Hetty tossed the coverlet from her bed and placed her feet on the floor. “Let me show you I’m fine. Don’t bother the doctor this late in the evening.”
When she stood, her knees wobbled and she almost collapsed. Hetty reached out for the coverlet to help steady herself, but missed.
Before she hit the floor, John grabbed her by the waist and lifted her effortlessly to the bed. “Stay here. You can’t worry about inconveniencing the doctor. He’s right down the road and expects to be called out to people’s homes on occasion.”
“I really believe I’ll be fine by morning.”
“I’m going. You won’t talk me out of it.” John left the room.
Hetty thought again about rising and asking one of the staff to stop her brother from his task. She didn’t want to see the doctor, mostly because she didn’t want to have to confess what she’d done to get herself in the condition she was in. It would be another thing to have her family add to the list of grievances they already had against her.
Before she could make the attempt, her maid returned with her meal. “Miss, I wanted to tell you earlier, but didn’t have a chance—“
“Tell me what?”
“That Mr. Fortescue from the university is here. Downstairs. With your father.”
“Laurence is here? Right now?” Hetty’s hand went to her hair immediately to check how she looked. Her heart in her throat, she flung the blankets back.
“Miss, you can’t go down there like this.”
“Then help me ready myself.”
“Beg your pardon, Miss, but your brother told me to be sure you stayed in that bed and ate your dinner.”
“But you’re my maid. You must do as I say.”
Mary didn’t have to respond to that as John returned at that moment.
“I heard what you said and under no circumstances are you to go down there. Their conversation has nothing to do with you.” He looked at Hetty slyly. “And besides, didn’t you tell me a few minutes ago that you’re not interested in the man?”
“He’s a caller, that’s all. I should be down there to help Father entertain.”
“You’re in no condition to go downstairs. Doctor Waverly will be here any moment.”
“Did someone say my name?” An elderly man with a shock of white hair and bushy mustache came in the room.
Hetty let out a deep sigh. Now she would never get to see Laurence.
Chapter Two
The next morning, Hetty’s head still ached and she was abnormally hot, but the vision issue she was having seemed to have corrected itself overnight. Maybe it was the laudanum Doctor Waverly had been generous with. Lord knows that drug was a Godsend.
She was still a bit put out that she didn’t get to see Laurence Fortescue. John was right. She was in love with the man, but he never seemed to notice her. He was too involved with his experiments and books. To say nothing of his students.
Not for the first time she wished girls were allowed to attend university. Why did men always get to do everything and woman were supposed to be happy doing needlepoint and gossiping over Naples biscuits like that Mr. Nutt made at his confectionary shop?
Dressed in a morning gown of pale green, Hetty made her way to the small dining room to join her father for some breakfast. She hoped to catch him before he left for his laboratory.
Opening the door, she stepped inside to find her father seated at the head of the table near where the buffet was laid out. His wife, the lady she and her brother had called Mama since the day she married their father, was filling her own plate with toasted bread and kedgeree. She’d introduced the recipe to their cook from her own family’s tradition brought back by her Scottish uncle who’d served with his regiment in India.
“Good morning, Hester,” her mother said. “I hope you’re feeling better this morning.”
“Thank you, I am.” Hetty filled her own plate and sat beside her father. “Why was Laurence Fortescue here last night? John said he’d come to call, but it seemed late for company to me.” She hoped her father was in a talkative mood since he sometimes was taciturn in the mornings before he was fed.
“He wanted to propose—“
“Propose?” Hetty’s voice came out in a squeak. Could it be? Had be really noticed her at last?
Her heart soared for a split-second until her hopes were dashed when her father said, “Yes, to propose to bring some of his students to the laboratory next week to see what I’m working on. He also wants to call in there tomorrow to show me his latest findings.”
Hetty took a bite of her bacon and chewed on it for a few moments, trying to work up the nerve to ask to be invited along as well.
She needn’t have worried. Her father smiled. “I imagine you’ll want to come? I know how much you love—” He took a sip of his tea and Hetty almost gagged on the piece of meat in her mouth thinking he would say Laurence, but he said, “my laboratory.”
Relieved that truly not everyone in England knew she loved the Oxford man as her brother had intimated, Hetty swallowed the bacon. “I do, you know. It’s a wonderful place full of things I’m interested in.”
“You mean things you can get into.” Her father smiled at her as if indulging a naughty child.
This was one of the reasons she didn’t ask to go often. It always made her want to stomp her foot in frustration. She liked to think she was as competent as any male, but the men in her life didn’t seem to agree.
She swallowed her pride in the interest of seeing Laurence. “I do want to accompany you, Father. I promise not to interfere with any of the experiments if I’m allowed to observe.” It took all the resolve she could muster to say the words. To be the docile daughter she knew her father expected her to be.
“Run along then and make yourself ready. I’ll have the carriage brought round.” He stood and placed his napkin beside his plate. “We will leave promptly so be at the door in fifteen minutes or risk being left behind.”
Hetty fairly flew out the door, up the grand staircase to her room. She grabbed her reticle and coat and dashed back down the hallway and to the front foyer. Taking a seat in one of the gold and blue chairs lining the corridor, she waited patiently for her father to appear. She was not going to miss her chance.
