The Fire's Center (20 page)

"I say, what a splendid idea," exclaimed Mr. Benn and Mr. Norton, also a happily married man, concurred.

"I’m sure all the wives would love to help, wouldn’t they, Antoinette," Quentin said enthusiastically. "And we could even give a ball, couldn’t we, my dear? An all day outdoor event on the grounds, and a grand ball in the evening."

Antoinette looked daggers at him.
What could be more dull than inviting all of Quentin’s friends to a ball,
she thought resentfully.

 
But she was forced to assent when every person in the room proclaimed it an excellent idea.

"You can count on my wife," Mr. Benn offered.

"And mine," echoed Mr. Norton.

Mr. Benn smiled. "Don’t worry, Mrs. Woulfe, you won’t have to do a thing except be hostess."

"When shall we have it? The clinic is opening up next Friday already," Mr. Sturton wondered aloud.

"Well, it could be the first grand party after Easter. That way everyone would be sure to come, and we could count on some good spring weather as well," Quentin thought aloud.

He turned to Antoinette, who had still said nothing. "What about the first of May? That gives us a little over six weeks to plan things, my dear."

"I’ll help of course, with the invitations and anything else that needs to be done," Riona offered. She won an approving look from Lucien, and a withering one from Antoinette.

"I think the day events should be for everyone, don’t you, Quentin, and only the ball at night will need invitations," Lucien advised.

"Of course, an excellent idea, brother. It will be splendid, won’t it," Quentin stated eagerly as he turned to his glowering wife.

"Yes, of course," Antoinette echoed unenthusiastically, in a hard tone.

But her spirit of trying to triumph over the auburn-haired beauty standing by Lucien’s side as though she owned him caused her to rise to the occasion. She would outshine the little chit if it was the last thing she did.

"I know," Antoinette said suddenly. "What about a costume ball?"

"Even more fun." Quentin applauded heartily, glad that his wife was finally joining in the spirit of things.

But Antoinette’s only spirit was one of competition. She had seen a daring illustration in a ladies’ sensational magazine of a Venus in the waves costume.

With her long blonde hair worn down over her shoulders, and a diaphanous gown, she couldn’t fail to be the centre of every man’s attention, especially Lucien’s.

The rest of the evening was taken up with plans for the great garden fete, as it was to be called, with the gala costume ball in the evening. It would be a ticketed affair, and Quentin and Lucien would donate the money or secure donations from the shop keepers for all the food and refreshments, whilst the others would make further cash donations, and do their best to drum up more support.

Riona took down all the notes, and reflected that her little notebook was nearly full, with lists of chores, volunteers, supplies, and so on.

It never even entered her head to wonder what she was going to wear, for it never occurred to her that she would ever be invited.

After all, she didn’t have the vast sum of ten pounds for a ticket, and the would be so much to organise behind the scenes anyway, that it would be impossible for her to get a minute to enjoy herself even if she did accompany Lucien.

At last Antoinette grew completely disgusted with the subject, and insisted she and Quentin had to get home.

Once they had taken their leave, one by one the married men admitted they simply had to go home and tell their wives the news, and the bachelors drifted away in twos and threes after a final cup of coffee and a brandy.

As the door closed behind the last guest, Lucien lifted Riona up in the air and spun her around, before letting her slide down him to gently rest on the floor.

He gave her a smacking kiss on the lips and exclaimed, "You were priceless, today, my dear. It couldn’t have gone better."

Riona smiled shyly. "I’m glad you’re pleased."

"Pleased? It’s a miracle! These are the men who would argue a black crow white, and yet everyone I know is now agreeing to work together for the good of the clinic. And the fete and ball idea was marvellous," he praised, with his arm still firmly around her waist.

"Well, you have your brother to thank for supporting the ball idea."

"I know, but he never would have agreed if you hadn’t mentioned it. And you're right, you know, getting the wives to help with bandages and so on might not be a bad thing," Lucien said as he led her back into the drawing room and poured them both a small snifter of brandy.

Riona sat on the sofa next to him. "I think if we just start with them clearing out some of their wardrobes, and children’s old clothes, we could have a huge second-hand clothing stall for the more middle class ladies, and use the money to pay for sempstresses to run up some simple dresses for the women, shirts and trousers for the men coming to the clinic."

