Ruth frowned and felt anger well up inside and against her better judgment and Daniel’s advice, she replied, “Sir, I am notshe, I am Ruth, if you please.”
Silence filled the room as everyone watched the floor, except for Daniel, who gave Ruth a dark look.
“Feisty,” Dr. Nagle remarked, seemingly impressed, and gazed at her from head to toe. “I like her, Daniel. She is fine, alright. I do agree.”
Ruth could see sparks in Daniel’s fiery blue eyes. She had never seen him this angry before. She felt a sudden urge to comfort him. He was not angry; he was hurt. He looked at her and their eyes locked, but she didn’t feel intimidated or scared. His eyes clouded as sadness crossed his face and he looked away.
“I am sorry you had to walk in on all that,” Daniel said and looked embarrassed. He cleared his throat, lowered his voice and added, “Did you finish the tour of the clinic?”
“Only downstairs,” Ruth said and felt a wave of sympathy for him. “Matthew is sleeping downstairs in the ward and Rose is watching over him.”
Daniel nodded and pressed his lips together as he looked at Richard. “I apologize for my earlier rude outburst. There was no excuse for my behavior.”
Richard was at a loss for words and watched Daniel as he searched for a response. “It’s alright, no harm done.”
“Thank you for showing Ruth around the clinic, Richard. I’ll continue from here now that Alistair is gone.”
Richard smiled at Ruth, “Wait ‘til I tell Tom that you work here now. He may pretend all kinds of sickness to come here and see you.”
Ruth laughed. “As long as he brings me candy.”
Richard went downstairs while Ruth followed Daniel around the second level of the clinic. He showed her a room filled with coal, lamps, and oil and another room filled with empty medication jars and bottles. Most of the rooms were unused. He took her to the room that faced the front corner. The room was empty and Ruth wondered why he brought her here.
“Do you like it, Ruth?” Daniel inquired quietly and she nodded in reply and felt herself blush under the intensity of his gaze.
“The view of the city is lovely,” she beamed, but when she saw he looked tired, she frowned, concerned.
“I have already placed a furniture order which will be delivered here later today,” Daniel explained. “This room will be the nursery for you and Matthew.”
Ruth was about to thank him but saw his face was sullen.
“Why did you speak to Alistair? I asked you not to engage with him.” Daniel asked with a frustrated sigh.
“I’m sorry,” Ruth looked at the floor, realizing she may have overstepped. He must’ve had a good reason to ask her not to say anything to Dr. Nagle. “The way he spoke disrespected me. I just opened my mouth, and the words came out. I’m sorry; I will try to avoid him from now on.”
“Promise me, Ruth,” Daniel said, “if Alistair is ever inappropriate with you, you will tell me.”
From the way he looked at her, she could tell he was serious and that something troubled him. It made her feel uncomfortable and doubtful about her decision to work at the clinic, but nevertheless she had promised dutifully. Ruth realized she may need to be cautious around Dr. Alistair Nagle because Daniel indeed looked tense and serious about the matter. She remembered the scripture in the Bible about being cautious in Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Ruth decided she would pray and wait upon God’s wisdom about the situation.
Chapter Sixteen
Leaving the soon-to-be nursery, Daniel showed her the office he shared with Alistair. He noticed her interest in his cabinet filled with leather-bound medical books. In his mind, the clinic was a typical run-of-the-mill establishment, although he recognized that his father had impeccable taste, and he was pleased she seemed impressed.
Daniel was aware that she’d been watching him with a worried expression all morning, and he wanted to set her mind at ease and calm her fears.
“I am sorry you had to see my argument with Alistair earlier,” he said, embarrassed that she witnessed the spectacle. “Alistair and I don’t always see eye to eye.”
“He seems quite outspoken and old-fashioned,” she murmured, her face still worried and her discomfort still evident.
“Have you spoken with Rose?” Daniel asked, changing the subject.
“Yes, I met her in the ward. She’s very nice. I think I should go back there to see if Matthew is awake.”
Daniel nodded, knowing that patients were waiting to be seen. He led Ruth down the stairs and heard Matthew cooing from the ward where he had been sleeping. Daniel watched her walk ahead of him to the ward and he admired the way her dress fit her slim figure, its skirt swaying to the movement of her brisk steps.
That morning he found his patients presenting with the typical ailments he saw when the weather began to turn cooler. Fortunately, there were no serious conditions, and he prescribed small amounts of laudanum or opium pills for melancholy, serious coughs, along with calomel for same and the occasional stomach upset. He reserved the use of morphine to relieve acute pain only when warranted.
