Page 17 of Bernadette’s Dashing Doctor (The Bookshop Belles #4)
CHAPTER 17
Farewell and Welcome Home
T he next morning, Bernadette wrapped some novels up in a piece of brown paper, tied some string around it, and walked around to the Red Lion, where the first coaches would soon depart. The coach going north would take Ruth and her mother far from Hatfield. They crossed the street holding a carpet bag each, Ruth holding hers with both arms so the bag blocked the view of her belly. Both were dressed in black mourning clothes, that made their pale skin look all the more lifeless. Mr Thomas was there loading travel crates and bags onto the top of the coach, while the rest of the passengers took their seats. Mrs Millings smiled a little stiffly at Bernadette.
“We shall write when we reach my sister,” she said, maintaining the facade for the benefit of anyone else’s ears.
“Please take these, they might help pass the time,” Bernadette said, trying not to burst into tears as she gave Ruth a last hug. She could hear the girl’s quick breaths in her ear as Ruth clung to her briefly before letting go. “I will miss you. Take care,” she whispered in Ruth’s ear.
“Thank you,” Mrs Millings said, keeping her face steady as she accepted the parcel.
“Thank you for everything,” Ruth whispered, clasping Bernadette’s hands tightly one more time before she turned at her mother’s urging and climbed into the carriage.
To Bernadette’s immense relief, there were no Hatfield residents travelling in the same carriage, further reducing any chance of gossip.
Mr Thomas checked the door was securely closed once Mrs Millings had settled herself beside her daughter. He performed a quick count of passengers and appeared satisfied that it matched his list. A moment later, he waved to the driver that they were ready to leave, and the coachman cracked his whip and called to the horses.
As much as Bernadette wished she could stay and watch the carriage leave town, there were simply far too many things for her to do to allow the luxury. Or perhaps it was that she’d watched too many carriages leave town in the last year, carrying her sisters on far adventures while she was left behind. She blinked back tears and resolutely did not watch.
As she walked back to the bookshop door, she glanced at Dr Williams’ room across the street. She hadn’t spoken to him since they’d joined forces with Mr Charles to resolve Ruth’s predicament. Then he’d so callously rejected her. Something looked different; she stopped and stared for a moment. Fresh pain stung her as she took in his new sitting position through the window. He’d moved the furniture around so that he had his back to the street - and with it, her!
Was she such a horrible distraction he could no longer stand the sight of her?
Making haste, Bernadette charged into the bookshop and shut the door quickly behind her. She should turn the ‘Closed’ sign around to ‘Open’ but she needed to compose herself first.
The timing of Glynn’s rejection could not have come at a worse time. If Louise were here, she could unburden herself, but Louise was on her honeymoon. When her sister returned, there was a crate of binding and repair jobs waiting for her.
Mrs Poole and Brutus were still here, but the latter would not be any help at all. He seemed disgusted with the entire concept of love. She had to remain behind the counter in case a customer came in, so she couldn’t go upstairs at the moment and have a good cry with Mrs Poole.
Bernadette gave herself two minutes to compose herself, pulling her handkerchief from her pocket and blowing her nose. She took a steadying breath, turned the sign to ‘Open’ and fixed on a smile.
Rosie came in a short while later, with a beaming grin and a young woman with her. “Miss Baxter, I brought my cousin Mary, to see if she’d be suitable to take my place.”
“Oh Rosie, you’re so kind,” Bernadette wiped her eyes and made up the excuse that she missed Louise, when Rosie looked at her sharply and asked if she was crying. “It’s lovely to meet you, Mary, are you any good with ledgers?”
The girl looked shocked and said, “I thought I’d be cleaning, not doing numbers? I can’t read!”
“It’s all right,” she tried not to giggle. “My sister Marie was the best at it, but she doesn’t live here any more, so it’s something I have to do.”