Lucien nodded his agreement as he took a sip of brandy. "Speaking of dresses, we'll have to talk about our costumes. I was thinking King Charles the Second. I’ve always liked those long curls and hats the Cavaliers used to wear."

"It would suit you, I think, but surely I couldn’t go. I haven’t the money for a ticket or a costume."

"After the wonderful job you did today of taming that pack of lions, you deserve a treat. So you're coming to the ball as my companion, and there is no more to be said upon the subject."

Lucien pressed one finger to her lips, before moving his head down to kiss her on the mouth.

His arms went around her briefly, before he pulled away and observed, "You must be exhausted after the long day you’ve put in entertaining my family and friends. You head up to bed while I supervise the tidying down here."

"No really, it’s part of my job."

"I tell you what, we’ll both gather up the coffee cups and glasses then, shall we, so everyone can get to bed that much faster," he suggested, as he began to load the tray.

Ben the manservant answered the ring, and gratefully accepted the tray of glasses from Lucien.

"Now off to bed with you, girl. We will have an even more exciting day tomorrow seeing what those interviewees are like."

"But I haven’t even written the letters yet!"

"We’ll do it first thing in the morning together, and get the servants to go around to deliver them."

Riona frowned. "Won’t it give them very little time to prepare?"

"True, but it will also give them less time to try to dazzle us. Besides, if they are really keen, it wouldn’t be a problem for them to drop everything they're doing to come see me, now will it?" Lucien grinned.

"You are a sharp one, Dr. Woulfe, I have to give you credit," Riona marvelled.

"As are you my dear. Good night."

After Riona had left the room, Lucien poured himself one last brandy. He was now suddenly feeling for the first time in his life that he could take on the world. And Riona had made it all possible.

Lucien thought of the way he had just kissed her, and how she hadn’t seemed to even notice.

She’s so warm and unaffected
, he admired
. I do hope her family are well. I would so like to meet her father.

Adding his name to the list of people he intended to write letters to, Lucien blew out the lights and headed upstairs, and dreamt all night of a girl with hair the colour of a sunset, and the loveliest blue eyes he had ever seen.

Riona rose at six again the next morning, and after waiting for the fire in the library to be lit, she put on her sable woollen dress, and went down to the study in the medical room to write the letters requesting the pleasure of the candidates company for interview.

In the end Lucien had agreed to interview everyone who had applied for the post, so they would have a great number of young men to get through that day.

Riona arranged the candidates’ names in alphabetical order, and allocated them a half an hour of time each, and then copied out the list four times for Lucien and his colleagues to consult.

Lucien, coming down at nine as per usual, was impressed to see her organisation, but scolded Riona lightly, "I do hope you're getting enough sleep, Riona. You were never up and dressed before nine at the inns on our way here."

"Those were my holidays. I’m a working woman now. Oh, and if the interviews are to be held here, we will need some refreshment for yourself and the other gentlemen, and perhaps a light repast at about four. I thought of this for a menu, but if you think it is too rich..." Riona trailed with a frown as she handed him the paper.

"No, all of it is fine, and no leftovers from yesterday, I’m pleased to say."

"There are none. It was all eaten, but then we made sure we bought the right quantities. I hope to see less waste in the household from now on, after our experience of starving people on the roads," Riona observed quietly.

Lucien nodded with approval. "You are quite right, my dear. No sense in overdoing it. Now, if that’s all for the moment, I have some patients coming at half past nine."

"I’ll just give this menu to Mrs. Kinsella straight away, and then I thought I might do some reading, and perhaps look at some picture books for costumes for ourselves for the ball, if I may. I’m not as handy with a needle as my sisters, but good enough to make up something without it costing the earth."

"Fine. You make yourself comfortable in here, and I’ll call you if I need anything," Lucien agreed. He gave her a bright smile and then closed the door behind himself as he went into his consulting rooms.

Once Riona was alone, she looked carefully at the books on Lucien’s shelf. From their worn look she could tells that they were his most heavily-consulted medical books. Here was where the knowledge came from, she thought to herself excitedly.

But she had so much to learn. It had taken Lucien years to qualify. What chance did she have with only a few hours snatched in the mornings, and whenever Lucien was away?

But try she must, and so Riona identified the books on fever, and began to leaf through them. As she read, she heard a low murmur of voices through the doors which separated the small study from the examination room and pharmacy. She continued to study until she heard Lucien call for her through the surgery door.