Lavonia’s eyes roved over the words until her mind was no longer upon them. Her father had said that though Song of Solomon seemed to be a romantic book on the surface, he believed it was an expression of love for the country of Israel rather than for a person. Yet as she read, Lavonia could think only of William.
She decided to try another passage. This time, she deliberately placed her thumb two thirds of the way through her Bible, knowing the page would fall in a Gospel or an epistle. As it opened, her eyes fell to Matthew 19:4: “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Where-fore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
Stifling an agitated breath, Lavonia couldn’t help but wonder if God was trying to tell her not to give up, that William indeed was the one He had chosen for her.
A cough from Katherine caused her to abandon her musings. “My,” she said, fanning smoke away from her face, “I do not mean to be ungracious, Luke, but the aroma from your pipe is not quite so pleasant today.”
“I must agree,” Helen said. “What do you think, Lavonia?”
“I have been too absorbed in my reading to notice until now.” She took a deep breath, which resulted in a sudden coughing fit.
“Does that not answer your question?” Helen asked.
“Je s’excuser,” Luke apologized. “This is not my usual tobacco. A friend brought a jar of this blend from abroad. The blend is Turkish, and reputed to be of fine quality.”
“It does not smell as if it is of fine quality,” Helen noted, fanning smoke away from her face.
“Perhaps it did not travel well.”
“Oui!” Katherine agreed before launching into a fresh fit of coughing. Rising from her seat, she begged their pardon and exited.
Noting that her sister’s face had turned sanguine, Lavonia was worried. “Let me see how she is.”
She found Katherine in the kitchen. Betsy was shooing her out, although she had provided the girl with a glass of water.
“Feeling better, now?” Lavonia asked.
Taking a sip of water, Katherine shook her head. “Not very. My throat is clogged, and now I feel as though a head-ache is well on its way.”
Lavonia was about to answer when she saw the cat rubbing against Katherine’s dress. “Scat!”
“Must you frighten the poor cat?” Placing her glass of water on the dining room table, Katherine knelt down and, in an uncharacteristic show of affection, rubbed Snowball’s white fur. Within moments, Katherine began to sneeze. Rising, she patted her nose with her kerchief.
Lavonia remembered the advice William had given her sister. “Did the doctor not tell you to stay away from the cat?”
Katherine pouted. “He suggested perhaps I should not live in a house with a cat. But I hardly see how I can tell my hostess to free herself of her own pet. In any event, he has no proof that the cat causes my headaches.”
“You have a headache now, do you not?”
“I already had a headache. And you are not making it any better.” Katherine shook her head in obvious agitation. “Honestly, Vonnie, I think you believe anything that man says!” Without waiting for Lavonia to retort, she swiveled toward the hallway. “If anyone cares, I shall be in my bedchamber, indisposed for the remainder of the afternoon.”
❧
William was washing his brushes after a full day of painting at the Roths’ when he received word to appear at the Syms estate. His heart singing, he hurried to complete his task.
“Perhaps she wants to see me after all,” he muttered under his breath.
“What was that, Doctor?” Mrs. Roth queried.
He gave his head a quick shake, the physical motion trans-porting his mind back to reality. “Nothing, Mrs. Roth. I was just thinking aloud.”
The matron’s plain face was fixed in a worried expression, though William suspected her anxiety was tempered with a healthy dose of curiosity. “Is everything quite all right?”
“I am certain everything is quite all right, Mrs. Roth.” Upon tossing his brushes in a wooden case, he tipped his hat and bade her good day.
Hopping astride General, he pulled the reins and gave the animal a sharp rap on the rump so he would move with haste. This was the message for which he had been waiting! To be summoned to the Syms’ home.
William wondered if Lavonia had known how his heart had been broken when he received Luke’s letter not to return to the estate. What had changed Luke’s mind? The answer was only a few gallops away.
As he approached the walk leading to the verandah, he curtailed his eagerness lest he run like a schoolboy. After barely acknowledging the servant who answered the door, he awaited Lavonia’s arrival in the parlor. His heart felt as though it would beat through his coat as the door creaked open.
“La—” he stopped himself short.
“You were expecting someone else?” Helen’s stonefaced expression offered nothing in the way of either humor or sympathy.
Regaining his composure, he tipped his hat. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Syms.”
“Afternoon.” She greeted him with a curt nod.
He tried to keep his voice brisk. “I received a message to come here at once.”
“Yes. Katherine is ill.”
William’s entire being felt heavy with disappointment, as though he could fall through the cracks in the floor. For an instant, he wished he could. “I am so sorry. Is she in her bed?”
“Yes. I shall accompany you there.” She glanced at his empty hands. “Have you no medical bag?”
A wave of chagrin swept over him. “I, I do not suppose so.” His eyes met her steely gaze. “I was painting at the Roths, and did not stop to retrieve my bag. But I can still help Miss Penn,” he hastened to add.
After shooting him a look filled with doubt, Helen led him up the stairs. William surveyed the house, hoping Lavonia would somehow appear out of nowhere to greet him. When she didn’t, he set his mind on healing his patient.
They found Katherine asleep.
