Diana’s brow furrowed. “I’ve heard the gentleman use the name, but I do not understand the jest.”
“It isn’t one,” said Felicity with a shake of her head. “Lewis’s family took to calling him that when he was younger, and though they do not mean it cruelly, it vexes him, and I cannot abide hearing it.”
With a dramatic sigh, Felicity hurried to add, “And my dear sister-in-law means well, but she is convinced that if I do so much as breathe too deeply, I will harm my child. If it were left to her, I would be wrapped in cotton and set in the cabinet next to the fine china, never to stir until well after my lie-in.”
Turning a frantic look at Violet, she added, “I will be relying on you to keep her at bay when the time comes. It is an anxious enough thing without her fretting at my bedside. There are still some weeks before that time, and I am afraid I might not make it with my sanity intact.”
“Could you not entice them to spend a week at the coast?” asked Violet.
Felicity straightened, her eyes brightening. “That is an idea. Even just a little time apart would do wonders—”
“Well, hello, ladies,” said Osborn, sliding in between his sister and Violet and drawing his arms around the pair. Giving him a gentle elbow to the ribs, Violet laughed at the impudent fellow, though he used his now free hand to snatch hers, bringing it to his lips. “My dear Vi, you look a picture.”
“You silver-tongued devil,” she said with a scoff before freeing her hand to slide it through his arm. Though this was her second favorite gown (the first having been worn at the assembly), neither offering was as fine as that which Diana or Felicity wore. The cotton frock was simplicity itself, though the fabric was of a fine quality. And she adored the little bits of ivy and greenery she’d stitched into the skirts; they complimented the rich cream of the cotton and looked quite fine if she did say so herself.
“Out with it,” added Violet, slanting him a look.
“Out with what?” asked Osborn with feigned innocence.
“You are especially complimentary when you are about to ask a favor.”
The gentleman let go of his sister and placed the hand on his chest with an anguished gasp. “You wound me.”
Violet merely smirked. “A palpable hit, I see.”
“Perhaps,” said Osborn with a pleading (though chagrined) smile. “I just learned that Miss Giles remained at home because she is troubled by that illness that is going around the village. I was hoping to bring her some of your tisane you make for coughs, as your mother said it helped her greatly.”
Holding up her hand, Violet nodded. “Say no more. I will have a pouch for you tomorrow morning.”
“Oh, you are the best,” said Osborn, lifting her hand to his lips once more before she could stop his silliness. “Absolutely the best.”
“That she is.”
The voice from behind her startled Violet, and she glanced over her shoulder to see Dr. Vaughn standing there, but this was not the gentleman she’d come to know.
In public, he appeared flustered. When it came to medicine, he was confident and commanding. During their time together, he was still rather quiet, but it was more tranquil than shy, and though he was not one to tease and twit to Osborn’s absurd level, Dr. Vaughn possessed wit. This gentleman standing behind her had a hard look in his eyes and a sharp line to his brows—a muted display of that temper he’d directed at Mr. Sprat and Mr. Timms—though Violet didn’t know what had inspired such an expression.
Had she offended him somehow?
Violet’s muscles tensed, her mind flying to one possibility: Dr. Vaughn knew she’d spread doubts about his fitness to be the village doctor. Her throat tightened, and she tried to think of how to explain the issue, yet even as she fumbled about, she realized that Dr. Vaughn wasn’t looking at her as much as he was glaring at Osborn.
What had that silly gentleman done to earn such ire? Violet couldn’t answer that but knowing her secret remained safe allowed her muscles to relax once more and give Dr. Vaughn a smile, which he returned in full.
“Good evening, Dr. Vaughn,” said Violet, motioning for him to join them, and he slipped onto her other side.
“And good evening to you, Miss Templeton,” he said with a bow of the head. “Might I say how fetching you look tonight?”
“Ah,” replied Violet with a laugh. “And what favor are you wishing to wheedle from me?”
Dr. Vaughn’s brows drew tight together in puzzlement. “Just your company.”
For all that she’d been teasing, his answer couldn’t help but make her heart burn. Clearing her throat, she affected an appropriately light tone. “Then you aren’t spouting nonsense to attain my good opinion?”
Adding a significant tone, she gave Osborn another elbow to the ribs before slanting a narrowed look in his direction.
“I do wish for your good opinion, but I wasn’t speaking nonsense,” said Dr. Vaughn, his eyes darting between the pair. “You look lovely. I especially like the flowers in your hair.”
“You are a dear,” said Violet whilst attempting to stave off the blush, which was silly. As wonderful as those compliments were, she knew how many of her friends and family preferred honeyed words to truth.
