Falling For The Enigmatic Physician (Preview)

Chapter One

We must make the announcement soon, Margot.’ Reginald Barrington spoke with an authority to his tone. 

As the Earl of Kenilworth and the head of the household, Margot was well used to the demanding nature of her father and yet, he did not fully understand what he was asking her to do.

‘Papa,’ Margot began. ‘Please, can we not leave it until after the season? There is enough excitement with all the upcoming balls and gala’s. Besides, it will give me chance to prepare myself better.’

It was a lie, of course. She had no more desire to marry Lord Rupert Radcliffe, than she had to throw herself into the icy cold lake that lay nearby their Cornwall home. If she had to marry at all, she would much prefer a man who was at least in some way, similar to herself. A man who enjoyed reading and learning. A man with whom she could engage in intelligent conversation, and a man who cared more for the people with nothing more than the clothes on their backs and the roofs over their heads. Not some rake with a reputation.

‘I do not understand your reasons to wait, Margot,’ her father replied. ‘What is the difference between announcing it now and announcing it in two or three month’s time? You do realise, he may be swept up by another if we wait until after the season. Are you willing to take that chance?’

Margot, or Lady Margareta, as her full title was, would leap at such providence. If Lord Radcliffe happened to find another suitor, how could it possibly harm her? Though, in truth, she would not wish the man upon any woman. To marry him had never been her desire and it never would. The man utterly repulsed her, for not only was he arrogant and cruel, the man was also a libertine. Whilst she had no actual evidence of his so-called philandering, she had no doubt that the rumours held some truth, for there were so many of them.

‘I am only asking for a little time, papa.’ Margot replied carefully.

Her father gazed at her from behind the desk in his study where they were having the conversation. A stern faced man with a receding hair line, her father had allowed the luxuries of his lifestyle to widen his waist. The jowls of his cheeks hung a little below his jawline and Margot had noted of late, how they wobbled slightly when he became overly irate. 

Whilst her mother had taken good care of her health and her figure over the years, her father, now rotund and a little dormant in his activities, preferred to ignore the results of his sedentary life style and instead, indulged in the comforts that his position provided. Ignoring any warnings from both herself and her mother, her father had dismissed their concerns for his health as silly nonsense. Yet, Margot being an avid reader, already had some theories on the damage he may be doing to himself. It mattered little. Her father was too arrogant and stubborn to listen to any other’s opinion.

‘I am confused by your reticence, Margot. Lord Radcliffe is a good fit for you. His lands and wealth will be able to keep you in a comfortable lifestyle. You will want for nothing.’

Apart from his fidelity.

‘Father, I know you are wanting the best for me, however, I do think you know that Lord Radcliffe and I, are very different people. It concerns me that we will have little to talk about or that we will not get along.’

‘Oh, do not talk such nonsense, Margot. I am certain you will find some common ground between you. The man is rather accomplished, you know. He is well-educated and comes from great stock.’

‘Perhaps that is true, Papa. It does not always mean that the person is true and honest. His education and his stock do not define him as a person.’

‘Then what does, Margot? How can a man define himself, if not by his nobility had heritage.’

‘By his actions of course, Papa. You know well of many men from noble stock who are not particularly reputable people. I have heard you condemn these men many times.’

‘Yes, you have. Yet, this situation is different, Margot.’

Yes, indeed. Different because her father was uniting her and Radcliffe for his own gains. Margot was unsure of what they were as of yet, but she was not fool enough to dismiss her father’s pressing urgency for her to be wed to a man she not only hardly knew, but for a certainty, had no feelings for. 

‘Why can I not wait, Papa? There is much I would like to do and see before committing to such a permanent arrangement.’

‘Margot, you are now twenty-two years of age. Look at you. You are a beautiful young woman with your unusual turquoise eyes and your chestnut hair. I could not see such loveliness go to waste. You know well how society works. If you wait for too long, you will be dismissed as too old no matter your handsomeness. Would you prefer to live your life as a spinster?’

‘I would prefer to live my life with choices, Papa.’

‘You do have choices. You will be able to choose all of your wedding garb, how you would like the wedding and where it will take place.’

What was the point in even trying to reason with him? Men could not possibly understand the weight that women were forced to carry. Seen in society as the higher and more important, their word was final, no matter if it completely ignored the wants and desires of the women involved in their decisions. Her father was no different and never had been. Yet, the world was changing and views were changing. Unfortunately, her father did not want to see or accept what was coming and besides, if she were forced to marry Lord Radcliffe, the freedom of choice would matter little to her.

