Her eyes flashed with defiance despite her resolve to show the doctor how grateful she was for all his help. "Do I not get a say in the matter?"
"You do. We're discussing it now," Blake said mildly.
She sat back in her chair. "I see. I'm sorry. It's just that I've been so happy there. It's hard to imagine just giving it up, letting it, leaving it in another's care."
"We don't have to decide immediately. It would be a pity to just leave it to wrack and ruin. At the very least it needs a good steward, perhaps an efficient married couple who would like a place of their own. If you were to sell it, now would be the time. Prices will only fall now that the war is over."
"No, I couldn't possibly sell it. Peter-"
"It's been left to you, you know. Not him."
She shrugged. "He was ever the wanderer. That's not to say he won't come back from the Army at some point and wish to have a proper home of his own."
"Very well, then. We shall find a suitable steward until such time as we're both more settled. We shall put the word out amongst my friends in the district and see if they can recommend a suitable young man or couple."
"Thank you. For the steward, and for understanding my feelings."
"I only hope you can be happy here. It will be a big change, and a crusty old bachelor like myself-" He shrugged.
"I'm sure I shall be fine. So long as you treat me like a useful and sensible member of society, not a bit of fluff, we shall get along well."
"How are you coming with that paper?"
"Nearly finished."
"Good. As soon as you are done with that, Miss Fluff, we can start teaching you about investments."
She grinned at him and nodded. "I can't wait."
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
By the time dinner was announced, Arabella was famished, and her head was spinning. But she felt a huge sense of accomplishment and was delighted with his warm praise. They said grace and then began to devour their roast with gusto.
"You've done very well. I'll expect you to keep a little account book. The newspaper is delivered every morning, and you can check the price of your consols and so forth."
"Thank you for not treating me like a noodle."
He looked up from the forkful of potato he had been about to put in his mouth. "I'm a firm believer in equal rights for women. I do think you ought to be protected in other ways, but there is no reason why you cannot manage your affairs yourself. I had to learn, after all. Males are not born with a mastery of the stock market any more than a woman with a mastery of the harp or pianoforte."
"I play both. Do you?"
"Piano only. And not well."
"Painting and sketching?"
"Yes, but only if you approve of anatomical drawings as high art."
"I believe Da Vinci-"
"Yes, just so," he remarked in clipped tones.
"What? What have I said wrong?"
He looked decidedly uncomfortable. "Well, some of the paintings are nudes, and-"
"The human body is wondrous, is it not?" she remarked in all sincerity.
"Yes, of course," he said with evident enthusiasm. "I could spend a lifetime and never discover everything there was to know."
"What's the most wondrous thing you've ever seen?" she asked with genuine interest.
"Newborns coming into the world. It's always a little miracle," he said, his hazel eyes alight with excitement. "They're all so tiny, and most of them so perfect. Adorable little fingers and toes." He raised his hand. "Some of them so small, I can fit them in one of my hands."
"You love your work." It was a statement, not a question.
"Yes, most of the time I do. But there are awful things too. Death, disease. Things which could be prevented with the right teaching and moral fibre."
She took a sip of wine before asking, "So the wealthy patients you treat help to pay for the free clinic you have?"
He nodded. "That's right."
"You will let me help? Make bandages and so on?"
"I suppose, if you're so determined."
Arabella nodded. "I am."
"Good. We shall need to teach you the basics. While I do not have many female patients here for my private practice, I would appreciate your help if I do, should the occasion arise."
She nodded happily. "Anything."
"It's just that some of them might feel better with a lady present to reassure them-"
"I understand." She took another forkful of peas, hoping he didn't observe her blush.