Sleepless in Southampton by Chasity Bowlin
Chapter Five
Philippa didn’t breakfast below stairs but had a tray in her room. Rather than face Viscount Marchwood and his ridiculous proclamations of attraction to her and his assertions that he intended to approach her as an actual suitor, Sophie had elected to break her fast in Philippa’s chamber and keep her company during the morning meal. Dr. Blake was expected to call that morning before noon and Sophie found herself quite eager for his arrival. She was quite curious as to what he might have to say regarding Philippa’s condition.
“It’s so very nice not to eat alone. I hate to go downstairs for meals because it’s such a fuss and furor,” Philippa noted. “I tend to stay in my rooms as much as possible, though I daresay I will have to rethink that. It would hardly be fair to you, would it? Stuck in here with me as if you, too, were some sort of invalid!”
Sophie sipped her tea and shrugged. “I am your companion. My duties, pleasant as they are, consist entirely of keeping you company. It’s hardly a chore as you are a delight to be with. I am content to remain in your chambers as much as you like.” And that would certainly aid her in her endeavors to avoid a certain viscount with very strong opinions and a streak of unconventionality.
“We shall go out tomorrow,” Philippa declared. “I cannot wait! Sea bathing is truly the most invigorating thing I have ever experienced. Not that I have experienced very much. Have you ever been?”
Sophie shook her head. “No, I have not. I haven’t a costume for it.”
“Oh, I have an extra one, or Mother might have one that would fit you better. She never cared for sea bathing, but I enjoy it greatly. I find it quite invigorating. I never feel so well as I do after having indulged in the practice!”
It wasn’t her place to make the suggestion, but Sophie couldn’t help herself. “Then perhaps you should do it more than once a week.”
Philippa sighed heavily, her expression tightening. “Dr. Blake would not permit it. He worries even now that I may be overtaxing myself. I should hate to defy his orders when he has worked so very hard to discover the nature of my illness. I do hate it so when I disappoint him.”
There was something in Philippa’s tone that alerted her to the shocking fact that Philippa might have romantic feelings for her doctor. Both curious and alarmed, Sophie asked, “Is he terribly old and gruff… your Dr. Blake?”
Philippa’s answering blush was telling enough, even before she spoke. “Oh, no! Heavens no. He is quite young, perhaps a bit older than Henry though not by many years, I would wager. And he has a very pleasing way about him. I dislike the restrictions he has placed upon me, but I certainly understand the reasons for them. I can hardly hold him to blame for them. His recommendations are only for my well-being, after all.”
“And does he have a wife?” Sophie asked.
“No,” Philippa answered. “He is unmarried. He says that he is too devoted to his patients to have time for a wife.”
“What an odd thing to say,” Sophie noted. “How did that conversation come up?”
“We were discussing the possibility of my entering society and the marriage mart,” Philippa admitted. “He thinks it will be unlikely, at least for the next few years.”
Sophie rose and walked toward the window, peering out into the street beyond. There was a bustle of traffic though it was far less than what she was accustomed to in London. The pace of Southampton was much better suited to her nature than the bustle of the larger city. In London, she had often felt overwhelmed by the noise and the vast numbers of people. But she was at least somewhat free to roam and explore the city. For Philippa, her world was remarkably small and shrinking by the day. And this physician, this Dr. Blake, was the cause. If Philippa did have romantic feelings for him, it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise. She had no opportunity to meet any other eligible men and, now, it seemed the doctor was telling her it would be years before that changed. Turning back to her, Sophie said, “I can’t imagine what it’s like… to be forever waiting for your life to begin.”
Philippa dopped her head so that her chin rested against her chest for a moment. “That is precisely what I do… every moment of every day. I’m waiting.”
It was Sophie’s turn to let out a heavy sigh. “I’m terribly sorry, Philippa. I wish there was something I could do to make it all better for you.”
