Page 58 of The Gentleman Physician

At last, Julia understood. Her cousin saw happiness within Julia’s grasp and would not let her delay in taking it. Not when she had lost her husband forever.

“Three weeks, then.” She shivered at the pleasure the firm statement caused her. “I must make certain that is all right with Nathaniel.”

“Yes, of course. And we must look over your wardrobe, too. You will be a doctor’s wife. I confess, I’m not certain what that calls for.”

“You would think of clothes first,” Julia teased. “But I am well enough there. I have always dressed modestly and practically. I imagine that is the main requirement for one of my new station.”

Virginia laughed and hugged Julia again. “We can talk more of other things later. For now, we must pack and away to Kettering and Christine. I cannot wait to see her, it’s been years. Will I like her husband?”

“Immensely. He is the best of men.” Julia tucked a stray curl of hair behind her ear. “Nearly as wonderful as Nathaniel.”

“Then dash a note off to your doctor, tell him you will be wed in three weeks, and I think you ought to marry in Kettering where I can see it is all safely done.”

Julia started to agree but froze as a new worry entered her heart.

“What will my father say?” Kettering suddenly became the last place she wished to be.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Who cares what her father says?” Lady Huntington said from her side of the coach, rarely looking away from the window. “She is of age and can marry whomever she wants. He cannot even object in church unless there is some dark misdeed she’s committed none of us know about.”

Nathaniel knew she spoke the truth, but he worried over the matter, because Julia had. He’d received two letters from her since she went away with the baroness, and while both had been full of joy and professions of her love, Julia’s practical mind turned to possible problems as well. What would the people of Bath think about their hasty marriage? Had he room enough for her or would they need to find a new place to live? How would they return to Bath together? What would her cousin’s fate be? But what she wrote the least about, only scribbling one short sentence on the matter, was what her father’s reaction would be to the whole of it.

In her second letter, she had not even seen Mr. Devon. He was in London and would receive news of her engagement from there. So far, no word had come from him. That had been a week ago.

“It is lucky for you that I have a sister near Kettering. I can stay with her and send you both home in my carriage,” Lady Huntington reminded him, glancing across to him briefly. “Newly wedded couples ought not to share a coach with anyone, in my opinion.”

“You have been most gracious, my lady.” Indeed, he owed the woman more than he could ever repay. With her praise of him, her kindness and patronage, Nathaniel’s list of regular patients had grown to a point that he would be well able to take care of a wife and family.

He would never be rich, as he wanted to devote time and effort to those of society who could not afford the best of doctors, but they would have a satisfactory life. Julia would never have to worry about paying a grocer’s bill, and they could hire a maid and cook if she wished.

Their life together, he knew, would be perfect for them.

“There you are, smiling again. Whatever it is you are thinking, keep thinking that. Stop worrying.”

“Yes, Lady Huntington.” He had no objection to spending the rest of the ride in quiet, imagining his life as a married man, with Julia as his bride. Her ladyship allowed him to do just that. When they arrived at the Gilbert home, she would leave him there and go on to her sister’s, sending the coach back for him the next day. He’d invited her to the wedding, but she’d waved him off and asked only that the new “Mrs. Doctor” call on her in Bath at her earliest convenience.

When the carriage arrived at a tall, modest brick residence, Nathaniel’s heart picked up its speed. He did not wait for the coachman to open the door, but nearly sprung from the carriage in his haste to see his intended.

The door to the house flew open at nearly the same time, and Julia rushed to meet him.

The whole world around them faded to nothing, and he only saw Julia. When she was nearly to him, she slowed her steps, as though she would stop and make a proper greeting.

But he’d missed her too much, and they had time and enough apart, so Nathaniel closed the distance between them in two long strides and swept her into his arms.

“Julia,” he said, his mind not on pretty speeches or who might be watching. He held her tightly against his body, then bent enough to kiss her.

She raised up on her toes and met him, kiss for kiss, her lips soft as roses and the scent of lilacs wrapping around him pleasantly.

He heard Lady Huntington laughing and he parted from Julia. As they turned towards her, she leaned forward in the coach to see them both.

“It is as I said,” she chortled. “No one should share a carriage with newlyweds. Not when that is all that you two will wish to do.” She shook her head. “I leave you my blessing. I hope your wedding is beautiful, but I am sure neither of you would notice if the church were to fall down around your ears.”

Her coachmen put down the small traveling trunk of Nathaniel’s things, then closed the door at her ladyship’s bidding. “Drive on,” she commanded, somehow still regal despite her continued flippancy.

“I really do like her,” Julia said sincerely, laying her head on Nathaniel’s shoulder.

“As do I.” Nathaniel kissed the top of her head. “But I like you a great deal more.”