“You claim no injury, then?”
She closed her eyes against the shame her answer brought with it. “I cannot.”
“Still, though you be a party to it, there remain courses of action to secure your support.”
“Please. I do not wish to speak of it further. You can be assured that my father and my uncle, a solicitor himself, have discussed these matters with me thoroughly. Exhaustively.”
“I am sorry.”
“Everyone has urged, even begged me to reveal the man so they mightworkon him.”
“You have not told them who the man is?”
She shook her head.
“Why on earth not?”
“Because it will do me and my child absolutely no good ... and it will harm others.”
“A married man, then?”
She swallowed. “He is now.”
“Miss Lamb. Charlotte. Have you considered—”
“Mr. Taylor, excuse me,Dr. Taylor, I have already told you far more than I should. More than I’ve told anyone else.” She looked up at him, then back down at her hands. “You always did have that effect on me.”
“Make you chatter on? I’d rather have had a different effect on young ladies in those days.”
She smiled in spite of herself. “Then let us speak of it no more. Though I do appreciate your concern.”
“Yes, well.” He cleared his throat. “We have an examination to conduct.”
“Yes,” she murmured, feeling her heart begin pounding again.
“Well, first of all, I need to ask you a few questions about your medical history and the like.”
“All right.”
“If I remember correctly, you were a most healthy girl. Any medical problems since? Illnesses, serious injury?”
She shook her head.
“And, since your ... condition. Any pain, light-headedness, swelling of extremities?”
She thought of her ankles, not as thin as they once were. “Nothing to speak of.”
“You have been seen by another physician prior to coming here?”
“Only one time.”
“Dr. Webb, was it?”
She shook her head again. “Father wouldn’t hear of me seeing anyone local. He was sure word would get out. I saw a surgeon, a Mr. Thompkins, when I was in Hertfordshire with my aunt.”
“And how long ago was this?”
“Three...nearly four months now. He was brought in only to confirm that I was indeed, well, as I am.”
