Page 4 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage

“Briony Fairborn, if yer quite done glowering at everyone, this man needs our help!” The doctor gestured for her to join him at the man’s bedside.

Briony turned sheepish and scurried over. “What do you need me to do?”

“The man’s tibia is broken, so the first thing we need to do is…”

*

Once the man’s immediate needs were met, Dr. Sherwin told Briony to bring the people waiting outside into the room.

When Briony exited, though, she found only the young blond woman; the bearded man from earlier was nowhere to be seen. Briony felt a touch of compassion at the tears she saw shining on the woman’s face.

This injured fellow must be very important to her.The two of them looked close in age, so Briony’s first guess was that they must be married. She didn’t see a ring on the woman’s hand, but perhaps they didn’t wear them in the land these strangers were from.

“Mistress, you can see him now,” Briony stated.

The woman started at the midwife’s arrival before wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. “Is he well?”

“He’s resting right now. Dr. Sherwin is waiting to talk to you,” Briony said as she took the young woman down the corridor.

When they arrived at the man’s room, the doctor rose from his seat. “Mistress Mendes, I set the bone in place and gave him some medicine fer the pain. He’ll be all right, but healing will be slow. ’Twill be about six weeks before he recovers. I’d like fer you to remain here until then.”

The woman’s mouth twisted slightly before she nodded. “Thank you, Doctor. My brother and I are indebted to you. And to you as well, Mistress…?” She turned to the midwife.

Brother?Now that Briony thought about it, the two did have similar features.

“Fairborn, but you don’ have to thank her,” Dr. Sherwin butted in.

Briony’s mouth dropped open in disbelief.I did almost as much as the doctor did, and now he’s trying to take all the credit!

But before she could call him out, Mistress Mendes placed a hand on Dr. Sherwin’s arm and said, “I apologize for our eventful arrival. Everyone has been so helpful to us. I only hope we can repay that kindness during our time here.”

The doctor blushed, and Briony noted how his eyes lingered on the woman’s hand. “There’s no need. The village o’ Everton welcomes you and will continue to fer as long as you remain. Fer now, we’ll leave you to sit with him. If you’d like, I can let yer other companion know o’ yer brother’s status.”

Mistress Mendes batted her eyes and nodded before pulling her hand away. “Please do! Captain Costa had to go down to the ship to see about repairs; he’ll be most relieved to hear the good news!”

“Then I’ll make sure he hears it. Good night, mistress.” Dr. Sherwin stepped back as the beautiful woman sank into the chair nearest her brother’s bed.

“Good night,” she sighed, turning to look at her brother’s sleeping form.

The doctor backed up toward the doorway and tried to slip out, but as he did so, he suddenly tripped over himself.

Briony snorted at the man’s awkwardness, but neither he nor Mistress Mendes paid her any mind.I might as well na even be here.

With a roll of her eyes, Briony followed the doctor out, not bothering to bid Mistress Mendes good night.

“What was that back there?” Briony asked once she’d shut the door. “I did na think you were capable o’ being nervous around any—Hey!”

Dr. Sherwin was already walking away as if she hadn’t spoken at all!

“O’ all the rude, arrogant—”

“You best be getting to Captain Costa,” he called without turning. “’Tis time fer me to be heading on to bed.”

Briony marched forward. “But, Dr. Sherwin, you—”

“Oh, pardon me!” exclaimed William as he opened his bedroom door and almost collided with the midwife. Briony looked down at the tired eight-year-old standing there in his nightclothes.

“’Tis quite all right, William. I better be going.” She looked back up and saw that Dr. Sherwin was gone.