Page 65 of Tamed By a Passionate Lady
“Indeed,” said Dr. Brown, taking off his hat as he walked alongside her.
“I must admit, I forgot that you were coming today,” she said, gazing at him. “I am afraid that James has just gone for a stroll, outside of the grounds. But I can get someone to fetch him back…”
They were almost to the seats. Dr. Brown jumped a little when he saw Isabel, sitting there. The young woman was gazing at him, bashfully, from beneath her eyelashes. Her cheeks were bright pink.
Dr. Brown’s face coloured, too. He looked a little overwhelmed. For one full minute, he didn’t say anything. He just gazed at the young lady steadily.
Adaline couldn’t repress a smile. It seemed that Dr. Brown was as smitten with Isabel Montgomery as she was with him. She had never seen the doctor look so uncomfortable before, and he was clearly tongue tied.
He took a deep, ragged breath. “There is no need to fetch Mr. Townshend,” he said slowly, a sheepish smile on his face. “You have not forgotten an appointment.” He took another deep breath. “I was just passing by, on my way back from another house call, and I thought I might check in on how Miss Montgomery is doing…”
Adaline’s smile broadened. Her instincts were correct. Dr. Brown wasdefinitelyinterested in Isabel.
“Please, sit down,” said Adaline. “You can talk to her out here, if you like.” She paused. “I will go inside and order some tea for you both.”
The man nodded. “Thank you, Mrs. Townshend.”
Before she had even turned back to the house, he was walking towards Isabel. She watched as he kneeled in front of her, gently taking her hand in his. Isabel was so pleased, she looked as if she might faint.
“How have you been?” he asked, almost tenderly, his eyes sweeping over her face. “Have you tried the rub that I suggested at night?”
Smiling, she nodded. “It has given me great relief,” she said, her blush deepening. “I do not wake so very much in the night, now…”
He smiled, too. “I have other herbal remedies, which can ease the symptoms as well,” he said.
Adaline watched them for a moment longer, before drifting back into the house. Her heart felt full, and she was surprised that she almost felt like weeping when she watched them together.
It was the first flush of love for them both, she was sure of it. How it would play out was a mystery, of course. Isabel was still so very young and had her health issues as well. But it was promising. The young lady could do far worse than the handsome, charming doctor.
She recalled how sad Isabel had been, only a few short weeks ago, lamenting her lot in life. The fact that she might never have a husband and family. And now, everything had changed in the blink of an eye.
As she stepped into the house to order their tea, she thought it was amazing how things had changed for all of them.
She bit her lip. She didn’t know what James was going to say to Reuben today, or if he indeed was going to confront him about any of it. Her husband had urged her to be patient, but he had vowed that he would deal with him.
She swallowed down a pang of misgiving. She would have preferred that James hadn’t left the house, with his so called best friend. She didn’t know where this strong feeling had come from, but it was there, and it was real.
But it was too late now. They had already left the grounds, after all. She almost wished that Dr. Brownhadcalled in to see James; it would have given her an excuse to call him back. She took a deep breath. She just had to trust that her husband knew what he was doing.
***
After she had ordered tea for Isabel and the doctor, Adaline restlessly strolled through the house, from room to room, unable to settle to anything.
Eventually, almost as if her feet had a mind of their own, she ended up at James’ study. She opened the door, letting herself in quietly, gazing around.
It was colder in here than in the other rooms that she had just left. The study was on the north side of the house, which did not get as much sun. In addition, there was a large tree just outside the window, its spindly branches almost reaching to it, like spidery fingers. She had always felt a bit oppressed when she had come in here in the past. But it had been so infrequent that she had never analysed the feeling.
She walked around, slowly, noting everything. The large bookcase, stuffed to overflowing with James’ history and bird books. The large, mahogany desk, which he had been in the process of clearing. Her gaze rested on the contents of the table.
She gasped. The portrait was sitting there, right in the middle.
She approached it with trepidation, almost as if it was about to rear up and attack her.
The woman. The woman who had broken James’ heart, and almost ruined her own life in the process.
She reached out, picking it up. A pang of guilt shot through her. She shouldn’t be here, doing this. She shouldn’t be in this room at all. James was always so adamant that this was his private sanctuary, and she was trespassing…
She exhaled, slowly and steadily. That was the way it had been in the past, she reminded herself. It was different now. Her husband would not be cross with her for being in here anymore. He was a different man. A man who loved her, and was willing to share his life with her at long last.
