Page 26 - Julie Thorley Nine Lives book

A Touch of Sea Air
show! We called at a little tea shop for some cool lemonade before returning home, and I was quite sorry when he shook my hand to leave.
I think I can no longer delude myself. My feelings for Dr Braddock have de nitely changed from appreciation of his medical talents to a more personal affection. And I believe he may be quite fond of me, too. He was certainly most attentive this afternoon, and he calls at the house far more regularly than his professional duties demand. Something must be attracting him.
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How foolish I have been. I can hardly bring myself to tell you.
Cousin Ada and I were chatting pleasantly enough, when the subject of the good doctor came up, as it often does. Ada told me that she was quite sure that Dr Braddock was in love with her,
as he had been calling at the house so frequently, even when I did not need his ministrations. She had noticed, as I had, that his relationship with the household had changed from professional to a much more intimate one. Indeed, she told me she had heard – though would not say how or from whom – that he intended to declare himself very soon!
Can you imagine how I felt? I told her as calmly as I could that it was not polite to assume that she was the object of his affections. Had he hinted at any such thing? She replied that he did not have to: she could just tell what he was thinking by the way he looked at her. I was quite beside myself. I fear that I was about to say something cruel that I might have later regretted, but fortunately Aunt Anna came into the room just as I opened my mouth to retaliate
She came to tell us what she called ‘news that I am sure will make both you so very happy! Dr Braddock is to be married!’ I turned to Ada, expecting to see a look of triumph on her pretty face, but no! She was deathly white and staring accusingly at
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