Chapter Text
Part One
Chapter One
Boston 1812
Morning arrived reluctantly, winter light creeping across the city as though the sun wished to delay the doctor's work. At least, that was what the doctor thought, lying in bed.
No, that was not possible, she reprimanded herself. The sun was only slower to rise, signalling winter's arrival. Her second favourite season, after spring. Definitely spring.
Sighing, she stretched and rose to greet the chill no longer shielded by layers of blankets. She rubbed her arms, trying in vain to warm herself. She didn't mind; the cold was refreshing, the air crisp, the city still.
She smiled softly and was about to dress when she heard a knock at her door. Sighing again, she called,
"Come in, Trudy."
Trudy stepped in and smiled warmly at the doctor. Although she tried to hide her affection, it slipped through for a brief moment before she masked it.
"Good morning, Maura. How are you, my love?"
Maura always found Trudy's endearments amusing and wonderful. Trudy was more than her maid; she was family. Moments like this, their quiet mornings before Maura's busy schedule took over, were some of her favourites. Shaking her head, she scolded herself. She was a doctor; she knew hearts couldn't physically burst from emotion.
Really, Maura, you think the oddest things sometimes.
"Good morning, Trudy. I'm well, thank you. How are you?" She couldn't help but return her warm smile.
"Good, Maura, I am good. You look like you're glowing this morning. What has you so happy, child?"
Maura's smile widened, her hazel eyes bright with enthusiasm. "Oh, Trudy, it's such a beautiful morning. The cold is wonderful, don't you think?"
Trudy scoffed and rolled her light grey eyes, the web of wrinkles beside them deepening as she playfully smacked the doctor on the arm.
"Child, you know the answer to that. The cold is miserable. It isn't good for my old bones; they protest something fierce."
"Well, I shall have to do something about that, won't I?"
"Nonsense. I can take care of myself, my dear."
"As I have been telling you about myself for quite some time now. You don't need to take care of me. I am a grown woman of thirty-seven years."
Although Maura often protested Trudy's fussing, she loved having her around. Apart from her father, fiancé, and a few close friends, Trudy was one of the greatest joys in her life.
Maura had always been fiercely independent and somewhat reserved. She believed there was little point troubling another grown woman to look after her when she was perfectly capable herself. The only reason she tolerated being fussed over was that Trudy loved caring for others.
Although blessed with a remarkable ability to retain information, Maura was not nearly as gifted when it came to socialising. Even so, she had learned to read facial expressions and could often decipher what a person was thinking or feeling by looking at them.
Maura knew her life would never be the same if this woman with grey eyes, even greyer hair, and a heart overflowing with love were to leave her.
She was drawn from her thoughts by the woman herself.
"Maura, child, we have this same conversation at least once every week, and I shall continue to give you the same answer if it is the death of me."
She took Maura's soft, delicate hands into her own calloused, wrinkled ones.
"As far as I am concerned, you are my daughter, and it is my greatest pleasure to look after you as a mother does her child."
"Oh, I know, Trudy, I know. I worry about you. You're not getting any younger, pardon my frankness, and you shouldn't be taking care of me. You should be taking care of yourself."
Trudy released Maura's hands.
"For an exceptionally smart woman, you can be as dumb as a sack of doorknobs sometimes, my dear child."
At Maura's raised eyebrow and obvious urge to protest, Trudy held up a hand.
"No, enough. You will be late if you don't stop fussing over me."
Before turning towards her oversized dressing room, Maura caught the sheen of tears in the older woman's eyes and regretted what she'd said. Trudy always seemed to think Maura was trying to get rid of her in conversations like this.
Maura blinked back her tears and resolved to reassure Trudy later. For now, however, she needed to get ready. Her patients were not going to disappear, and the day would not wait for her.
J&M
After Trudy finished dressing her for the day, Maura thanked her with a kiss on her plump cheek and a grateful smile before heading downstairs in search of her father. At this time of morning, the dining room was the likely place to find him, and that was where she went.
Upon entering the dining room, however, she found her father absent. Maura frowned and glanced around the formal room, hoping to see him walk in at any moment. When several minutes passed without any sign of him, she realised he must have been tied up with more important matters and had eaten breakfast earlier.