Margot was not against marriage. She was not an extremist in any way. Yet, with her comprehensive education and her ability to read, something she enjoyed doing more than any other thing, she was not only highly educated, but also kept herself well-informed. Ironically, a well-informed woman was seen as an asset in presenting oneself as a dutiful wife. The irony being, a woman ought not to have an opinion, nor to show she had the ability of wit or intelligence. It was confusing to say the least. Yet, they were the societal expectations that the masses followed, and so, she had been forced to do the same.

Growing up, the idea of a loving and caring husband had always appealed to her, and in her teenage years, she had fantasized of long walks and intelligent and enlightening conversations. Perhaps she and her husband would have children, and there would be laughter and gaiety swirling around her home. 

All those ideals had been dashed to pieces when her father had informed her, only two months previously, that he had arranged a union between herself and Radcliffe. A man whose wandering eye was well reported upon and who seemed never to be out of the gentleman’s clubs and gambling establishments. Of course, she had met him several times, and on each occasion, she had barely been able to speak, for he had commandeered the conversation and had addressed his remarks to her father, rather than speak to her at all.

Bragging of his families lands and of his accomplishments, he had regaled her father with his hunting expertise and the higher and well-to do nobles he was acquainted with. Her father had soaked it all in and lapped up the fickle compliments that Radcliffe had poured upon him, but any person with eyes and ears could see that his words held no substance and were clearly disingenuous.

Her mother, Lady Dinah Barrington, had sat beside Margot on his last visit, silent as always. Yet Margot sensed that even her mother’s stiff position as she sat, masked her true feelings and her facial expression as she stood to bid Radcliffe a farewell at the end of the visit, betrayed relief at his departure. Unlike Margot, Lady Barrington, the dutiful wife and mother, seemed always to be contained, never speaking out if she disagreed with something. It infuriated Margot, for witnessing her mother allowing herself to be swept along in her father’s wake was more than demeaning.

Clearly, she had been raised in a different time and Margot knew well, that her mother’s childhood had patterned how she now behaved, and yet, it was almost like she had conceded her right to have an opinions at all. Accepting with no fight, that her life ought to be led by men and that she had no power to change her circumstances.

When Margot had mentioned it, her mother had silenced her and instructed her that, that was the way things were done and Margot must simply accept them. If she caused any disruption or gained a reputation for speaking out against how she was expected to behave, she would give herself a bad name and then there would be little chance of her marrying. Yet, Margot cared little. She could not imagine living her life like her mother. Nodding in agreement to every decision her husband made with no consideration or opinion.

If Margot were to be married, she would want a husband who would not only consider her opinion, but would actively seek it. A relationship of two people ought to be a union of common interests, not a dictatorship. And yet, as she had witnessed already in her young life, that is what many marriages appeared to be, especially with the older generation.

It would appear, that now, despite her protests, she too would have little choices of how her life would turn out. Only, it would be worse. Bad enough that her opinions or desires were utterly dismissed without thought, she was going to be forced to marry a man whose reputation for womanising, did not seem to affect him or still his endeavours. If she did marry Radcliffe, how would she refrain him for continuing in his activities? And who would listen to her when she wished to object to it?

Perhaps she could attempt to get her father to see the reality of the situation, one last time. She could hardly complain about her mother having little fight in her, if she, herself did not have such either.

‘Papa, may I please speak, freely?’

‘It has hardly stopped you before, Margot,’ her father replied, raising an eyebrow at her knowingly.

‘You say that you cannot understand my need to wait, and yet, I cannot help but think that you are aware of the reputation that precedes, Lord Radcliffe.’

Her father stiffened slightly and pushed himself straighter in his chair.

‘I know not of what you speak, Margot. Furthermore, I resent your insinuation.’

‘I am not insinuating anything father. Perhaps, I am mistaken in my assumptions. Yet, I have heard many things already and can only be surprised that these things have not reached you, given your station in our parish and the people with whom you associate. Only last week, mother and I were in the town buying material when I overheard two women in the shop discussing Lord Radcliffe and his wandering eye. They were talking of him being seen with a young woman alone, out riding in his barouche.’

