14. The Price of Truth #2
“And your cowardly way of dealing with one lady is to punish her for saving countless lives?” Everett’s voice held barely contained fury.
“Better that than allow her to potentially cause panic with half-formed theories about water supply.” Dr Moreland replaced his spectacles. “The economy is delicate enough without hysteria about cholera spreading through pipes.”
“You will take no action against her.” Everett’s tone left no room for argument. “I’ve secured her research notes and dealt with her source at the Royal College. She can’t gather more data.”
“Well done, my boy.” His father’s lips curved in a cold smile. “Though I fear removing her papers isn’t enough. She’s clever, your Miss Brown. She’ll find other ways to pursue her investigation unless…” He paused meaningfully.
“Unless what?”
“Unless you give her something better to pursue. For instance,” Dr Moreland leaned forward, his brows furrowing as if an idea just occurred to him, “…marriage.” He met his son’s gaze.
“Marry her, Everett. Take her abroad—Edinburgh, perhaps, or even the Continent. I’ll ensure she has permissions to practise medicine legally wherever you settle. ”
Everett stared at his father. “You want me to marry her? What happened to the lady Her Majesty recommended? To making a better match?”
Dr Moreland regarded him thoughtfully. “That was before she became a bigger thorn in my side. With her brother-in-law now aware of her activities, he shall involve himself in this matter. The nuptial solves everyone’s problems rather neatly, don’t you think?
She gains the legitimacy she craves. Lord Salisbury sees his sister-in-law elevated to a respectable marriage while being burdened with protecting her husband.
And you…” His father’s eyes gleamed. “Well, I’m not blind to your feelings for the girl. ”
“And what does London Water gain from this arrangement?”
“Distance.” Dr Moreland spread his hands. “Miss Brown safely occupied with a proper medical practice far from London’s water supply issues. Everyone wins.”
“Or what?” Everett’s voice was dangerously soft.
“Or I’ll be forced to take official action. It would be such a shame to see her talents wasted.” His father sighed. “She’d never practise medicine again, in any capacity.”
Everett’s hands clenched. “You’re asking me to deceive her. To use her feelings for me to manipulate her.”
“I’m asking you to protect her. To give her everything she wants: legitimacy, respect, the freedom to do what she wants. And in return, all she has to do is leave London’s problems to those better qualified to handle them.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then I can guarantee her demise. If not personal, certainly professional.” Dr Moreland picked up his papers again. “The choice is yours, my boy. But remember. Sometimes love means making difficult decisions for those we care about.”
“You are willing to sacrifice an innocent woman and my happiness because you made the mistake of putting all your eggs in one basket! Is this all you’re capable of?”
Dr Moreland’s composure cracked slightly. “Watch your tongue, my boy. I know you’re emotional, but do not panic. Take care of Brown, and I shall keep everything else under control. She is the only variant unaccounted for.”
“My God.” Everett felt the blood drain from his face. “Do you truly believe you can safeguard your secret by purchasing properties along the contaminated pipelines? While people are dying, you haven’t thought to stop them from drinking the sewage.”
“The finest medical minds still believe cholera spreads through bad air. It’s the accepted theory. No one else has made the connection except for your Miss Brown.”
Everett laughed bitterly. “You are mad.”
“She’s too close,” his father said, apparently unable to consider any other factors beyond his coverup. “Do you understand what such a discovery would mean? The panic? The lawsuits?”
“You have to take responsibility,” Everett said, his voice hardening. “Replace the faulty pipes. Ensure no more people die.”
His father gawked at him. “With what money? Fixing the pipes would bankrupt us. The company would collapse.”
Everett stared at his father in horror. “You taught me to heal, to do no harm. You must tell people to boil the water! It’s a solution at no cost to you!”
“That would mean admitting to our errors and making ourselves accountable! I will become a laughingstock, risking my position as the Royal Physician.”
“If you won’t, I will!”
“Go ahead. See how the medical community punishes you for your radical ideas. You won’t achieve anything without my support, Everett. Not even if you exposed me before the world. You’ve always been just my son,” the elder man scoffed. “My boy, you are ignorant of how the real world works.”
Everett shook his head, disappointment and despair weighing on him. “If Mother could see you now…”
His father flinched at the mention of his beloved.
“She used to tell me what a great man you are. Little she knew you would become this monster. I’m grateful she passed away before she could see you like this.”
His father erupted. “Everything I’ve done has been to secure your future! Marry the girl! Take her away from all this. Give her the life and legitimacy she deserves!”
Everett left without responding, his mind reeling from his father’s revelations. The enormity of the deception, the lives at stake… How could he marry Emma under such false pretences? How could he use her love to manipulate her away from uncovering the truth?
And yet…he did love her. Their connection was real, despite the lies that had brought them together. He’d seen the way she looked at him, felt how perfectly they fit together. She challenged him, inspired him, made him want to be worthy of her brilliant mind and passionate heart.
What would be the harm in marrying her, taking her somewhere she could work freely as a physician? They could be happy together, build a life far from London’s corrupt politics and deadly water supply.
But even as he considered it, Everett knew Emma would not wish to marry him under false pretences. Would she marry him simply for love? Even with her trust in him fractured, he believed she could love him. The question was, did she know it? Perhaps it was time he revealed her own heart to herself.