The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner Page 0,93
doctor to take such an interest in the romantic life of his patient?”
“He has become somewhat protective of me since the baby, I think. Since what happened. I worry—I know—that he blames himself.”
Mimi put her arm around the other woman’s waist as they headed towards the front door. “Oh, Adeline, I was so very sorry to hear of your loss. I should have said something sooner.”
“Please don’t worry. Dr. Gray really shouldn’t worry, either. Especially now that he technically isn’t my doctor anymore.”
Now Mimi raised an eyebrow at Adeline in interest. “Really? When did that happen?”
“Just … a month ago? Maybe more?”
Adeline unlocked the front door and Mimi followed her in.
“So, like I said, there’s plenty of room upstairs, now that my mum has seen fit to move back home and leave me alone again. In fact, when we hopefully acquire that library full of books, we can store them here—I will surely still have space for them. Yours will be the second room on the right.” Adeline glanced at the grandfather clock at the end of the hall. “It’s not quite ten yet—would you like anything to drink before you head up?”
“I’d love that—mind if I go poke around while you’re at it?”
Adeline smiled and headed back to the kitchen, while Mimi entered the front drawing room to the right. She found a table lamp and switched it on, and immediately noticed the improvised window seat now almost sinking under the weight of all the books. Asleep on a pile of cushions was an adorable kitten with a brown-and-ginger coat. It reminded Mimi of the tabby she saw wandering around the gardens of the steward’s cottage whenever she took a peek over its old brick wall.
Perusing through the stacks, she retrieved a particularly tattered-looking book, then found another lamp next to the sofa. She switched the light on and, taking a seat, kicked off her heels to casually pull her feet up onto the cushion.
When Adeline came back, she brought with her two tiny glasses of sherry.
“Thank you, that’s so nice. I always have a nightcap with Jack when he’s in town. My fiancé.” Almost as soon as the words left her mouth, Mimi caught sight of the wedding photo on the mantel, looking still brand-new in its shiny silver frame. She couldn’t even begin to fathom the amount of loss Adeline had endured in just that past year.
“How are you doing, Adeline? I mean really?” she asked quietly.
Adeline sat down on the sofa facing Mimi. “I’m not sure. I’m not sure there’s even a word for how I’m doing. I do think that’s what Dr. Gray is worried about the most.” As Adeline spoke, she looked increasingly sad and confused. “No matter what, until now, Dr. Gray and I have always at least respected each other, even though we are different in so many ways. Being a man and a woman thrown together on opposite sides at work can be trying.”
Mimi laughed. “Yes, I know—I am about to pledge myself for life to someone who would cast Lassie in a movie over me if it would make him more money.”
Adeline laughed, too. “He sounds like a real charmer.”
“Oh, he is that. He’s this fascinating mix of little-boy vulnerability and fearless energy. He really makes me up my game. And I am no wallflower, as you could probably guess from my choice of career. But back to Dr. Gray and you—you said the word respect…”
Adeline looked down at the amber liquid in her sherry glass and swirled it about. “I think he is disappointed in me. In how I’ve been coping with everything.”
“Oh, Adeline, really, I can’t imagine that. I can’t imagine he would judge—a widower of all people.”
“But that’s just it—he, too, has suffered, and yet he keeps on going and listens to everyone else’s much smaller problems, and does it all with such wisdom and calm, almost too much calm if you ask me.”
“Not all the problems are smaller. And one never really knows what others do to cope—you’d be surprised. There’s coping and then there’s just getting through the night.” She saw Adeline look up quickly at this last remark, as if something was dawning on her, but Mimi now knew better than to press when it came to Adeline and Benjamin Gray. “And anyway, as far as I can tell, I think Dr. Gray feels nothing but the utmost respect for you. Even, perhaps, a little too much. Well, except for maybe your note keeping.”