9 November 1931

Six weeks later

"And so you see, the temperature of a cat is slightly higher than that of a human. 39C as opposed to our 37C. When Mrs Norris brought Donald in on the last occasion, he was febrile because his temperature was almost 40C. Now, that was as result of an abscess on his leg, but I did a full examination of his lymph nodes and his teeth in order to rule out anything else. Fortunately, we were able to bring the fever down and, hopefully, when he comes in today the abscess will have healed and he'll be back to his usual self." Siegfried paused from where had been looking at the notes spread out on the kitchen table. "Does that make sense?"

"Yes," Lily replied. "What did you give 'im to bring the fever down?"

"Well, I don't like giving animals medication if I can avoid it. I advised Mrs Norris to try and make sure he took plenty fluids and to watch his diet, along with dressing the abscess of course. I'm hoping that will have been enough." He paused as she smiled. "What?"

"Donald's quite a funny name for a cat."

"I suppose it is. What was your cat called again? The one you had as a child?"

"Powder. But that were because she was white, so it suited. I'm not sure 'ow you decide a cat suits the name Donald."

"Why is anyone called anything, I wonder. Why did your parents elect to call you Lily?"

"Me mother was called Rose and 'er sister was Daisy. I can only assume she talked me dad into calling me Lily to carry on the theme. I reckon 'e would 'ave preferred something like Bertha."

"Bertha?" he snorted. "I'm not sure that would have suited you as well as Lily does."

"What about you? Why were you christened Siegfried?"

"My mother was a huge fan of Richard Wagner, the composer. She used to listen to his operas apparently and, he in turn, had been inspired by the heroic character of German legend who, apparently, killed a dragon."

"'ow very impressive."

"Yes…he was, however, apparently later murdered as a result of a quarrel between his wife and another woman so I'm not entirely sure how moralistic he could really claim to be."

"Unlike you."

"Well that's very kind of you to say." He slid his chair closer to her. "I have to say that I can think of much more enjoyable ways of spending my morning than talking about cats and their abscesses."

"And what might those more enjoyable ways entail?"

"This." He leaned over and kissed her gently, enjoying the sensation that flooded though him. It never ceased to delight him how receptive she was to everything, conversation, learning and, most of all, his touch. He loved how she would respond ardently on each and every occasion, how her mouth would work against his, her hands stray to touch him, her breath catch in her throat when he kissed her neck. In the time since they had begun courting, he had lost track of all the times they had been so close to one another. It was different in public, of course. Walking in the village, attending church or taking tea in the tearoom were occasions that leant themselves to a sense of propriety, dictating that nothing more than a brief kiss or a touch of the hand could, or should, be put on display. It was very different in private, however. When they would walk in the hills together, when weather permitted, or when they found themselves alone, either at Skeldale House or Windy Hill, it was impossible not to engage in behaviour much more fitting of a pair who clearly desired one another.

"Audrey will be back soon," she said, breaking away from him. "We don't want 'er coming in 'ere and finding us canoodling."

"Canoodling," he laughed, "what a word. Besides, I don't think Mrs Hall could be in any doubt about the nature of our relationship. I tend to think that she makes enough food at every meal just on the off chance that you might join us."

"I 'ope I don't overstay me welcome," she said. "I suppose it's just…well…the welcome's a lot warmer 'ere than it is up at the farm."

It certainly wasn't an understatement. Lily had refrained from inviting him back to Windy Hill when she knew her father would be there, electing instead for occasions when he was otherwise occupied. Siegfried wasn't entirely sure what had been said between Lily and her father since the fateful dinner, but he had a fair idea that it wasn't anything she would like to revisit. Every time the subject was mentioned she always apologised for her father's behaviour and, every time, he told her that he didn't care.

And yet, he did. He did care that Tom didn't seem to like him, for whatever reason. Rationally, he knew it wasn't personal, that no doubt the older man would dislike anyone he perceived to be attempting to take his daughter away, but it irked him that Tom refused to give him any sort of chance, not to mention the fact that the older man made him angry with his overall attitude and how it clearly affected Lily.

"You are more than welcome here, anytime. You should know that." He glanced at the clock. "Well, surgery will be due to start soon. Can I get you some tea before the masses descend?"

"I should be making tea for you," she laughed.

"Why?"

"Well…you're about to start a busy afternoon's work and…"

"And you're the woman?" he looked at her with mock severity. "I am capable of making a pot of tea."

"I don't doubt it."

