“Thank you, Dr. Talbot,” she muttered, though she still had no intention of him doing so.
They’d barely stepped outside when the door was shut soundly behind them. “What odd behavior.”
The doctor chuckled. “It was as if Mrs. Harley couldn’t wait for us to leave.”
Violet glanced back at the house as she attempted and failed to understand the reasoning for what had just occurred.
“If you don’t mind, I will need to stop by the Assembly Hall, and then the inns while we pass through Laswell before returning you to your estate.”
“You’ve a number of patients that have a much higher priority than seeing me home. Had Mrs. Harley not thrust me upon you, you’d not need to take time out of your busy schedule.” Further, the delay offered her time to consider an alternative plan to returning home.
“She was rather forceful about you leaving.” Dr. Talbot shook his head.
“Yes. It was very unlike her. I’ve spent many visits at their home, but this was the first time that I’ve been asked to leave.”
“I’m certain it has to do with who you are and that they lack servants to see to your care,” he said in a manner as if to placate her.
“I’m hardly useless.” Violet was rather affronted. She was hardly a child on leading strings.
“I meant no offense, but a daughter of a duke usually has servants to care for her.”
In truth, she relied on servants far less than many. However, Violet said nothing further, as it was unlikely that she’d change his already formed opinion, which was likely founded in what he’d witnessed in Society, or perhaps his own household, without giving consideration that not all daughters of titled gentlemen were the same.
“If I am correct, your female servants are within, in the event you wish to check on them,” Dr. Talbot stated as he pulled the curricle to a stop before the Stone Raven Inn.
He probably feared leaving her alone without someone to watch over her, being she was the daughter of a duke and must be sheltered or protected. Again, Violet remained silent as she had learned from her two Seasons in London that gentlemen usually could not be swayed in their beliefs when it came to the capabilities of women. While aggravating, she had a far more pressing matter to consider. “Thank you.”
Dr. Talbot tossed the reins to a boy waiting to earn a bit of coin then walked around to her side of the curricle. His frown deepened when he noted her already standing on the walk. Violet knew that she was to wait for the aid of a gentleman or servant when entering or exiting a conveyance. It was a societal rule that she considered a waste of precious time and only required when the passenger was an invalid, an elder, or a child in need of assistance. Another rule she followed only when in London but did not deem it necessary in Laswell.
“I will return as promptly as possible to return you to Forester Hall.”
“Please, do take your time. There is no need to rush on my account.”
“I’ll return for you when I’m finished,” he reminded Violet with a bit more warning. Much like a father, as if he were in charge of her person, which he most certainly was not.
Would the male species ever accept that some women could take care of themselves and were not in need of constant supervision?
As that was unlikely to happen, at least in her lifetime, Violet entered the inn and turned at the cry from her maid. She’d not taken Bess with her to the Harleys’ because she wasn’t needed. If she’d required assistance from a lady’s maid, the one employed by the Harleys would have been sufficient, though Violet hadn’t anticipated the necessity.
“What are you doing here?” Bess asked with alarm. “Are we to be sacked for not returning?” Her maid wrung her hands together as other female servants from her household gathered around.
“Nobody is going to be sacked,” Violet assured them. Though there were far more here than she had anticipated, which meant Forester Hall was going to be severely understaffed. At least Father hadn’t planned a large party, though she wondered how many footmen had been detained at the Assembly Hall.
“Have you spoken with His Grace?” a kitchen maid inquired.
“No, I have not, but you’ve all worked at Forester Hall long enough to know that my father and grandmother understand the seriousness of the spread of measles.” She frowned when she noted Maggie behind Bess. “Why did Dr. Talbot require you to remain?” Maggie had been with the family since before Violet had been born and was one of the maids who had nursed Violet when she was ill.
“I can’t recall ever having measles.” She shrugged. “I tried to explain that I’d treated those with the ailment without becoming ill, but Dr. Talbot wasn’t willing to take a chance on allowing me to return.”
It was likely that most of the servants had suffered from the measles as a child and simply didn’t recall. Further, it could be concluded that a person who had nursed those with the illness and did not become ill were immune and thus should not be forced to remain quarantined.
However, she must agree with Dr. Talbot that it was safer to proceed with caution if one was not confident in having suffered the illness on a prior occasion.
“Why are you here, Lady Violet? I thought you were to remain with the Harleys for the duration of the house party?” Bess asked.
Violet blew out a sigh and then explained how she’d been asked to leave.
“It is kind of Dr. Talbot to escort you home.”
