Page 19 of Bernadette’s Dashing Doctor (The Bookshop Belles #4)

CHAPTER 19

Another Reunion

I t was so reassuring to have Estelle home again. Her sister glowed with happiness in between looking a little uncomfortable. The ginger tea helped a great deal with her queasiness, which in turn helped Bernadette feel useful. Still, it was hard to see her sister and Felix so obviously, blissfully in love and happy when she was so personally miserable.

Also, there was so much to tell Estelle about events, but at the same time she had to hold back a great many details so that she didn’t overwhelm her, or fill her with worry. Their main issue was the Chancery Court hearing; best focus their energies on that.

In the grand scheme of things, what was a disappointment in love when a judge was about to preside over her entire future?

At least Estelle and Felix only stayed the one night before going on to Ferndale Hall, and Estelle was in no fit state to be travelling back and forth to Hatfield. Bernadette would have to go to her.

Brutus, bless his heart, rose early and checked the floor for entrails. He even replaced the hessian at the bottom of the stairs for Crafty to sharpen her claws. The kittens were bouncing about, copying their mother’s actions. Mr Thomas came in with some letters and Bernadette smiled and tilted her head toward the stairs to let him know Mrs Poole was in.

It seemed as if everyone else around her was in love. If they were any happier, she’d need to drink some ginger tea herself to stop from becoming bilious.

In the afternoon, more happy people arrived, and they gladdened her heart.

Two schoolboys tumbled into the shop, eyes wide with delight. “Hello Auntie Bernadette!” they called out.

“George and Richard!” She melted at the sight of her new nephews. It could only mean her sister and the Earl were not far behind.

Despite now being a countess, Marie bounced in and gleefully ran to Bernadette, her arms wrapping around her so tightly she lost her breath.

They held each other and cried with joy. Bernadette confessed, “I’ve missed you so. Louise was terrible at accounts!”

“Do you need me to look them over?”

She laughed and said, “You’re allowed to come in and rest from your journey first.” Then she turned to her brother in law and said, “Lord Renwick, it is a delight to see you, and the boys.”

George and Richard had found the kittens already and were at the bottom of the stairs playing with them.

Brutus came downstairs and the boys immediately remembered each other. They sat together and the twins bragged of how big and ferocious The Pied Piper had become at Alston, while Brutus relayed the Hatfield tales, including the arson attack on the bookshop itself.

Marie did not appear to have changed at all, except her clothes were more distinguished. Renwick was happy to step back and let the sisters catch up, provided they showed him any more rare books they might have. Bernadette laughed and opened the locked cabinets for him to peruse, and he settled himself happily at the counter to search through the shelves.

Nothing more had come from father since January and the lack of new arrivals caused Bernadette to wince when Marie asked.

“Still nothing?” Marie asked, her expression deeply concerned.

“I would have written straight away if it had.” Bernadette shook her head, pressing her hands to her stomach, willing away the sick feeling which always came over her now when she thought of the long silence from their father.

Mrs Poole came down the stairs and noticed the new arrivals, coming forward to embrace Marie. She made a quick greeting to all and promised to return soon with tea and vittles for the weary travellers.

“We have plenty of room, if the boys want to stay upstairs with us?” Bernadette offered.

“They are keen to see Mr Charles,” Marie chewed her bottom lip. “And we rather hoped he might have moved into the vicarage by now?”

“He’s recently taken up residence,” Bernadette said, and now was as good a time as any to have a very quiet word with her sister about how exactly that had come about.

“Brutus, dear, would you mind the shop while Marie and I reminisce?”

They moved to the shelves of the lending library. Keeping her voice low, Bernadette relayed the pertinent events while Marie made first shocked and then soothing noises, and nodded understanding.

“You’ve done exactly the right thing,” Marie said. “Morag will be so happy to have a young friend, even though Ruth might have a little difficulty understanding her at first. I shall write as well to offer full support for when we return, and ask our housekeeper Mrs Ellwood to look in on them too.”

“Thank you,” Bernadette thought she had no more tears, but the relief at knowing Ruth and her mother would be looked after released a fresh reserve of them.

Marie and Renwick would be staying at Ferndale Hall, but the boys were delighted to be staying with Mr Charles to catch up with their old tutor. It meant they could come and go to the bookshop whenever they liked, and have adventures with Brutus and the kittens. They would remain in Hatfield while the Baxter family attended Chancery Court, and then Renwick would come back and take them off to Eton for the Autumn term.

