“I shall deny her the pleasure, then,”Lydiasaid.
Reginald turned to Jenny. “Miss Lovell, how is your mother’s cough, has itcleared?”
“She is mending quite nicely and asked me to give you these.” Jenny reached into her basket and pulled out half a dozen eggs wrapped in anapkin.”
“How kind. Thank herforme.”
“Doctor Cooke, we are just headed to Twistivants for a cream tea. Since you have no patients would you care to join us?” Jenny brashly asked as Lydia was the one paying for the teatoday.
“But I may still get a patient or two during the rest of the afternoon,” Reginaldprotested.
“Yes, do join us,” Lydia pleaded. “Just leave a note on your door and have them come and fetch you ifneedbe.”
Reginald considered the offer. “Yes. Why not? It has been a slow day and Twistivants is just a few shops down from here. It would be nice to have a cream tea. However, I shall not allow myself to be your guest, and the two of you shall be my guestsinstead.”
“Absolutely not, Doctor. You have waived your fees for me twice and I insist you be our guest this afternoon. It is the very least Icando.”
Reginald nodded. “Very well. Then let me just write up a note for the door and we canbeoff.”
* * *
“You are notfrom this area, are you, Doctor Cooke?” Jenny asked as she slathered clotted cream on a scone before addingstrawberryjam.
“I am from Baschurch—north and west of here—but I studied medicine in Shrewbury. And while I am not strictly a local, I am aShropshirelad.”
“Any relation to the famous Captain Cook, who so gallantly sailed the wide PacificOcean?”
“Alas, no. I come from a more modest family that spells its name with an ‘e’ at the end, unlike the more famous Captain. My father was a local Doctor, and I followed in hisfootsteps.”
“And how did you end up in Upton Magna?” Lydiaasked.
“There was a practice for sale from a retiring doctor. It suited me, so Iaccepted.”
“And you are happy here?” Jenny asked as she leaned in slightly closer toReginald.
“I have a thriving practice; it is a pleasant town, and the citizens are most agreeable. However, the winters can be unpleasant, as you know. But they were where I grew up as well.” He laughed. “From my experience, there is no perfectplace.”
“And no lady has caught your eye? Is it to be all work and no play for you?” Jennypushed.
Reginald shot a quick glance to Lydia but turned back to answer Jenny. “I am sitting at a table right now, having tea, with two of the loveliest young ladies in Upton Magna. How could I askformore?”
“You have a silver tongue, Doctor Cooke,” Jenny said smiling. “Are you a devil indisguise?”
“You may call me Reginald. And yes, I probably do have a little devilinme.”
“And you may call meJenny.”
* * *
As Lydiaand Jenny headed home, Lydia slapped lightly atJenny’sarm.
“You were flirting with the poor man, outrageously,” Lydia said, laughinglightly.
“Was I? I did notnotice.”
“How could younothave?”
“Well, I like him.” Then Jenny had a terrible thought. “Oh, Lydia, you are not jealous are you? I did not think you had any interest in him, except for walking. Am I horribly outofline?”
Lydia had to think about that. “I must admit; I do like him. But my thoughts have not gone much beyond our mutual interest in exercise. But I have to admit, it seems he has shown some marked interestinme.”
“Oh, Lydia, please forgive me. I will step back immediately. I would never encroach on my dearest sister’sromance.”
“Oh, Jenny, there is noromance.”
“But there could be. And as I think about it, it did seem that he was most attentive to you at tea. But you know me—always too brash, too loud, and too pushy. In future, I shall be the model friend. My only goal with Doctor Cooke shall be to sing your praises and direct his attention to your manycharms.”
“I would much prefer it if you would just be yourself. I am quite content in letting my friendship with the Doctor take its natural course, with no expectations and no pushes or shovesfromyou.”
