The Adopted Debutante

The Delends' Garden Party

Newson placed his hand on the cabinet. At the same instant, a knock sounded heavily at the door, causing the doctor to jump with surprise.

"It can't be Edward. He just left and the knock is too loud," He reasoned. "It can't be Mrs. Hudgins because she was here not last week, and her daughter's recovering anyhow. Oh dear, I do hope Mr. Swallopy hasn't broken his toes under the plow again; it's a nasty business whenever he does."

However, on reaching the door, Newson was not greeted by a smiling housewife nor a cross farmer, but a young man.

"Good morning, doctor," he said. "I do hope I've caught you before any patients have come."

"Yes, you di—well, no, there was—ahem, what can I do for you, Mister Delend?" the doctor stammered, coughing slightly.

"Mother is inviting the women who form the 'Confraternity of Charitable Labors' to a garden party this morning," Jeremy explained. "She is the leading treasurer of the Confraternity, you know."

"And a very generous patron, if I might say," Newson praised her.

"She wondered if perhaps you might spare the morning to come and demonstrate effective methods by which congestion in the chest may be relieved," Jeremy said. "There seems to be an epidemic of a cold among the poorer quarters, the children especially being affected."

"Indeed they have been. I shall come at once," Newson replied without a moment's hesitation. 

He knew very well about the illness, which was nothing more than a very bad cold, but had kept him very busy recently with patients. If the ladies of the confraternity would help in alleviating the suffering of the poor, it could only be a great relief both to the poor and to Newson.

Riding in the official carriage of the Delends, the doctor soon found himself on the doorstep of one of the finest manors in the district. Trellis Manor was barely half the size of this majestic, ancestral home, which had housed the family of the Delends for more than five centuries.

As Newson ascended the steps, Jeremy knocked upon the door, and an elderly butler slowly opened it.

"Ahhhh...Master Jeremy..." he bowed with gravity. Jeremy returned the bow with a smile.

"Oh, dear Thomas, you mustn't bow so much," he said kindly. Placing his hands to the old man's waist and back, he gently helped him straighten again. "Your back is not as young as it once was."

"I don't wish to be lacking in proper decorum, my good young master," he said slowly. "Oh...! Have we a visitor?" He asked, noticing the doctor (whom his poor eyesight had not detected behind Jeremy). With a nod, he made to bow once more.

"Yes, a lovely morning it is, my good man," Newson said quickly, as he stepped forward and grasped the butler's hand. Surprised, the butler nodded again and shook hands with Newson, who had successfully prevented the second bow.

Jeremy had been restraining his laughter, but when they left the good butler's side, he chuckled heartily.

"The dear old soul," he said affectionately. "I do believe he will insist upon opening the doors to our home even if I must carry him to them."

"Such a melodious sound," a young feminine voice said. "I did not know your laughter had become more musical since last I was here."

Newson looked in the direction of the sound and saw a young lady coming near to them. Jeremy's face flushed.

"Oh...I didn't notice, Ms. Pemberly," He stammered.

She smiled. "I did." She turned to Newson. "Don't bother with the introduction, Master Delend, I already know Doctor Clarence Mewsen by sight."

"Apparently, that's all you know me by," Newson frowned, doffing his hat. "Doctor Terrence Newson at your service, Ms. Gerda Pemberly." 

He bowed. Gerda cast a glance at Jeremy, who could only laugh at the strange circumstances but offer no explanation. Regaining herself, Gerda smiled at Newson.

"The pleasure is all mine," she said, extending her hand.

Newson kissed it and nodded politely.

"What brings you here, Ms. Pemberly?" Jeremy asked.

"Aunt Maybel was invited and I had nothing else to do, so I joined her," Gerda shrugged. "Your home is magnificent. I peeped through the open door over there and saw you have an amazing supply of literature."

"Oh, the study!" Jeremy replied, flushing again. "Would you like me to show it to you before the doctor gives his lecture?"

"Please," Gerda smiled warmly.

As Newson watched them depart, he couldn't help wondering if it was the morning heat or Ms. Permberly's smiles that were making Jeremy's cheeks remain a pink color for an extended period of time. He couldn't help but remember Faulke's mysterious comments.

"...oh dear..." the doctor sighed.

He was prevented from further rumination when Lady Claire greeted him cordially and called him over to the small table where she was sitting with two other ladies.

"I trust you enjoyed the drive," Lady Claire asked kindly.

"Indeed, thank you, Lady Delend," Dr. Newson replied.

"Do have some refreshments," she told him. "Not all the ladies have arrived yet and there is time before your demonstration."

Newson thanked her and did as she bade him, all the while keeping an eye on the door leading to the study. After a quarter of an hour had elapsed, he took it upon himself to glance in casually and ascertain what was going on that was keeping Jeremy and Ms. Pemberly from returning.