After tea and shortbread, Marie almost had to drag her husband away while he added “just one more” book onto his stack, and bundled the boys into the Renwick carriage.

“They’re great fun!” Brutus said. “Are they staying in Hatfield?”

“For about another two weeks, then they’re off to school until Christmastide I’m afraid,” Bernadette replied.

Brutus pursed his lips together in thought. “I should like to go to school with them.”

It was on the tip of Bernadette’s tongue to say Brutus attending Eton might be impossible. But then again, her sister had married an Earl. And surely there was sufficient money from the half of Joshua’s estate in trust for Brutus.

Nothing was impossible, really.

Then the glums came back with a vengeance. If only the dimwitted doctor across the street who held her heart knew that. Felix had told her what Glynn said, and Bernadette wanted to march across the street and slap some sense into him! She didn’t care about Glynn not owning his own home, or that he wasn’t born a gentleman. Those things didn’t matter! She cared that he was kind and clever, and most importantly of all, supportive of her interest in medicine and the health of her fellow man. Or, mostly women. Glynn could look after the men, as far as she was concerned. It would be a most sensible division of labour between them!

They already had an excellent working partnership, or had, before he’d stopped speaking to her. Why wouldn’t he see that they could be partners in love, too? She wiped away frustrated tears. Stupid, stupid man!

With his grandson and wife returned safely to Hatfield, Lord Ferndale and Miss Yates held a celebratory dinner at Ferndale Hall. It was to welcome people home, but also for some last-minute strategy before they travelled to London for the Chancery Court hearing. Bernadette and Brutus closed the shop for the day, as Mrs Poole came with them. They travelled in the Renwick carriage to the vicarage, where they made room for Mr Charles, George and Richard. Brutus and Richard stood on the back of the carriage where footmen would usually stand. They cheered and laughed into the wind. George sat beside the driver, with the promise that he could ride at the back on the return journey. The three boys were already fast friends, and George and Richard were eager to help in the bookshop. They were truly a pleasure to have around.

The late summer sun beamed into Glynn’s consulting room as he filled in another patient record. Mr Black and his staff had created the stationery he wrote upon, and a surge of pride filled him as he wrote in the details of his most recent patient’s medical complaint. It was, by coincidence, a man who worked for Mr Black who was having shoulder pain. It wasn’t a surprise, given the man’s age, that he suffered. Perhaps he would pay a visit to the print shop to see how the man worked, and whether it might be possible to alleviate the pain with a different work technique.

There was a report he’d been reading looking into the field of worker injuries and repeated actions. It was fascinating (and a little upsetting) to him, as he read about poultry workers plucking feathers for hours on end one day, and then not being able to move their hands the next. He also had to be careful that he didn’t immediately start looking for similar injuries in Hatfield just because he’d read about something being investigated as far off as Manchester.

He’d seen the fancy carriage pull up outside the bookshop, but it covered the door of the shop. He could only assume the owner was a nobleman, judging by the crest on the door, the liveried driver and beautiful horses.

It only reinforced how completely wrong he was for Bernadette, that she moved in these high circles, while he studied reports on chicken pluckers hurting their wrists.

He completed his patient record and filed it alphabetically.

Resuming his seat, Glynn took up reading another medical report. Soon after, the Ferndale carriage parked in front of his window, completely blocking the view.

That cheerfully annoying Mr Yates was back.

“Glynn!” he called out as he walked in without even knocking this time.

“Mr Yates,” he looked up from his desk. Again, he was low while the other man towered above him.

“Mr Yates was my wastrel father. Call me Felix. Everybody does.” The emphasis was that if Glynn didn’t call him by that name, he would therefore be a nobody.

He kept his voice as neutral as possible, “To what do I owe… the pleasure, Felix?”

“Remember I said before long you’d be dining at Ferndale Hall?”

He remembered the encounter. Every excruciatingly proper moment of it. He nodded.

“Well, you’re invited. My darling wife is in the carriage, let’s not keep her waiting.”

“I… wait. I can’t,” he looked around for excuses, but his room was empty of other patients and everything looked far too neat to even pretend he needed to tidy things.

