Nathaniel considered her needs. If he and Timothy met her in a public place, it would be hard for her to have a private conversation. But he could not send the man to her house, apparently, without raising too many questions. As a single woman, she could not call upon Timothy at his offices. His admiration for Lady Heatherton, his respect for the baron, gave him every reason to want to help their family. But they had their own legal counsel, and surely that person would be consulted?
“Are you certain this is necessary? What of the baron’s solicitor?”
“Out of town,” she answered simply, lifting and lowering one shoulder, her face taking on a rueful expression. “I went by his offices today, between shops. He has been called to the country on a family emergency, I was told.”
“Oh.” That would cause her ladyship some anxiety, not knowing when she might expect help from legal counsel or having to find someone unfamiliar with her husband with which to work. “I see. Very well.” He took in a deep breath and released it slowly. “If you could arrange to be in George Street tomorrow, perhaps around ten o’clock, I could take you on a call to Mr. and Mrs. Olivier.” He gave her the house number.
“I will meet you there. Thank you, Doctor Hastings.” She released his arm and Nathaniel realized they were right where they had started their unexpected parade up and down the walk. “Good day, sir.”
“Good day, Miss Devon.” He finally tipped the brim of his hat to her. She smiled, curtsied, and went on her way. He stayed there, watching her walk with the same gracefulness he remembered from London. After the door to the townhouse shut behind her, he shook himself free of her spell and continued on his way.
One thought intruded on his desire to remain immune to her. Julia Devon remained as lovely as ever she had been, and therefore highly unsuitable to being anyone’s governess.
Chapter Eleven
A hired chair did not cost much in Bath when a single person wished to get around town. Though the address Nathaniel had given her was close enough to make the walk without trouble, Julia thought it best she not be seen wandering the streets alone, and at such an early hour. She did not wish to let anyone know her reason for leaving the house, in order to keep Virginia from worrying and Mr. Macon from meddling. She only told her maid she would be visiting a friend.
With careful planning, Julia managed to arrive precisely on time, and when the men carrying her chair lowered the box to the street, it was Nathaniel Hastings who opened its door and offered his hand to guide her out of it.
Though the contact was brief, and only a polite necessity, Julia’s heart skipped when her fingers touched his palm. Stepping close to him, she smelled the pine and soap scent that lingered on him. She reminded herself with great firmness that he not only held her in distaste, but he likely belonged to another.
He relinquished her hand and offered his arm instead.
“Good morning, Miss Devon,” he said, his rich voice warming her from the inside out.
Julia’s smiled up into his beautiful blue eyes. They looked on her with less disapproval and more concern today. She knew he cared about the Macon family, and his help today proved he remained a gentleman in every possible way.
“Are we expected?” she asked, peering up at the modest townhouse. The brick was darker and the front of the house narrower than her cousin’s home, but the street was clean and pleasant. “It is very early for visits.”
“Not at this house, and not for me,” Nathaniel said, leading her to the entrance. There were no steps or wide stoop here, only an entry directly off the street. “But I did send word, yesterday, of our coming on a matter of business.”
Grateful for his help, Julia nodded and used her free hand to tuck a wayward curl behind her ear. Nathaniel knocked and a young woman, dressed in the dark work clothes of a servant and wearing a starched apron, showed them inside. She curtsied.
“Good morning, Doctor Hastings, sir. The master and the missus are in the dining room and invite you to join them.”
“Excellent. Thank you, Maria.” Nathaniel led them into a hall. The maid helped Julia take off her outer coat and gloves, Nathaniel divested himself of his winter wear.
She checked her hair in a mirror near the entry, then glanced about her with some interest. The home was not half as grand as her cousin’s, but the entry hall was decorated in deep blues and greens, with a handsome portrait of a man and woman across from the mirror. They looked young, the painting new, and she wondered if these were her hosts. The staircase was near at hand, polished wood with a carpet runner of blue, and only a slight curve hid the landing from view.