‘This is nonsense!’ Her father barked harshly. ‘I will not sit here and listen to such drivel, Margot. I raised you better than to listen to such gossip from whittering women with little else to do with their time. I forbid you to speak of such things again to me, for I know the man and I know his family. Such chitter chatter from idle lips irks me greatly.’

Margot could not have been more surprised at his reaction, for whilst she had been a little dubious in bringing it up, she could not have imagined her father reacting in such an explosive way. Her words had hardly deserved such a vehement retort and yet, her father now sat before her, red faced and near seething.

‘I apologise, father. I did not mean to upset you so.’

‘And yet, you have, Margot. I refuse to sit here and listen to your concerns without any evidence other than vicious gossip. You have much yet to learn about the world, Margot. Jealousy amongst nobles is not unheard of, yet, the envy of the lower classes is rife. They see us nobles as a threat and will do and say anything to undermine out positions. You must learn to ignore such rubbish, for if you go around repeating such, you could destroy a man’s reputation entirely.’

Margot, even though she was a little shaken by her father’s reaction, could not help but disagree with much that he had said. The lower class people in their town did not see them as a threat at all. In fact, Margot knew many of them and in her associating with them, understood their plight and conditions well. Struggling from day to day to provide for their families, they had far more important concerns than the activities of the nobles. As for destroying a man’s reputation, well, it would appear Lord Radcliffe in his arrogance, could not care less about his reputation. Evidently, he felt himself too untouchable to care what other’s said about him. 

Given the fact that he was soon to be her husband, that realisation only concerned Margot more. Her father would not be reasoned with, her mother could not stand up for her and she was to be given to a man who would not care about her or her feelings. 

An overwhelming feeling of hopelessness suddenly enveloped Margot and as she sighed heavily, she excused herself from the room. All her ideals of fighting and standing up for oneself were, in theory, grand gestures. Yet, in the real world, they were powerless. Forced to accept her fate and having no other choices, how was she supposed to oppose an entire system all by herself? 

Chapter Two

The gentleman’s club in London was busy, even for a Thursday evening. Doctor Neil Jennings sat across the table from his older brother, Samuel Jennings enjoying their dinner and contributing to the buzz of men’s voices surrounding them with their own conversation. 

‘Are you certain this is what you want to do, Neil?’

Neil regarded his brother and noted the concerned frown upon his brow. There were separated by six years and though they were raised to be individual thinkers, the brothers had always remained close. Neil had long discarded the need for his brother’s approval over his decisions, for at the age of twenty- five, he was mature and intelligent enough to reach his own conclusions. However, that did not mean that he did not disclose his intentions and plans and enjoyed hearing his brother’s opinion. There were few people he would confide such things to, and to have another person of similar intellect to bounce ideas off, had been beneficial, even if some of Samuel’s objections had not changed Neil’s ideals.

Not very alike in looks, they only really shared the same black hair that had been passed down from their mother’s side of the family. Often, when they were introduced as brother’s in any social capacity, there were seeming looks of surprise from people, that they could be related at all. Whereas Neil was tall, broad shouldered and lean, for he had made it his intention to look after his health well, his brother had far too much enjoyed the indulgences of his London life. He was hardly overweight, and yet, he could not be described as slender either.

Neil often teased him for sitting around his office too much, instead of taking some regular exercise, and Samuel would counter that he did not always have the privilege of time in which to do so. Being a successful barrister for the upper classes on London, his schedule was full and his brother often lamented that his time was never his own. Yet Neil was well aware of the many dinners and society gatherings that Samuel attended and the richness of the foods he enjoyed on such occasions.

‘I am tired, Samuel, of the constant entitlement of the rich. Their demanding ways and expectancies are arrogant to say the least and do not get me started on their necessity of gossip. They do nothing but brag of their accomplishments even though many have accomplished little but happen to be the son or daughter of wealthy and noble parents.’

‘You sound bitter, dear brother. That is hardly the way to speak given our own background.’

‘Our own background?’ Neil scoffed. ‘I had to work for my living, Samuel, as did you. Graduating from St. Bartholomew’s Hospital was no easy task and whilst my practise here brings me in a very good income, money alone cannot give me the satisfaction of purpose.’

‘And yet, was that not the reason we worked so hard? The hours of study and struggle against all odds to gain not only our positions but our reputations, was surely to secure our future by serving those who could pay us well.’