"You're just trying to get out of this."

"Out of what?"

"Of being at surgery. You've done fine on every other occasion over the last few months. I don't see why today should be any different." He raised his eyebrows. "You're not still concerned about what people might be saying, are you?" She looked away and he knew that was exactly what the issue was. When she had agreed to spend time with him at the surgery, he knew that she had thought she would simply be assisting, handing him instruments and the like. Instead, he had forced her to do examinations, read notes, provide advice, though always under his supervision and guidance. She had been nervous, of course, but he could also tell that after each patient had left, she had felt elated at what she, Lily, had accomplished. He loved seeing her like that, but he could also tell that she was wary, worried about how the villagers might gossip.

"Maybe a little," she replied.

"Why, for heavens sake? You haven't done anything wrong, in fact you've been quite wonderful. And it's not as if I'm just leaving you on your own to make diagnoses. Besides, I'm fairly sure that most of Darrowby will know by now that we're an item."

"Well that almost makes it worse, doesn't it? As if I'm using my connection with you to…to…"

"To what? To better yourself? Not, of course, that there is anything wrong with a woman being in the home, of course there isn't. But you are so very capable, and I won't see you throw that potential away because of what a few narrow-minded people might say." She looked at the floor. "Has someone said something, specifically?"

"It were only…" she sighed. "Mr Dinsdale made a comment to me dad the other day when 'e was up at the farm."

"What sort of comment?"

"Something that Mrs Dinsdale 'ad said. Something about me getting ideas above me station, or something like that at least. I know what Jean Dinsdale can be like but, well, it didn't elp, with anything."

"What did your father say?"

"Nowt. I think 'e were embarrassed but I don't rightly know. We don't say much to each other these days."

"Lily…" he stepped forwards and pulled her into his arms. "I'm so sorry. I've been thoughtless about this whole thing, haven't I? I've forced you to do something which, whilst I know you would be good at and enjoy, has only succeeded in causing you even more problems." He felt suddenly angry with himself for being so short-sighted. "I'm sorry, my darling, I never meant…"

"It's not you," she said, her voice muffled against his chest. "It's me. I thought that standing up to me dad in some small way, spending time with you whether 'e liked it or not, would force 'im to accept things 'ave changed, would force 'im to be different towards me."

"And they haven't."

"Well, they 'ave, but only insofar as to make living up there with 'im almost unbearable. Days can go by when we don't say a word to each other."

"You should have told me it was as bad as that," he sighed heavily. "Would you like me to speak to him?"

"No," she pulled back. "No, I reckon that would only make things worse. I don't know what 'e might say to you, but I can guess it wouldn't be pleasant and you don't deserve that. It's not…it's not your problem."

"I rather think it is my problem," he said. "Besides, I'll have to speak to him sooner or later to ask him, won't I? There's not really any way to avoid it."

"Ask 'im what?"

He opened his mouth to respond when the front door banged, and the sound of footsteps indicated that Mrs Hall had returned. She came into the kitchen, laden down with shopping, and smiled broadly when she saw them. "'ello you two. Plotting together in advance of today's surgery?"

"Something like that," he replied as Lily turned away and wiped her eyes. "Do you have my list, Mrs Hall?"

"I gave it to you this morning. Don't tell me you've misplaced it already? Not that anything would surprise me. You've probably left it in the surgery, so I suggest you check there before turning the place upside down."

"Yes, quite…" he turned back to Lily. "Shall we?" She nodded and then followed him through to the surgery where they began preparing for the influx of patients. It was a routine he diligently carried out by himself on most occasions, but the times that she joined him, he had to admit that he enjoyed sharing it with someone, much as he envisioned he would in years to come once Tristan had gotten his act together. "Right then," he declared when everything was in place. "I think that's it. Shall we open the doors and see who's first?" She nodded. "Right then, off you go."

Lifting the list, which they had found laid on the side, Lily opened the surgery door and stepped out to where the first few patients were waiting. "Afternoon everyone," she said brightly, and he felt his heart instantly swell at how she could rise to the occasion, irrespective of what else was going on. "Right Mrs Norris, let's be 'aving you and Donald then."

XXXX

By the time the afternoon was over, Lily felt exhausted. It was surely no real ask of Siegfried to see so many and varied patients in one sitting but for her, as new to the whole thing as she was, she found her brain almost fit to explode by the end of it. Not to mention the fact that every person had given her a second look upon seeing her there to assist. She could tell what they were all thinking about her and despite Siegfried's constant reassurance, she still felt a little as though she didn't belong and that she would be far more suited to being in the kitchen with Mrs Hall.

