The Irish Healer by Nancy Herriman

Author:Nancy Herriman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781936034789
Publisher: Worthy Publishing
Published: 2012-02-27T05:00:00+00:00

“I’ve instructed Joe to send Janey’s surgeon a note, Miss Dunne, telling him about using a comfrey poultice.” A twitch endeavored to turn into a smile at the corners of Dr. Edmunds’s mouth.

Rachel paused on the pavement while Mrs. Mainprice and Peg climbed into the hired carriage that would take them to Finchingfield. “You have?”

“Indeed.”

How surprising. “I just hope she gives it long enough to work.”

“We both expect otherwise though, don’t we?”

Lightly touching her elbow, he guided her into the carriage and shut the door, tipped his hat, and strode off.

Mrs. Mainprice watched their interchange with interest. “The master surely enjoys talking with you, miss. More than he ever did with Miss Guimond, ’tis certain.”

Rachel blushed. “He is just very kind.”

“Aye. That he is, and wise of you to notice.”

How could I not?

Rachel settled onto the seat next to Peg, already attempting to doze. Dr. Edmunds climbed onto his mare and gave last-minute instructions to the coachman. Joe watched from the curb; he’d promised that today he would post Claire’s money to Ireland. Rachel had included a note telling them to wait until she could be certain the threat of cholera had passed, delaying their reunion. A necessity, she supposed. Molly, who had roused herself, joined Joe on the pavement. Together, they waved off the carriage before the sun had done more than paint the sky a purple dark as the heart of a fresh bloom of hound’s-tongue.

They set off as fast as traffic—heavy even at this early hour—would permit. For many minutes, they traveled along the long, green expanse of a great park—Hyde Park, Mrs. Mainprice informed her—then veered away from it. Almost immediately, the jam of townhouses and shops gave way to gardens and orchards and spacious lawns surrounding tidy houses. A hill rose to their north, the former regent’s park to their south, and the sky stretched into the distance. Another flurry of development came and went, with its poorhouse and small factories, then suddenly they were in countryside and open air. Rachel sighed deeply, the past days’ tension exhaling with her breath, easing from her neck and shoulders. And all it took was the sight of some green . . .

“Ah,” she sighed again. Peg grumbled at her to raise the window and close the shade so they could sleep, which made Mrs. Mainprice tut at them both.

Dr. Edmunds rode up alongside. The rising sun cast a golden glow over his features, burnishing them. “Miss Dunne, you might wish to get some rest. It’s a long and tiring journey.”

“Told ya,” Peg muttered, quiet enough that only the occupants of the carriage could hear, and huddled into her shawl.

Rachel ignored her. “I am interested in seeing the sights, Dr. Edmunds. I doubt I could rest if I tried.”

“Pleased to be away from London?” he asked, guessing at her true feelings.

She smiled. “I am.”

“I thought you might be. Which is why I instructed the driver to skirt the city to the north rather than pass through it. A less direct route to Essex, but a more pleasant one.

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