“Father had a wife and three children to provide for, and did so without resorting to falsehoods,” replied Violet with a shake of her head.
At that word, Mama straightened. “What Isaac did was wrong, but ‘falsehood’ is a tad harsh, don’t you think, Vi?”
“No. Else I wouldn’t have used it,” replied Violet. “You lied to me and your patients. Not only am I ashamed of your behavior, but it has come at a terrible time. You’ve undermined our reputation, and while we might’ve weathered that upset before, there is a new physician in town.”
“You are such a worrywart,” said Isaac with a laugh as he nudged his sister. “The Templetons are a staple of Oakham. We will not be so easily undone.”
Mama gave a vigorous nod, drawing her arm through her son’s and patting it. “I am certain Isaac will manage everything just fine. With him attending to the business, we have nothing to fear. Your papa taught him well.”
Isaac’s shoulders tensed, though his grin remained warm, but before Violet could wonder at the odd reaction, he hurried to add, “That he did—including teaching me how important it is to be a dutiful husband. The Blythes are leaving early, and I ought to return with them. Lilibet may have demanded I escort you here despite being unwell herself, but the Gadds have taken good care of you, and she requires me more than you do.”
“While I cannot fault your dutifulness to your wife and child-to-be, I do wish you would stay,” said Violet. “It will do your family little good if Dr. Vaughn steals all your patients away, and the best course of action would be to remain here and cement your standing in society.”
Isaac’s shoulders slumped. “I suppose you are right, but I cannot help feeling that Lilibet needs me.”
“True,” added Mama, “but you see her every day. We so rarely have assemblies, and such occasions are important for your standing…”
Yet even as she spoke, her son’s expression fell further and further, causing Mama’s words to falter and slow. Until she stopped altogether.
“I suppose it is not a terrible slight,” said Mama with a little wave toward the door. “You’ve done your duty. Now, go enjoy your evening with Lilibet.”
With a bright smile, Isaac leaned over to give her a firm kiss on the cheek, as though he were a lad of seven and not seven and twenty. “You are a dear.”
Mama shooed him away, and Isaac gave her a rascally wink before slipping off to find Mr. and Mrs. Blythe. When the ladyturned to Violet, Mama’s brow puckered a moment before relaxing. “You fret too much, Vi.”
“You do not fret enough, Mama.”
“All will be fine. Isaac is a good boy, and he cares deeply about our family. He will sort it out.”
“Before we lose the shirts off our backs?” asked Violet.
Mama slanted a wry smile at her daughter. “You speak as though this is the end of us. But the Templetons have been the physicians in Oakham since before the profession was even called such. The people will not be so fickle as to throw us over for a new one.”
“It has only been a sennight since Dr. Vaughns arrived and we’ve already lost a patient or two to him, and now that people are discovering Isaac’s gouging, it is only a matter of time before the rest flee—”
“You needn’t worry so. I am certain Isaac will correct matters quickly and all will be well in the end,” said Mama with a kind smile. “You are such a good and attentive daughter and sister, and I do not know what we would do without you, but you are forever concerned by things that may never happen, Vi. Borrowing trouble only makes one miserable.”
“But Dr. Vaughn—”
“Even if this new fellow is as good as everyone claims him to be,” said Mama with a tone steeped in incredulity, “we have history in Oakham. They will not abandon us simply because a new physician has swanned into town.”
The Templetons were a good lot. Silly, to be certain, but they weren’t wicked people. Despite their foolishness and flaws, they were her family, and Violet adored them, yet she could not comprehend their short-sightedness. Being the only physician in town had been a financially secure position, but it hadn’t left them wealthy by any means. Comfortable, to be certain, but not with money to burn or enough security to ignore the threat Dr. Vaughn posed.
Having kept the family’s ledgers for some time, Violet knew every penny that passed through the household, and even at hisbest, Papa’s income hadn’t been vast enough to sustain two households. Even if Dr. Vaughn stole only a quarter of their patients, their funds would be greatly depleted. How could the family not see such a clear and obvious truth?
There was another answer that lay within their grasp. A way to evolve with these changing times. It lingered in the back of her thoughts, begging to be brought up. To speak her mind wouldn’t do any good—Violet knew it wouldn’t—yet she couldn’t help but bring up the possibility once more.
“There is another possibility, Mama,” said Violet.
Chapter 12
Mama watched her with a puzzled frown for a heartbeat, but before Violet could explain, the lady threw up her hands and shook her head. “Not again, Vi. You know your father’s feelings on the matter, and I will not budge.”
“But if we were to open an apothecary shop in town, it could provide a steady income for us, regardless of what happens with Isaac’s medical practice. The townsfolk do not always call him for their medicines, choosing instead to travel all the way to Bentmoor’s apothecary—”
“I will not hear of it, Violet Templeton,” said Mama in a sharp tone before casting a look over her shoulder at those roundabout. Lowering her voice, she added, “We will not disgrace this family by lowering ourselves to becometradesmenandshopkeepers.”
She said the titles as though they were akin to “murderer” and “blasphemer.” Then, lifting her chin with a hint of pride, she added, “We are a physician’s family. Your father and Isaac may not have expensive credentials like Dr. Vaughn, but they arephysicians. True gentlemen. It is bad enough that they’vehad to debase themselves with performing the duties of a common surgeon from time to time, but to surrender our standing by opening an apothecary shop? How could we face our friends and neighbors after we turn our home into a storefront? How can you even suggest such a thing?”
