Chapter 10 #3
Anne’s cheeks heated and pleasure washed over her, quickly followed by uncertainty. Was he flirting with her? He definitely seemed to be.
His expression dimmed. “Yet I’m afraid I cannot join you today. Need to dash. But thank you, and please pass along my gratitude to Miss Newland. And whatever Miss Birt says of me, please know the truth is not as bad as it might seem.”
She looked at him with interest and foreboding. “That is mysterious.”
“I don’t mean it to be.”
He looked around to be sure no one was near and then sank his voice. “You’re bound to hear the rumors, so I will tell you what I told Dr. Marsland when he recently confronted me about . . . the child living in my home. I suppose you’ve heard of it?”
“Well, em, yes.”
“I am caring for my sister’s child. She and her husband have gone to India, and they left their child with me, under my guardianship.”
“Oh. I . . . suppose it is a dangerous journey?”
“It can be, yes. I just thought you should know.”
“Thank you for telling me. Is it a secret?”
“Apparently not.” He managed a crooked grin, yet his eyes remained troubled.
“My housekeeper and her daughter take care of him when I am out on calls. Mrs. Tufley has her half day on Sundays, so I need to return and care for the boy myself. The arrangement is not ideal, but it’s the best I can do for now. ”
“I see.”
“I am not sure that you do. Things in my life are . . . complicated at present. Striving to meet Dr. Marsland’s exacting standards, trying to please dozens of patients, and learning my way around the parish with directions like ‘Halfway to Sheepscombe, turn right past the old lime tree.’ Growing accustomed to my new living situation with a child, a housekeeper and her daughter living in, and .
. . well, my time is not my own. I am not at liberty to .
. . pursue my own interests. I wish I could be more forthcoming, Miss Loveday. But at the moment, I cannot.”
He bowed and turned away, leaving Anne confused, concerned, and questioning the layered meaning of his words. She watched him walk away, her earlier suspicions and curiosity lingering. She felt certain there was more to the story, and that he was still hiding something.
As he reached the corner of the churchyard, a young woman came walking up St. Mary’s Street in his direction. The two stopped to talk.
Anne recognized her instantly.
Rosa.
Rosa had said she would remain on hand should Lady Celia need anything.
Why had she left? Anne had seen these two talking privately several times now.
Was Rosa the reason Dr. Finch was “not at liberty”?
Something was certainly going on between them.
Anne wished one or the other would tell her what it was.
They were too far away for her to hear their conversation, but neither looked happy.
Miss Birt came out of the church and found her. “You are coming over for luncheon, I trust? I believe Dinah is attempting a cottage pie.”
“I think I should look in on Lady Celia first,” Anne said. “You go on, and I will join you as soon as I can.”
“Very well. We shall endeavor to save you some.” Ursula winked and walked away.
When Anne returned to Painswick Court, she found Lady Celia with a bed tray over her lap rather than the previous writing box, teacup perched upon it at a precarious angle, and newspaper in her hand.
Lady Celia said, “So Rosa decided to go to church with you after all? I called for her and she did not answer.”
“Oh, I am sorry. Did you need something?”
“Never mind. I rang the bell. Jane brought me tea and took Louie outside. Did you not see Rosa at the service?”
Anne had not seen her in church, but she did not wish to get the girl into trouble. After all, Lady Celia had said they both might go.
“I . . . well, I left the house before she did and sat with Miss Birt. Rosa might have slipped into one of the rear pews, not having a friend to sit with as I do. Now, would you like more tea or something to eat?”
Lady Celia set aside the newspaper and lifted a linen napkin lying across her chest, which Anne now noticed was damp and stained light brown. “The maid did not flatten the bedclothes first, so the tray was not level and the tea spilled. Not sure which of us was clumsier.”
Concern rose. “I hope you were not scalded.”
“No. By the time the girl arrived the tea was lukewarm at best.”
“A blessing in this case. I am sorry that happened. Here, let’s get you into a dry gown.”
Rosa came in from the dressing room, having already put away her outdoor things. Perhaps hoping her absence had not been noticed?
She hurried forward to assist, and Anne did not miss the guilty flush on her lovely face. “Oh no, what’s happened?”
“Don’t fuss,” Lady Celia snapped. “I said you both might go to church. Though I expected you back before now.”
Rosa sent Anne a nervous look, likely afraid she would mention not seeing her in the service. “I am sorry, my lady. I . . . got to talking with . . . an acquaintance, and lost track of the time. I hope you were all right during my absence?”
“Had a nice dousing of tea, but otherwise I managed to survive without you.”
When Lady Celia was dry and settled once more, Anne readied to leave for her weekly afternoon at Yew Cottage. “You will be here this time?” Anne asked Rosa on her way out.
The lady’s maid nodded. “I will. I promise.”
When Anne arrived at Yew Cottage, she found the two older women waiting for her, Charlotte Newland sitting with her foot on a little stool.
“How is the ankle, Miss Lotty?”
“Coming along well, according to Dr. Marsland. Dr. Finch prescribed a series of gentle exercises that seem to be helping. I might be able to get around with crutches in a week or so.”
“I am glad to hear it.”
Miss Birt waggled her eyebrows and leaned near her friend. “Dr. Marsland asked most particularly that we pass along his greetings to you and his hope that you will be able to join him at church soon.”
“Join us,” Anne mildly corrected. She enjoyed Miss Lotty’s blush of pleasure, but she did not wish to exaggerate the man’s interest and raise Miss Lotty’s hopes should it all come to nothing.
Anne went to put the kettle on and then helped Dinah carry out the food.
After praying over the meal, Lotty asked, “So what did I miss?”
Anne summarized the sermon, and Ursula described Miss Fitzjohn’s spencer and hat.
“Oh, and I spoke to Mrs. Tufley,” Ursula added. “Dr. Finch’s housekeeper? She told me that not only does the new doctor have a young woman coming to his house at odd hours, but he has a baby as well.”
“A baby!” Miss Lotty’s mouth fell open in shock.
Ursula nodded. “Perhaps three or four months old. Mrs. Tufley’s daughter is acting as nursemaid to the wee thing.”
Lotty lowered her voice. “Dr. Finch is not married.”
“I know!” Ursula replied, eyes dancing in scandalized delight.
A swell of protectiveness filled Anne, and she spoke up in his defense, even as she suspected there was more to the story than he’d told her.
“It is not scandalous. Dr. Finch told me he is caring for his sister’s child.
She and her husband have gone to India and they asked him to care for the child during their absence. ”
“Really? With the East India Company or as missionaries, or . . . ?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask.”
Miss Birt tilted her head to one side and said dubiously, “Sister’s child, ey? I don’t know if I believe that. His housekeeper says he’s awful affectionate to the mite, whoever he is. Name is Robbie.”
“The young woman who comes to his house,” Miss Lotty asked, “do we know who she is?”
“Not yet. Mrs. Tufley has been mum on the subject.” Ursula raised a pointer finger. “But I shall ferret it out!”
Anne’s stomach twisted. If Dr. Marsland disapproved of the younger man being late to church and employing two servants, how had he reacted to all this? Anne hoped he would not send Dr. Finch packing.
Anne abruptly excused herself and went to the kitchen to retrieve the teakettle. When she returned, Miss Lotty sent Ursula a significant look and said, “Now, let’s speak of more pleasant things.”
Miss Birt shrugged. “Very well. Anne, you stitching up that worker at King’s Mill is the talk of the town—well, after the doctor’s love child, that is.”
Miss Lotty huffed a sigh and shook her head.