Peeping past the open door, he saw Jeremy and Ms. Pemberly both standing beside each other, examining a large panel on the wall. After a few minutes of eavesdropping, Newson rolled his eyes.

"No wonder it's taken them so long." He muttered. "He's only to 1679, and the family name is still Delonde. He's still got a century and a half to go."

Apparently another quarter of an hour was not long enough for Jeremy to explain the rest of his family's genealogy to Ms. Pemberly; they had to be summoned from the study when the time came for Dr. Newson to give his medical demonstration. Ms. Pemberly took her seat beside her aunt, and Newson used Jeremy as an explanation of his tips and guides when such an illustration was needed. The ladies were very receptive of his advice and it was 11 o'clock when he had finished his discourse and answered the last questions.

Lady Claire then invited the ladies out into the garden where the main refreshments awaited sampling. Dr. Newson took up his hat to leave, but Lady Claire insisted he partake of some luncheon before going. 

Newson excused himself that the sun was too bright in the garden, but she replied that her pantry was at his disposal and made Jeremy promise not to let the doctor depart until he had refreshed himself. Once sure Newson would be taken care of, she joined her guests.

Aunt Mabel and her niece were admiring a statue near the door to the garden and overheard the conversation. Mabel began a polite conversation with the hostess as they went out, but Gerda looked back at Jeremy with a smile.

"The fruit has not fallen far from the tree, Master Delend," she said, "and it's of a kind-hearted stock."

Jeremy nodded his thanks to her, and she, flashing a grin at the set-faced doctor, followed her aunt outside. Newson was rather put out by all these goings on. He could not be sure, but Ms. Pemberly seemed to be suffering from compulsory smiling, and Jeremy's face was increasingly tinted with red. What could it mean?

"I won't be your warden, Dr. Newson," Jeremy told him kindly. "You needn't have much, if you do not have the appetite for it, merely enough to permit me to be honest."

"That Pemberly girl is rather forward," Newson blurted out. 

He suddenly realized what he had said, but it couldn't be helped now. Besides, he could not have held his peace on the subject anymore anyway. Jeremy laughed.

"Oh, she can't help that, sir," He explained. "She's from the States."

"God save us," the doctor groaned.

"Sir?" Jeremy was taken aback.

"You know how those Americans are," Dr. Newson warned. "They come in and act as if the world is theirs and they take whatever they can get without a thought to anyone else's feelings. Mind her, Jeremy, and don't fall for her charms."

"She's not trying to work her charms on me, sir," Jeremy said quietly.

Newson was about to make a reply, but there was the sound of movement upstairs.

"Jeremy," a firm voice sounded from the stairwell, "What is this I hear?"

Newson shivered slightly as Lord Neville descended the steps. The man's eyes were fixed upon Jeremy.

"Sir Carroll is refusing to make public the time of your engagement," He said sternly. "The whole peerage should know so as to be present but he says nothing. Why?" He eyed his son keenly. "What is the cause of his concern?"

"Indeed, Father, I do not know," Jeremy replied simply.

The gaze hardened. "You have not injured Ms. Trellis?"

"Of course not, Father," Jeremy replied earnestly. "I love her more than anything else in this world."

"Hmmm..." His father nodded and looked down at the floor. "He's overprotective of that child. He loathes to give her into the hands of another, the hands of an honest, respectable young man who deserves no less than she."

The shrewd doctor noticed that Jeremy's face grew pained as his father said this. It was obvious that Jeremy did not think that Lord Neville's accolades were wholly deserved—or necessary.

"He loves her dearly as well, Father," Jeremy suggested gently. "Besides, Eloise has only been here four years. She's not yet used to—"

"What's more, I've received word from my brother, Lawrence," Lord Neville continued, raising his eyes. "He has taken ill and wishes to see me at once. There is a subject of great urgency upon which he wishes to speak with me, but he does not wish to relay the substance of it via correspondence. I must leave this evening."

"You must not go alone, Neville," Lady Claire said. She had returned to see if Newson had taken any food. "In an hour, the women will have gone and I shall pack my things. Jeremy, go and tell Carruthers to pack what your father will need."

"We shall not be gone long, my dear," Lord Neville said, as Jeremy ascended the steps.

"We must not," his wife replied. "But so long as we return before the engagement, I am content. An excursion to York is just what I need to cure my spring asthma."

She enumerated on the advantages of such a trip and prevailed upon her husband to join her in the garden for a few moments. Newson was therefore left alone, and took full advantage of this opportunity to slip out while none were near. He had too many questions on his mind and had to get away from the Delend's home before any more of them slipped out of his mouth.