he lifted the
kettle and poured the hot water still in reserve into the bowl. Grabbing one of
the towels he flicked it out so that it was no longer neatly folded. He nodded
toward the tonic and spoon.
“Take a tablespoon of that tonic, mind you don’t get any of
the leaves, and then use this towel to tent your head over the bowl. Do not
come out from underneath the tent until the water has cooled completely. Use
the second towel to blow your nose. Repeat the steaming tent twice more and
blow your nose between each turn.
“Then you may rejoin me after another swig of tonic. I’ll be
in exam for the next fifteen minutes so anyone who comes in can either wait or
leave to find another surgeon. It won’t stop the clocks in town if they do,”
Eric told his agitated assistant.
“But, what about the young woban?”
“If she isn’t comfortable with me in the exam room, her maid
can sit in for you. Don’t worry, Scarlet, I’m a surgeon. I can do my job with
one hand tied behind my back,” he chuckled darkly before pointing at the tonic
and nodding. Scarlet gave out a reserved sigh and began uncorking the bottle as
he left the apothecary kitchen.
As Eric walked past the nurse’s
desk, he saw the maid waiting beside the door in a chair. She looked
unconcerned for her duty to the woman waiting to be examined. Eric cleared his
throat.
“Ahem, Miss? My nurse is unavailable this morning. Perhaps you
would like to come in while I meet with Miss …” he glanced down to the
appointment roster on the nurse’s desk, “Porter?”
He saw the maid give a tiny smirk, but she shook her head.
“It won’t be necessary. My lady assured me it wouldn’t be a
long visit,” the woman told him confidently. Eric shrugged and gave her a
professional smile.
“I’ll have her out as soon as I can, Miss. Please make
yourself comfortable. Oh, and if anyone should enter seeking treatment, please
have them wait. My nurse or I will be with them as soon as possible,” Eric
asked politely.
“I’ll be happy to sir,” the maid smiled politely back. Eric
turned and entered the exam room without a backward glance.
Upon entering the room, Eric gave the young woman a
professional smile and made an immediate apology.
“I hope you’ll excuse my nurse for not coming in with me. She’s
a bit under the weather herself this morning. I sent her to the kitchen for a
little tonic. If you like I can summon your maid? But I assure you that as a
surgeon there will be no impropriety to your visit,” Eric said with a sober
face.
“It won’t be necessary,” the oddly familiar voice said. The
woman let out her breath out in a small sigh the moment she finished speaking.
“I’m Doctor Benchley. I know that sounds funny, saying doctor.
But it’s on the rise among my profession to use the title more formally
nowadays. My own father was a barber-surgeon, and he used the title himself. He
was a man far beyond his years in medical practice, I assure you,” Eric let his
face relax a little at the mention of his father.
“I’m aware of that,” said the woman ambiguously. Eric had a
queer sensation that the statement held much more meaning than the words
implied.
“What seems to be your trouble today, Miss Porter?”
His lovely patient looked at him with narrowed eyes, as if
calculating her response. He didn’t acknowledge her hesitation, but instead
went right into his professional examination mode.
“Women today have so many things that cause them discomfort.
The seasonal weather of spring seems to always unleash a hearty wrath, not to
mention the styles of clothing and lack of physical exertion allowed in normal
society. I see too many young ladies who suffer the pains of fashion and
idleness,” Eric commented as he came nearer to her. He pulled the stool close
to the end of the chaise and sat down.
His business-like approach did nothing to stem an
irresistible urge he suddenly felt toward the attractive blond sitting feet
away on
kettle and poured the hot water still in reserve into the bowl. Grabbing one of
the towels he flicked it out so that it was no longer neatly folded. He nodded
toward the tonic and spoon.
“Take a tablespoon of that tonic, mind you don’t get any of
the leaves, and then use this towel to tent your head over the bowl. Do not
come out from underneath the tent until the water has cooled completely. Use
the second towel to blow your nose. Repeat the steaming tent twice more and
blow your nose between each turn.
“Then you may rejoin me after another swig of tonic. I’ll be
in exam for the next fifteen minutes so anyone who comes in can either wait or
leave to find another surgeon. It won’t stop the clocks in town if they do,”
Eric told his agitated assistant.
“But, what about the young woban?”
“If she isn’t comfortable with me in the exam room, her maid
can sit in for you. Don’t worry, Scarlet, I’m a surgeon. I can do my job with
one hand tied behind my back,” he chuckled darkly before pointing at the tonic
and nodding. Scarlet gave out a reserved sigh and began uncorking the bottle as
he left the apothecary kitchen.
As Eric walked past the nurse’s
desk, he saw the maid waiting beside the door in a chair. She looked
unconcerned for her duty to the woman waiting to be examined. Eric cleared his
throat.
“Ahem, Miss? My nurse is unavailable this morning. Perhaps you
would like to come in while I meet with Miss …” he glanced down to the
appointment roster on the nurse’s desk, “Porter?”
He saw the maid give a tiny smirk, but she shook her head.
“It won’t be necessary. My lady assured me it wouldn’t be a
long visit,” the woman told him confidently. Eric shrugged and gave her a
professional smile.
“I’ll have her out as soon as I can, Miss. Please make
yourself comfortable. Oh, and if anyone should enter seeking treatment, please
have them wait. My nurse or I will be with them as soon as possible,” Eric
asked politely.
“I’ll be happy to sir,” the maid smiled politely back. Eric
turned and entered the exam room without a backward glance.
Upon entering the room, Eric gave the young woman a
professional smile and made an immediate apology.
“I hope you’ll excuse my nurse for not coming in with me. She’s
a bit under the weather herself this morning. I sent her to the kitchen for a
little tonic. If you like I can summon your maid? But I assure you that as a
surgeon there will be no impropriety to your visit,” Eric said with a sober
face.
“It won’t be necessary,” the oddly familiar voice said. The
woman let out her breath out in a small sigh the moment she finished speaking.
“I’m Doctor Benchley. I know that sounds funny, saying doctor.
But it’s on the rise among my profession to use the title more formally
nowadays. My own father was a barber-surgeon, and he used the title himself. He
was a man far beyond his years in medical practice, I assure you,” Eric let his
face relax a little at the mention of his father.
“I’m aware of that,” said the woman ambiguously. Eric had a
queer sensation that the statement held much more meaning than the words
implied.
“What seems to be your trouble today, Miss Porter?”
His lovely patient looked at him with narrowed eyes, as if
calculating her response. He didn’t acknowledge her hesitation, but instead
went right into his professional examination mode.
“Women today have so many things that cause them discomfort.
The seasonal weather of spring seems to always unleash a hearty wrath, not to
mention the styles of clothing and lack of physical exertion allowed in normal
society. I see too many young ladies who suffer the pains of fashion and
idleness,” Eric commented as he came nearer to her. He pulled the stool close
to the end of the chaise and sat down.
His business-like approach did nothing to stem an
irresistible urge he suddenly felt toward the attractive blond sitting feet
away on
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