Chapter 21 – Teacher VI

Louisa chortled from the doorway as I tried to cover myself more adequately.

"Louisa, I, uh, had no idea, you'd come… up the stair. I was…" My words skidded to a stop as her tinkling laugh filled the room. I froze as she laughed loudly.

She finally stopped laughing and wiped her eyes with her hands. "Sorry, Martin. Didn't mean to make fun."

"I am merely getting clean, uhm, clothing," I managed to finish.

She blinked her eyes rapidly and her face showed a smile. "Martin, we have seen one another… in the buff," she said. "So… go right back to what you were doing."

"Yes… right." I ducked my head, hitched the towel slightly higher and then gathered undershirt, shirt, trousers, boxer shorts, and socks; all with one hand.

I turned and she was now leaning against the doorframe. Red-faced I had to go past her to the bath, so without further word I raced past her and got to the bathroom. Just in time, for the tub was nearly overflowing.

I set my clothing on the towel seat, closed the faucet and turned to close the door. I saw now how lined Louisa's face looked. "You must be exhausted," I said to her.

"Little bit."

"You can have a lie down, if you want… that is if you wish… take a rest… ahm… while I wash."

"Martin, that's not necessary."

"No, I insist."

Now she looked cautious.

"You have been in this bedroom before," I stated the obvious. "When we ahm..."

Her face grinned slightly. "I do recall…" she began to fiddle with her hair, "Yes… a few times."

I could count on both hands the number of times we had slept together. Half of the times here and half at her cottage. There she stood, her pregnant belly standing proud, her full breasts nearly ready to feed our baby when the time came. But her weight gain appeared to be very appropriate. Louisa had kept herself fit, and she was, there was only one word, beautiful. Oh, Louisa how didwe let things get here?

My bath was waiting, and I needed a wash, so why was I hesitating? Just close the door Martin and get on with it.

"Martin?" she asked softly.

"Yes?"

She sighed. "What are we doing? I mean…" she put a hand on her belly. "This, and me, and you? What's it all mean? You living up here and me across the harbor and our baby will be here soon."

I cleared my throat. "I have been thinking about leaving Portwenn," came out all in a rush.

"What?"

Now the truth had to come out. "I have nearly been offered a job in London; back to surgery."

"Nearly?"

"Yes. I have had the job interview and it went well. It is a fabulous chance for me, Louisa."

She startled. "Oh, so… you'll be going? That it?" She looked away and her ponytail whipped like the contortions of an angry snake.

"I…" I still had the taste of bile in my throat from vomiting up my lunch down in the mine. "But am not certain."

Now she stared at me. "You? Not certain? What about?"

I shrugged and had to pull the towel higher for it was slipping. "Going back to surgery. My aversion to blood continues to be a challenge."

She crossed her arms. "Can't have you sick in surgery, can they?"

I sighed. "No. But that's not what I need to say to you."

"Oh?"

From the way her eyes angrily flashed at me she must think this was about Edith.

"Come on, Mar-tin! Just spit it out, will you?" she nearly shouted.

There I stood, filthy, nearly naked but for a too-small towel and I was about to bare my soul to her. "When you left for London…"

"Yes?" she snapped.

"You must have been, uhm, well, I'm not quite certain…"

"I couldn't live here in the village, with you around, after our wedding went bust," she spat out, and there was sorrow in her voice.

"You got as far away as possible. But you came back."

"Right."

"For various reasons."

She looked down at her belly. "You know that. The village is my home and I wanted to raise my, er, our, child here. It's where I belong." She turned teary eyes to mine. "And London is where you belong, I know that. So, go - back to surgery. You told me it's all you were ever good at."

Not all. "Louisa, when I was in the mine…"

"About that, I am very proud of you for saving Frank Marrak." Her face and eyes were shining then.

"Thank you," I answered. "But there's more."

She looked at me warily. "Go on then."

I took a deep breath. "I can't go away to London because of you, and our child. And this…" I waved my hand around to indicate our surroundings. "This blasted village. I hated it at first, but I needed this job, no other place would have me, but the people spoke strangely and I was an outsider trying to make my way through the mess that fool Dr. Sims left behind, and I bristled at everyone and everything. It was all exceedingly difficult."

"You do bristle at times." Now her face softened. "But not always - not always. Take today. You did something that few could, or would, Martin." She shook her head side to side. "Surgeon to GP to mine rescuer you are." She crossed the room and stood outside the bathroom door. "And I just want to say, that…"

I took a deep breath. "Louisa, I have asked you to marry me two times and you said yes once and then no the second time."

"I think it was more like three times, so that would mean I told you no twice."

"Right. But perhaps I was on the wrong tack. You should move in here. Doesn't have to be with any expectations from me, if you want it that way. I mean you and the baby can live here, I'll cover as many expenses as you have, and…" I ran down. "I'll sleep in the spare room. Nothing… uhm… else expected."

She shook her head and gave me a little smile. "Move in together?"

"You don't have to, but for us to live apart like this doesn't make any sense."

Her head tipped to one side. "What about Edith? Won't she mind?"

"Edith? God no, I mean... I am not interested in that bloody woman, Louisa. The only woman I love is you. So, if you… uhm so I am staying in Portwenn. A GP is what I must be for a while, it seems."

She stood very still, seemingly frozen by what I'd just said. "You mean that," she said softly.

I gulped and nodded quickly. "Indeed, I do."

she grimaced and then said, "Oh Martin. I've made a terrible mess of things with you – us. But I was afraid… and foolish."

"Me as well."

"And you love me?"

"Always Louisa. Always and forever." I nodded up and down. "I love you."

"Oh, Martin!" she said as she threw herself into my arms. "I love you too!"

And then it seems that somehow during our hugging and kissing my towel dropped to the floor.