“If Mary’s no good,” Rosie said, “I have plenty more cousins who’d be glad of the work. But she’s a good cleaner and washer…”
Bernadette reassured both women. “If Rosie vouches for you, Mary, then that’s all I need. Thank you for coming. Rosie, would you like to take her upstairs to meet Mrs Poole? She can show you around. Do you need a room to stay in? We have plenty of spares.”
The residence, and the bookshop, felt so empty without her sisters. Bernadette’s feet itched to walk around Hatfield, as she used to. Taking herbs and tonics to people all over town. But there was nobody else to stay behind the counter, so it fell on her to do that.
It dawned on her then that for the first time in her life, she had to do everything. Everything that her father and her sisters had used to share between them. The responsibility weighed heavy on her shoulders; even though there was no longer a risk of losing the shop if they closed the doors for a few days, she somehow couldn’t bring herself to do that. Her father had trusted his daughters to keep the shop running, and even though it was only Bernadette left, run it she would.
A slow trickle of customers came into the shop during the day. Some wanted books, while others said Dr Williams had sent them over as she had more expertise about their issue.
It was a lovely compliment. If she wasn’t so infuriated with him, she might almost think he admired her. That was back when she was misreading every signal he’d sent her way. Now she knew it wasn’t admiration. It was probably something far more prosaic, like the patients probably were ‘beneath him’ as they only needed remedies rather than medicinal compounds from Mr Lennox.
Mrs Bell visited in the afternoon, bringing with her a confused scowl on her face. “I don’t like engaging in idle gossip, but it was impossible not to notice a change in Dr Williams. I’ve seen men disappointed in love often enough to read the signs. You’ve rejected his suit, haven’t you?”
“Is he miserable?” Delight infused Bernadette better than one of her own tonics.
“He is, and he made me assist in shifting the furniture about so he doesn’t have to look over here, so I knew something was wrong. For the maintenance of peace under my roof, please tell me what happened.”
“Very well, I will.” Bernadette stood up, placed her hands on the counter and leaned forward. “This is the fact of the matter. I did not reject Dr Williams. He rejected me .”
The midwife’s jaw dropped open and stuck there.
Bernadette would have laughed if she wasn’t suffering so much heartache. It was obvious Mrs Bell hadn’t expected that at all.
“He is an idiot,” Mrs Bell said, closing her mouth at last. “I… I most sincerely apologise. Have your ears been burning of late? I have been saying your name far too much under my breath… I’m dreadfully sorry. I completely misread the situation.”
With a sigh, Bernadette confessed, “So did I.”
“Oh my dear girl,” Mrs Bell came around the counter, her arms out for a hug.
She took one more step, Bernadette thrust her hand out and said, “wait!”
Mrs Bell leapt back.
On the floor, between them, was a pile of mouse entrails.
“I’ve been so busy I forgot to check this morning,” Bernadette grabbed the rags and the dustpan, then took the mess out to the courtyard.
When she came back in, Mrs Bell was ready with open arms again and she took full advantage of the motherly hug.
“I haven’t had time to get out and see my usual customers either. I know you’re busy too, but if I gave you a list would you be able to get around to seeing some of them?” Bernadette asked hopefully.
“It’s the least I can do,” Mrs Bell said. “Would you like me to poison his dinner?”
“No, no,” the thought of poisons was a little too close to home for the time being. “Don’t need to go that far. Hatfield needs its doctor.”
“It’s a pity Hatfield’s doctor doesn’t realise how much he needs you,” the midwife countered. “Men can be such idiots!”
Bernadette revelled in the sympathy, and she realised that even if her sisters weren’t here at this moment, she did have good friends all around her.
Bernadette also explained that Mr Charles wouldn’t be needing a room after all, as - and she phrased this very carefully - Mrs Millings and Ruth were off to stay with relatives. There’d been no time for Mrs Bell to examine Ruth, but Mr Charles had assured them that his mother was experienced in midwifery. She’d know what to do to help Ruth.