“One does not simply turn down an invitation to a magnificent repast at Ferndale Hall!” Felix said, in that delightfully threatening way he had about him.

The man knew how to flay someone alive and have them smiling at the same time.

But it was impossible. Simply impossible. Not after he’d treated Bernadette so poorly, even if it was for her own good.

“I can’t face her,” he admitted.

Dammit, what was it about Felix Yates that made him confess that?

“Well, I’m afraid it’s not up to you. As your employer,” Felix indicated the carriage outside, “I’m ordering you to get in.”

There was absolutely nothing Glynn could say to that apart from “Yes, sir.”

“Felix. And this is my wife Estelle,” Felix added as Glynn got into the carriage.

“Did the two of you drive all the way from Ferndale Hall to Hatfield just to collect me?” Glynn asked grumpily, looking at Mrs Yates’ swollen stomach. “You really shouldn’t be bumping about like this, ma’am.”

“I needed to get out of the house,” Estelle said. “And yes. Felix insisted we come and get you.”

“Absolutely,” Felix said sunnily. “As I was fairly sure you’d refuse anyone else attempting to order you to attend.”

It was like being disembowelled by an adorable bunny rabbit. Glynn’s stomach hurt, yet he couldn’t look away. “You’ve married a very annoying man, Mrs Yates,” Glynn couldn’t help but say to Estelle, who laughed, clearly not offended.

“You have already spent enough time with Felix to sum him up well, I see.” Sitting back, hands folded over her belly, she cast her husband a look of adoration. “However, somehow with time, the annoyance seems to transform to affection. I don’t know quite how he does it, but he grows on one.”

“Like mould,” Glynn muttered.

“I’m still right here,” Felix said in tones of mock indignation, “where I can hear the two of you insulting me.”

“I don’t doubt you have both been insulting me where I cannot hear you,” Glynn decided to go on the offensive.

“Well, you have been an absolute idiot, from what I hear,” Estelle said cheerfully. “Have you come to your senses yet?”

“Nothing has changed!” Glynn insisted. “You are all trying to make a match which is unsuitable in every way, and it seems I am the only person who can see sense!”

“All these months with Bernadette, and you do not know her at all,” Estelle said, sounding a little sad.

“I know she deserves better than a man who cannot give her the life she should have.”

“Who are you to judge that?” Estelle raised a brow at him, and he saw the echo of Bernadette in the expression. It was that exact same look Bernadette always gave him when she was challenging him in some way, making him think beyond the boundaries of his education and experience.

“What Bernadette needs ,” Estelle said firmly, “is someone who will support her in her calling. Which, despite how well she’s been running our family business entirely on her own, is helping others medically. And from what Bernadette has told me, she has found that support from you. Or do you deny regularly sending patients to her that you believe she is better skilled to help than you are?”

“You are as annoyingly determined to be right as Bernadette is,” Glynn grumbled, unable to meet that challenging look, and staring out of the window instead.

Estelle sighed. “And you are determined to be stubborn. Well. We shall see. Perhaps the Chancery Court will take the decision out of your hands.”

“What about the Chancery Court?” Glynn frowned, but the carriage was drawing up in front of Ferndale Hall and Felix and Estelle got out without answering the question.

Glynn dragged his feet in behind them. Miss Yates came up and spoke as kindly to him as ever, before introducing him to Lord and Lady Renwick and their sons.

Lord Renwick was not as intimidating as Glynn had expected. Yes, he was tall, and dark, and Glynn suspected he could look quite forbidding if he wished, but the wide smile that never left his face made him seem very approachable

Lady Renwick was also not what he’d expected. Having met three of the four Baxter sisters already, Glynn had expected the physical resemblance of brown hair and hazel eyes, but Lady Renwick wore glasses and had a much more quiet manner. Finding himself seated between Miss Yates and the countess at lunch, however, Glynn soon realised that Marie was a very clever woman. She asked a few penetrating questions and he found himself telling her something of his background.

They were so enchanting and engaging, he didn’t realise how out of his depth he was until he was already drowning. Estelle Yates made what sounded like a polite comment on the surface, but carried with it strong undercurrents. “Bernadette, that new cabinet is stunning. I would love something similar for Ferndale Hall.”

Bernadette swallowed hard and her eyes darted toward Glynn, then back to her sister. “Yes, it is lovely.”

“Is it from a local cabinetmaker?”

