Murder on Charles Street - Leighann Dobbs Page 0,2
she’d worried that perhaps retirement didn’t suit him. Why else would someone be out in the bitter cold, fussing over hibernating plants?
“If you had more patients, you’d have less time to mull over old problems. I’m certain you’re second-guessing yourself. I do it myself from time to time.”
Katherine was an earl’s daughter and thus, had kept it a secret from her neighbors that she had a knack for investigation. To openly admit to a profession would reflect poorly on her family, especially the far-less-esteemed profession of detective work as compared to the matchmaking most of society believed to be her strength. Truthfully, Katherine abhorred matchmaking. It wasn’t that she disliked love—her sisters, her dearest friend, even her parents were shining beacons proving that love matches did exist. But how could Katherine arrange for other people what she didn’t want for herself? Investigative work challenged her mind far better.
After all, she had been trained in the art ever since she was a child, trotting along at her father’s heels during his investigations. If high society learned that her father was a detective, she half expected he would be labeled an eccentric, but not shunned. Like many things, Katherine was held to a completely different standard.
“You must be lonely.”
Dr. Gammon grunted, dismissing the notion out of hand. Katherine pressed her lips together so no other wayward thoughts escaped from between them. She hadn’t meant to project her own fears onto him. Her life was very different living in a house with only Harriet than when she had lived in a bustling townhouse in Mayfair. But despite the change, she enjoyed it. She was finally seizing her independence, something she had wanted for half of her life.
“I’m not lonely.” He turned Emma onto all fours on his lap and stroked her gently around the ears. His eyes, solemn in his craggy face, met Katherine’s. “My housekeeper, Mrs. Campbell, comes in every other day. In fact, she was here earlier.”
A woman who came into work every other day might make Harriet’s life easier. Not to mention, having something edible in the house would be a welcome change. Katherine opened her mouth, but the doctor continued as he stroked her dog.
“And James visited me earlier today. Have you met my son?”
Katherine pressed her lips together and shook her head.
The furrows in Dr. Gammon’s forehead deepened. “Well, I’m sure you will before long. He comes by frequently. You must have seen Dr. Sumner…” At the blank look on Katherine’s face, Dr. Gammon raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know Dr. Sumner, either, do you?”
Katherine shook her head.
Dr. Gammon sighed. “It’s of no import. He was my old partner when we practiced medicine together. And he…” Dr. Gammon’s gaze traveled toward the place where he deposited his sheaf of papers. That old patient must have been treated by Dr. Sumner as well. “It’s of no matter. Even if they weren’t around, I assure you I have an active, fruitful life.”
She wanted to believe him, but the way he seemed preoccupied with those papers disturbed her. “That old mistake you mentioned?”
He passed his hand through the air as if raising it from the past. “Never you worry about that. I’m not ready to sit around crying over old times just yet. I promise you, Lady Katherine, I enjoy my life, and I look forward to what every day brings me.”
“I’m gratified to hear it.” She bit her lip. “What of Emma? Do you think she’ll recover?”
Dr. Gammon patted the dog’s rump. “I don’t see any reason why not.”
The relief that surged through Katherine was palpable. She sank back into the soft cushions of the sofa and took her first deep breath since arriving. “What should I do?”
Dr. Gammon chuckled under his breath. “For one thing, keep your notes on a higher shelf.” He stood, groaning before he set Emma down on the seat he’d just occupied. Without so much as a tail wag, she curled up and tucked her nose under one paw.
“Let me find her a pill. She’ll need to purge one way or another, and then she’ll be good as new. I should have a small enough pill around here somewhere.”
As he shuffled off, Katherine got to her feet and collected her dog. She followed in the physician’s wake as he led her through the house to his study, a room not far from the parlor. As he rummaged among the herbs and medicines he kept on hand, Katherine cradled her dog. “About Mrs. Campbell…”
Dr. Gammon grunted