‘This is it then,’ she said cheerfully as he helped her up on to the seat. ‘I’m ready if you are, Dr Chetwynd.’
‘I am indeed.’ He climbed back into the driver’s seat and they were on their way.
When they arrived at the rooms in Whitechapel, Jake went off to settle the horse in the stable of a nearby inn for the day. The weather was turning cold now and he didn’t want to leave her tethered outside. If he were honest, he also realised that in this neighbourhood there was every chance old Daisy might not be there when they closed and he didn’t want to risk losing her.
While he was gone, Emmy hurried inside to fill the kettle and place it on the small stove to boil, then she pottered about making sure everything was just right. Cook had made up a hamper of food for them to eat throughout the day, promising that she would have a hot meal ready for them that evening. She’d also added a small jug of milk, some twists of tea and some sugar so that they could have a hot drink. By the time Jake got back, Emmy had made them both a strong brew and had turned the ‘Closed’ sign on the window to ‘Open’.
‘All we can do now is wait for the first patient.’ Jake looked slightly nervous as they sat on the chairs in the waiting room and Emmy gave his hand a squeeze.
‘They’ll come,’ she said confidently, feeling proud of him. There weren’t many young newly qualified doctors who would offer their services for free, she was sure. But as the minutes ticked away and the little surgery remained empty, she began to feel nervous. What if they had gone to all this work and effort for nothing?
At last, at almost eleven o’clock, there was a timid tap at the door, and smoothing her apron, Emmy hurried to open it.
‘’Scuse me, miss – is this where the doctor’ll see you fer nowt?’ A young woman clutching the hand of a grimy boy who looked to be about six or seven years of age was standing in the hallway. In her other arm was a tiny baby and she looked nervous.
‘Yes .?.?. yes, it is,’ Emmy told her encouragingly. ‘Do come in and I’ll get the doctor to see you. What seems to be the problem?’
‘It ain’t me, it’s young Perce ’ere.’ The woman nodded towards the little boy who was hanging his head. ‘’E’s gorra boil, see? Just ’ere, poor little bleeder. It ain’t ’alf givin’ ’im some gyp.’ She pointed to the child’s backside.
Nodding, Emmy took the child’s hand and led him in to Jake, then returned to the waiting room to sit with his mother.
Half an hour later Jake appeared with an arm about the boy’s thin shoulders. ‘All done,’ he told the woman. ‘It was a nasty one and I’m afraid I had to lance it but he was very brave. So brave, in fact, that I think he deserves a little treat, don’t you, Emmy?’
‘I most certainly do.’ Hurrying to the hamper Emmy took out a liquorice stick and handed it to the child, thrilled to see his face light up. The poor little chap clearly didn’t get treats very often.
‘I’ve dressed the wound,’ Jake told his mother. ‘But I would like to see him again next Sunday if you could pop him in, just to make sure it’s healing. Meantime, try to keep it clean to avoid infection.’
‘Fanks, doc.’ The woman flushed as she opened her palm to reveal a penny. ‘I’m afraid that’s all I’ve got. Is this enuff?’
Jake shook his head and gave her a kindly smile. ‘There’s no charge, I assure you.’
‘An’ you really won’t take this penny?’ When he shook his head once more she quickly stuffed the coin back into her pocket as if she was afraid he might change his mind.
‘Then fanks again, doc. Come on, Perce.’ And with that they left, all with smiles on their faces as Jake washed his hands at the deep stone sink, which Emmy had scrubbed until she could almost see her face in it.
‘Congratulations, Doctor Chetwynd,’ she told him warmly. ‘That was your very first patient and a lovely job you did, I have to say. The poor things; the woman clearly didn’t have two pennies to rub together. I felt so sorry for her I made her a cup of tea while you were treating the little boy. It got me to thinking, perhaps if we could offer a hot drink as well as treatment, it might attract a few more in?’
‘You really do come up with some wonderful ideas,’ he praised.
Emmy placed her arms about him to give him a celebratory hug. And then time seemed to stand still as their eyes met. Slowly he lowered his head until their lips were only inches apart and Emmy held her breath in anticipation. But then Jake released her abruptly and quickly turned away. He so wanted to put his arms about her again and kiss her and thank her for all her help and hard work, but the harsh reality was she was his cousin and given their family situation, it wouldn’t have been right. With a sigh he sat down to wait for his next patient, truly wishing she wasn’t, while Emmy stood there feeling exactly the same and more shaken than she cared to admit.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
‘Are you all right, queen?’
Abi glanced up from the chamber pot she was hanging over and stared crossly at Maria who had entered her room uninvited.
‘Sorry, I know I shouldn’t ’ave just barged in but I was passin’ an’ could ’ear yer bein’ ill an’ I were worried for yer,’ Maria explained as she came further into the room, closing the door softly behind her.
Abi swiped the back of her hand across her mouth and leant up looking absolutely ghastly and Maria frowned with concern. ‘Look .?.?. I know it ain’t any o’ my concern, but this ’as been goin’ on fer a while now, ain’t it?’ she said tentatively and when Abi nodded miserably, she went on, ‘Per’aps it’s time yer went to see a doctor, although I reckon I’ve got a good idea what he’s gonna tell yer. I reckon you ’ave an’ all, ain’t yer, queen?’
When Abi began to cry the girl crossed to her and put her arm about her shoulders.
‘So ’ow many of yer courses ’ave yer missed now?’
‘Two .?.?. at least. Possibly three.’
‘Hm, don’t yer think it’s time you ’ad a word to ’is lordship?’
