Because of Rebecca(7)

When they reached the suite door, Miss Davis stopped and looked at him apologetically. “I had better go in first and prepare Aunt Josephine that we have company. I won’t be but a moment.”

He found waiting in the hallway odd while she announced him, but thought better of it when raised voices came from the other side of the door. He tried not to eavesdrop, but when a high-pitched shriek sounded, he dropped the basket in the hall and burst through the door.

“Aunt Josephine!” Miss Davis exclaimed, kneeling before the woman on the floor. She patted her aunt’s pale cheeks quickly, but it did not rouse the woman.

“What happened?” he asked.

“She fainted.” Miss Davis looked at the maid who held an infant. “Charlotte, bring Lucas to me and hurry down and see if there’s a doctor near.”

“Yes miss,” the maid replied.

“I’ll go,” Jared said. “I know where Doctor Gordon’s office is. That’s where he’s likely to be on a Sunday afternoon if he isn’t at home.”

Miss Davis looked at him, their gaze locking for a moment, her gratitude evident for his assistance. “Thank you, Mr. Hollingsworth.”

He gave a quick bow and backed out of the room, reappearing with the picnic basket. He quickly set it inside the suite and left again.

“Charlotte, please get me a wet cloth,” Rebecca reached for Lucas, then set him on the floor next to her. “I don’t know why Josephine has these spells.”

The maid shot her a look.

“All right. I do know,” Rebecca admitted. “I just wish she wouldn’t overreact. What’s wrong with inviting Mr. Hollingsworth to our suite to have the picnic indoors? How can that be improper? Isn’t he the one taking a chance being alone with three females and a baby?”

Charlotte snickered. “That he is, miss.”

Josephine stirred and tried to sit up. “Oh my head,” she muttered. “What am I doing on the floor?”

Rebecca supported her aunt and helped her to the chaise.

“You passed out, dear. Just lay still until the doctor arrives.”

“Doctor! I don’t need a doctor. Why…Who is fetching him?” Josephine asked, glancing around the room.

“Mr. Hollingsworth ran to get Doctor Gordon for us,” Rebecca explained.

Josephine raised her hand to her head and moaned. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Kill you?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “Bringing a man you hardly know to our suite. Wasn’t it bad enough you accepted an invitation from him for a picnic without a proper chaperone?”

“But you were going to be there. What more of a chaperone would I need?” Rebecca asked, leaning forward and pulling Lucas away from the rocking chair where he tried to pull up.

Josephine moaned again. “I feel an attack of the vapors coming on.”

“Vapors?” a gruff voice barked, causing Josephine to stop in mid-swoon.

“I beg your pardon. Who are you?” she asked, her eyes enlarged at having a strange man enter their suite unannounced.

Rebecca watched her aunt closely as she got to her feet, surprised the woman didn’t faint dead away.

“Doctor Ancil Gordon at your service, Madame,” he answered. “What seems to be the problem?”

“My aunt is a very delicate lady, Doctor Gordon. She doesn’t take to excitement well,” Rebecca explained, bouncing Lucas on her hip. “She’s been suffering with headaches since we arrived in town a few days ago.”

“Are you prone to fainting?” Doctor Gordon looked over the rim of his spectacles.

“Not as much as she’s taken with the vapors,” Rebecca replied.

“Rebecca, I can speak for myself,” Josephine said tightly, accepting Doctor Gordon’s help to stand.

“Yes. You most certainly can,” Rebecca remarked. She turned and acknowledged Mr. Hollingsworth’s return with a smile. “Charlotte, help my aunt into the bedroom so Doctor Gordon can perform his examination.”

“Yes, miss.”

“Mr. Hollingsworth, let’s have our picnic at the table here,” Rebecca said. “Would you mind holding Lucas while I set out the food?”

“N—no, not at all,” he stammered, taking the boy from her.

“Good, we’ll be eating in no time,” she assured him, picking up the basket and placing the food onto the small dining table on the far side of the suite.

****

Once inside her bedroom, Josephine settled on the bed, never taking her eyes off of the doctor. She didn’t like doctors. Never had. And she despised the whole profession ever since that charlatan let her precious Mariah die.

“Your niece said you’ve been having headaches for a few days. Is that correct?” Doctor Gordon asked.

“Yes. Since we arrived in Jackson,” she responded.

“And where do you call home?”

“Memphis.”

The doctor nodded, and opened his worn leather bag.

“Did you suffer from headaches there?” He glanced at her over the rim of his spectacles again.

“Occasionally. I have a very full schedule. I do volunteer work in the local parish,” Josephine said. “The work can be tedious, but those of us who are more fortunate are expected to give our time to help those in need.”

“Do you always wear your hair pulled back so tightly in a bun?” he asked, digging in his bag.

“What does the way I wear my hair have to do with my ailment?” she demanded, shooing Charlotte away as the maid tried to fluff the pillows and make her more comfortable on the bed.

“Everything if you’re suffering from headaches as badly as you claim,” he informed her. “Are you always so high-strung? Your facial expressions indicate you’re suffering from tension. What do you find so worrisome?”

Indignation at his questioning prickled up Josephine’s spine. She clenched her fists and remained silent, looking away from this annoying man she’d met less than five minutes ago. What made him think he could read her so well?

“From the looks of you, I’d wager you wear the latest fashions in women’s undergarments, which isn’t advisable in this climate. Do you also wear your corset as tight as you coif your hair?”

“Well! Is that the way you talk to ladies?” Josephine leaned away as he tried to put a bell-shaped object at the high collar of her dress.

Stopping in mid-examination, the doctor eyed her over his spectacles. “It’s not just talk, Madame, its practicality. There is nothing wrong with you that a little softening of your garments, hair style, and demeanor will not cure.”

“I didn’t ask your opinion. I didn’t ask you to come here. I do, however, ask that you leave at once,” Josephine said, swinging her legs over the side of the bed and standing up as quickly as she could.

The sudden movements made her sway, and she found herself clutching at the doctor’s arms as he steadied her.

“Miss Josephine!” Charlotte rushed to her side.

“Hush girl,” Josephine snapped, staring into the doctor’s amber-colored eyes. The room seemed to spin, and her breathing became shallow as he slowly eased her to a sitting position on the bedside.

“I’d suggest you refrain from sudden movements until you loosen your corset.”

“Yes, doctor.” She swallowed hard and took a closer look at him. Despite his salt and pepper hair around the temples, he wasn’t as old as she’d first thought when he entered the suite.

“I’ll leave you a few packets of powders you can take if the headaches become too unbearable. But I’d recommend my other suggestions first.”

“Yes.” She slowly nodded. “I’ll consider your suggestion.”

“You do that. I’ll check on you later in the week.” He closed his bag.

Josephine watched him leave and then fell back on the pillows, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. Heavens above!





Chapter Four

Heat from the summer sun beat down upon their heads as the open Victorian carriage pulled up outside the manor house at Oak Hill. Rebecca stared in awe from beneath the shade of her parasol at the splendor of the large two-story home before her.

“Amazing,” she breathed, counting the windows on the upper floor. The house had two circular verandahs, one on each level.

“Did you say something?” Mr. Hollingsworth asked.

“I thought the Calhoun’s home was the most elaborate I’d seen, but Oak Hill is astounding,” she explained as the carriage slowed to a stop.

“Is that a fact?” He grinned. “Bigger isn’t always better, but the extra room is helpful when holding a ball or barbeque.”

“I can imagine the elegance of a ball given at Oak Hill.”