Page 29 of A Botanist and A Betrothal (Gentleman Scholars #4)
“I
never would have thought you would figure this out so quickly!” Lincoln couldn’t help being impressed with his friends’ efforts.
“Like botany is hard,” Sidney scoffed, cuffing his friend on the shoulder in the age-old way of men.
The three of them laughed before the medical doctor spoke up.
“In all reality, Welby, this has been exceedingly fascinating. I had no idea plants were so complex. It was only a happy accident we fell upon the answer. And you had already given us half of it.”
Sidney gave him a fierce but fake frown. “You weren’t supposed to tell him that.”
The doctor shrugged. “The poor man has way too many other things on his mind to let him worry about this. And he doesn’t need an inferiority complex messing with his mind while he figures out what to do about his fiancée and the threats against them.”
Lincoln felt both reassured and downhearted by his friend’s words. But knowing they were there for him was a relief, assuring him they would succeed come what may.
“What about the treasure hunt?” Sidney asked. “You said your plants were connected somehow.”
“Odd, isn’t it?” Lincoln agreed immediately. “We still need to confront Caldwell on the matter but I’m glad you brought it up since it’s really something we should all agree on.”
The doctor and mapmaker both stared at him, their attention focused, frowns of concentration creasing their foreheads in an almost identical pattern. Despite his misgivings, Lincoln couldn’t help but smile over their studious attention.
“Vesta is working on some clues in a book we found in Caldwell’s library. But here’s the thing. If he’s involved, if we ask him what he knows, we’ll be dutybound to share with him if we find it.”
“That’s why you need to ask us,” the doctor said, nodding at Lincoln before turning to Sidney. They had been friends since childhood, even longer than Lincoln had known them. It was as though they could communicate without words at times. Sidney shrugged in answer to whatever question had flowed between them.
“Your safety and that of your lady is much more important than a few grouts, Lincoln, surely you realize that. You ought to ask the man what he knows as soon as you have a chance. On all fronts,” he added. “Not just your plants.”
Lincoln grinned at his friends. They understood obsession as any scientist would.
“Thank you, gentlemen, I appreciate the support. Truly,” he said, his earnest tone making his friends uncomfortable.
“Shall we take our notes back to the institute with us?” Sidney asked, gathering up what they had been working on.
“That would be great, thank you. But don’t tell anyone, or don’t discuss it where anyone from this household can hear you.”
Sidney frowned. “You’re truly certain there is a spy in your midst here?”
“Vesta’s maid admitted as much. And if there’s one, there’s a good possibility of more. Who knows who’s telling who what?”
The doctor grinned. “Your grammar went a little sideways there, my friend, but we get your drift. Have a care. Lucy will have our heads if we let anything happen to you.”
Lincoln waved off his friends’ concern. “You’ll tell Roddie everything, though, right?”
“Immediately,” Sidney vowed as he clapped his friend on the shoulder in lieu of a farewell.
“What about the treasure hunt?” the doctor asked just before taking his own leave.
“Vesta is looking after what she can. At least in that book she found. There were pages missing, though,” he added with a sigh and a roll of his eyes. “There have been a few things going on around here. You fellows helped take some of the load off my mind and I really appreciate that.”
“That’s what friends do,” Sidney said as he ushered the doctor along ahead of himself. “Come on, doc, I’ve got a map waiting for me.”
The doctor laughed. “I’m fairly certain it can wait. But I don’t want to be on horseback after dark, so I’ll acquiesce.”
“Send someone for us if you need further assistance,” Sidney called even as he hurried toward the paddock where their horses were waiting.
Lincoln watched his friends stride away and felt comfort settle into his bones. They really had proven to be his friends. Not that he had ever doubted it but – Vesta’s arrival interrupted his thoughts.
“You have an odd expression on your face, like the clouds have broken. It’s lovely, just odd given the timing.”
Lincoln grinned down at her.
“Can you believe, despite everything, I feel happy?”
The expression on her face was hesitant, as though she were unsure how to react.
“I’ve always known they were my friends in one way. We’ve known each other since we were youngsters at school. But we were kind of friends by default. Roderick Northcott collected us like hobbies. All the mismatched boys who didn’t fit in became his small crew of followers. So, we’ve stuck together through the ups and downs since then. But this is the first time I’ve truly believed it, deep down, that they were my friends, not just Roddie’s mutual friends, do you know what I mean?”