Julia followed Nathaniel upstairs and into the dining room of Mr. and Mrs. Olivier. She stepped in behind the doctor, her heart in her throat.
Mr. Olivier and his wife stood when Nathaniel introduced her. Julia took everything in quickly, from Mr. Olivier’s fair curls and frown to his wife’s openly curious appraisal of her.
Julia self-consciously smoothed the front of her skirt as discreetly as possible. Had wearing her best walking dress for the occasion been the right thing to do? Her wardrobe, though nothing spectacular, did consist of finely made garments that bespoke some affluence in life. Would they think her unworthy of help, or dismiss her as a woman clearly out of her depth in these sensitive matters?
“Have you had breakfast yet, Miss Devon?” Mrs. Olivier asked, her curiosity gleaming behind a cordial expression.
“I have not,” Julia admitted, glancing sideways at Nathaniel.
“Oh, he always eats with us,” Mr. Olivier said, startling her with his deep voice. She had thought he looked more like a tenor than a bass. “You needn’t stand on ceremony here, Miss Devon. Please, have a seat and fill a plate. Though some think it bad form, I think discussing business at breakfast ensures it turns out right for all parties.”
Nathaniel chuckled at this odd pronouncement and pulled out a chair, gesturing for Julia to take it. Once she was seated, Nathaniel took the chair beside her, positioning him across from Mrs. Olivier and she across from the barrister.
“Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Olivier. And thank you for breakfast,” she added, trying to relax.
“I must confess,” Mrs. Olivier began, “when Nathaniel’s note arrived last evening, it was most cryptic. Do you mind that I stay while you explain matters, to satiate my own curiosity as well as for propriety?”
Julia shook her head, glancing from the barrister to his wife. “Not at all, Mrs. Olivier.”
“Good. Then let’s get on with it.” Mr. Olivier began to butter a roll with a great deal of energy, and Julia wondered if he was always zealous with his food or if it was the prospect of her conversation that gave him such animation.
“Nate didn’t tell us much in the note, only that he needed to bring Miss Devon to our home at ten o’clock in the morning to discuss a delicate legal matter. I cannot imagine you wish to bring a suit against anyone, or entail any possessions, and unless you are facing transportation, I cannot guess what brings you here.” He punctuated his little speech with a grin and a hearty bite of his food.
His easy manner made Julia feel more at ease instead of awkward. She sensed no lack of care in his manner, only a robust personality.
“If I ever do find myself being shipped to New South Wales, I will certainly apply to you for aid,” she said, trying to keep a straight face, though she appreciated the levity.
She caught Nathaniel staring at her, his expression betraying his surprise. Perhaps he did not think the situation merited any measure of humor. She bit her bottom lip and wondered when she would ever stop disappointing him.
Julia continued more seriously. “My need today is for some legal advice on a matter pertaining to another person entirely.”
“Who would that be?” Mr. Olivier asked, drawing her attention back to him. He looked interested, at least.
“My cousin, Lady Virginia Macon, Baroness of Heatherton. Her husband, the baron, is one of Doctor Hasting’s patients. I am afraid he
is not to be with us much longer. He has arranged for all the care of his worldly possessions to pass to his wife, as she is the trustee and guardian of the heir, his six-year-old son, until he comes of age. All of this has been settled very firmly, but the baron’s brother is determined to challenge the will.” Julia forgot her hunger, and that she even sat at a dining table, while she explained Virginia’s plight.
“My cousin’s solicitor is gone from town, and the baron’s brother, Mr. Macon, has been out to see a lawyer. Lady Heatherton is already overburdened with her husband’s care and loss. This act of her brother-in-law has placed a crushing weight on her and she does not know what is to be done.”
Mr. Olivier had stopped eating as she spoke and sat with his arms folded across his chest, studying her with half-closed eyes. “You have come here for advice on her behalf? Does she know you are here?”