Philippa reached out and clasped Sophie’s hand. “Please do not feel sorry for me. I have so much when others have so little. My family has moved heaven and earth to try and make me well, and while my condition has only worsened, I have never been more certain in my life of how well I am loved. And now, I have you… a friend and companion to help me fill my days. It’s wonderful, Sophie. Really!”
“I am not glad that Lady Parkhurst is no longer with us. But I am very glad that the situation has led me here to you,” Sophie said with a sad smile. “I want nothing more than to make your days a bit brighter. We shall be the very dearest of friends!”
“Then let us ring for the maid and get you a bathing costume so that we can make our way to Hamble Common for some very bracing sea bathing tomorrow!”
Sophie had not yet seen such animation, such vivacity in Philippa. “I am quite pleased to see you so excited for this and to see you feeling so much better.”
Philippa smirked. “Do you know what would please me even more?”
“What is that?” Sophie asked, as she placed her teacup back on the small table beside the bed. There was something in her tone that gave warning she would not much care for the turn the conversation was about to take.
Philippa leaned forward, her eyes alight with rabid curiosity. “To know the truth of how you and Henry came to meet… and what the nature of your acquaintance really is. He’s quite different with you, you know?”
She didn’t know. How could she? But it didn’t matter how he was with others, despite the fact that she desperately wanted to know what Philippa meant by that. It only mattered that they were not suited for one another by virtue of their stations and expectations. “He was very helpful to me when I faced a terribly difficult situation yesterday. He singlehandedly saved my life and my reputation, I daresay. That is all there is, Philippa.”
“I hardly think he would agree with you,” the girl replied. “He watched you all through dinner… he could not take his eyes off of you. What I would not give to have a man look at me that way!”
“What way?” Sophie asked. Dismissively, she added, “You are likely making much more of it than there truly is.”
“He looked at you with complete adoration. He looked at you,” Philippa stated firmly, “as if you were the most beautiful, most charming, most intelligent, most articulate woman in the world. He looked at you, Sophie, as if you were everything!”
“One day, a man will look at you with complete adoration,” Sophie insisted, “But that is not at all how your cousin looks at me. I daresay, you shall meet a bevy of gentlemen at some point who will be vying desperately for your hand!”
“Yes, because I am the daughter of the Duke of Thornhill. Not because they find me beautiful or exciting or compelling. Sickly girls who are only slightly better than bedridden hardly inspire such devotion.” Philippa shrugged as if it mattered little to her, yet her disappointment was palpable.
“You will get better,” Sophie insisted. “But I must ask you, are you confident in the skill and knowledge of your physician?”
Philippa smiled. “I could not be more confident. You will see when Dr. Blake arrives. He’s so kind and so very handsome. He speaks to me with such compassion and such warmth that I know he could only ever have my best interests at heart!”
Sophie smiled, but she did not share Philippa’s certainty. She would reserve judgment until she met the doctor herself, but she held little hope that her regard would be as easily won.
*
In London, ifone wanted information one went to his club. In the country, one went to church. In Southampton, there was only one option available to Henry, and it was neither of those. So he went to the Pump Room at the Long Rooms Assembly where he might overhear any gossip about Dr. Blake. Gossip that was not intended for one’s own ears was the best sort of information, after all. If one wanted to know what was happening or to understand who the players in Southampton were, the Long Rooms were the place for finding out. For Henry, there was nothing he detested so much as gossip, but even he could not deny that it did occasionally have value. With that thought in mind, he braced himself and prepared for the onslaught of whispers and speculation that would occur when he made an appearance.
Entering the Pump Room, there was an immediate hush and then a low buzz that grew into a soft roar. His presence had been noted, likely because it was a very rare occurrence. No sooner had he stepped down into the room than an aging matron with a high-pitched and very shrill voice descended upon him.
“I say, Marchwood, I have not seen you in town for some time! Looking for a bride with a plump purse now that your uncle may be getting an heir out of his wife after all?”
