The Healer's Potion: Historical Regency Romance Novel by Fanny Finch

Author:Fanny Finch [Finch, Fanny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Starfall Publications
Published: 2024-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Sixteen

Daniel

“Oh, I’m an idiot,” Daniel muttered to himself. Holding a cloth over his head, he breathed in the steam from the bowl. He’d used the herbs Arabella had left with him that morning. They were already helping to clear his lungs. Since she had left so hastily, he’d felt tightness across his chest. Holding himself so stiffly had plainly had a bad reaction on his lungs. “Breathe, you fool,” he murmured, bending further over the bowl.

“Daniel?” Marianne’s voice travelled down the corridor, moving closer to his chamber.

Daniel sighed, but didn’t respond to her right away. That afternoon, he realized what must have urged Arabella to leave so quickly. His mother had talked of a local witch. Such stories as this must give women like Arabella – local healers – a bad name.

That is the last thing I want to do.

He was already planning on assuring Arabella that he didn’t believe in such nonsense the next time he saw her.

“Daniel?” His mother tapped on the door with the word.

“Yes?” he called, flicking the cloth back round his neck as he lifted himself up from the bowl. The door opened and Marianne bustled in. Her eyes flicked down to the steam with apparent worry.

“Is it your lungs? Are they upsetting you?” She rushed across the room and reached for his shoulders.

“I’m fine, Mother.” He patted her hand in reassurance. “This is about management. That is what my…my doctor says.” He was so tempted to tell his mother the truth, but fearful of her reaction, he held back about who his doctor was. “What has you in such a flurry?”

“Our plans for tonight! Oh, Daniel, you are still feeling well enough to go for dinner, are you not? Miss Withers will be most disappointed if you do not come.” Marianne gushed and released his shoulder, clasping her palms together.

“Ah, I had quite forgotten about tonight.” Daniel stiffened in his seat. Feeling that tightness return, he breathed deeply and bent over the steam bowl again. “Must we go? We had dinner with the Withers’ family not that long ago.”

“And they have invited us again. It is a kindness, dear,” she reminded him good naturedly. “Besides, I believe Miss Withers has formed quite an attachment to you. Would it be so wrong for me to hope that something could come of it?”

“Yes!” Daniel said swiftly, standing from the bowl. “I’m afraid whatever attachment you hope for between Miss Withers and I must be forgotten. I could not consider the woman as anything more than a friend.” He circled the table where the bowl of hot water was placed, trying to put distance between him and his mother, but she followed him.

“You have not spent much time with her,” Marianne pleaded, “you cannot rule her out entirely. It is merely that you do not know much about love, dear. Not yet. You might be surprised when you do feel the pangs of it someday.”

Pangs…

There was something in the word that shook Daniel to his core. He faltered, not quite walking away from his mother anymore.

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