Julia shook her head. “I did not want to worry her further or raise her expectations if there is nothing we can do.” She dropped her eyes to her plate, the weight of worry on her heart. “She is one of the kindest people I know, and I would do anything to help her in this difficult time.”
For a long moment, the room remained silent, and Julia wondered if any help would be offered.
“Please, have some coffee, Miss Devon,” Mrs. Olivier said at last. Julia looked up to find a cup being passed to Nathaniel, and he then held it out to her.
“Thank you,” she whispered, taking it from him. Her hopes were swiftly dropping.
“I see why Nate said the matter was delicate.” Mr. Olivier sighed and leaned forward in his chair, dropping his elbows onto its armrests. “Though wills are often contested, as most families have some amount of dramatic circumstances, matters of guardianship are not taken lightly, especially if a title is involved.”
Julia nodded solemnly and sipped at her drink, trying to focus less on her fears and more on the breakfast before her. Though she hadn’t eaten a thing, she did not feel hungry. Discussing Virginia’s difficulties with near strangers made her uneasy. Suppose they could not even help and she had betrayed a familial trust?
Nathaniel shifted in his chair, bringing his concerned expression to her notice. He had not touched any of his food yet, either. But he started talking, in a solemn tone.
“My understanding is that Mr. Macon is attempting to dismiss the will by questioning his brother’s state of mind during its writing. As the only witnesses to the will being changed were the absent solicitor, his secretary, and his wife, it is nearly a matter of the brother’s word against Lady Heatherton’s. How will this play out before the judiciary?” Nathaniel laid out the case more succinctly than she could’ve managed.
Julia looked askance at him, surprised he knew as many details as he did, and that he would assist her in explaining the situation. His loyalty to the Macons was commendable indeed. But what was more surprising was that he caught her peering at him and smiled.
It was a smile of encouragement and sympathy. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners lent truth to his countenance, no pity to be seen. She had not thought to ever receive such a thing from him again.
“Truthfully, without representation of some sort, Lady Heatherton could face a ruling without even being heard. Though she is a lady of title, once her husband passes on, her importance is greatly diminished. Her solicitor needs to be present to testify, or at least the secretary with other legal representation. That would lend her ladyship some credibility. I also think you ought to make a statement, Nate. As the physician you are aware of the baron’s state of mind. Do you think he was of sound judgement when he created the will?”
“Yes, I do.” Nathaniel’s firm answer heartened her considerably.
“If the solicitor cannot be brought back swiftly, then we could delay Mr. Macon’s ability to be heard. I will have to look into things when I go in to my offices, but I think it can be managed.”
Julia’s heart lifted. Olivier had used the words we and I. Did he intend to help personally?
“Should I come also, to issue a sworn statement?” Nathaniel asked.
“Later this afternoon would be best. By then I ought to have a better understanding of matters. You wouldn’t know which lawyer the gentleman went to see, would you?” he asked Julia.
She shook her head rapidly. “No. Do you want me to find out?”
He waved her offer away. “The legal world of Bath is surprisingly small. I will discover it myself.” He looked around the table at everyone and Julia saw that both his wife and Nathaniel were smiling at him. “Oh, stop it. Both of you. You know I enjoy a case where I get to swoop in like an avenging angel. We haven’t won anything yet, and we may get the whole thing dismissed before I can even get my wig on.”
Nathaniel chuckled and Mrs. Olivier reached out to put her hand on her husband’s arm.
“You are a good man, Timothy,” the woman said, her voice full of admiration.
“I concur.” Nathaniel turned his warm, friendly expression toward Julia, giving her heart another reason to flutter. “It’s a good thing you asked for help, Miss Devon.”
Julia nodded, a lump in her throat. “I very much agree.” She was not alone in her quest to help Virginia, and Mr. Olivier would know best what to do.
She owed Nathaniel her gratitude, which she freely allowed herself to feel, but Julia pushed away any deeper feeling his assistance caused. He could never see her as even a friend again. She would accept that, she must accept it, and move forward with her life.
