The Artist's Healer - Regina Scott Page 0,8

replied. He nodded to both of them. “Good day, ladies.”

Eva watched him out. “You’ve certainly set his back up.”

“Well, he sets mine up, so we are even.” She patted the bed beside her. “Come. Talk to me. Tell me of something beyond these walls.”

Eva came to sit, settling her lavender skirts about her. “I wish I had thrilling tales to share, but things have been quiet the last few days since we captured Harris. As far as we know, no one has broken into the castle.”

Castle How had seen a number of mysterious events the last few weeks—lights appearing in the window, strangers flitting through the Great Hall. All had now been laid at the foot of Mr. Harris, the French agents for whom he worked, and others who had since departed the village.

“Then you think the French will still land,” Abigail said.

“If they do, we’ll be ready,” Eva promised. “Mr. Greer will be exercising the militia three days a week starting tomorrow. James will take over when he returns. In the meantime, I’d feel more assured if we could find the remaining French agents.”

“So would I,” Abigail told her. “And I fear Doctor Bennett will not be up to the task. He simply doesn’t know a Regular from a stranger. And he’s more likely to argue logically than to take action.”

“Unlike you,” Eva said with a nod to her bandage.

“Unlike me,” Abigail said primly. “But I can promise you—I’ll be keeping an eye on Grace-by-the-Sea, and our new physician.”

~~~

Abigail Archer was certainly a redoubtable woman. Linus caught himself smiling as he walked to the spa that morning. His father had treated more gunshot wounds than any physician would prefer, and Linus had seen more than his share of soldiers begging for something to kill the pain. She bravely fought through. A shame that meant she sometimes fought him as well.

He didn’t like being a few minutes late, but at least no one was waiting for him, and his first appointment wasn’t until half past ten. He unlocked the door and ventured inside.

The quiet, the peace, settled over him like a warm blanket. Whoever had designed the spa at Grace-by-the-Sea had known exactly what he was about. One wall held windows looking down toward the cove and the sea beyond. The other walls, all the color of that sea on a clear day, surrounded the space with calm. Potted palms here and there whispered of warmer climes. The pale stone fountain in the corner promised a refreshing drink. Now, if he could just get that fountain to work.

The fluted basin still showed a faint circle of orange, marking where the mineral waters had once pooled, so he knew the pumping mechanism had worked at some point. No matter which way he twisted the little rod below the basin, nor how many times, the fountain would do no more than dribble water down the carved central stand of stone. A gurgling below suggested more waited. He had no idea how to free it.

Well, they’d hired a physician, not an engineer.

He was still tinkering with it when his guests began arriving.

The first two were gentlemen, Mr. Donner and Mr. George. They had started attending the spa when he had begun his post. Both had dark hair and ready smiles and dressed like London dandies. Neither required medical treatment, or at least not that he could see. They certainly had not approached him about any concerns. They seemed content to sit in the wicker chairs by the windows and wait for others to join them.

The next visitor to arrive made his way straight to Linus’s side. “Quiet this morning,” he mused, glancing around.

Linus smiled at his colleague. Doctor Robert Owens had appeared at the spa only the other day. Round face wreathed in wrinkles, short-cropped hair now white and thinning, he nevertheless exhibited an energy that Linus envied. Now he rubbed his hands before his tailored blue coat as if he couldn’t wait to begin work.

“I hope that it will be worth your time shortly,” Linus told him. “If not, I fear you’ll have nothing to tell the spa owner in Scarborough.”

Owens returned his smile. “Oh, no need to worry, dear boy. I’m learning all sorts of things at Grace-by-the-Sea. I’m sure my superiors will agree it was worth my time to visit to see how you all do things here.”

Perhaps as an example of what not to do at a spa.

Over the course of the next hour, Linus did his best to