The Doctor's Discretion
Page 19
He reached out for William’s hand, but William moved it just the smallest amount out of Augustus’ reach. “Do you have anyone else you can ask?”
Augustus sat back. “I do. I would love to tempt Doctor Walker away from New York Hospital.” He smiled, but it didn’t quite mask his disappointment.
William thought about his time at Bellevue—the squalor and despair that had permeated the place. Could he make it better? Could he turn it from a place people feared, to one where they could genuinely receive care?
He wanted to do that, use his medical degree as he had intended to use it, to help the people of New York and especially those who could not find help at other institutions. He could work in the field again, not just behind closed library doors, but where his decisions and skills would have an immediate, direct effect on people’s lives. He still could not imagine himself out there on the hospital floor, treating patients. But working behind the scenes, changing the way hospitals were run for the better, making them safe and clean: that he could do. He could contribute to the field this way, be remembered for something other than knowing how to catalog books well. It was like a door inside him opening.
Augustus drew him forward until he could lay William’s hand against the cloth of his left cuff and cover it with his right, trapping it there, and William let him. Augustus didn’t ask again, but he did watch William, quietly waiting.
“Administrative work.” William said, testing the words. He met Augustus’ gaze. “I think I could do it.”
Augustus’ face lit, and he clasped William’s hand tighter. “I know you can. You will be amazing. And I can’t think of anyone I want to do this with more.”
Their lips met.
One of William’s hands drifted up to skim along the back of his neck, touching the linen of Augustus’ shirt, the folds of his cravat, up to where the curl of his hair just touched the back of his collar. He kissed him, taking his time, being thorough, enjoying his taste and his nearness.
When they parted, Augustus was grinning at him as if he’d just given him the best answer possible. William licked his lips and tasted both of them, together.
He stood, tugging Augustus with him, and slipped his arm around Augustus’ waist, holding them together as if they were dancing.
“Well, you said it would be an adventure. How could I say no to that?”