She had to admit though, that she enjoyed learning about the different animals, recognising their ailments and discovering what treatment would be best, even more so than she thought she would. Some things that had seemed so foreign to her the first time she had accompanied him, now seemed slightly more familiar and when she could see something or make a correct guess at it, she couldn't help but feel pleased. The other, most enjoyable, part however was spending time with Siegfried, watching him work. He would smile at her encouragingly, discuss each patient with her afterwards and explain things in a way that she understood. She couldn't help but feel a strange sense of pride observing him not to mention the fact that every time he brushed against her, she felt her body react to his.

When he had raised the question of intimacy that afternoon in the hills she had been taken aback, felt nervous, frightened and embarrassed, but as the weeks passed and they spent more time together, she had to admit that it was something she thought about with increasing regularity. She was almost ashamed to admit that she had had thoughts of him tearing her clothes off and pinning her down on her bed. Then, she would laugh, realising that it would be all too unlike Siegfried to act in such a manner in any case.

"Do you want to stay for dinner?" he asked, breaking into her thoughts as the last patient left, satisfied with their animal's treatment.

"No, thank you," she replied. "I'd already planned what Dad and I were to be 'aving tonight so I'd best get back and see to it."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, not at all."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." She met his gaze thinking, not for the first time, how lucky she was.

"Well then, I have a full list tomorrow, so why don't you accompany me on my rounds? We could go for a spot of lunch in between calls."

"I really shouldn't be away for a second day running," she said, lifting her coat from the peg. "I've been neglecting the 'ousework as it is this month."

"Well surely a bit of dusting can wait?"

She smiled indulgently at him, "Said by a man who's never 'ad to concern 'imself with the mundane tasks of 'ousehold maintenance. Your meals are all put down in front of you and cleared away afterwards, your clothes are washed and pressed, your 'ouse is kept clean and tidy…who do you think does all that up at Windy Hill? You won't see me dad lift an apron, that's for sure."

"No, I suppose you're quite right. I suppose…well…I miss you when I don't see you, is all."

"I miss you too," she replied, stepping into him and allowing him to kiss her gently. "Maybe I could come out with you towards the end of the week."

"I shall hold you to that," he replied. "Shall I walk you to the van?"

"No, thank you. I need to pop and get a few bits before I 'ead 'ome. I'll see you soon," she leaned in and kissed him again before opening the front door and stepping out into the cold, late afternoon air. Shivering slightly, she pulled on her gloves and then made her way across the street towards the greengrocers, mentally ticking off in her head the things she knew she needed.

Mrs Collins, the greengrocer's wife, greeted her cordially enough, but she could feel the other woman's eyes raking over her, no doubt wondering to herself what would posses Siegfried Farnon, a respectable professional, to have her as some sort of assistant. She knew what they were all saying about her and some times it bothered her more than others. Sometimes, she fantasised about calling people out on it, asking them what the problem was, but she reckoned that would only make them talk more. Perhaps it had been a mistake agreeing to help at the surgery and, yet, she derived so much pleasure out of it that it seemed foolish to give it up.

Once she had what she required, she headed back to the van ands lowly began making her way back up to Windy Hill. As she drove into the yard and pulled to a stop, she felt a sudden darkness descend upon her, the way it always did when she had to return home from time spent with Siegfried. It had been no word of a lie when she had told him that things were difficult between her and her father. It had only gotten worse since he had been for dinner. Tom swayed between wounded silence and jealous anger, neither of which was pleasant and, more often than not, she would lay in bed at nights, tears running down her cheeks at the unfairness of it. At times, she had considered that it might be easier all round if she just gave up on all hope of love and happiness and went back to the way things had been before. But she knew she couldn't, not now, and truthfully didn't really want to.

"You took your time," Tom said, meeting her at the kitchen door.

"I came back as soon as I could. I 'ad to pick up some things on the way." She kept her tone as light as she could and simply made her way into the kitchen, placing the bag on the table before turning to take off her coat and retrieve her apron. "Dinner won't be long, don't worry."

"Enjoy yourself, did you?" he came up behind her and leaned in close. "Enjoy playing at being little miss veterinarian?"

The smell of alcohol hit her quite suddenly and she turned to meet his gaze. "'ave you been drinking?"

"What's it to you?"