‘That may satisfy you, Samuel, but is has been some time since it filled the need that I have deep within me. I am treating the same people over and over because they continue with their same behaviours. They take no responsibility for their health and well-being, and there will come a time that I will not be able to help them at all. Yet, I do feel that I am going around in circles.’

‘You are throwing much away, Neil. Your most recent accomplishment is beyond compare, for there are hardly many who can say they have been shortlisted to be the Regent’s private physician. Surely, the honour of such an opportunity would make you reconsider.’

‘Why is there any more honour in serving the Regent than serving the poorer people who actually need my expertise? 

‘Oh come now, Neil. That is a preposterous comparison. You cannot truly believe they are equal.’

‘When I graduated as a doctor, Samuel, my purpose was to treat all men and women as equal. The Regent in his grand palace, is no more deserving of medicine than the poor man living in a shack or a tiny cottage. In fact,’ Neil lowered his voice. ‘They are not even equal, in the fact that the Regent can choose whether he has good health in the choices he makes. The poorer demographic are imprisoned in their circumstances. Only the other day I overheard of a young boy dying by being trampled by a horse. He was a cross sweeper and as he ventured across the street, clearing the way for the lady who wanted to make her way to the other side without standing in anything unsanitary, a single rider came pounding around the street corner and the poor boy was caught under the horses hooves. He was nine years old, Samuel.’

‘I struggle to see that as a valid comparison,’ Samuel replied, shaking his head dismissively.

‘It is simple, my dear brother. The child was out trying to earn a wage for his poor family. Had his family have been of any wealth, the child may still be alive today.’

‘But, you can say that about many circumstances. There are also many nobles who have lost children to Diphtheria and fevers.’

‘I am not disputing that fact. I am simply stating that some people’s choices and circumstances are better than others. You cannot in all honesty deny, that there is a need for medical assistance to those people who cannot afford to pay for expensive doctor’s or medicines.’

‘Perhaps, I cannot. I am neither blind, nor am I a fool, and yet, I still think your decision is rash. You have a good home here in London and many opportunities ahead of you, if you decide to take this path, how will you live, Neil? If you are to see to the poor and they cannot afford to pay you, how will you not become a poor man yourself?’

‘I can see to both, Samuel. The wealthy can pay me what I charge, and the poor can have my services for much less.’

‘Yet, that is hardly fair.’

‘Please, do not tell me what is fair. This life and existence is not fair. I have already stated it to you. Most of the upper class are nobles are only wealthy by chance or by marriage. Fortunate in that they were born into such a situation. Why can the lower classes not benefit from their excessive abundances? It makes perfect sense to me.’

‘It may not make perfect sense to your wealthy patients when they discover such a practise.’

‘I cannot see why it is any of their business what I charge and whom I charge. Besides, these nobles are always talking about charitable offerings. This will be a chance for them to give of themselves to help those who have less than they do.’

‘I do think you are quite mad, brother. To leave such an opportunity in London to help the poor, truly, I wonder if it is not you who needs the medical help.’

Samuel did not understand his motivations and Neil was not entirely surprised. Unlike his brother, Neil had grown tired of the superficial lifestyle that surrounded the rich and wealthy elitists of London. For the most part, their health suffered due to their unwise choices, not because of circumstances that they could not control. Indulging in too much wine, rich foods and far too many promiscuous encounters, their health issues were mostly acquired by decisions that they made, with little care to the consequences.

Of course, there were the diseases that ran rife throughout London, too. Neil was not ignorant of the fact that some of the clients he had attended to, and the deaths he had sadly witnessed, were unavoidable, for not all of the wealthy led such risky lives. Yet, for the majority of his visits, it was clear that a poor diet, little exercise and overindulgence were the main culprits of many of the symptoms he dealt with.

It was not only frustration that he felt, but a constant niggling in the back of his mind as he often recalled his own childhood. Having well educated parents had definitely helped both himself and his brother to reach out for higher goals, and yet, the small town just outside London where he had been raised, had been full of people whose lifestyles did not reflect wealth at all. In fact, apart from the local nobles, the majority of those in his town were poor. Yes, they worked hard, and yet, even with long and hard days, they barely covered the cost of feeding their families and keeping their homes. 

