying the woman with appreciation. “I will consider what you’ve said, Mrs. Rainey. Perhaps we can find an alternative solution for the family. I do not think they will wish to remain in Bath very long.”

“No, miss. But thank you for listening to me and my funny thoughts.”

“They’re very handy thoughts, actually.” Julia glanced to the tray. “Thank you for the refreshment. I’ll take it up myself.”

She had barely lifted the treats when Thurston entered the room, standing as stately as she’d ever seen him.

“Miss Devon, I am glad to have found you here. There is a situation which needs to be addressed and I did not think it wise to disturb the family.”

“No, of course not.” She put the tray back down on the table and cast an apologetic glance at the maid. “Would you please take this up to her ladyship’s parlor?”

“Yes, miss.” The maid dipped a curtsy as Julia followed Thurston from the room.

The older gentleman, who belonged to the townhouse, had always impressed her with his grave air and impeccable attention to detail. Virginia had confessed once she would try to steal him away if she didn’t already have a very capable butler in the country.

When they stepped into the upper hallway, Thurston stopped walking and turned to regard her with his austere eyes. “Miss Devon, the late baron’s brother has arrived. I have asked him to wait in the study, as that is the room he seems most fond of.”

Her stomach dropped and the air around her went cold. “Mr. Macon?”

“Yes, Miss.”

Of course, she’d known he would come this morning. Nathaniel had said he would send a note, though she hadn’t expected him to arrive with her as the only person to speak to him. But the idea of Virginia seeing him, in her current state, was terrible as well.

Julia knew it fell to her to deal with the man.

“Thank you, Thurston. It was right of you to leave the baroness undisturbed. Please, have the baron’s valet go wait in the family hallway. I may have need of him. But I’ll go in to Mr. Macon now.”

“Very good, miss.” Thurston bowed and, had he not moved with such determined dignity, she would’ve said he ran to find the valet. They would relieve the maid sitting outside the door.

Julia took a deep breath and turned to face the door to the study. Her tears and contemplation must end. She gazed into the mirror that hung in the hall and pinched her cheeks, willing some color into them. She could do nothing about the dark crescents beneath her eyes, but she could firm up the tired lines of her mouth.

As terrible a person as she thought Mr. Macon was, he had lost his brother. He would be in mourning. Perhaps the loss had even softened his heart. But it was her duty to be welcoming and understanding of him. It fell to her to take him to see his brother’s body upstairs.

She took a deep breath and opened the study door.

Gerard Macon stood inside, staring down at the fire in the hearth, his hands clasped behind him. He looked up when she entered, his movement slow, and stared at her without expression. Julia dropped a low curtsy, her eyes on the carpet, hoping she was showing enough respect to one who grieved.

“Mr. Macon. Please, accept my sympathy for your loss.”

“Your sympathy, Miss Devon?” His deep voice remained low, barely carrying to where she stood. “I am surprised. You are in my sister-in-law’s pocket, I know, and you can harbor no good feeling toward me.”

Her head came up and her lips parted allowing her gasp to escape. “Sir, you should not say such things. This house is in mourning. We are all of us sorrowing for the loss of your brother. I know you must be hurting—”

His short, bitter laugh cut her off. “Hurting? I have always been second best to my brother in everything. He is gone. That is an end of it. There is nothing to be said. I will pay my respects to him and I will honor his wish that I return him to be buried in the family graveyard. But there my duty to him ends.”

Julia snapped her mouth shut, aware it had fallen open again. “Very well. Please, follow me.” She didn’t wait to hear him utter another word and hastened from the room.

He caught up to her easily, his stride twice what hers must be when hindered by long skirts.