"Dad…"

"This is my farm and I'll do what I like, my lady. If you can't be bothered to be 'ere, then that's your problem."

"You shouldn't be drinking if you're driving that tractor, or working with the beasts," she said, putting her hands on her hips. "What if you 'ad 'ad an accident?"

"Would you care?" he sneered.

"Of course, I would care! 'ow can you even suggest that I wouldn't?"

"Because you're never 'ere. You're always away out with your fancy man, running all over the village and acting better than everybody else!"

Anger flared inside her, not to mention insecurity. Did everyone in Darrowby really think that of her? "That is not true!"

"Of course, it's true! Don't you 'ear what people say about you? Henry's wife were right in what she said the other day. You…look at you…" he eyed her distastefully, swaying slightly as he did so, indicating he was far drunker than she had first thought. "No doubt you're going to tell me all about 'ow you were treating dogs and cats today and making them all better."

"Why would I bother? You're not interested, are you?"

"No, I'm not! I want you 'ere, doing what you're supposed to be doing! What you were born to do!"

"And what's that then? Cook your dinner? Wash pots? Clean clothes?"

"Exactly!"

"Why don't you want me to be 'appy?!"

"Because your place is 'ere!"

The fragile bonds of her sanity, that had slowly started to fray when he began his tirade, suddenly snapped completely. "Keeping you 'appy, isn't that it? You don't want anything to change! You never 'ave done since Mam died and you want to keep me 'ere like a prisoner doing everything for you so that you don't 'ave to accept that you're on your own! So that you don't 'ave to accept any responsibility for yourself! Well, what about me, Dad?! What about me?! What about what I want?! Just because you lost your wife doesn't mean that I shouldn't ever get to find out what it's like to be one meself!" She felt the tears start to run down her face but did nothing to check them. Maybe seeing how much he was hurting her would make him realise…something.

"Asked you to marry 'im, 'as 'e?"

"No…"

"No, and I wager 'e won't, given that 'e's probably got everything 'e wants out of you. 'e already 'as someone to keep 'is 'ouse and now 'e's got you playing at being 'is assistant and warming 'is bed for 'im!"

She stared at him, open-mouthed. "Is that what you've been telling folk?"

"Why would I say that to anyone? Do you think I want folk thinking my lass is the local vet's whore?!"

"You're…you're disgusting!" she exclaimed, shocked at the crudity of his words, and threw her apron down onto the table.

"I'm not the one lying on 'er back and opening 'er legs for the first man to show a bit of interest in 'er!"

"I don't 'ave to listen to this!" Turning, she made for the door, only for him to cross the room, with almost inexplicable speed given his inebriation, and grab her arm. "Let go of me!"

"You're not going anywhere, my lady! You're staying right 'ere!"

Though he had always been a strong and capable man, he appeared to be almost energised by his alcohol intake and spun her around before throwing her back into the wall. She hit it full force, the breath knocked from her body, and as she fought for air, he advanced upon her again. "Dad…please…"

"You belong 'ere!" he roared, grabbing her by the arms and shaking her violently. "This is where you belong! Do you 'ear me?! You belong 'ere! You belong 'ere!" With each protestation, he thumped her back against the wall, her head striking it repeatedly. "You belong 'ere!"

"Dad…" she could hear her voice, small and tinny to her own ears, as he continued to hit her against the wall. "Dad…stop…please…"

Suddenly, he stopped what he was doing, his face inches from her own, his eyes bloodshot and white spittle at the corners of his mouth. The anger drained from his face to be replaced with a look of horror and he instantly released her. With no support, she found herself sliding down the wall to the floor with a thud and, looking up, saw him backing away from her towards the door.

"Lily…" he said, "Lily…my girl I'm…I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…"

She felt her vision blur and a sudden dull ache start in her head. She tried to move, to get to her feet, to do…something…but she couldn't seem to control her hands or arms and her body instead began to shake.

"Lily…" Tom moved towards her again. "Oh Lily, please…please forgive me lass, please…" he crouched in front of her and reached out, but she found herself cowering away from him, though she couldn't seem to find the words to warn him away. "I'm so sorry, lass, I'm so sorry…" He got to his feet again and stood, awkwardly staring down at her. "I'll…I'll just let you sort yourself…yes…that's what I'll do…" then he turned and hurried from the room.

Once alone, she felt the breath leave her body in one shuddering movement and when she gingerly drew her fingers down from the back of her head, saw that they were stained with blood.