His original purpose of becoming a doctor had been to help those people. The motivation behind all of his studies and learning was to provide assistance and comfort for those who needed his expertise the most, not the rich and elite. The friends he had grown up with who had not had the privilege to receive even a basic education due to their own parents lack of knowledge, had simply not had the opportunities that had been open to him. Just like those born into nobility, their circumstances had been a roll of the dice in the grand scheme of where their position stood in the world.

Both Neil and his brother, Samuel, had been more fortunate. No, they had not been born into nobility and yet, their providence had been in the fact that both of their parents had been well-educated. Their mother, Ella Jennings having been taught to read at a young age, had always been curious about the world, wanting to discover the treasures she may find if she travelled further afield. It came as no surprise then, that she met their father, John Jennings, a budding scientists and archaeologist, in a local reading room.

After their marriage, their plans to travel and discover the secrets that the world had to offer, were scuppered when their mother discovered she was pregnant with Samuel only four months after their wedding. Whilst it gave them a new focus of concentration, his parents had never given up on their dreams of travel. Though, they could not have been more delighted, or so they told him, when they discovered that his mother fell pregnant once more with himself.

Neil could only recall happy and interesting memories of his childhood. Not rich but neither poor, his parents instilled within him and Samuel, an inquisitive and open mind. ‘Develop a yearning for learning,’ his mother would always say. Yet, she did not only try and teach them by words, for his yearning for learning was developed by her unique way of teaching. 

Incorporating physical and interesting ways, his mother even used accidents to teach him, like the time he spilled a glass of milk on the table, and instead of becoming upset, she pointed out the different ways that volume of a substance could appear given their containment and non-containment. Something that had proved useful in his studies, particular with regard to blood flow and spillage.

Finally, his parents had managed to realise their dream of travel and having waved Samuel and Neil off to study their respective choices, his mother and father had packed up and headed across the ocean to America, where they currently sought out new discovery to send back to their archaeological bodies and museums alike.

‘Does mother and father know of your decision?’ Samuel asked, his frown returning.

‘I have sent word, but I doubt they will hear of it for several weeks yet. Even when they do, it will take several weeks for me to hear of their opinions.’

‘I think they would feel as I do, that you are quite mad.’

‘I disagree, Samuel. I think mother and father would understand my motivations entirely and support me in my decision.’

‘Well, I suppose we will have to wait for their reply to discover which of is right, will we not?’ Samuel near huffed. ‘It is my opinion though, that you are throwing away a huge opportunity to serve people who cannot pay you.’

‘Then it is fortunate that I care little for your opinion, is it not, Samuel?’

‘Oh do not be like that, Neil. I do not wish us to fall out over this. It is only that I worry for your well-being that I state my concern.’

‘And I do appreciate your concern, Samuel. I apologise. I did not mean to sound ungrateful, yet, there is something inside me that compels me to follow this course of action and I cannot in good faith, back out from it now.’

‘Then do you have a place organised? A practise to begin from?’

‘I do indeed, let me tell you all about it.’

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“Falling For The Enigmatic Physician” is an Amazon Best-Selling novel, check it out here!

Lady Margareta Barrington is to be married to Lord Radcliffe, not only a man she does not love, but whose reputation of being a rake precedes him. However, her father will not even consider her concerns. Fortunately, a young and handsome doctor, Neil Jennings, arrives from London, determined to make a new start in the town of Truro after having his heart broken. On each occasion they meet, Margot recognises their similar values, for he also supports equal opportunities for the poor and the wealthy, and finds herself unable to resist spending time with him and contributing to his cause.

What she could not have realised at the time, was how easily she would fall in love with him…

Neil has made the decision to not allow anyone from the upper class to steal his heart again, and yet, it appears that the heart defies the mind as he gets closer to Margot. Desperate to save her from a cruel and loveless marriage, both he and Margot try to prove to her father that Lord Radcliffe is the wrong man for his daughter.

With many hurdles in his path, but his love illuminating the way, Doctor Neil Jennings has a difficult journey ahead…

Even through class division, true love reigns eternal, for one cannot choose who one falls in love with. However, will Margot and Neil ever manage to defeat Lord Radcliffe’s scheme that stands in their way? Try as they might, they cannot seem to find a way out, despite their strong affection. Will they be forced to live in the misery of knowing they can never be together? Or will Margot’s father finally see the truth and allow them to follow their hearts?

“Falling For The Enigmatic Physician” is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

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