“Mmm-hmm. And it is not the only herb either. There’s lavender over here, a touch of coriander there, some thyme, chamomile and what looks like a piece of licorice root.”
Viola put her spectacles back on and tore open the card.
I know you do not want the attention a bundle of flowers this size will ensure, but I could think of no other way to convey my thanks for the recent care you provided me during my stay at St. Agatha’s Hospital. According toThe New Principles of Gardening, each plant has a medicinal purpose which I hope you will find of some use to your work. If not, please see fit to divide it up and redistribute. I am sure there are patients who would at the very least appreciate the scent.
Sincerely,
H.A.L
Viola stared at the sprouting foliage. “It is from Mr. Lowell,” she murmured. Florian’s brother had elected to give her the most ridiculous display of gratitude she’d ever seen. And yet, she had to admit it was also the most thoughtful, because he intended for it to serve a purpose beyond adding color and beauty to a room. He wanted her to get some use out of it.
Emily turned to look at her with dismay. “Is he cracked in the head?”
Viola chuckled. “Perhaps, but in the best way possible.” She could not help but appreciate the gesture for what it was, even if she refused to fall prey to whatever ulterior motive lay behind the elaborate offering. For now, however, she would put that aside. “Come on. Let us remove the herbs and send them down to Mr. Owens.” As the hospital’s apothecary, he would surely appreciate fresh supplies. “We will divide the rest into smaller bouquets. I think we can make enough for most of the patient rooms.”
“I’ll go and collect some empty bottles to use as vases,” Emily suggested. She left to do so, leaving Viola to pick the various herbs from between the flowers.
“Heavens!” a familiar voice declared about five minutes later. Viola looked up from her crouched position to see Amelia Heathmore, Duchess of Coventry, and Gabriella Matthews, Duchess of Huntley, enter the room. “It smells like a perfume shop in here!”
Viola stood and greeted both women. “It is from a former patient.” Although she’d considered Amelia and Gabriella friends since Florian had become related to both of them through marriage to Amelia and Huntley’s sister, Juliette, she did not want to share the identity of the man who’d chosen to single her out with a bucketful of flowers.
Gabriella chuckled. “He must have been very happy with whatever it is you did for him, Viola.”
“What makes you think it’s from a man?” Viola asked while crossing her arms and attempting to arch a brow.
Both women cut her a look of obvious disbelief. “A woman would never have something like that delivered,” Amelia said.
“If you ask me,” Gabriella added, “I’d say you’ve acquired quite the admirer, Viola.”
Oh God!
Turning to her desk, Viola discreetly opened a drawer and slipped the accompanying note from Mr. Lowell inside. “Even if that were true, I wouldn’t be interested.”
“So then you know who the flowers are from?” Amelia asked her curiously.
“No,” Viola lied. “I cannot imagine who it can be.”
Gabriella and Amelia shared a conspiratorial look before Gabriella said, “I am sure we can deduce it if we set our minds to it. All we have to do is look at the patients you’ve had here during the past week. It would not take long for us to figure out which of the men would be able to afford a bouquet this size, for I can assure you it was not cheap.”
“No need,” Viola said, shuffling papers together and rearranging her ledgers. “As I said, I’m not interested.”
There was a pause—a silent void—and then, “But why?” both women asked in unison.
“You are still young,” Gabriella said. “Especially when considering you have been married before.”
“And aren’t young widows all the rage?” Amelia asked.
“Oh yes,” Gabriella said. “The gentlemen will fawn over you, Viola, if you would only put in the occasional appearance at some of this Season’s events.”
Setting her palms down onto her desk, Viola braced herself on her arms and stared at her friends. “I do not want to be fawned over or flirted with or chased by any man.” Seeing their shocked expressions, she expelled a breath and leaned back. “I have endured enough of that to last me a lifetime, I assure you. From now on the only thing that matters to me is ensuring the future of this hospital and the new rejuvenation center.”While doing my best to keep both out of Robert’s clutches.
“Right.” Gabriella shared a look with Amelia and then asked, “How is the rejuvenation center coming along? When Florian came to call on me before leaving for Paris, he said it was almost finished.”
Viola blinked. “Florian came to call on you?”
“He came to call on both of us,” Amelia said. “He worried about his extended leave of absence and asked us to check up on you occasionally.”
“In other words, you wish to see if I’m managing well enough without him?” Viola regarded the women who looked like princesses when compared to her own drab nurse’s attire.
