The Doctor and the Libertine - Callie Hutton Page 0,29
had precipitated Father’s summons. No doubt the man either visited Father or sent a peevish note.
“Dr. S'evens, Mrs. Foster said I could 'elp 'er in 'he ki'chen if i' is accep'able 'o you.”
Rayne cringed and smiled at the same time as Glory came bouncing into her small office. The child was a delight to have around, although Rayne had not decided what to do with the girl. Very telling was the fact that Glory never once asked for anyone or requested to be sent home. Or whatever situation she considered home.
She’d gotten some dresses for Glory from the church and bought a few things herself for the child, mostly underwear, shoes and stockings. She had also thrown in a pretty ribbon that the girl cherished. It had been rather fun to buy small articles of clothing for a child. It made her think of how it would be if she were to be a mother herself.
“Yes. You may help her, as long as you don’t get in her way, or do anything she doesn’t tell you to do. There are many things in a kitchen that could harm you.”
“’Hank you mum.” She raced off before Rayne barely got the words out. She really must see about enrolling Glory in school. Her language left quite a bit to be desired. One more thing to consider where the girl was concerned.
Edwin limped into her office, leaning on his cane. “I was able to collect on two bills.” He dropped the invoices marked ‘paid’ on her desk.
He still wore his hat and coat and she had to admit he looked rather dashing. She had seen no evidence of him imbibing in brandy. If he did it at home, it was not enough for him to show the results when he arrived each day.
She leaned back in her chair and regarded him. “I need to decide what I am going to do with Glory.”
He shrugged out of his coat, removed his hat, and placed the items on a chair in front of her desk, and gently lowered himself into the other one. “No luck in finding family for the girl?”
“Family? From what we saw when she arrived here whatever family she had is not worth looking for. What puzzles me more than anything is her lack of requests to return to whatever people she’d been living with.”
“Have you asked her about that?”
“I tried. But every time I bring it up, her little body stiffens, and she finds an excuse to leave the room. We saw the bruises on the poor girl’s body. Even if there is family out there, I doubt I would turn her over to them. In fact, I’m quite sure she is terrified that we might return her.”
Edwin studied her for a minute. “Does the law allow for that? Will you get into any sort of trouble if you keep her?”
“I don’t know. But I can’t help but think the authorities wouldn’t care about a small child of the streets and would be more than happy to know she is now well-fed, safe, and looked after.” At least that had been the theory of which she’d convinced herself. As a doctor she’d recorded all the signs of neglect and abuse the girl presented when she arrived in the arms of the man who thought enough of the girl to at least take her to the infirmary.
“It might not be a bad idea to consult with a solicitor. Do you have one? If not, I can recommend mine.”
“Actually, Carter Westbrooke is a solicitor.” She noticed how Edwin’s entire manner became uneasy any time Carter or Lottie were mentioned.
Perhaps it was time to address that issue with Edwin since with their growing friendship he was bound to run into the Westbrookes occasionally.
“You really should approach Mr. and Mrs. Westbrooke and make your peace with them. They are lovely people and I know they would forgive you.” She shuffled the papers she’d been working on and placed them into the middle drawer of her desk, ready to check on her patients and administer necessary medicines.
Edwin leaned back in the chair and studied her.
’Twas a good thing that he felt guilt at what he’d done. Maybe her faith in him wasn’t misplaced and he truly did want to repent his ways.
“I must admit that was the all-time low of my life when Westbrooke came to my house to discuss Mrs. Westbrooke, who was his betrothed at the time. It was the morning after a rather