Anne was unsure whether to feel flattered or insulted. Since he was a childhood friend, she made do with rolling her eyes.
Dr. Finch walked up the drive, medical bag in one hand and small bouquet of flowers in the other. He drew up short upon spotting her and Colonel Paine standing together, hands clasped. With a tug, she extracted her hand and waved to the doctor, again wishing she might duck inside before he neared and saw in detail how unkempt the new nurse was.
Instead, she forced a smile. Glancing at the bouquet of white carnations, pink roses, and purple salvia, Anne resolved not to jump to conclusions again.
“For ... Lady Celia?” she asked tentatively.
He looked down at the flowers as if just remembering he held them. “Oh, em, no,” he replied. “I saw these as I passed the market. After the, em ... misunderstanding with the others, I...” He glanced from Colonel Paine to her again, gaze lowering to the blossom already in her hand. “But on second thought...” Clearly flustered, he seemed about to turn away, taking his offering with him.
Aware of his embarrassment, Anne stepped forward and reached for the flowers. “Most considerate of you, Dr. Finch. Thank you.”
He shifted from foot to foot. “Perhaps you might concoct something from these as well.”
“Thank you. I’m sure I shall ... think of something. In fact, I am on my way to the stillroom now.” She nodded from one to the other. “Good day, gentlemen.”
Cheeks warm, Anne walked away, feeling two pairs of eyes on her back ... or perhaps on her untidy hair.
Going down to the stillroom with the dog, she put the flowers in water and fed Louie his breakfast, determined to give him a good brushing before Lady Celia noticed how untidy her new pet was too.
Later, dog groomed, and herself as well, Anne reentered Lady Celia’s room with a cup of chamomile tea and found Dr. Finch sitting near the bed having a friendly chat with the patient.
As she set the cup and saucer on Lady Celia’s bedside table, Dr. Finch said, “Well, I am glad you are feeling, and breathing, somewhat better this morning. But you do need to eat and especially make a point of drinking a good deal of wholesome liquids for the next few days.”
“Now you sound like Anne.”
“Why, thank you.” He smiled and rose. “Miss Loveday, if you would please walk me out? Miss Fitzjohn mentioned a new remedy you’ve made for her headaches. Perhaps you might explain the contents?”
“Certainly. I will return soon, Lady Celia. Remember, Rosa is sewing in the dressing room if you need her.”
The two walked out, and Anne once again closed the door and inserted the goose feather. As they walked down the stairs and through the house, Anne described the headache remedy her father favored: peppermint, blessed thistle, and willow bark.
He opened the door for her, and she followed him outside.On the paving-stone walkway, he stopped and said, “I was surprised to see you and Colonel Paine together this morning.”
“Were you? I simply took the dog for an early walk and happened to meet him.”
“You two seem rather ... close.”
“Well, we have known each other since childhood. My sister and I spent summers here with our grandparents and sometimes joined him and other young people in games of hide-and-seek, battledore and shuttlecock—that sort of thing. Though of course we saw far less of him when he joined the army.”
“He is clearly pleased to see you again now.”
“Why not? We are old friends, after all.”
“Is he ... looking to settle down, now the war is over?”
“I suppose so.”
“Has he spoken of marriage?”
She shrugged. “A little. Though he has certainly not proposed it, if that is what you mean.”
“Pray excuse me, I know I am being impertinent, prying into something that is none of my affair.”
Anne was confused by his interest. What about Rosa? What about the child? “Even if I liked Colonel Paine in that way, he has made it clear he could not marry me. That is, assuming a genie doesn’t appear and turn me into a rich heiress.”
She grinned at her little quip, but Dr. Finch frowned. “He said that?”
“Well, his actual words were ‘a pity you’re not an heiress,’ but yes.”
