Page 36 of The Gentleman Physician

Nathaniel went to the door and stood before it, arms loose at his side, as though waiting for someone to try to come through. Julia’s eyes traced his form, from his wavy blonde hair to his broad shoulders, taking in his protective stance. Her eyes dropped to the baron, frowning in his sleep, unaware of all that happened around him. His breath came in shallow gulps, his face remained pale.

“Why do these things happen?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “He loves her, and he’s being forced to leave her.”

Nathaniel glanced over his shoulder at her, then looked back to the door. His carriage remained stiff and his hands curled into fists. “I ask myself that question every day, Miss Devon. I watch good men die, treat children barely clinging to life, and for all the training I have, I am helpless in the face of much of it.”

Julia swallowed her emotions and stared at his back, noting the tautness of his shoulders. “What answer do you make for yourself?” she asked, leaning forward. “How do you keep doing such work when it ends this way?” She did not know what she wanted the answer to be, only that she hoped for something that would soothe her mind and heart.

“I look at the good I can do,” he answered, not turning, though the sounds in the hall had ceased. “I look at the lives I have saved, the people I have helped. And I look at the families who are left behind. I do not want your cousin to think, even once, that more could’ve been done to spare her husband’s life. No one should live with that guilt.” His hands slowly opened and he turned, his movements pronounced in their rigidity.

“I only wish death was a foe I could meet on the battlefield.” He raised his eyes to hers. “And I wonder if being a soldier or a vicar would’ve been an easier route for a second son.”

Julia’s heart ached for him, for Virginia, and she could think of no answer to make. A tear slipped down her cheek and she hastily wiped it away.

“Virginia and her family would be lost without you,” she said at last, meeting his stare and putting as much sincerity as she could into each word. “You do far more than any other physician would. Thank you for that.”

He offered her a curt nod, then went to the window to stare out at the street.

Neither of them said another word until Virginia returned with the news of her brother-in-law’s removal, and Mr. Olivier arrived nearly in the same instant.

Julia escaped the room with haste. The next conversation would not need her presence. She went to see to the servants, then the boys, smoothing ruffled feathers, offering explanations, and doing whatever else she could think to do to ease Virginia’s burdens. But while she worked to bring the household back to order, her cousin met with the barrister and doctor.

And try as she might, Julia could not get the image of Nathaniel, standing before a door ready to do battle, out of her mind.

∞ ∞ ∞

“As satisfying as I’m sure it was to throw Mr. Macon out of the house, I am afraid that action will play to his favor.” Timothy’s words, delivered with a solemnness Nathaniel was not accustomed to hearing from his old friend, surprised him.

“How could I possibly let him stay?” Lady Heatherton asked, her hands clasped tightly before her. They stood in front of the baron’s bedroom door, speaking in hushed tones. Though Timothy had suggested withdrawing to the study, the baroness would not move further from her husband.

“My lady, he will have some sympathy on his side when he makes his appeal to the courts. You threw a man grieving the loss of his brother out of your home.”

“He was threatening the well-being of a lady’s family.” Nathaniel couldn’t help arguing, knowing Lady Heatherton’s action was justifiable. “What choice did he give her?”

Timothy took a deep breath and fixed Nathaniel with a stern frown.

“Doctor Hastings, you are a very intelligent man in matters of medicine. Please leave me to be the expert of the law.” He glanced to Lady Heatherton, meeting her eyes squarely. “While I personally applaud your actions, and I understand your motivation, I am telling you that what happened here today will be twisted and turned by your brother-in-law’s lawyer, until it’s all in his favor. Then they will present that version of events to the court. It will be your word against his.”

Lady Heatherton took a step backward, leaning against the door to her husband’s room, and she raised a shaking hand to her forehead. Her lips went white and Nathaniel moved on instinct, coming forward to put his arm around her waist as she began to sink to the floor.

“Steady, my lady.” He bent and put an arm beneath her knees and lifted her. “Get the door, Timothy.”

Timothy acted swiftly to obey, opening the door to the baron’s bedroom. Nathaniel hurried inside and took her to the small chaise near the window. "I have smelling salts in my bag—” He stopped, realizing his medical bag remained out in the garden where he’d dropped it to speak to Julia. He nearly cursed out loud.

“I am well enough.” Lady Heatherton tipped her head back against the arm of the chaise and closed her eyes. “Please. Forgive that spell. I am afraid I have not been sleeping well.”

“Or eating well, I would imagine.” Nathaniel forced a more pleasant expression. “You must keep up your strength, my lady.”

“I detest fainting.” She said it with whispered vehemence. “I have only ever fainted once, Doctor. Please do not think the less of me for doing so again.”

Nathaniel shook his head. “I cannot blame you.” He shot a glare over his shoulder at Timothy. “I am afraid barristers haven’t a very good bedside manner.”

Timothy, to his credit, appeared concerned. “Forgive me, my lady, I spoke too carelessly.”

“You told me the truth.” She raised a hand to her temple and began to massage the place, rubbing it with small circles. “I apologize for my momentary weakness and I thank you both for your concern. But we ought to be discussing what to do about Gerard.”

“We need to prepare our argument and take statements from the servants. I will need to do this privately, my lady, with each of them. I think it best that we allow you time to recover from this incident, and I can tell the good doctor will agree with me on that. Might I use your study to conduct the interviews?”

“Yes. Of course.” The baroness nodded. “Whatever you need, Mr. Olivier. Thank you.”