“Only sort of,” Vesta replied with a puzzled little laugh. “I’m glad for you to have that silver lining to this debacle though.”
“It’s more than that, though. Now I have you too.”
Vesta’s expression reflected her surprise that he was counting her as one of his blessings. Lincoln tried to put a stop to his runaway speech. Obviously, she wasn’t feeling the same way.
“Thank you, Lincoln, I’m honoured. I don’t have much in the way of friends, but I’m happy that I have you now too.”
Her smile was shy and tentative, but Lincoln was happy to see it nonetheless.
“Did you find anything else?” he asked before the silence stretched between them.
“Not yet,” she said, shaking her head but not appearing as forlorn as he would have expected by the words. “But I have the strangest feeling that I’m very close to a breakthrough.”
She paused again before adding, “I came to see if you were going to stay for supper. I don’t love the idea of you riding in the dark, but I would like to have your company if you feel like staying.”
“Then I will,” Lincoln answered immediately despite not looking forward to the ride back.
The time passed quickly as the footmen served them. They made small chat until the servants left them alone, leaving the doors open for the sake of propriety, of course, but they were able to speak more freely.
“Sidney and Doc have figured out the soil composition. It’s a rare mixture of base and acid that makes it hospitable for both plants. So that’s one mystery solved. Now only about a dozen more to go.”
Vesta grinned but then frowned. “Besides the treasure hunt, and who has been sabotaging your work, and what Mr. Caldwell knows or doesn’t, what else is there?”
“Well, that’s a lot,” Lincoln said with a chuckle. “But with the science, I need to know if the white foxglove actually has the high concentration of digitalis that I suspect. And if so, I need to figure out if the plant thrived here because of its neighbours or because of the soil and if I can reproduce the plants elsewhere or if it’s a unique combination that only exists here.”
Vesta nodded. “You need to figure out if you will have to stay committed to Mr. Caldwell or not.”
Lincoln nodded, taking another bite of the delicious mutton they had been served. The silence was comfortable between them, and he worried about disturbing that.
“I also wonder if you will be uncomfortable remaining associated with this place after we wed.”
Vesta’s frown was immediate. “Are you asking something?”
Lincoln’s chuckle was immediate, but it was slightly forced. “I feel as though, depending on the outcome of our conversation with your stepfather if he ever returns, you might never want to see this place again. If it will make you uncomfortable, I will do my best to replicate the conditions elsewhere and we need never return.”
“My mother will still be here,” she said in a quiet voice with little inflection, not telling Lincoln how she really felt by those words.
“She will,” Lincoln agreed, waiting for her to explain further.
Vesta’s sigh was quiet but long.
“I cannot cut my mother out of my life despite everything that has taken place.” Suddenly, despite her obvious confused feelings about her mother, her face was wreathed in a tentative smile. “But I deeply appreciate that you want me to be comfortable. Thank you.”
Lincoln reached for her hand, threading their fingers together.
“Always,” was all he said. He needed to take his leave, or they would be overcome by warmer feelings. It wasn’t the time.
“I have to introduce you to my friend Lord Beaverbrook.”
“The earl?” Vesta repeated, her surprise evident in her inflection.
“Do you know him?”
Vesta laughed and shook her head. “Only his position. I have read Debrett’s, of course.”
Lincoln nodded, ignoring the slight pang of what could only be jealousy eating at his innards.
“How do you know the Earl of Beaverbrook?”
Lincoln forced a chuckle. “Before he inherited, he was the lowly Viscount Severn, one of our scholars.”
“Truly?” Vesta’s eyes were wide and curious. “What did he study?”
“Various things. Chemistry was his specialty. He invented an extraction process that he has been able to sell quite successfully to perfumiers.”
“That seems like a very specific thing to specialize in,” Vesta commented, her nose wrinkling.
Lincoln’s laugh was much more genuine this time. “Yes, but his uncle was determined to disinherit him, so Severn was even more determined to make his fortunes on his own. He loved chemistry and discovered a way to make it pay off.”
“That must have been very gratifying for him,” Vesta said, watching him carefully as though to gauge his own feelings on the matter.”
“The good thing is, I am certain he will be able to help us come up with a way to compound the medicine we could produce if the plants turn out to be as I think.”
“That will be marvellous,” Vesta crowed, bringing a grin to Lincoln’s face.
“Marvellous,” he repeated, contentment settling deep into his soul.