Page 8 of The Gentleman Physician

“Have you any questions?” he asked at last, his only desire to quit the room. He communicated that wish with a judicious frown directed to her.

Her eyes were swimming with questions, or so he imagined, watching them briefly pass over what must have been his unwelcoming expression.

She shook her head and at last lowered her eyes, staring somewhere beneath his chin as she spoke. “No, sir. I think you have explained everything perfectly. I will apply to Virginia if I am uncertain of anything you’ve said.”

“Very good.” He glanced back to his patient and saw Lady Heatherton attending to him with tea. He released a sigh and peered down at Julia again, realizing he must impart one further thing to her. He lowered his voice.

“You should also look after your cousin. Lady Heatherton must stay in good health if she is to attend her husband as she wishes. If you notice her, or anyone else in this household, exhibiting symptoms of illness, send for me at once.”

“Yes, Doctor. Of course.” She bowed her head in a deep nod, not meeting his eyes.

Nathaniel twisted away from her, his words spent and his good humor completely fled. “Lady Heatherton, I must take my leave. But I will come back tomorrow.”

“So soon?” she asked, her face falling. “Is he worse?”

“I will know for certain tomorrow. But you are both aware of how this will progress. Please, use this time to make good memories, and strengthen those you already treasure.” He half-bowed, then gathered his things and left with speed, not waiting for anyone to show him out.

He was halfway down the corridor, the stairs in sight, when a voice called him from behind. Her voice.

How many times had he imagined he heard her as he walked through crowded streets? If a woman laughed, if a girl spoke with a similar inflection, he always made certain to assure himself it could not be her.

“Doctor Hastings, please. A moment?”

Nathaniel stopped, looking over his shoulder, and saw Julia hurrying towards him, one hand lifting her skirts to make the journey across the polished floors faster. Once she stood a few paces away, she stopped. The familiar scent of lilacs drifted in the air, unearthing a long buried memory.

Then she spoke with haste, her hands opening in an expansive gesture.

“When Virginia told me the name of the doctor, I thought it might be you. But I dismissed the possibility, more from a wish to avoid such a meeting than anything. I am sorry if seeing me is unpleasant, but I hope it will not affect your treatment of Charles.” She brought her hands together, clasping her fingers at her stomach, as though to hold in anything else she might say.

He straightened his bearing. “Miss Devon, I am a physician. My first responsibility is to my patients. Your being here will not change anything about my behavior towards the baron and his family. Our prior acquaintance will have no bearing on me at all.”

Her lips parted, forming a small ‘o,’ and she blinked slowly. “I see.” She lowered her eyes again and nodded. “Good. Well. Thank you for your kindness.” She took a step back, giving him leave to go.

Nathaniel glanced towards the stairs, barely four steps away, then back to her.

If he was not aware of how they parted last, he would have said she appeared distressed at his words, her eyes on the floor and her arms coming up to wrap around her waist. He hesitated, knowing he must speak his thoughts.

“The baron is not doing well, Miss Devon. I think he has less time remaining than I originally supposed. Your being here will help Lady Heatherton immeasurably, if you maintain compassion and good humor in the face of what will be a terrible parting between two people who care for each other.”

Julia raised her eyes to his and dropped her head once in an understanding nod. “They are devoted to each other. I know Virginia is keeping a brave face on for all the world, but her heart is breaking. I will do everything I can for her and those boys, never fear.” The conviction in her gaze reassured him, easing his mind on that account. “Thank you for taking care of them,” she added, her voice softer than before.

Nathaniel bowed, then spun away from her, moving quickly to the stairs, taking the steps swiftly. He turned around once, as the butler helped him on with his coat, and saw her standing there, at the top of the staircase. She lifted her hand in the smallest of waves, a gesture he had seen from her before, and his traitorous heart ached at the memory.

At the end of their walks in Hyde Park, she’d often wait until he turned around to wave him one last goodbye. Except at their last meeting. The memory stung.

Rather than acknowledge the farewell, he went out the door and rushed away from the house, trying to hold all other memories of Julia Devon at bay.

Chapter Four

Julia and Virginia walked arm in arm about the walled-in garden, watching the boys play with a rubber ball. The weather had been dry enough that Virginia did not worry about mud, but she had made sure everyone wrapped up warmly against the chill of January. The crisp air did a great deal of good for Julia, allowing her to think more clearly on her meeting with Nathaniel Hastings. After years of thinking about him, wondering what might have become of him, she at last knew that he succeeded in his desire to become a physician.

What else had he done in that time? Had he found love and married? Did he wonder at her being Miss Devon still? She knew she ought to put it from her mind, ought not to dwell on things she could not know, but Julia had held the image of him in her heart too long to dismiss her thoughts with any ease.

“You certainly are far away from here today, cousin,” Virginia said at length, startling Julia back into the present. Virginia’s mouth listed up at one corner and her head tilted to one side. “What are you thinking of?”

“I’m sorry,” Julia said, shaking her head in an attempt to rid herself of her troublesome thoughts. “It is nothing of consequence. I am merely remembering the past.”

Virginia nodded and brought her eyes back toward the garden path. “I find myself often in the past, when I have time to do more than live in the present. I am forever thinking of Charles and his illness. What might I have done, I wonder, that could have helped him? He never allowed anyone to worry over him if he coughed or took a fever. When it became worse, I let him talk me out of physicians and seeking treatment. He always got better, after a time.”