The Surgeon's Lady Read Free

Mrs. Brittle said he was a surgeon. For years, she had seen many a physician up close, but never had she observed a better example of bedside manner, and from a mere surgeon in the Royal Navy. So much for the day’s surprises.
    “Swim?” Laura asked. “I am in the dark.”
    Nana took her hand and started to speak, but couldn’t. She looked at Mrs. Brittle, who took up the narrative without a pause.
    “My husband is the sailing master on the Tireless, Lady Taunton,” she said. “He sent us a message by way of a coastal ship. The Tireless was on the receiving end of a real donnybrook by Ferrol Station.” Her voice hardened. “It wasn’t a fair fight, but Captain Worthy never backs away. The Tireless limped into Plymouth Sound and sank last night.”
    “My God!” Laura exclaimed, and felt her face go pale.
    She barely sensed his fingers at her throat, but in a fewseconds, the surgeon had removed her bonnet and was waving her with it. “Deep breaths,” she said, and he smiled.
    “Oliver can swim,” Nana said, her voice dogged.
    “Apparently even with a wounded man on his back,” Lt. Brittle added, returning the bonnet to Laura. “He insisted my father deliver the news to Torquay as soon as possible, so Mrs. Worthy wouldn’t hear it from someone else. That is why we are here.”
    “The others? Your father?” Laura asked. “How are they?”
    Mrs. Brittle reached across Nana and touched Laura’s hand. “You sound like a West Country lass yourself, to care about jack-tars.”
    “I care,” she said softly.
    “You’ll watch over your little sister?” the surgeon asked, his voice matching hers for calmness in a way that utterly beguiled her, she who had listened to too many physicians blather.
    My little sister. “Aye. I’ll watch over my little sister.”

Chapter Two
    A fter the Brittles left, Laura and Nana each burst into tears, then started to laugh, which only led to more tears and laughter.
    “I could not believe you wanted to see me, so I did not open your letter until two days ago,” Laura confessed.
    “Silly you.”
    Nana placed Laura’s hand on her belly. Laura held her breath as she felt the tiny motion under her fingertips.
    “The first time it happened, I thought it was my imagination,” Nana said. “It felt like a butterfly trapped on the other side of my shimmy.” She laughed. “Lt. Brittle said to give Baby Worthy a few months, and he, or she, will feel like a prisoner rattling a tin cup along the iron bars of the brig.”
    “The lieutenant’s a common one,” Laura said before she thought.
    “We’re all common, Laura,” was her sister’s quiet reply.
    It was not a rebuke; even on their short close acquaintance, Laura didn’t think Nana had a rebuke in her entirebody. Hers was a statement of fact; they were a common lot. Laura felt another layer of self-deceit slide away.
    “Common we are.” She removed her hand. “I think you should lie down now.”
    If Laura expected mutiny, she got none.
    “I agree. The Brittles and I already had luncheon. I expect you haven’t, unless travel has suddenly become much more convenient.”
    “You know it hasn’t,” Laura said with a laugh. “Direct me to your housekeeper, and I will…” She went to the window. “My stars, I forgot about the chaise.”
    Nana was already settling herself on the sofa, her hand tucked against her belly. “Send them away, Laura.”
    “I don’t want to inconvenience you…” Laura began.
    “I’ll be more inconvenienced if you leave.” She gave Laura a look that was as calculating as it was a bluff. “Ladies in waiting are to be humored. Lt. Brittle told me so.”
    “He did no such thing,” Laura teased. “He looks far too practical for that.”
    “All the Brittles are practical,” Nana said, perfectly complacent to be found out and corrected. “Do you have pressing business in Taunton demanding your immediate attention?”
    She said it so gently that Laura felt the tears start in her