The Armored Doctor (Curiosity Chronicles Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

physician and prosthetics outfitter .
    She snatched her hand back. Could this really be the residence of the harried doctor that came to the apothecary four days ago? Was it he who placed the notice in the paper?
    Abigail questioned whether she had taken down the correct address. If memory served, this was the right place. But what would Dr. Valerian make of her standing at his door, especially after she had unwittingly succeeded in irritating him only a short time ago?
    Instinct prompted her to leave before someone answered the door, but she needed a job. This was the only one available. She had to try. Perhaps the doctor’s mood had improved.
    The door opened. An older man, dressed in a dark uniform of neatly pressed trousers and suit coat, regarded her with a calm, genteel air. “Good morning, Miss. Do you have an appointment to see Dr. Valerian?”
    “No, sir.” She folded her cold hands together. “But I am here in answer to the advertisement.”
    The man’s flicker of surprise went nearly undetected, save for the twitching of his right eye. “You’re applying for the assistant position?”
    “Has it been filled?”
    “No, but,” he trailed as he regarded her with obvious thought, “I believe the doctor was expecting the position to be filled by a man.”
    Abigail was prepared for such a reaction. “I understand, but I have prior experience assisting in a physician’s practice.”
    “That may be so, but Dr. Valerian’s practice requires somewhat of a liberal outlook to work in. More liberal than what you may be used to.”
    What did he mean? Since he went to such trouble to cloak the details of the job, Abigail doubted that he would be more straightforward if she asked. “I can be very open-minded, sir. May I please speak with the doctor?”
    “He’s not present at the moment.”
    Of course any proper domestic servant would say that to be rid of unwanted visitors, whether or not the master was at home. But she wouldn’t give up that easily. “I’m willing to wait.”
    “He won’t be back until noon. If you would leave a calling card, I’ll make sure he receives it.”
    “I don’t have a calling card.”
    The man gave a mild frown. “Do you have a reference letter from your previous employer?”
    A cold wind made Abigail’s ears burn. “To be honest, I hastened here from the employment office in east Holborn as soon as I saw the advertisement.”
    The wind painted rouge on the tip of the man’s nose. “I can take your name and your request for Dr. Valerian. But it’s quite cold out here. Would you care for some tea inside while you wait?”
    Abigail nodded. Dr. Valerian’s domestic servant, though very dutiful in  screening his master’s visitors, was courteous. “Thank you. I would.”
    She stepped inside the house. Immediately her feet sank in the plush rug near the door. The interior of Dr. Valerian’s foyer was not filled with elaborate décor as was the current style, but it was clean, well-lit by gas lamps, and most important of all, warm.
    His servant directed her into the parlor and to an armchair in front of the hearth, where a fire crackled below the mantle. “Wait here.” He walked down another hallway.
    Abigail sat for no more than a few minutes before he returned. He held a leather-bound book in his hands. “This is Dr. Valerian’s ledger. Since you don’t have a card, I thought this would suffice to, oh dear, this isn’t good.”
    “What is it?”
    He lifted several sheets of paper from the ledger. “The doctor forgot his notes. He’s give a demonstration of one of his armored devices today. In less than thirty minutes, in fact.”
    Abigail looked at the grandfather clock beside the mantle when it struck eleven. “Where is he giving the demonstration?”
    “The lecture hall at the New Britannia College of Science. But my wife and I must remain at our posts in case the first afternoon patient arrives early.” The domestic servant broke into a brisk pace for the