Mrs. Olivier changed the conversation to more inconsequential things, and Julia found it easy to step back into more polite topics.
“Have you been able to take in any of the sights of Bath?” Mrs. Olivier asked.
“I am afraid I have been occupied with other matters. I have not even put my name in the famous book at the Pump Room,” she admitted, widening her eyes as much as she could manage. “Scandalous, isn’t it?”
Mrs. Olivier covered her grin with her napkin while her husband chuckled.
“Dear me,” the woman said. “You sound like a proper rebel, Miss Devon. I realize you are in town to help your family, but have you not sampled any of Bath society?”
“Aside from visiting the apothecary and other shops, the park a time or two, no. But it is for the best. I cannot feel it is appropriate to go out seeking entertainment when my very reason for being in town is serious.” Julia shrugged. “I couldn’t feel right about it.”
Mr. Olivier raised his eyebrows. “What do you normally do during the season? Does your family remove to London?” She saw him dart a quick glance at Nathaniel, but she could not say what it communicated.
“I have not been to London in several years. I usually spend the season at home, in Kettering.” Julia felt no shame in the admission, though once she had longed to return to London, if only to search out Nathaniel in a crowd and assure herself he remained well. But she would not have seen him, even if she had contrived to go back, since he went away to Scotland for his studies.
“Ah. I understand that is a lovely part of the country,” Mrs. Olivier said. “And I don’t blame anyone for not being in London. I find it overcrowded with people who think themselves above everyone else. I find Bath to be a more relaxed environment.”
“I completely agree,” Julia said without reservation.
“But now that we have met, Miss Devon, will you allow me to call on you and your cousin soon? I am not at all acquainted with Lady Heatherton, but it would be a privilege to come to know her. Do you think company would be welcomed or would it be best to allow more privacy?” she asked, and Julia sensed only kind concern in her words.
“I think you would be welcome,” she said. “Virginia does not have many friends in town. I am certain you both would like each other. And I should like to see you again.”
“Excellent."
The men began conversing about a political matter and before long the breakfast had been eaten and enough conversation had to make the visit a pleasa
nt social call as well as a business conversation. Julia went into the hall to receive her gloves and hat from the maid and Nathaniel followed close behind.
“Has this visit has set your mind at ease?”
Julia raised her eyes to peer at him, tugging her second glove into place. “It has done a great deal to help, yes. But I look forward to whatever else Mr. Olivier may discover.”
“Timothy is a good man. He will find a way to help.”
Julia paused, meeting Nathaniel’s understanding blue eyes. He stilled, having put his hat back upon his head, his hand staying on the brim. They stood frozen that way, perhaps no longer than a few seconds, but Julia felt her heart stir as she remembered the many times before she’d looked into his eyes.
“You are a good man too, Nathaniel,” she said at last, keeping her voice steady. She had not uttered his full Christian name in years, but doing so made her feel lighter, unburdened by formality and the loss of his good opinion.
He stared at her, brows drawn together. “Thank you.”
Though they were said with gentleness, those two words shattered Julia’s composure. She should not have used his Christian name. They did not, nor could they ever, have that kind of relationship again. He made that quite clear in the study.
She glared at her hand and gave her glove one more fierce tug, then turned away from him and hastily fled from the house. She did not even take another glimpse behind her, but walked at a brisk pace, forgetting her plans to go on to the shops or hail a carriage.
Her embarrassment and anxiety over her behavior spurred her on enough that she made the walk to the townhouse with more speed than ever before.
Chapter Twelve
Lady Huntington had asked Nathaniel to tea. She sent a card through her footman and made it clear, in her steady, bold handwriting, that this was a social call and not an appointment with her physician. He couldn’t imagine why the distinction was necessary, as most of his calls on her wound up being more conversational than medical in nature. But as she remained one of his favorite patients, he accepted the invitation.
The Gentleman Physician: A Regency Romance (Branches of Love Book 2) Page 11