To Death Shall Thy Part

Chapter 17 - Between Two People

Catherine declined and run inside, leaving a dejected Luke and disappointed onlookers. Catherine ignored all the looks she receive until she arrived at the dorm. Sitting in the bed, she contemplated what just happened. It was not like she wished to embarrass Luke, but she really couldn't say yes to his invitation. It was like there was a part of her that hardly rejects the motion of going out together with Luke, even for a friendly meal.

"But I wasn't even like this when Albert invited me to a tea back then. Weird." Catherine shakes her head to dispel the thought. She composed herself before going back to the hospital. Despite some of the nurses gossiping about what happened earlier, Catherine did not mind and continued her work.

Eventually, the rumors and gossip quietened down after a few days and everything went back to normal. The cycle of waking up early and tending to patients until late evening becomes Catherine's daily habit. This continued for days until one day, Lord Zachary called a general meeting.

Catherine was one of the earliest to arrive at the meeting room. Inside, it was only Doctor Helene alone while drinking a coffee and a newspaper in her hand. Upon seeing Catherine enter the room, Doctor Helene smiled and patted the area to her right indicating for Catherine to sit beside her. Catherine didn't mind and went over. However, as soon as she sat down, she was bombarded with questions.

"So, what is going on between you and Luke? Do you like him? Do you have feelings for him? Is he handsome? What's your status quo? Quickly tell me everything, no more no less."

She felt dizzy hearing Doctor Helene talk so fast. It was as if she was brought to another dimension, she felt like the Doctor Helene in front of her was not the same Doctor she used to know. She inquired with certain excitement in her tone of speech.

"Uhmm... One at the time, Doctor Helene." Catherine said with an awkward smile. Seeing that Catherine was a bit uncomfortable with her inquiries, she said softly. "Sure. Do take your time." She even gave Catherine a glass of water.

Catherine awkwardly accepted the water. After having some water, she finally calmed down and answered Doctor Helene's inquiries. "Well... we are just friends. He just invited me yesterday to tour the village after seeing that I looked tired. I declined him as I wasn't feeling well."

"I see. But don't you find him handsome? Like a husband or lover material. I mean, he is an only son of an aristocratic family. I heard that his father is a baron on Grantham. You won't lose out if you go out with him." Doctor Helene said with a hidden meaning in her speech.

Not truly knowing Catherine's real identity and heritage, Doctor Helene continued to match-make Catherine to Luke. Even the arrival of Lord Zachary and several department heads did not make Doctor Helene stop in her intentions. Lord Zachary who is well acquainted with Catherine's brother and clearly knows her real identity just shakes his head and sighs.

"Doctor Helene, that is enough. The meeting is about to start." Catherine sighed in relief while Doctor Helene pouted in annoyance. Lord Zachary pretended that he did not see what just happened and proceeds with the meeting.

"I called you all today to inform you that today is the last day of our medical mission here in Oakwood. We have been able to greatly help the hospital here by treating almost a thousand patients in a month. It is truly a joyous moment seeing our patient go home in full recovery, for that I applaud you all for your effort and hard work."

A Series of claps can be heard inside the room. Some clapped in happiness with some clapped to congratulate themselves. After the clapping died down, Lord Zachary talked again.

"This time, we will travel to another location. We are going to Durham. According to the survey conducted by the medical team back on the mainland, Durham is the second province in the country that needed health care the most. This Medical Mission aims not only to lessen the viruses and infections spreading to suburban places but also wishes to cure people with illness that is within our capabilities. So, get ready, pack up and we will leave at one o'clock in the afternoon. Any questions?" Lord Zachary glanced at every doctor present. Doctor Helene raised a hand.

"Will we have the same timeline? Will we also stay at Durham for a month? I do not have any objections to the arrangement, but do we have enough supplies to cater to the sick? The stocks we brought mostly covered up the patients here."

Several doctors nodded as they felt it was a matter that need throughout the discussion. "Calm down everyone. Do not worry, I checked the supplies and it is true that almost half and a quarter of our medical supplies have been used, so the day before, I sent a letter to the Health Association and our hospital to send two batches of supplies. They already sent them in advance to the clinic in Durham." Lord Zachary assured them of this piece of news.

"That's good to hear then. So what's next?" Doctor Helene smiled with a hidden meaning. Lord Zachary ignored her again and just went on to the next topic.

"Before we end our meeting, I would like to address a certain concern. I hope that you all can just focus on your work and not gossip about others. I'll dismiss you early so you could pack up your things on time and take a quick rest before we go. So I hope there won't be another episode about this matter and everyone does understand my intentions!"

At the end of his speech, he looked in Doctor Helene's direction to emphasize his intention. Doctor Helen just sighed and nodded her head in acknowledgment of the statement. "Good. Dismissed." after speaking, Lord Zachary dragged a grumpy Doctor Helene outside before she could ask Catherine another question. Catherine was grateful for this and she stood up getting ready to leave when Luke, who was sitting across her spoke.

"Catherine, Can we talk? Privately?" Catherine was a bit hesitant to say yes, but thinking about what happened the previous time, and how she might have been rude to him by ignoring him these past few days, she decided to clear the air between the two of them and nodded.

"Let's talk in the garden outside."

Garden Grounds

After arriving, Luke did not speak. Catherine also did not talk, patiently waiting for Luke to open up first. Catherine secretly took a glance at Luke who seems to be hesitating to speak as he open his mouth in an attempt to speak but no words came out.

"I'm sorry. I was insensitive. It was my fault for asking you out in public where many are looking. You might have been uncomfortable answering that. I should have thought about it thoroughly. Then there are these rumors circulating about it too." Luke sighed.

"It is really fine. Either way, I was really planning on rejecting it no matter where the location or the time that you'd asked." Catherine blurted out in response. Luke looked at Catherine in astonishment before nodding.

"Catherine... I-" Luke did not continue his words and looked down to his feet. There was utter silence between the two of them. Catherine also did not talk she only waited for Luke to continue on. It was not intentional that Catherine did not speak rather, she has nothing to say.

"Catherine, to be honest... I like you... I like you since the first time I saw you. That's why I want to ask you on a dinner date. To get to know you more."