The ward bustles with energy and grimness, as I make my routine rounds with a senior doctor.
Doctor Jennings only nods as I inspect the patients and scarcely remarks under his breath.

"All patients seem to be in good condition. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to attend to some in my own office." Giving a curt nod, Doctor Jennings disappears into the crowd of patients, nurses and sweepers.

"He looks in a good mood, today," Sister Greta says as she shoves a thermometer into a child's mouth, not giving him the chance to let out a wail. The child folds his arms across his chest, thermometer in mouth.

"Really, I couldn't tell." I say, checking the temperature.

37.5°C
Not too bad.
Won't die.

"That's the best compliment you can get, lad." She looks up-- smiling-- cleaning sweat from her forehead with her collar.

"I know. One can only have limited expectations from a man like that." The patient beside me sleeps soundly as I check his clipboard out.

Meanwhile, Sister Greta sighs at the asleep male patient beside her.

My brows furrow.
"I don't think I saw him yesterday."

Sister Greta shakes her head.
"Oh no, he only came in today." She lets out a chuckle.
"Poor lad fainted when his wife gave birth."

Fainted?

At seeing me blinking, Sister Greta waves a head.
"That happens, dearie.
Besides, this one wasn't even that big of a scare as compared to his girl!"

She moves around the bed, turning to the next one.
"The infant had a misplaced tooth stuck in her throat and couldn't breathe. Poor lass. Some are born like that. Gave the entire ward quite the scare."

The Sister turns around.
"But then I whipped it out in one swift flick and the babe was as healthy as any other."
Sister Greta demonstrates the flick as if it were as easy as riding one's nose clean of snot.

"Seems like quite the adventure I missed today." I smile, as the Sister looks at the table next to the new father.

She rubs her chin.
"I swear I put the poor soul's watch here after he fainted. Oh my memory these days..."

From the view of the door ahead, a person with a peacock blue cloak walks around the patients' beds. But then someone with a patched cap also threads with his head bowed, something glimmering in his back pocket.

"Please excuse me, Sister."

With her blinking, I place my pen back into my pocket and stride over to the next ward. The only visible difference between the wards is the numbering on them and the sex of the patients.

My position is only a few steps away from the boy.

The boy strolls about till he turns at seeing me.

At that, he breaks into a run.

"Where do you think you're going?"
I catch him by the back of his collar by taking a few quick steps ahead.

He flicks his arms about, but to no avail.
"How did you even catch me?" he asks, after giving one last and futile lurch.

"My legs are longer than yours, lad." My eyes roll.

"Now will you give back the watch?"

"Can' me have a watch too? It ain't like there's proof." He grits his teeth and looks at my face for the first time.

He's no more older than twelve...

"You can, but I doubt an owner would run like that." I shake my head.
"Hear, if you give me back the watch, then I promise I won't tell anyone else."

The boy looks around at the ward: Only a few nurses glance at the two of us before moving back to their work.

The boy then looks at me and sighs, giving back the watch. I release him.

He kicks the floor and mutters something under his breath.

Patting his shoulder, I look back at Sister Greta carrying a mountain of files from a nearby table.

"Now, if you go and help carry those papers, that Sister over there may give you a little reward."

I wink at him, the corner of my mouth moving up.

At that, his eyes glow and go where I point at the Sister.

"Oh and tell her I, Matthew Knightley, said so, and she'll be more than happy to oblige."

With an eager nod, he walks off to Sister Greta. I smile.

I will have to pay her back, but of well.

Soon my smile fades away, looking over at a group of female patients separated from the rest. The rest of the unaware female patients dwell in the larger part, otherwise am uproar would have been ensured. The only good thing about this ward is the view of the hospital gardens the windows give.

Shaking my head, I turn to the opposite direction when the window crashes open. Something shimmers.
I jump.

A piece of parchment remains untouched on the windowsill.
My head tilts.

No one pays attention to me, as my hands grasp the parchment.

Two lines are written on it and in a writing unbeknownst to me.

"The sins of father shall follow you to the grave."

Excuse me?

"A'ong with salary not being enough, we have to clean the whore ward section today."

