at the Swan at seven. Mother can watch Ethan.”
She thought of everything. “Thank you,” he said. “Will you be coming to the spa later? I know Mrs. Denby was hoping for help with the Regatta.”
“I need to keep the shop open,” she said. Then she met his gaze, like the flash of a beacon far out at sea. “As an independent woman, I have responsibilities.”
“And your attention to them is admirable,” he assured her. She waited. He swallowed. Why was it so hard to speak his mind?
Abigail, forgive me for being a fool.
Abigail, I’m afraid to fall in love.
“Until tomorrow night, then,” he said and bowed himself out.
She did not meet him at the door that evening or the following morning, and disappointment rode his shoulders like a black crow on a fence. He was so eager for the board meeting, he arrived before the others. He watched as Greer, Lawrence, Ellison, Mrs. Kirby, and Mrs. Catchpole came in and took up their places, chatting amongst themselves. And he felt as if he truly drew breath when Abigail came in and sat at his right.
Greer convened the meeting then, nodding to each of his board members, then turning to Linus. “Doctor Bennett, tell us how your first few weeks have gone.”
He should have thought they’d want an update. “Things are going well,” he allowed.
They waited expectantly.
“If I may,” Abigail put in, drawing a paper from her reticule. “I helped at the spa while Mrs. Denby was on her honeymoon, so I was privy to some of the activities there. I took the liberty of compiling a few statistics.” She glanced at the parchment. “Since Doctor Bennett arrived, appointments have risen three hundred percent.”
Murmurs of appreciation passed around the table. Since there had been no physician and no appointments before Linus had arrived, he could not put much faith in the number.
“Once Mrs. Denby returned, attendance also tripled,” she continued, “and those who had planned to stay only a week have lengthened their visits.”
“Subscriptions are higher than they’ve ever been,” Mr. Lawrence added with a proud smile. “I project a very healthy dividend for the village if this keeps up.”
Mrs. Catchpole started applauding, and the others joined in.
“So we have more than enough money to lease Doctor Bennett a bigger house,” Abigail said as the sound faded.
Mrs. Catchpole blinked. Ellison and Lawrence frowned.
Greer sat straighter. “Doctor Bennett has only his son. What need could he have for a larger house?”
“Because he could expand his practice,” Abigail answered. She leaned forward. “Imagine—the entire village having access to as fine a doctor as our spa guests.”
Mrs. Kirby nodded. Ellison still looked skeptical.
“Only fair,” Mrs. Catchpole said. “Doctor Chance helped everyone. He had room at his house on High Street.”
Mrs. Kirby glanced to Greer. “There’s a fine house just up the street from Shell Cottage available for lease right now.”
“The owner?” Mr. Greer asked.
Her smile dimmed a little. “The Earl of Howland.”
Greer shook his head. “He’ll make us pay dearly. He always has.”
Mrs. Catchpole cleared her throat, bringing all gazes her way. “You probably know that the former earl has passed away. You didn’t hear it from me, but Mr. Pym, the magistrate’s man, came to ask me about staff for the castle. Seems the new earl means to take up residence with us for a while. I hear he’s far more accommodating than his father.”
Mrs. Kirby beamed. “The earl in residence? He’s still relatively young, quite handsome, and a widower who will be in want of a wife. He could be the making of us!”
“I predict subscriptions will soar yet again,” Lawrence said, grinning as well.
“It won’t be enough,” Greer predicted. And Abigail thought Linus was too cautious! “We have already agreed to pay for Mrs. Denby’s time without deducting anything from Doctor Bennett’s pay.”
“And Mrs. Tully’s time,” Abigail reminded him.
He grimaced. “Exactly so. Earl or no earl, we will be tight on funds for a while.”
“I would be willing to take a lower salary,” Linus put in. “With the understanding that I could keep what my village patients could afford to pay.”
Greer snorted. “Believe me, that’s little enough.”
“And we could rent out the cottage on the shore,” Abigail reminded him. “That should offset some of the cost as well.”
Greer cocked his head and studied Linus. “Perhaps if Doctor Bennett would accept a fifty percent cut in pay…”
“Ten percent,” Abigail argued before Linus could respond.
Greer narrowed his eyes. “Thirty.”
“Fifteen,” she countered.
“Twenty-five,” Linus said.
“I motion that Doctor Bennett take a twenty percent cut in