“Poor soul,” Helen observed. “She has had so little rest all day.”
Since she was sleeping on her back, William could see that Katherine’s eyelids were swollen and her cheeks puffed so that her features seemed almost contorted. Every few breaths, she would snort in her sleep as if trying to clear her nose. “Has she been doing that all day?”
Helen nodded. “Since yesterday. That is when she first became ill.”
“Do you know what caused it?”
“I do,” a sweet voice interrupted.
He turned to see Lavonia standing in the doorway, a vision in flowing lavender. Her eyes sparkled like sapphires. Her skin was creamy and framed in dark ringlets. The mere sight of her caused his heart to pick up its pace once again. By sheer force of will, he kept his voice even. “Good afternoon, Miss Penn.”
“Good afternoon, Dr. Amory.”
Helen was not so congenial. “Lavonia, I thought I told you I would summon you if I needed you here.”
“Yes, but I have been responsible for my sister’s care for quite some time. I think it is best that I confer with the doctor.” Her gaze diverted to William. “My sister had been exposed to smoke from stale tobacco in a closed room yesterday afternoon when she first complained of her headache. Then, against my counsel, she petted the cat, which brought on a sneezing fit. At that point, she retired to her bed and has been there ever since.”
William turned to Helen. “I have given instructions for my patient to stay away from the cat. And though I know your husband enjoys his tobacco, his smoking seems to be contributing to her plight.”
Helen gave him a sheepish shrug. “Quel dommage!”
“Your pity helps her not. I must ask that your husband smoke his cigars in private and that you keep the cat out of my pati
ent’s path. Or,” he added, inclining his head to Lavonia, “you should find another relative with whom to stay.”
“That would be your desire, oui?” Helen’s eyes narrowed as she directed the question to the doctor.
“My desire is for my patient to recover. And she cannot in a house where my instructions are ignored.” He nodded with an abrupt motion. “That is all.” Pivoting toward Lavonia and the door, he strode toward her, intending to pass. With one sideways step, she blocked his path.
“Doctor.”
“Yes?” His eyes met hers. For an instant, he thought he saw a spark of interest. Or was it his imagination? He knew he was not imagining her warmth, her sweet scent. Or the feelings of love now stirring within him.
“Is there anything at all I can do to help?”
He felt the corner of an envelope tap his waist. Realizing she was passing him a letter, he clutched the paper with a furtive motion. “Just do as I say.” His brusque tone masked his emotion.
He had just hidden the letter in his vest pocket when Helen joined them, her prying eyes searching them closely. “Thank you, Doctor. That will be all.”
William muttered a few pleasantries before making a hasty exit. He had to get home and read Lavonia’s letter.
fifteen
After he secured General in his stall in Mrs. Potter’s modest stable, William rushed to his room. Once the door closed behind him, he reached into his vest pocket and retrieved the letter. Not bothering to sit, he broke the wax seal bearing the Penn coat of arms and lifted the flap of the cream-colored paper. The scent of Lavonia’s rosewater perfume clung to it, reminding him of how he longed to be close to her. Unfolding the enclosed note, he devoured the words, written in a careful feminine hand:
William:
I am writing this because on Sunday past, I failed to make mention of news that could be of great import to you. I do not think it politic to share the details here, but suffice it to say, I have reason to believe your benefactor, Philemon Midas, is still alive. I pray this development will somehow be a blessing to you.
Yours,
Lavonia Penn
Reading the words over several times, William searched for any clue as to Lavonia’s feelings. A wave of disappointment engulfed him when he realized the message contained not the slightest hint of her regard for him.
Remembering Lavonia’s kiss, one that seemed so full of emotion, he wondered how she could have written him a letter so bloodless. She didn’t seem to be a woman of easy virtue, or one who would make such a gesture to satisfy idle curiosity. Could he have misjudged her? No, he didn’t think so. Still, William was baffled.
“Why was she so secretive about passing the letter to me?” he wondered. “Could her furtiveness have some relation to the mysterious details she declined to reveal?”
At that moment, William resolved to see Lavonia again, regardless of the consequences. But first, he had an urgent errand to complete.
❧
The following week, Katherine burst onto the back patio, where Lavonia had taken a basket of mending so she could enjoy the warmth of the sun.
“Oh, Vonnie! The most wonderful thing has happened!” Clasping her hands to her chin, Katherine looked skyward. Obviously unable to contain her glee, she swayed back and forth.
Lavonia hadn’t seen her sister so enthralled since she had been presented with a velvet-clad porcelain doll on her eighth birthday. Eager to discover the source of her sister’s pleasure, Lavonia set the dress she was hemming in her lap. “What is it?”
“Osmond has asked Luke for permission to court me!” Exhaling dreamily, Katherine cast Lavonia a starry-eyed gaze. “Is that not wonderful?”
Remembering his unappealing looks, botched attempts at French, and longwinded prayers, Lavonia wondered how her sister could be so enamored with Vicar Gladstone. But the light in her eyes said she was.
Hesitating before weighing in with her opinion, Lavonia swallowed. “I must admit, Kitty, I had never envisioned you as a vicar’s wife. And though his interest in you has not escaped my notice, I had no idea you desired his romantic attentions.”
