She headed to the kitchen and was passing the open door of the front room when her employer called her name. Pausing, Alice stuck her head into the room.
“I’ll prepare you coffee, if you’d like some.” She made the offer as much for herself as the guests. Oddly, she felt nervous and wanted to keep her hands busy. Too, her leg ached badly from standing overly long. Alice knew she needed to get to the kitchen and sit down for a spell.
Dorcas Potter eagerly agreed. “I’d take a cup.”
The words were almost civil. Very appropriate for someone’s parlor. Niall, however, nixed the offer with a quick command.
His voice sternly admonished, “Alice, come in here and forget about hiding in the kitchen. You’ll be a part of these plans.”
Shoulders sagging, Alice thumped her way into the room and moved to sit in a cane-bottom chair placed in the corner nearest the doorway. Probably it was an extra that matched those in the dining room. She couldn’t be sure since she’d yet to open the door connected to the kitchen and investigate that room. Looking around the parlor, the mess uncomfortably reminded her that she’d yet to work in here, as well.
Before she eased into the chair, Niall called her name. With a pat on the sofa cushion, he indicated that she should sit next to him.
Alice moved awkwardly to him, struck by the strangeness of the scene. The Potters each sat in an upholstered chair while the master of the house waited for her on the sofa. She knew he should have left the sofa for the guests. Typically, that’s what would be done, especially since they were a married couple.
Had he separated them on purpose? Stranger still, had Niall claimed his seat on the sofa so he could have her next to him?
Keeping the questions unsaid, Alice lowered her body carefully onto the seat. She knew how easily her leg could give away at such a moment when she’d overly fatigued it. A strong hand came up to support her elbow as she sat. Before he removed it, Niall gave it a little squeeze.
The action seemed incredibly intimate, especially considering Alice had known the man for a scant twenty-four hours. Her face darted to his in question. He frowned and remained silent, even while his eyes gleamed merrily down at her. She realized that, for some reason, he was happy about the minister’s visit.
After straightening her black skirt as she surreptitiously smoothed her petticoats, Alice leaned toward Niall. “We really should serve your guests some refreshment.”
He leaned his mouth near her ear. The response tickled her skin and raised goose flesh on Alice’s arms as his breath filled the delicate shell of her ear.
“I would if they were invited guests. For now, let’s listen to what he has to say.” By emphasizing that one word, Niall dismissed Dorcas Potter and her gossip.
Alice’s attention turned to that woman and took in the lady’s red face. Her own turned pink as she thought of how intimate Niall’s whisper had been.
Reverend Potter cleared his throat. He slanted forward in his chair, waving a hand around the room with purpose.
“Your father intended for you to have his home and his patients. He told me so when we discussed the letter he’d sent, calling you home.”
After a long look at the man, Niall casually eased back. He appeared relaxed as he leaned against the padded back of the sofa and stretched his left arm along it. The arm was behind Alice now, and she felt tension radiate from it. In contrast, Niall’s face was smooth and unlined, pleasant even.
His tone, when he spoke, sounded unconcerned. Almost disinterested. “Did you chat with my father often? After all, you and your wife were the ones who drove his son away.”
Neither Potter so much as flinched. The minister held up his hand when he saw that his wife was about to speak. She gave a slight nod and folded her hands demurely in her lap.
Turning his focus back on Niall, the man stood and spoke gravely. “We did what we felt was right. Now, we need to beg your forgiveness.” Then he added, “Something I’ve already done with my Lord.”
Niall stiffened, and all pretense disappeared. Standing, his voice chilled the room. “I’d be more inclined to forgive if your wife hadn’t been filling Nurse Cordell’s ears with stories about me. And not even two hours past.”
Reverend Potter nodded and sighed. “That will change, I assure you.” Looking away from Niall, he pointed a finger at his wife and shook it. “She knows as well as I do that you didn’t violate your patient.”
Alice knew she had no business speaking. The words left her mouth before she thought better of them. Soft, slightly accusing words.
“Gossip is hurtful. Worse yet, the words whispered from one person to the next never seem to go away.”
Mrs. Potter ducked her head. After several quiet sniffles escaped her, the woman dug in her reticule for a hanky. Alice stemmed her compassionate response. The woman should cry, hopefully tears of remorse and not embarrassment.
The reverend nodded. “I’ve turned a blind eye too often. Excusing her behavior while knowing the Bible forbids it.”
He stepped toward Niall. Looking up into the taller man’s face, the minister pleaded, “If you can’t forgive, at least consider your oath. In an emergency, any other doctor is much too far away.”
As he did earlier, the minister waved his hand around the room. “Besides, this house isn’t yours for another two years.”
At those words, Niall plopped down beside her on the sofa, closer this time with their thighs almost touching. For such a strong man, he gave her the impression that he was soaking in strength