When he came down, he laughed. “I see you wasted no time. Have I kept you waiting long?” He checked his timepiece. “No, I see, I’m on schedule. Would that the members of Parliament were as prompt as my daughter.”
“Thank you, Father. As my dearly departed mother would say, ‘Timeliness is a sign of a well-raised young lady.’”
“She was a wonderful lady herself. I’m grateful to the good Lord that he blessed me with two practically perfect wives.”
“What’s this about practically?” Hetty’s current mother asked as she came out of the morning room.
“Ah, my dear Penelope, you know you’re the best wife a man could have.” He leaned over and kissed his wife when she came to stand beside him.
Hetty loved watching them together since so many of her friends’ parents barely tolerated each other. She wanted a love like the one they shared. And her father was correct. He’d been lucky in love twice. How many men could say that?
Of course, his first marriage had been arranged and he chose his second bride himself so the odds of his current one being a love match were greater. Having parents who showed love and affection may have made Hetty a bit of a romantic, but she knew she could never marry a man she didn’t love.
How appropriate Laurence Fortescue would be as a groom, she didn’t know. She’d wanted to look him up in Burk’s Peerage, but hadn’t had a chance. And maybe, truth be known, she didn’t make the time because she was afraid he wouldn’t be there and then for sure it would be a lost cause.
“Are you coming with me, Hester, or are you going to dawdle here in the hall all the day?”
She shook herself out of her reverie to see her father tugging on his grey kidskin gloves. The butler stood beside the open
door. “Yes, sir. I’m ready.” Hetty pulled her own gloves from her reticle and put them on.
“Have a wonderful day, dears,” her mother called out.
The footman handed Hetty into the carriage and her father followed, seating himself on the right as was traditional.
As the conveyance moved down the road, closer and closer to the rooms where her father had his laboratory, Hetty’s stomach clenched. She tried to hold her hands still in her lap, but ended up wringing them together as she attempted to hold herself together. The excitement of getting to see Laurence again was almost too much to bear.
“Are you all right, Hester? You seem agitated.” Her father covered her hands with his huge one. “Should I have Baxter turn around and take you home?”
“Oh, no. I’ll be fine. I’m merely excited to see what kind of new experiment Mr. Fortescue has to show you.”
“I am too, my dear. He is a right smart young man and I admire his brain.”
Hetty didn’t want to tell her father what she admired about the man, but she was sure she flushed as she thought about his pretty green eyes and the way they were usually hidden by his spectacles. He also has a fine leg and turned out well in his breeches. Not that she was looking of course. She was too well bred for that.
“I say, you really do seem ill. Your face is red and even your neck is flush. I know Doctor Waverly said you’d recover from the effects of the lightning strike but perhaps you are out of bed too soon.” He rapped on the roof with his cane. “I’m taking you home. There will be other trips to the laboratory.”
This was a tragedy. She had to see Laurence. “No, Father, I’m fine.” She peered out the window. “Look, we’re almost there.”
The carriage stopped. Her father stared at Hetty for a few moments. “If you feel ill at all, do you promise to tell me immediately?”
She nodded vigorously. “I will. Please let’s go on.”
Her father rapped the roof again and the horses moved on. “If I see one sign that you’re not yourself, we’re going to return to the house. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.” Hetty held herself as still as she could. She wasn’t going to give him a chance to take her away so she couldn’t see Laurence.
The rest of the way, Hetty’s father kept looking down at her as if assessing her condition. She wished he would stop. It was unnerving. Was he trying to provoke her into the very kind of behavior that would send her home?
Finally, the carriage stopped at the entrance to the building where the laboratory was located. Her father owned the entire thing, but only reserved a couple of rooms for his own use. The remainder he allowed the university to use as premises for students to live. It was very close to Exeter College so there were a number of seminary students residing there.
Many of them had tried to flirt with her whenever she was there with her father. They were all too serious though and she didn’t think he father would allow her to entertain the courtship of a vicar even if such a thing had ever crossed her mind.
Baxter opened the carriage door and her father exited. He turned and handed Hetty down.
When she was on solid ground, she took a step toward the entrance of the building.
A man came dashing down the street with his black cloak flying out behind him. He ran pell-mell toward them and before she could react, he slammed into her, almost knocking her off her feet.
“Oh, dear. I am so sorry, Miss Hale,” Laurence Fortescue said as he steadied Hetty and prevented her from falling. “I was in such a hurry to be here for your father’s arrival, I behaved in quite a frightful manner.” He adjusted his spectacles where they’d gone askew on his nose. “I hope I didn’t harm you.”
Mr. Hale stepped forward. “Goodness, Mr. Fortescue, you sure gave us a jolt, Hester in particular.”
“I will never forgive myself for upsetting either of you.” He doffed his hat which took some juggling due to the box he carried. He’d never tell the Hales, but he really was glad he’d only scared them a little, but was able to save what he carried. That wouldn’t be a nice thing to say at all.
Proud of himself for not stating anything inappropriate since that was one of his biggest sins according to his lady mother, Laurence indicated the door with the hand that still held his hat. “Could one of you hold this while I open the door?”
