Dr. Finch looked at Anne. “Pray, forgive me.”
“Not at all,” she replied. “You will find I am not easily offended. Nor shocked.”
Miss Lotty poured the tea, and for a time the four spoke of other things. Lotty explained to Dr. Finch that Anne’s mother and grandparents were from Painswick and Anne and her sister had visited regularly until Mr. and Mrs. Spring passed on.
Dr. Finch said, “Ah, so are you acquainted with many people in the town?”
“Some, yes.”
“Then you have the advantage over me. I still have so many names to learn. I wonder ... are you acquainted with Lady Celia Fitzjohn?”
Anne’s stomach twisted. “Lady Celia?”
“Yes, the town matriarch, I suppose you could say. An earl’s daughter who married Sir Herbert Fitzjohn of Painswick Court.”
“I ... know who she is, although I am not personally acquainted with her.”
“Dr. Marsland knows her far better, of course. Sadly her heart isn’t strong and she is growing increasingly frail. Dropsy.”
“Fluid in the chest?” Anne asked to clarify.
“Hydrothorax, yes.”
Miss Lotty said, “Unfortunately, Dr. Marsland’s usual nurse recently retired.”
Dr. Finch nodded. “So I call on Lady Celia as well, as often as I can, to try to fill the void. Between the two of us, we see her nearly every day, but we cannot stay with her day and night.” He looked from Dr. Marsland to Anne andback again. An unspoken message seemed to pass between the two physicians.
“That gives me an idea,” Dr. Marsland said. “I wonder if you, Miss Loveday, might step in and serve as sickroom nurse for Lady Celia?”
“Me?” Anne said in astonishment. “I am not a nurse.”
“Though perhaps you might serve as one, on a temporary basis,” Dr. Marsland suggested. “Just until we can find someone more ... experienced?”
Miss Lotty spoke up. “I would share the duty with you, Anne, but I could not manage all the stairs in Painswick Court presently. And besides, you know far more about caring for patients than I do.”
“It would be a great help,” Dr. Finch added. “And a great favor to us both. Being relatively new, I would especially appreciate your assistance. With your experience with your father, you would be ideal.”
Anne blinked, thoughts rushing. “She has a grown daughter, I believe. Could she not nurse her mother? Does she not still live with her?”
“She does, but...” Dr. Marsland seemed reluctant to answer.
“Miss Fitzjohn has never enjoyed good health,” Miss Lotty said, “and is something of an invalid herself.”
A line formed between the doctor’s eyebrows. “I would not say ‘invalid,’ though somewhat delicate, yes. She contracted scarlet fever as a child, which weakened her constitution.” He looked again at Anne. “I know it’s a lot to ask. Especially when you are here to visit Miss Lotty. So if you would rather not, we will understand.”
Dr. Finch said, “Perhaps we might find someone else to sit with Lady Celia, say, on Sundays. One of the maids, perhaps. That way, Miss Loveday could continue to spend some time here as well.”
Anne hesitated, mind wheeling to keep up. Things were moving too quickly!
Yes, she had capably assisted her father on many occasions. She felt less qualified to attend a patient on her own yet would probably be equal to the task. Anne hesitated for a different reason—she had cause to dislike Lady Celia. Could she kindly care for a woman who had been the means of ruining the happiness of a most beloved sister?
Anne decided she must inform the doctors of this situation before things progressed any further. She said, “I don’t know that Lady Celia would want me at Painswick Court, to be honest. We have never been formally introduced, but her nephew courted my sister until Lady Celia forbade the match. She would likely remember our family, and—”
“Which nephew?” Dr. Marsland asked.
“Mr. Dalby.”
He lifted his chin. “Of course it was.” He and Miss Lotty shared a meaningful look.