"As much as I don' like it, it's been two weeks since we cleaned that section."

I spin around, the parchment still in my hand, to see two sweepers enter the ward and sigh at the separated section.

They stop at my glare and arms fastened behind myself.

My eyes roll.
"Inappropriate language and inefficiency will not be tolerated in front of the patients."

They start shaking their heads, mumbling apologies.

"And that will be reenacted the next time I catch you two doing so."
Giving one last flick of my head, they mutter thank yous and go back to their work.

I feel like a churchwarden today.

With their going, my shoulders relax and arms loosen at my sides.

"Is everything all right, Doctor?" Sister Greta's voice echoes. Her brows furrow at my hands with the parchment.

"Yes, of course." I put the parchment into my pocket and walk the other direction. My hand keeps rubbing against it, as I make my way to my office.

Three figures stand up as soon as I enter my office.

One of them bows and the other curtsies.

You're still alive?

Though, the third's jaw dropping makes me turn to him.

That's the boy from the ward...

Shaking my head, I take a few steps forward and pull my hand out for Jacob Trevor. He gives a firm shake and his mother smiles.

"You seem to be in better health than before, Jacob."

How...

Nodding we pull our hands away, as the man exclaims,
"Only because of your recommendation."

My recommendation...

It has been almost a month since we have last met and Jacob Trevor receiving his treatment.

"Only because of your willingness to recover." My gaze points to the band on his ring finger and he blushes a bit.

Shaking his head, he puts a hand on the same boy with a patched cap I met earlier.
"This is my younger brother: Oliver."

Oliver Trevor stiffly nods and keeps looking down.

"He seems like a fine lad to me." I smile, holding out my hand, trying to ignore the nagging voice at the back of my head.

The boy looks at his brother and mother before obliging with a smile.

Mrs Trevor says,
"If it had not been for yer concession, my sonnie wouldn't be treated!"

Mr Trevor smiles.
"As you can see, me entire family is grateful."

Who told you that?

Reading my expression, Mr Trevor says,
"One of the staff nurses told us that you did so, Sir."

Sister Greta...

"Well, this leaves me in an odd situation." I shrug and Mrs Trevor laughs.

"Sir, though we are grateful, I must ask for another favour. I can only imagine how much it must have cost on your pocket!"

Not much since my family is both old and new money.

Even through her bended posture, Mrs Trevor seems taller.

Jacob Trevor at her side stands straighter.

Sighing a playful one with the parchment still at the back of my head, I say,
"Yes?"

"Will you attend my son's engagement ball at the thirty first of March? We cannot pay back the fee, but we would be honoured to have you as our guest."

It takes me a few moments to form words.

Clients and patients have never invited me before.

"Miss Penrose will be there as well and you can bring anyone you like," Jacob supplies and Mrs Trevor pops her eyes.

The younger Trevor snickers, but gulps after his mother's glare.

Mrs Trevor nods after seeing my reddening ears. Rubbing my chin, I say,
"Oh, I would have been obliged even if Miss Penrose were not there, but--"

"Great! Also, me home is exactly next to the Penroses. Timing is seven in the eve," Jacob Trevor says.

But my sister's birthday is on the morn of the exact day.

"Oh, how me will boast about having a doctor at our party!"

"Mamma..."

After seeing them both break into grins, I don't have the heart to tell them the rest of the truth.

Though, the memory of the burnt parchment and a peacock blue cloak remains in my mind.

Hey all! İ hope y'all are fine ❤️
So sorry İ wasn't able to update last week.
İ was releasing the last of bonus content in my other book.

Anyway, I'm actually pleasantly surprised how much the GİF fits. Even the text on it 👀

Oh and the separate section in the female ward is for STD patients. During my research, İ read such sections were pretty hush hush because of the stigma.

Also,
Old money: landowners
New money: industrial employers

Today's chapter is dedicated to my awesome friend orchidwood.
Skye's book 'Witchfire' just got featured, so İ can promise some quality reading material by her ;D

Don't forget to vote! ❤️

Anyway, have a great day amd don't forget to vote!
Love,
MS Zame