“Nonsense. I have the key right here.” Mr. Hale dangled the key from a fob. “I’ll open it.”
“Isn’t Mr. Johnson here, Father?” Miss Hale asked.
“No, he’s had a bout of the gout these last days and is laid up in bed.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Mr. Hale. I wanted him to see this as well. Your laboratory assistant has been invaluable in his advice.”
Mr. Hale opened the door. “Come inside and show us what you have in the box. I know I’m interested.”
When the three of them were at one of the tables, Laurence set his treasure down. “If you’ll remember, Mr. Volta invented the battery.”
“Yes, yes, we both know that,” Miss Hale said.
Laurence was a bit shocked that the young lady knew about Volta. True, she spent a lot of time in the laboratory, but he thought it was merely the fascination with something new and different. She always seemed to be touching the equipment, but he’d thought she was doing so in order to impress her friends with the oddity of science. Or maybe she was even there to be admired by the men who lived on the premises.
She was a comely miss after all. All that blonde hair and her bosoms were always pleasantly displayed in her gown. Some men might find them a bit large for the style of the day, but he thought they were nicely rounded. When he thought about them at all, that is.
Refocusing his attention on his new discovery, he placed a battery on the table as well as a compass. Lastly, he added a piece of wire.
“What’s this then?” Mr. Hale asked.
“Something interesting I discovered. I believe electricity and magnetism are related,” Laurence said.
“Show us what you mean.” Miss Hale leaned forward so far her bosoms were almost on top of the table.
Laurence realized she was standing on her tiptoes in order to see.
“Would you like a stool?” he offered.
“Thank you, yes.” She smiled prettily at him.
“Get on with it, sir. I want to see what you discovered.” Mr. Hale was becoming impatient so Laurence grabbed the closest stool and refocused on his equipment.
“Watch this.” Laurence suspended the magnetic needle of the compass and hooked the wire to the battery. Placing them in close proximity, the electricity from the battery moved the needle of the compass. “See how that worked? It must mean electricity and magnetism are related.” He couldn’t suppress the excitement in his voice.
Mr. Hale leaned forward and watched with what appeared to be keen interest.
Laurence cast a glance at Miss Hale. She was also fascinated. Who would’ve thought a woman would be excited about science? Sure, she’d been to the laboratory many times, but did she really even understand the significance of what she was seeing?
“Do you see what this means?” Mr. Hale asked.
“I think so, Father. This is a major discovery. Everyone always thought the two things were separate and unrelated.”
“I was asking Mr. Fortescue, Hester.”
Laurence watched the interaction between father and daughter. How could the man discount what she said as if it were unimportant? She actually had a point. This was a major discovery. The poor girl’s face fell as if she were a small child being chastised for stealing a sweet from the confectioner’s shop.
Laurence responded to Mr. Hale. “Yes, I do recognize that this is a great new connection to have discovered. I’ll be writing a paper on it. Would you like to assist me?”
“I would love nothing better. This is extremely exciting.” Mr. Hale walked around the laboratory as if lost in thought.
“May I ask you a question?” Miss Hale spoke where she’d remained
beside him.
“Certainly. What can I explain to you?”
“I was struck by lightning last night—“
“What?” he asked.
At the same time her father said, “Let’s don’t talk about that. We want to keep that a secret. People will talk.”
“But Father, I wanted to ask Mr. Fortescue a question about it. He’s obviously interested in electricity and he might have some information to share about it.” She turned to face Laurence. “See, I tried—well no—I actually succeeded— in recreating Mr. Franklin’s experiment.”
“Succeeded too well if you ask me. She was a fright last night when she came in. It’s best forgotten.” Mr. Hale returned to the table and stood beside his daughter. “Perhaps it’s time to leave. If you can’t sit by and watch without interfering, that is.”
Again, Laurence thought Mr. Hale was being too harsh with his daughter, but it wasn’t for him to say. After all, the man allowed him to use his laboratory and even bring in some of his students from time to time. He must stay respectful and allow the man to discipline his daughter as he saw fit.
“Thank you, Father. I will remain quiet.” Miss Hale sat on the stool and removed her gloves. Funny how he hadn’t noticed before that she still had them on.
Sitting quietly with her hands folded in her lap, she looked like she wanted to say something but was holding herself to the standard her father set.
Laurence felt sorry for her for a moment, but was soon involved in talking to Mr. Hale about the intricacies of what they would put in their paper on the subject. He forgot all about her until he finally looked up from a drawing he’d made and saw her still in the same position with what appeared to be tears in her eyes.
Surely the girl wasn’t crying about being left out of the discussion? After all, even though she’d seemed to understand the experiment when he’d shown it earlier and she’d heard of Volta, she couldn’t really be interested in science, could she? Did females like that kind of thing? He had no idea.
“I think it’s time for us to go. I’m sure Penelope will be expecting us for the midday meal.” Mr. Hale held out his hand to shake Laurence’s. “I hope you’ll come to dinner tomorrow night. We can continue our discussion on our paper after the ladies adjourn.”
Lightning Strikes Twice (The Heart of a Hero Book 4) Page 2