Marrying Miss Hemingford by Nadia Nichols

with a desire to utter them. She stood three feet, perhaps four, from him, but it might as wellhave been miles. The chasm between his life and hers was too deep and too wide to be bridged. And she had been a fool to think that it could. ‘I do not wonder that you have no patients except the poor,’ she said. ‘They are obliged to put up with your incivility if they want treatment, but fortunately my aunt does not.’
    He looked hard at her, wondering why she stayed. ‘Then may I recommend she consults a doctor more to her liking.’
    â€˜That is your advice, is it?’
    â€˜It is.’
    â€˜And presumably you charge for advice?’
    He laughed suddenly, but it was a hollow sound. ‘Why are you determined to give me money? Is my poverty so obvious?’
    â€˜I am not concerned with your poverty or otherwise,’ she snapped. ‘I was thinking of Tildy Smith and all those like her.’
    â€˜Very well, I shall send your aunt a bill, but I shall not press for payment if she declines to honour it. Now, if you will excuse me, I have work to do.’
    â€˜You have no patients today.’
    â€˜I have patients every day, but on Sundays they do not come to me. I go to them if they need me.’ He indicated the papers on the table, the inkstand with its pot of ink, his quills and sharp knife. ‘And I have notes to write up.’
    â€˜Then I will not detain you, but do you mind if my aunt sits in your waiting room while I go to find a cab? She should not be walking home.’
    â€˜Of course.’ He bowed and went to open the door for her.
    But there was no need to go looking for a cab. MajorMancroft had returned with his curricle and proposed to convey Mrs Bartrum home in that. ‘We abandoned the picnic,’ he said. ‘Everyone was concerned for dear Mrs Bartrum, and no one felt like going on with it.’
    â€˜I am sorry for that,’ Mrs Bartrum said. ‘I am completely recovered, as you see.’
    â€˜Nevertheless, I shall convey you safely home and then let everyone know how you are. They will be congregating at the Assembly Rooms for tea later this afternoon.’
    â€˜Then I shall join them.’
    â€˜Aunt, really, you ought not—’ Anne began.
    â€˜Fustian! A little rest and a change of clothes is all I need. I have never been one to make a fuss over my health and I do not propose to start now.’
    Anne remembered Doctor Tremayne’s advice. Had he been hinting there was something wrong with her aunt, or was he simply being over-cautious, or giving as good as she had served out to him in angry words? She did not want to alarm her aunt, but perhaps she ought to see a doctor, one that knew how to treat susceptible ladies.
    But her aunt seemed so well, and, by the time she had rested, had two cups of tea, eaten a honey cake and changed into another gown, she seemed her old self. Anne concluded that her aunt knew more about her own health than anyone else. Later Major Mancroft arrived in a light chaise to escort them to the Assembly Rooms at the Ship and Anne decided to try to put the enigmatic doctor from her mind.

Chapter Four
    T he Old Ship’s Assembly Rooms, consisting of a ballroom, dining room and card room, were crowded with those who considered themselves Quality, all talking loudly and with evident authority on every subject under the sun, one of which was the so-called merman on the beach. It appeared that everyone had paid their twopence to be admitted, but by the time the latecomers had filed through the tent, the ice had melted and the stench of rotting fish was unbearable and they admitted to hurrying through and seeing nothing but two round eyes and a grey jelly-like mass.
    â€˜It was all a bubble,’ Lord Mancroft said, slurping his tea noisily. ‘And we ought to demand our money back.’
    â€˜But it was Captain Gosforth who paid for us,’ Mrs Bartrum said mildly, smiling at the