“Of course they are. As I’m sure we all predicted.” AuntWilcox had a way of pushing you through your worst pains briskly and efficiently. “But if we could win over some influential women, we may be able to help fund your clinic so you can hire other doctors to do the menial work. You can run it as you would a charity.”
“Abandoning surgery?”
Sarah’s eyes rolled upward as if she were praying for strength. “Lord, yes. You’ll have to, once you have children, so I don’t see—”
They didn’t see at all.Had no concept of the elation of freeing someone from pain or even closing the door against death with a resounding thud. They were done prancing around the truth and it emboldened Nora. “I can’t be a treasurer,” Nora said. “I don’t have the time or training.”
They didn’t see at all.
“That’s no obstacle,” Aunt Wilcox said impatiently. “If you can run your small hospital, surely you can learn to keep financial records. Every good housekeeper can manage that.”
Chapter 16
Heart thudding, lips pinched tight, Nora cast her eyes over the room, searching for an escape, when the far door opened, revealing her father-in-law at the front of the short parade of men, ringed in a cloud of fragrant smoke.
Nora exhaled.
Daniel.He was used to his family’s meddling and would handle them expertly. She nearly sprang to her feet but held herself in place, drawing up whatever shreds of dignity remained.
Daniel’s relaxed posture proved he’d endured no such interrogation. He took his time locating her, unaware of the hammering in her chest. With a languid wave of the hand, he crossed the room. Too slowly. Sarah and Aunt Wilcox awaited her answer with pointed looks.
“What are you three gossiping about?” Daniel asked as he leaned over them. He’d not yet picked up on her tension.
“We’ve only touched on the gossip.” Aunt Wilcox stopped her slow fanning. “I’ve offered Nora a distinguished position with the British Ladies’ Society for Promoting the Reformation of Female Prisoners.”
Daniel laughed. “Dear heavens, that’s more of a mouthful than my anatomy tomes.”
Aunt Wilcox narrowed her eyes. As did Nora. The name ofthe society was the least of her worries. And he’d had more than one glass of port.
The older doctor from the other end of the dinner table approached with his wife.
“Dr. Russell”—Aunt Wilcox shot one last glare at Daniel before fixing a welcoming smile to her face—“volunteers with our society. He’s treated several of our women after their terrible ordeals in the jails.”
“Dreadful conditions,” Dr. Russell agreed. “But my wife wanted to come see the lady doctor this evening. Rumors reached us in Berkshire.”
Mrs. Russell was heavy-jowled, her skin sliding down her aging face like a landslide. She dipped her head at Nora.
It gave Nora a chance to stand. She’d been a bird perched between two cats for too long. And perhaps the woman’s admiration would quiet Daniel’s relations. “I’m Mrs. Gibson, surgeon.”
The woman took her fingers in a weak grasp. “Surgeon? I thought you were only a physician.”
Dr. Russell laughed. “Not that conversation tonight. I’ve witnessed two scuffles at the Athenaeum Club over the regulations for each royal college.” He wagged his finger at Daniel and Nora. “You mustn’t join ranks against me because I’m only a physician.”
The cutthroat debate continued as always, well known and fraught with casualties. Beside her, Daniel grinned. “We run a charity clinic and see our fair share of all three branches of medicine. Nora specializes in obstetrics.”
“Midwifery.” Mrs. Russell sighed with relief and smiled at Nora. “I imagined you…” Her face pinked. “Well, never mind.”
“Yes, I saw Adams’s petition to outlaw unlicensed midwives and send business to trained doctors like yourself.” Dr. Russell nodded with a satisfied grin. He thought he was complimenting her. “Of course, I live outside of London, so I cannot sign it, but I certainly would.”
Nora dipped her eyes, following the curving red line of the Turkish carpet beneath them.
“Petition?” Aunt Wilcox asked. They were speaking her language. She’d pitched complaints before Parliament and gathered signatures the way other ladies collected china figurines.
Dr. Russell lowered his voice and straightened his vest. “Everyone was howling over an anonymous article where a midwife forced some duchess onto the floor on hands and knees to deliver a baby.”
Nora ground her teeth. He’d gotten it entirely wrong.
Daniel’s smile fled, his lips parted as if searching for words.