It was a rare occurrence, as she and her father loved dining together, but on the mornings he had to miss it, there was little to be done. Running his law firm kept him busy. Although disappointed, Maura gathered herself and headed to the kitchen.
The moment she stepped into the kitchen, she was bombarded by a handful of young maids who adored her. Maura often thought her father employed far too many servants for just the two of them and had told him so repeatedly, only to be gently dismissed.
"Poppycock, my dear Maura. They all have their place, and I feel better knowing you are well cared for. Besides, I enjoy employing them. I give them an honest wage, so they won't have to struggle. They can live comfortably now, and it will help immensely once they are married."
This was her father's constant argument, and she had to admit he was right. She loved him all the more for his generosity and the respect he showed the women he employed.
"Maura, Maura!" Emily squealed as she dived into Maura's chest, her slim arms wrapping tightly around her middle.
Maura chuckled, gasping as Emily's arms knocked the breath from her, and hugged the girl back. Emily had been employed by Richard Isles for barely a month, but already she had wormed her way into Maura's heart. She possessed an enthusiasm that Maura found impossible not to like. At fifteen, Emily had never treated Maura as though she were strange. If anything, Maura's love of science, nature, and odd terminology seemed to draw the young girl closer still.
"How are you, Maura? I missed you so," Emily said into Maura's shoulder, still clinging to her.
Maura was not a particularly affectionate person. Physical contact often left her feeling awkward and unsure, but Emily never seemed to notice.
The young girl finally released her, her smile bright and wide.
"You missed me? Why, it's only been one night, love."
"I know, but you're my friend."
"And I am yours, Emily."
Emily beamed.
"Have you had your breakfast?"
"Yes, porridge. It was yummy."
"Only because you drowned it in honey, Emily," Daffney said, smirking.
"What's wrong with that?" Emily countered defensively.
"Nothing, only that Miss Isles asked what you had for breakfast and you said porridge. I think you meant honey."
It was now Emily's turn to roll her eyes.
Daffney was taller, brasher, and more sarcastic than the other girls. She delighted in teasing Emily, who usually gave as good as she got. The two were inseparable. At first, Maura had struggled with Daffney's sharp tongue, often avoiding the seventeen-year-old.
Looking back now, Maura scoffed at herself for being so intimidated by a mere girl of seventeen. Eventually, she had come to realise that Daffney's teasing was never intended to wound; it was who she was.
"You're so not funny, Daffney," Emily stated flatly.
Daffney's teal eyes sparkled with mischief as she lightly smacked Emily with her dishcloth before returning to her work.
"Miss Isles… um, what would you li-like for breakfast?"
The voice was so soft and timid that Maura struggled to hear it over the lively noise filling the kitchen. Turning, she spotted the mousy brown hair of the quietest of the three girls, Melany.
"I'm sorry, Melany, honey, what did you say?" Maura asked gently, straining to hear the small girl.
Melany blushed furiously under Emily's impatient glance and tried again.
"I um… Miss Isles, I asked what… what you would like for breakfast?"
Her brown eyes, pink cheeks, and scattering of freckles were endearing, and Maura smiled genuinely. Of the three girls, she felt closest to Melany. The girl reminded her of herself: shy, quiet, and awkward.
The only difference between them was the spectacles perched atop Melany's small upturned nose, which made her already large eyes appear even bigger. Doctor Isles, of course, did not require glasses.
Richard had paid for Melany's spectacles despite her parents' objections. They could not afford them, yet Melany desperately needed them to see properly.
Though embarrassed, her parents had been deeply grateful and insisted on repaying him. Richard eventually relented after seeing Melany's father's determination, agreeing to accept repayment only when the family could comfortably afford it.
"Hmm…" Maura placed one hand upon her hip while the fingers of the other rested against her lips, pretending to give the question great consideration, earning a giggle from both girls.
"I think I shall have porridge, two pieces of toast, a bowl of fruit, and a cup of tea, please, Melany. Thank you for asking."
She smiled at them and, after chatting for a while longer, returned to the dining room to wait for her breakfast.