AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Two
Heedless of the flurry of activity around her as the small army of servants cleaned up after last night’s party, Nora hurried through the Whitwells’ grand house toward the drawing room and the visitor who had called on her. She did not want to keep Dr. Parks waiting. A noted specialist who came highly recommended, he’d agreed to meet with her and consider accepting Emmeline as his newest patient. Oh, please, God, let him accept her! Their options were shrinking, and fear had begun to swirl in the back of her mind that if Emmeline didn’t start talking soon that she might never speak again.
She put a wide smile on her face and swept into the drawing room. “Dr. Parks, how good of you to—”
She halted in mid step. The man was not Dr. Parks.
“Mr. Granger.” She straightened her spine and forced herself not walk away.
This was her fault. All the butler had said was that she had a visitor. Naturally, she’d assumed it was Dr. Parks, who had been due to stop by this afternoon but earlier had sent a note stating that he might be delayed until tomorrow. Her foolish heart had hoped that Dr. Parks had found time in his busy schedule for them today after all.
Apparently not.
And drat the intruding man for daring to look so handsome! His dark chestnut hair was tousled from the afternoon breeze and his cheeks colored from being outside in the sun and fresh air. Judging by the maroon redingote he wore over cream-colored breeches and a plain tan waistcoat, by the scuff of his well-worn boots and the dirt that marred their toes, he’d been out for a long walk through the park before he’d come here. Was it because calling on her had been a last-minute decision? Or had he been screwing up the courage to see her? She hoped it was the latter. It would serve him right for prying into her private matters.
Then her gaze fell to the creature at his side. She blinked, unable to believe her eyes.
A dog. A very large, very shaggy dog whose head came up nearly to the man’s waist and whose tongue was sticking sideways out of its mouth in a grin. Half of his body swayed back and forth with each hard swing of his tail.
She rolled her eyes. The man was utterly exasperating. Who called at an earl’s house with a beast like that in tow?
“Lady Davenport.” He sketched a half-bow in greeting. When he saw where her gaze had gone, he added with a gesture at the dog, “May I introduce Brutus?”
On cue, the hound promptly sat and held out his paw in greeting.
“No, Brutus, not a handshake,” he corrected with a sideways mutter to the dog. “She’s a baroness.”
With an apologetic turn of his ears, the dog dropped down onto his front legs in a canine bow.
She pursed her lips. Oh, he was playing dirty, to have the mutt do a cute trick like that!
Mason turned back toward her, and his expression grew serious. “We’ve come to apologize.”
“Thank you,” she said coldly. “Apology accepted.” She turned toward the door to show him out. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I was expecting Dr. Parks. He’s taking on—”
“Parks? John Parks?” When her silence confirmed the doctor’s identity, he scoffed, “Parks has been practicing so-called medicine for over thirty years.”
“Yes, he’s very experienced.” Her curiosity turned her back toward him. “You know him?”
“I have firsthand knowledge.” He snapped his fingers and pointed at the floor, and the shaggy dog obediently sat. “He’s a worthless fraud who bilks desperate people out of their money, all the while giving them just enough hope for a cure that they’ll keep him in their employ.”
Not this again! The man was impossible. “Dr. Parks is one of the best voice and throat specialists in Europe,” she countered, stifling the cutting reply she really wanted to give him. “He’s adamant that he can heal Emmeline’s voice.”
“Then he’s also a despicable braggart because I’d wager there’s nothing wrong at all with your daughter’s voice or her throat.”
“So it’s all in her head?” she challenged defensively.
“No. It’s all in her heart.”
Nora’s lips parted as surprise pulsed through her, but not enough to overcome her anger. He was interfering where he had no business being. “I don’t mean to offend, Mr. Granger.” Oh, that was lie! She fully intended to cause him offense. “But you know nothing about my daughter or the doctors who have offered to—”
“More than you know.” He approached her slowly. “They come by twice weekly, I’d wager, to examine Emmeline and put her through all kinds of humiliating tests, to give her all kinds of disgusting potions to drink, sticky salves to rub on her throat and chest, stinking poultices to wear— They claim they’re making progress. You don’t see any yourself, but you trust them. After all, they’re highly respected specialists.” He stopped in front of her and folded his arms over his chest. “And they keep sending you large bills which you keep paying because they all tell you that she’ll be talking again in just a few weeks if you continue treatments.”
Her eyes narrowed. “That isn’t what—”
“Have they hurt her yet?”
She gaped at him. “Pardon?”
