26
The day after the hearing, Dr. Finch came to Yew Cottage. Miss Lotty welcomed him, and he sat down with the ladies in the parlour to take tea together.
For a time, the three engaged in general small talk. Then he looked at Anne and parted his lips as if to speak, but with a glance at Miss Newland, shut them again, taking yet another sip of tea, clearly reticent to speak about something on his mind within her hearing.
Noticing, Miss Newland excused herself, saying, “I will just pop over to Miss Birt’s to see how her ... greengages are coming on.”
Despite the awkward moment, it was good to see the kind woman in better spirits, and once again able to walk on her own two feet.
When she had gone, Dr. Finch sheepishly ducked his head. “Sorry. I was not very subtle in my hints, was I?”
“She won’t mind. Miss Lotty is very kind and understanding.”
“Indeed she is. I find myself growing quite fond of her and ... others.”
He cleared his throat. Anne braced herself, eager and uncertainat once, but when he began speaking, the topic was not at all what she’d expected.
“I hope you don’t mind. But I wrote to one of my instructors at Guy’s Hospital. A man I highly respect, who keeps up with all the latest developments, medicinally and surgically speaking. He verified a few things for me. One, you were right to dissuade your father from the riskier treatments he considered for your mother. Hemlock in even small amounts can be poisonous, as was evident in Lady Celia’s case.
“And as far as the treatise that described collapsing a lung to allow it to rest—it was a theory but not a proven one. Dr. Carson was not able to show a successful practical outcome of such a procedure. The one documented clinical case failed.
“Based on what my instructor told me, and what I’ve read, and my own more limited experience, I believe you and your father did everything you could do for your mother. The sad truth is there is still no successful treatment for consumption. I pray to God one day there shall be.”
He clasped his hands in his lap. “Again, I hope you don’t mind that I looked into this. I did not want to say anything to you until I could confirm with someone more learned than I.”
A myriad of emotions washed over Anne. Surprise. Relief. Gratitude. She was touched he would take the time, that he cared. “No, I ... don’t mind. In fact I am grateful. Thank you.”
A few moments of quiet passed, then he asked, “What will you do now?”
“I think I shall spend some time with my father and half siblings. And visit Fanny too.”
“Oh. I thought—hoped—you might remain with Miss Newland.”
“She has certainly welcomed me to stay on. Yet I confess I am weary of all the whispers and secrets and deception.”
“Including my own.”
“As I said, I have forgiven you. Yours did not include poison, threats, and murder. I love Painswick and may yet return when the hullabaloo dies down. But first I think I need some time away. I have written to my father to ask that he fetch me home.”
“I understand.”
She tilted her head and looked at him. “What about you? Will you stay on?”
“I would like to. Dr. Marsland made it clear my partnership with him was only a trial. And now with him awaiting trial ... I don’t know. Some people may be leery of me, due to my association with Marsland, brief though it was.”
Anne smiled and touched his sleeve. “As I told you before, I think people who know you see you as a kind and caring physician. Not as experienced as Dr. Marsland, perhaps, but I believe many will be willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. And the fact that Miss Fitzjohn is lending her support will ease the transition.”
He looked down, grimaced, then looked up again. “It’s not only my association with Marsland, though, is it? There’s Rosa as well. Not everyone will overlook a niece living with me who has a child born out of wedlock.”
“Some will mind, I can’t deny. Yet she is hardly the first to face such a predicament, nor will she be the last. And she’s such a sweet, amiable young woman, she is sure to win people over in time.”
“Thank you.”
“And ... I hate to say it, but she is probably not the only female in Painswick to have been led astray by Jude Dalby. I would not be surprised if she is met with more compassion and understanding than you expect.”
“I hope you are right.”
He leaned his elbows on his knees, bridging the distance between them to grasp her hands.