“Really?”
Lavonia nodded.
Exhaling, Katherine placed one hand on her chest. “What a relief to find I was not as transparent with my affections as I had feared.”
Reflecting for a moment, Lavonia remembered the times Katherine had been dressed far too fancifully when she thought the vicar might visit. Her face would brighten at his appearance and, when addressing him, her voice would take on a melodious quality not present when she was complaining about her ills.
Lavonia was ashamed. Katherine’s proclamation had forced her to realize she had been too involved in her personal turmoil to see that her sister was falling in love. Before articulating her opinion, Lavonia sent up a quick silent prayer for guidance.
“So, you indeed hold him in high regard?” Lavonia asked.
“Oh, yes! Unequivocally!”
“But you are accustomed to a degree of luxury. Trips abroad. Fine clothing. Superb food. Are you quite certain you will be content to live in a modest parsonage?”
“Oh, but did you not know? Osmond has his sights set on London. That is why he has been traveling so much in recent weeks.”
“Yes, he did mention his aspirations.” Lavonia bit her tongue to keep from commenting on his unbridled ambition.
“And of course, as a learned man of the clergy, he commands respect wherever he goes.”
“Of course.” She paused, sending up another prayer for guidance on what to say next. “Kitty, since we are sisters, I hope I may be frank.”
“Certainly.” Katherine stiffened.
“What if he fails to secure a London parish? Will you be happy living with him, regardless of his circumstances? And,” she added, “what if circumstances became such that he needed to pursue a vocation apart from the Church? Would you be as pleased to be his wife if he were to become a common laborer?”
When Katherine’s eyes widened, Lavonia knew she had offered her sister a new perspective. “Of, of course.” Then her face brightened. “But I cannot understand why Osmond would leave the Church. He loves his vocation—and the Lord—so!”
“Our Savior no doubt knows his heart. And certainly you are more well acquainted with the vicar than I.”
“And I shall become even more well acquainted with him in the coming months, oui?” Katherine smiled.
“I only caution that if you develop any doubts or fears during your courtship, be certain they are allayed before agreeing to a betrothal.”
“I will.” She hurried to the wicker chair where Lavonia sat and knelt beside her. Katherine’s eyes were wide with pleading. “Oh, say you are happy for me, Vonnie.”
Lavonia failed to see what attraction such a man could hold for her sister. Yet she didn’t have the heart to inflict upon her the same sorrow Luke and Helen were forcing her to endure with their opposition to William.
Lavonia gave Katherine the warmest smile she could muster. “Then, I am happy for you.”
Katherine beamed. “Oh, thank you, Vonnie!” Leaning toward her, she gave Lavonia an embrace.
❧
“How was yer trip, doctor?” Mrs. Potter greeted him upon his return from Dover.
“Difficult,” William revealed without thinking.
Her raised eyebrows invited further comment, but William was in no mood to share his disappointment, at least not with her.
He tipped his hat. “I thank you for your inquiry, Mrs. Potter, but I am afraid I should not prove much of a conversationalist tonight. By your leave, I shall not be joining the others at the dinner table.”
“You’ll be missin’ chicken pie.”
Though her chicken pie was among the more palatable in her repertoire, even that promise wasn’t enough to lure him. “Sounds delicious. I regret I shall miss what promises to be a lovely meal. Please convey my excuses to the others. If I am summoned for a medical emergency, I can be found i
n my room. Otherwise, I do not wish to be disturbed.”
Without further ado, he ascended the stairs, each board creaking in protest. The trip to Dover had been wearying physically, his failure to find the whereabouts of Philemon Midas only compounding his fatigue. Even thoughts of Lavonia didn’t provide him with the usual burst of energy that could only have been explained by love.
If only I could see her. I know she has the answers. But I cannot. Her cousin has forbidden me, and her lack of passion for me was evident in her letter. Ever since receiving it, he couldn’t reconcile his shock at the unfeeling letter with her warmth that previous Sunday afternoon. Yet, she had been as businesslike as his most disagreeable patient. He wondered how he could have misinterpreted her feelings.
Perhaps she is too embarrassed by her outburst of emotion to wish to see me again. Perhaps she thinks me a brute and wants to forget all about me. All indications point in that direction. He sighed. If only I had not insisted we go on the picnic!
Entering his stark room, he focused on the single bed. For once, the hard mattress looked appealing. “Perhaps after a good night’s sleep,” he muttered, “I shall possess the fortitude to renew my search.”
But his leads were as exhausted as he. How could he ever find Philemon Midas without Lavonia’s help? He was still mulling over the puzzle as he drifted into a dreamless sleep.
❧
Sitting on the wooden verandah swing, Lavonia was enjoying one last peaceful time observing the Syms’ front garden as her sister slept and her hosts enjoyed their usual early morning horseback ride. Rocking back and forth, Lavonia read the letter she had written to Jane to inform her that she couldn’t afford the passage to America and would be remaining in England. She had been procrastinating on writing the letter. As a result, its arrival would be later than she had anticipated. But Jane knew Lavonia’s plans weren’t set, so she prayed any distress on her part would be minimal.
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