Page 6 of Victorian Bride

Lottie attempted a wounded expression that dissolved almost instantly into hard laughter. “You,” she said, panting to catch her breath, “are entirely too clever for my own good. Do you not know it is rude to call your hostess out on her little self-delusions?”

“I thought we were just discussing your fondness for bending the rules of proper behavior.”

The dark-haired woman threw her free hand in the air. “I give up. You have defeated me utterly,” she said, chuckling once more.

A disappointingly easy venture, Mya almost said. The words hovered on the tip of her tongue, but she did not speak them. They were, after all, still nearly strangers, and she was a guest in Lottie’s home. She had no wish to cross a line that would offend. Instead, she merely smiled. Lottie gave her a look that said she knew what Mya was thinking, or at least that she was thinking something of the sort, but didn’t press her to speak the words aloud.

“Unfortunately, as much as I would enjoy remaining here with you and continuing this conversation, I have a letter I must write before the day is out. Do you wish to return to your room, or would you prefer to remain outside?”

“I would like to stay here, I think,” Mya decided. “And enjoy the weather.”

“An excellent choice.” Lottie made certain Mya was steady on her feet before stepping back. “I will send the maid to fetch you when the doctor arrives, and we’ll make certain you have company for the visit.”

“Thank you. Again. For everything,” Mya said, taking a seat on one of the padded benches that sat along the back of the porch. “I’ll be here.”

Lottie nodded in understanding and went inside, pausing at the door to give Mya a little wave before she hurried off.

At least, Mya thought as she turned her eyes to the landscape below the house, staying here would not be dull.

***

When the doctor arrived, Mya was very nearly dozing. The maid who came to collect her had to say her name twice to get her attention, and looked a little amused when Mya startled up from the seat, blinking away the lingering sleepy lassitude.

“Doctor MacAslan here to see you, ma'am,” she said when Mya had turned to look at her, her startled heart still beating a little too fast in her chest.

“Thank you,” Mya said, touching her shoulder gingerly. The maid turned and Mya took a step after her. “Could you show me where I'm meant to meet him, please?”

“Yes, ma'am. If you'll just follow me.”

Relieved that she wouldn't be expected to find her way through the still unfamiliar house on her own, Mya followed the maid inside and down the maze of halls to the room where she had woken. Thankfully the maid's guidance probably saved her several wrong turns.

Both Lottie and Eleanora were there already, talking with a gray-haired man in a suit. His doctor's bag sat on top of the cupboard beside the bed with the washbasin. When Mya entered, all three of them turned to look at her. Eleanora, she noted, was wearing a pink rose in her hair, tucked just behind her ear.

“Miss Mya, it is, I presume?” the doctor asked. It wasn't really a question. He knew exactly who she was, considering that he had been treating her for the past three days, but she supposed he hadn’t actually known her name.

“Yes… Sir.” Mya tacked on the respectful address a little too late to make them believe she had actually planned to use it, but the doctor only smiled. He had the kind of face that was easy to trust, open and honest, with lines at the corners of his eyes that suggested he spent much of his time smiling. Some of the nerves that had returned at the maid’s summons settled themselves.

“It is good to see you up and about.” Doctor MacAslan directed her as he spoke, beckoning her forward to sit on the edge of the bed while he retrieved a stethoscope from his bag. “It was a bit touch and go for a few days.”

He pressed the tube of the stethoscope to her chest and had her breathe, then repeated the procedure at her back. “Your heart seems well enough,” he said, leaning in next to examine her eyes. “Are you having any unexplained aches or pains? Any physical trouble?”

“My shoulder hurts,” Mya said. “But I think you are aware of that already.”

The doctor smiled. “Quite aware. We will take a look at that in a moment.”

True to his word, he had her lie back against the pillows and folded the nightgown back to bare her shoulder. Carefully, he loosened the bandage that covered the wound.

Looking down, Mya could see that it had almost healed. Or, at least, it looked that way to her, though to her knowledge she had no medical training. But the wound was entirely closed, only slightly red at its edges. The raised scab that marked it was not entirely pleasant to look at, but she took from Doctor MacAslan's pleased muttering that it was a good sign.

He pressed his fingertips down against the flesh around the mark, and asked her at various times if it hurt. Mya shook her head. It felt a little tender, but there was no sharp pain. When the doctor straightened up, he had a smile on his face.

“You are coming along quite well,” he said, packing the tools he had used back into his bag as he spoke. “You ought to still be careful of how you use that arm—vigorous exertion could cause pain or even reopen parts of the wound—but I believe that in time you shall get the full use of the limb back. And in a fortnight or so, the pain should be gone entirely.”

“Can she travel?” Lottie asked.

The doctor turned to look at her. “I cannot see why she should not. So long as she does not lift anything too heavy. But a trip into town will hardly be dangerous for her.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Mya said, glancing at her caretakers and wondering what they were planning. She’d just woken, and wasn’t sure how much energy she’d have, even though she did feel quite rested. It was all strange.