“And the doctor’s house will be ready soon as well,” Mrs Bell said. “It will be just me in the house again. I won’t know myself.”
“Will you be all right?”
“Well, I was feeling sorry for Dr Williams, but now I know the truth I’m almost looking forward to seeing him off. Perhaps I’ll talk to Riot Jones, see if some of the patrollers are looking for rooms. Nice law-abiding men who don’t mind my strange hours!”
They hugged some more and Mrs Bell consoled Bernadette further, before Bernadette reached for a sheet of paper and her pen. It wasn’t long before Bernadette had a short list of the patients she was most concerned about. She furnished Mrs Bell with a basket of carefully selected herbs and they parted on the best of terms.
It hurt so much to see the back of Dr Williams through the front windows at Mrs Bell’s as Bernadette waved the midwife off.
Returning to her seat at the counter, she couldn’t hold back the tears as Byron, the kitten Glynn had chosen for himself, pounced on her shoes.
“Why?” she sniffled unhappily, picking up the kitten and cuddling him, pressing her face into his soft fur. “Why won’t he even talk to me any more? I miss him!”
Little Byron rubbed his cheek against hers and purred, almost as though he knew she were upset and trying to comfort her. The tears flowed harder.
The bell tinkled, and Bernadette took a great gulping breath, trying to prepare herself to face customers. Did she have a handkerchief in her pocket? She attempted to dry her tears on Byron’s fur, unsuccessfully.
“Well, this is a fine welcome,” a laughing voice said. “Where is everybody?”
Bernadette’s eyes flew wide, and she shot to her feet, almost dropping Byron, who sank his claws into her arm to hold on. She didn’t even notice as she stared at the beautiful, very pregnant woman standing in front of her.
“ Estelle? ”
“Dear sister.” Estelle, eldest of the Baxter sisters and now Mrs Yates, stepped forward with a beaming smile, deftly scooped the kitten from Bernadette’s hands and presented him to her husband, before seizing Bernadette in a loving embrace.
“When… when did you get back?” Bernadette stuttered, utterly shocked, as she returned Estelle’s hug. Or tried to, because Estelle’s stomach was very much in the way. Knowing her sister was pregnant was one thing; having the evidence of it pressed firmly against you was quite another!
“Just now! We sent a letter when the ship docked in Bristol, but we’ve travelled fast and directly here. I daresay we might have come ahead of it.”
“You have! It is so good to see you.”
Released from Estelle’s embrace, Bernadette looked past her to her husband, who was holding Byron in the air and cooing at him. “And you, Mr Yates!”
“Don’t you dare call me that, my name is Felix, as you well know.” Felix Yates beamed happily at her, before coming forward and bending to kiss her cheek. Finding it wet, he blinked in confusion. “Are you… crying?”
“I’m happy to see you,” Bernadette lied, brushing her hand over her cheek.
“Which, of course, is why you were crying when we walked in,” Estelle said dryly. “Felix, dearest, I know we had planned to go on to Ferndale Hall, but it is getting quite late. Perhaps we’ll stay here tonight and go in the morning?”
“I’ll pop over to the Red Lion and get someone to ride out there and tell Grandfather,” Felix said good-naturedly.
“Don’t…”
“... let the cat out, I know.” He put Byron down on the counter and left, with an adoring look at Estelle that Bernadette did not miss seeing.
“Look at you, you’re glowing,” Bernadette said hastily, not wanting Estelle to pursue the reasons for Bernadette’s tears. “When do you think you are due? Have you seen a midwife?”
“Oh yes, of course. At the end of October, or early November.” Estelle cradled her stomach with an expression Bernadette had never seen on her face before, soft and wonderingly loving. “I was absolutely determined to be home by then, but dear me, I have never been so dreadfully sick. They call it morning sickness, but it would last all day!”
“You poor thing! Were you able to get any ginger? It definitely helps - the Ferndale glass houses have produced lots this year, I have been able to make an excellent tea. Come on upstairs and have some, Mrs Poole will be delighted to see you!”