Forcing a friendly smile, Henry reminded himself why he was there. “Not at all, Lady Hemsley. I am here simply to take the waters and enjoy the summer with my family.”
The old woman clucked her tongue. “How is your dear cousin, Marchwood? Poor girl. Such a sweet thing. How is she these days?”
It was a surprise that Lady Hemsley had broached the subject of Philippa’s failing health. Most people of his acquaintance tried to avoid discussion of the topic at all costs. “Not well, Lady Hemsley,” Henry confessed. “She suffers greatly, but my uncle has obtained a physician for her here in Southampton… Dr. Blake.”
“Dr. Richard Blake?” she queried.
“The same,” Henry replied.
Lady Hemsley’s lips thinned in an expression of obvious disapproval. “Your uncle has clearly not been in town for very long then. His choice of physician is quite unfortunate.”
Feigning surprise, Henry said, “I am very curious to hear more. I confess to having some concerns about the man myself.”
Lady Hemsley nodded, more to herself than to him. “Come to my home this afternoon for tea. I shall tell you what I know, but I am hesitant to speak of it here. He is not without support in society and those who do support him do so quite staunchly and vehemently. There are many here who would gladly carry tales back to him of any words spoken against him. He can be a formidable foe, Viscount.”
Henry couldn’t imagine why she would feel such concern to speak to him in any location. After all, Lady Hemsley was one of the most notorious gossips about and, as such, held a position of supreme power in society. Her late husband had been a powerful and well-respected man. She herself had the ear of Lady Jersey and they were known, despite their physical distance, to be dear friends. And she and Lady Parkhurst had been as thick as thieves. “Indeed, we shall discuss it thoroughly when I come for tea, then. And please, Lady Hemsley, allow me to express my sympathies for the passing of Lady Parkhurst. I know you had been bosom companions for some time.”
A tight and rather pained expression contorted her face for a moment. “We shall discuss that this afternoon as well, Marchwood. It is all part and parcel, you see?”
He was beginning to see. Had the physician caring for Philippa been responsible for Lady Parkhurst’s demise? Admittedly, the woman had been rather advanced in age, but she had always seemed to be in the very pink of health. In truth, that raised another question for him. Lady Parkhurst had hardly been infirmed, nor had she been particularly isolated. In truth, her need for a companion was very limited given just how active the woman had been in society. “Tell me, Lady Hemsley, were you aware that Lady Parkhurst had obtained a companion?”
“Oh, la, yes. I had encouraged her to do so! I cannot imagine what has become of that poor girl now,” Lady Hemsley said with a slight chuckle, as if a person’s fate weren’t hanging in the balance. “I had thought having another set of eyes and a sympathetic ear might help Lady Parkhurst not to feel quite so dependent upon the goodwill of the doctor. But how do you know about this companion, sir?”
“She is currently residing with my aunt and uncle. Miss Upchurch is now acting as a companion to Philippa. In fact, it was Miss Upchurch who prompted me to question Philippa’s care and to investigate Dr. Blake’s competence.” Henry wondered at the confluence of events which had brought them all together. Was it fate or merely a series of coincidences?
“I will see you this afternoon… and Marchwood, it’s best if you keep any inquiries regarding this physician as discreet as possible. Advise your Miss Upchurch to do the same. He has quite the temper. And bring her with you to tea. I’d like to meet this very perceptive girl!”
To that, Henry smiled but it was hardly an expression of amusement. “He is not alone on that score, my lady. I myself can be quite fierce when it comes to protecting those I hold dear.” Did he mean his cousin, Philippa, or was he thinking more of the lovely Miss Upchurch? It didn’t matter. He would protect them both. Though he was not a man given to anger and violence, the idea that someone might be doing Philippa harm, intentionally or otherwise, sparked a recklessness and an anger inside him that he had never known. Compelled to protect them both, Henry bid a good day to Lady Hemsley and headed for home. He needed a word with Miss Upchurch.
