The Reserved Doctor by Stein Willard & Stein Willard

Author:Stein Willard & Stein Willard [Willard, Stein]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2021-03-20T00:00:00+00:00

***

“The Duke of Kempton is here to see you, sir.”

Oliver looked up from the business brief he was reviewing. His initial idea had been to scan through his correspondence before he went up to bed for a short nap. The early morning combined with his visit to Geon had left him exhausted. The update regarding his investment in a chain of coal mines had held kept him longer than he had anticipated. He folded the document and set it aside. Everyone had heard about Percy Bannon’s misfortune, but even then the Duke’s visit didn’t make any sense to him. He had never formally met the Duke. The man was not known to mingle with people he saw as beneath him and his station. Thus, his visit was surprising.

A thought struck unexpectedly and Oliver’s face hardened. He reached for a quill and paper. After penning a short message he stood and handed the letter to the servant.

“Please have this delivered to the address on top as quickly as humanly possible, Jacob. You can show the Duke in.”

“Yes, sir.”

The duke was dressed in formal attire and his bearing was one of authority and self-importance. Lord Herbert Bannon, the Duke of Kempton was much older than him at fifty-five and as per the rumours had been quite a ladies man in his prime. Some still believed that he kept several mistresses. Percy had to have learned his philandering from somewhere.

“Your Grace, welcome.”

The duke nodded. “Mr Potts.” He hesitated briefly and Oliver thought he was going to turn around and leave. “Thank you for seeing me without prior notice.”

Oliver smiled and nodded. “Please, make yourself comfortable. Could I offer you something to drink?”

The man hesitated before he took a seat and again Oliver couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew why the man was here. “Brandy, if you have.”

Oliver poured them both a drink before he went to sit behind his desk. He sipped from his drink as he waited for the man to state his reason for the visit. The duke took a long drink and only then spoke.

“I assume that you’re aware by now about my son’s accident.” Pain flashed in the man’s eyes. “We’ve called on many doctors to examine him and give us a prognosis. To date, it is not favourable. He… my son might never regain the use of his legs.” Lord Bannon looked shell-shocked and Oliver realised that it was probably the first time that the man had uttered the words out loud and with that, the reality of the situation was beginning to set in.

“I’m sorry for the hardship your family is undergoing presently, Your Grace.” Oliver found that he meant it. It didn’t change the fact that Percy Bannon was an odious fellow, but not even he deserved such a fate. “Have they found the persons who are responsible?”

“Not yet, but we have people looking for them.” The man finished his drink and to Oliver’s annoyance rose to refill his glass. That was a privilege only reserved for his closest friends; not something he would normally permit a guest to do.

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