“I… She…” Apparently, his loosened tongue still had its limits for Arthur struggled with what to say. Fighting through it, he settled on, “I like her.”
“Of course you do,” said Finch with a chuckle. “It’s clear to anyone who bothers to look. I’m surprised Miss Templeton was able to convince any of the ladies in town you were enamored with them when your heart is already lost.”
Though the words were meant to comfort or even tease, Arthur’s chest constricted at that thought. Beyond the obligatory discomfort that caused a flush to steal over him and his palms to sweat, the pain of Miss Templeton’s exclamation rang anew through him.
“Please do not say that!”
That had been her reaction when faced with speculation about the pair of them, yet was it any wonder that Miss Templeton’s feelings were so very adamant when she’d declared her disinterest in marriage altogether?Was it Arthur Vaughn who was so abhorrent? Or marriage in general? Did it matter? If the lady did not desire a husband, the question was moot.
Arthur was no stranger to pining from afar. The entirety of his experience with ladies consisted of longing and inaction. Yet it was different with Miss Templeton. Of course, he’d never come to know any of the others so well as he did her, but he felt a profound disparity between those flirtations and this.
Miss Templeton was capable and lovely. She possessed a temper and a sharp tongue at times, but she was kind to the core, and though her behavior of late carried many black marks against her, he couldn’t blame the lady for being out of sorts, as his appearance in town had thrown her world into a tizzy.
Thinking back to their first meeting—before she’d labeled him an enemy to her family’s security—Arthur knew that was the true Miss Templeton.
The lady who offered her cloak without a second thought to provide an injured man with protection from the ground. Clothes were a pricy commodity, and if Arthur hazarded to guess, he would wager she’d ruined all her clothes that day. In fact, he hadn’t seen her with a cloak since then, though the weather was chilly enough to warrant one.
The lady who’d thrown herself into assisting him, going so far as to protect her patient from inferior hands. Intelligent and thoughtful, doing as much as she could to ensure that Mr. Evans was provided his best chance to survive, and his family was prepared to aid in his recovery. Giving him medicines without hesitation or demanding compensation.
All without a second thought. And while the onlookers sneered at “Mr.” Templeton.
Then there was the lady at the assembly. Who, despite knowing him to be her enemy, did her best to set him at ease amongst the strangers, engaging him in conversation and even offering advice simply because she could not help helping.
And those actions matched those of the Miss Templeton of late, who was not content to merely give over a wealth of medicines in recompense but repaired his medical bag. Who admitted her mistakes openly and did what she could to make amends. Arthur doubted he would’ve been strong enough to openly apologize to the likes of Miss Bacon.
This incredible woman had captured his heart without desiring his in return.
“I like her for you. You need someone with fire,” said Finch, though he stopped short as he scrutinized Arthur. “So, what is the trouble?”
“Beyond the fact that my very existence here is harming her family?” he replied in a dry tone.
Drawing in a sharp breath, Arthur sighed, his shoulders falling. “I’ve spent weeks mulling it over, but no solution haspresented itself that allows both myself and the Templetons to remain in Oakham together. I’ve looked at other towns in the area, but it’s impossible to expand into other locations, as they have neither the population nor easy access to a town of Bentmoor’s size. I can forage or grow many of the herbs I require, but there are many ingredients I have to order, and without a market town on hand, my supply costs will rise, making it difficult to remain solvent.”
“But even if you leave, it will not fix matters for the Templetons,” said Finch with a frown. “They are a good family, but we require a proper physician—”
“Can you not leave things be?” asked Arthur, leaning forward. “Though Mr. Templeton is lazy and has a penchant for gouging his patients—something that is so commonplace in London that no one would think twice of what he’s done, I might add—he is a decent physician when he applies himself. And with Miss Templeton managing the apothecary side, Oakham’s access to medicine is a far sight better than many places.”
“But I am not content with a ‘far sight better,’” replied Finch with a frown.
“I think you put too high a store in medicine.”
The gentleman’s brows rose. “So says the doctor.”
Arthur nodded. “I know my profession well, and I know how much of our work is guesswork. At times, it seems as though there is no rhyme or reason to why certain treatments work in one case and not in another. We speak as though we know, but the more I study it, the more I fear we are stumbling around in the dark.”
“That is not comforting to hear when my wife is in a crisis,” said Finch with a bleak frown.
“I do not mean to worry you, but the truth is that I think your fears over the health and safety of the town are perceived more than real,” said Arthur. “If Mr. Templeton were a quack, I would have no qualms running him from town, but between him and his sister, the town is thriving. I do not think you need someone ‘better.’ In many ways, her work is more importantthan his, and I doubt you will find anyone willing to settle here who would outstrip Miss Templeton’s skill. Few men of my training and skill would deign to settle in such a quiet place.”
With a heavy sigh, Finch said, “I appreciate your opinion on the matter. I do. And perhaps you are right, but I do not want to hand my family over to someone I cannot implicitly trust.”
Arthur sagged back into his seat as his gaze rose to the ceiling, his eyes tracing the plaster scrollwork. “Then lure another physician to Oakham, but I will not be the cause of the Templetons’ ruination. I cannot. I came to establish a life, not to destroy another’s.”
The conversation lapsed, though there was a fair amount of noise in the room to keep it from being silent. The eldest Finch daughter continued to play tune after tune whilst her sisters laughed and danced about before pressing their brothers into service (though the eldest boy was of an age that no amount of pleas could entice him to besmirch his manhood with such foolishness).
“So, you are leaving?” asked Finch, drawing Arthur’s attention back.
“I gave my word I would deliver your child. I will stay a little longer to ensure your wife and the babe are faring well, but I think I ought to return to London. I can work with my father and brother for a bit whilst I look for a new situation.”