“Ah, I’m not sure, it was a gift.”

Estelle looked at the Baron. “Oh, did you give it to her, Grandfather?”

“I am innocent!” Lord Ferndale exclaimed, expression guileless.

Glynn coughed. “I, er, I gave it to Ber- Miss Baxter.”

Silence fell across the table faster than a guillotine blade, everyone staring at him.

Lord Ferndale said, “What a thoughtful, personal gift that is.”

Glynn closed his eyes and wished he could sink through the floor.

Agonisingly later, the ladies removed themselves so the men could remain and discuss tactics.

Glynn was desperate to get away, but had no idea what he should do. If he removed himself, would he insult his hosts? If he remained, would he be outstaying his unwelcome?

He simply had no clue.

One more reason why he and Bernadette were so unsuited.

“Dr Williams, I’m glad you’re here,” Lord Ferndale said.

Glynn remained rooted to the spot.

“Now, let’s talk brass tacks. You’re a good man, and a good match for Bernadette. I’m too old to wait for you to catch up to good sense. Do you hear me?”

“I think so,” he said, wondering exactly what was going on.

“Good. I thought Felix had the matter in hand, but apparently not, since I am not yet advised of good tidings.”

“I did try, Grandfather,” Felix said. “But I truly think he needed to hear it from you.”

The family patriarch spoke as if Glynn wasn’t even in the room. “That’s a shame. But I’ll let this lapse slide as I’ve heard excellent reports back from the town council meeting. Can you believe he gave Bernadette a medical cabinet? I could not imagine anything more perfect for my youngest granddaughter.”

“I haven’t yet seen it myself, but Estelle was in raptures and as you heard, she is keen for one.”

“Yes, so give that doctor a good knock on the bonce and get him to contact the maker.” The old man shook his head. “Any wonder Bernadette thought it was a courting gift.”

If the gates of hell themselves had opened, Glynn would have gladly stepped through rather than sit here being flayed so politely.

“The Chancery Court,” Renwick said, in a blissful change of subject. “Marie and I prepared a speech, if it’s needed.”

“Good man,” Lord Ferndale said.

They talked for a little more with plans of who might say what. They would stay at Renwick’s London house and meet the barrister who would represent them to the court.

“And the Jacksons will meet us at the house as well,” Renwick said.

As things were winding down, Glynn dared to say, “I’m sure I won’t be needed.”

“My good man, you’re the most important one,” Felix said.

“I am?” Surely they were having a lend?

Felix sighed, but looked so pleasant about it. “My wife is in a delicate condition. She will need a medical professional with her at all times.”

“She still has about eight weeks, does she not?” Felix was making feeble excuses. They were going to London, not the wilderness. There were doctors and midwives aplenty if Mrs Yates should need help, not to mention Bernadette travelling with them.

Renwick looked at Lord Ferndale, and then back at Glynn, before leaning forward and imparting further information. “Three of the Baxter sisters are already wed, and well taken care of. Bernadette is not. She is not even promised to anyone. She is the one in the most peril, without her father here to represent her. As much as we prepare, there’s no guarantee of success at Court. For all we know, the judge may take it upon himself to solve the situation by marrying Bernadette, or he might marry her off to one of his cronies!”

“Anything but that!” Glynn swallowed through sudden dryness in his throat as reality came crashing down upon his head. Could he really lose Bernadette, to some complete stranger? The very concept left him short of breath.

Three noble sets of foreheads creased in his direction as he realised what a fool he’d been.

“I… have rather made a dreadful hash of things, have I not?”

Three sets of foreheads unfurled, then the gentlemen they belonged to burst into laughter.

“About time you came to your senses!” Lord Ferndale said.

Glynn thought about it for a moment. “But… if things don’t go our way at the Chancery Court… I would rather not raise Bernadette’s hopes, only to be unable to fulfil them for reasons out of our control. I will come with you to London, but please don’t say anything to her beforehand.”

The gentlemen looked at each other, and then Felix shrugged. “I suppose it’s only a few more days. Very well. But please stop ignoring her, it’s making her miserable, and if one of those sisters is miserable…”

“They are all miserable!” Renwick said.

Felix said, “And that makes their husbands miserable, so please stop!”

Glynn smiled despite himself. Estelle was right. Annoying though Felix could be, he definitely did grow on one.