“And Louise?”
Bernadette blinked at Estelle. “When did you last receive a letter from us?”
“The end of July. The one you wrote, with details of what Joshua is trying to do in Chancery Court, the blackguard!” Estelle’s eyes shone with righteous fury. “So I told Felix that we must come home, no matter if I was sick every mile of the journey.”
That was the letter she’d sent at the beginning of July… Shaun Jackson had still been missing then. And they hadn’t caught Benjamin as the arsonist, and Bernadette had been at odds with Dr Williams. Well, she was at odds with him again, now. Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, sister. How much I have to tell you!”
“Perhaps you should start with where Louise is!” Estelle said, as Bernadette went to the door and turned the sign over to Closed. She did not lock it, so Felix would be able to come back in, but she certainly did not want to deal with any more customers this afternoon.
“Eastbourne. On her honeymoon, with Mr Jackson.”
Bernadette had the satisfaction of seeing Estelle look quite flabbergasted.
“And you don’t need to worry about Joshua any more. Benjamin turned out to be the arsonist, and when Mr Jackson caught him trying to burn down the bookshop, he and Lord Ferndale made Joshua and Phoebe leave for the Americas in exchange for not forcing a prosecution.”
“Benjamin was the…” Estelle clutched at the edge of the counter for support. “The WHAT?”
Bernadette suddenly recalled that she and Louise had decided long ago that they were not going to worry Estelle with details of the arson attacks. They had, in fact, gone out of their way to paint a rosy picture of life in Hatfield, right up until they’d been forced to admit that with the upcoming Chancery Court hearing, matters had gone beyond what they could cope with alone.
“Let’s go upstairs and sit down and I shall make you a lovely cup of ginger tea,” Bernadette said quickly. “I really do have a lot to tell you.”
Mrs Poole welcomed Estelle back with cries of delight, and Felix too when he came upstairs to join them with his hands full of kittens. Brutus slipped in a few moments later, grinning broadly, and Bernadette started off by explaining that Brutus was now living with them and the bookshop was safe as Brutus was its heir apparent, with his property held in trust until he came of age.
Estelle had a hundred questions, but it soon became apparent that she was not content merely to hear the details of Louise’s romance and Joshua and Phoebe’s fall from grace.
“And let’s return to the matter of why you were crying on a kitten when we came in, ‘Dette,” Estelle said, her hazel eyes sharp over the rim of her cup as she sipped her ginger tea.
Mrs Poole snorted. “Because of a fool man who doesn’t know what’s good for him!”
“Oh?” Estelle raised an interrogative eyebrow.
Bernadette clamped her lips together. Mrs Poole, however, was not about to let Estelle go uninformed.
“It’s the new doctor, Doctor Williams. A clever young man he is, knows far more about medicine than Doctor Rasley ever learned, but not much about how to court a young lady.”
“I see.” Estelle’s gaze returned to Bernadette’s face, and Bernadette looked at the floor. Her sister saw far too much.
“Felix, dearest.” Estelle looked at her husband. “Perhaps you should go and meet this Doctor Williams.”
“An excellent notion! I could do with stretching my legs after spending most of the day in a coach.”
“You’ll not have to stretch them far. Just across the street to Mrs Bell’s. He’s living there, and has a consulting room, while the doctor’s house is being rebuilt. You’ll see him through the downstairs window,” Mrs Poole said helpfully, and Felix took himself off.
“Now, darling.” Estelle set down her teacup and took Bernadette’s hand. “Tell me everything.”
Bernadette dissolved into tears again, and Estelle at once pulled her closer.
“There, there,” Estelle whispered against her hair. “It’s all right. I’m home, and we’ll solve it all. I promise.”
Bernadette didn’t know how that could even be possible, but she desperately wanted to believe it. She clung to Estelle like a drowning man to a rope, hoping that somehow, her older sister would know what to do to make everything all right again.