pulled out several small bags of dried and crushed herbs. “However, if he develops a fever higher than what he has now and you are unable to reduce it, send for me right away. Bathing in cool water will help to bring down a fever.”
Finally reaching the small bags she needed, she pulled them out of her satchel and looked up at Lottie. “I will need your kitchen to mix these up.”
“Oh, yes. Of course. Just follow me.” Lottie grinned. “Or the sound of crying.”
The three women walked to the kitchen.
Mrs. Monroe took the child out of Lottie’s arms. “I can spend the nights here with you, dear, and help so you can get some sleep.” Mrs. Monroe still looked flustered, and Rayne couldn’t help but wonder how much assistance the poor woman would actually provide. But then there was a lot to be said for moral support.
“I thought you had a nurse for the boy?” Rayne looked over at Lottie. “I need a cup or jar to mix this.”
Lottie reached up on a shelf over the stove and plucked a jar and handed it to Rayne. “Yes. We did have a nurse.” Lottie smiled and studied Rayne as she added various herbs to the jar. “Many of them, in fact. The last one lasted the longest, about two weeks. Carter never feels they are doing enough for our son.”
The three women looked at each other and laughed. Carter’s undying devotion to his wife and son was the subject of many chortles. Except as far as Rayne observed, the others in their group, Marcus Mallory, Lord Berkshire, and Nick Smith were all the same. It seemed the men who fell in love with one of the Merry Misfits of Bath—as they were all known—were good-and-well besotted.
Rayne had been drawn into the group of women and was thrilled to have female friends. For most of her childhood, with her devotion to studies, she hadn’t the time to develop relationships with other girls. Then, being the only female student at St. Bartholomew’s, and not widely accepted, there were no friends to be had there, either.
She mixed up the combination of herbs that would help the little boy and handed the jar to Lottie. “This should help, but I hate to tell you the best cure is time. It will run its course.”
“Thank you so much.” Lottie took the jar and placed it carefully on the shelf. They all walked to the door, and it appeared the babe had fallen asleep in his grandmother’s arms.
The silence was a blessing. “I am off to visit Lizbeth now. ‘Tis time for her monthly check-up.”
“I hope you can join us all for tea this week. I know you are busy, but you must take time for yourself,” Lottie said.
Time for herself sounded wonderful, but something quite elusive with her present in-house patient. “I agree. Physician heal thyself.” They were all truly wonderful women and she was so grateful to have met them. “Just send a note around when you have a day and time and if there are no emergencies, I will be honored to join you.”
The air had turned cooler, but Rayne still enjoyed the bicycle ride from the Westbrooke residence to see Lizbeth. As she sped by the houses between the two residences, she smiled at the memory of Lizbeth approaching her shortly after her marriage to ask for guidance.
Lizbeth had been kidnapped and sold to a brothel and was rescued by Nick Smith and Lizbeth’s now husband, Marcus. Although very much in love with her new husband, she was having a hard time with the idea of intimacy. Whatever Rayne had said to her had worked because only a few months later after a visit to her infirmary, Rayne was pleased to tell Lizbeth that she was with child.
Truthfully, Rayne was sure Marcus’s charm and seduction skills had much more to do with Lizbeth’s comfort with the marital bed than Rayne’s words.
Lizbeth’s examination went quite well, which was no surprise because the mother-to-be was a young and healthy woman.
“Rayne, I’m sorry, I know you are the doctor, but I am certain I am carrying twins. I still have three months to go and I’m big as a house.” Lizbeth rubbed her lower back as she settled into the settee in her drawing room, adjusting the necessary pillow against her back.
“As I told you, given all your signs, it is quite possible. However, I only feel one baby right now, but it’s possible that