Page 63 of A Sight to Behold
“So what? We have enough money to pay them. There’s more than Mother could spend in her lifetime.”
“Yes, but that’s not the point. They started something, a healing process, and made promises to cure your mother, but they failed. And yet, we had to pay them.”
“But you pay for food when you get it, not after you digest it, which fuels your body. How is that different?” Pippa was furious with her father, not merely because his worldview was so skewed, but also because she’d taken so long to confront him. How could she have allowed her life to come to this? She’d been mocked by the blob her father had turned into, duke or not, and it had taken Nick risking his practice and life’s work to be with her to awaken her good sense.Enough!
“Once a healer lays a hand on a patient, they have trust and responsibility to succeed. It’s not a transaction that you pay for.”
Unless that doctor happens to be “Sir” Matthews. And what successful treatment has he provided you?Pippa knew better than to put voice to that thought. “But they provide a service, medicines, and they use their supplies. You pay a teacher and a cook, regardless of whether a student learns or whether the food is well digested. Why doesn’t a doctor get the benefit of the doubt?”
“Because of their expertise, Pippa. Their training puts them above the patient in understanding the ailments more deeply than the patient. And that understanding sets doctors apart.”
Pippa thought about that for a moment. She couldn’t picture Nick like that, nor Felix. “The way I see it, a doctor is like a teacher. They sell their expertise. But they don’t get paid for studying their subject and all the years of training.”
“Ah, and that’s where your young age forgives human vices, my girl. I’m no longer prone to that.”
Even though she disagreed with her father, he’d finally called her “his girl” again, and Pippa’s heart warmed. She continued, “Where’s the vice in a young person who goes to university and studies uncountable treatises on human conditions for years and years? Then, that person goes through various apprenticeships and training; some even travel the world to perfect their craft. And when they offer their expertise to help patients, isn’t it natural that they’d charge for it? They are just people; they need to live and eat. And who pays for their supplies? For the white linens, the clove oil, the glass lenses, and for sharpening their tools?”
Father squinted. “You know an awful lot about what it takes to run a medical practice.”
“No more than about running a school.”
“And you got that knowledge from attending school, I know. When have you gone to a medical practice?”
The time had come. Pippa reached for her reticule and opened the ribbon that kept it closed. Then she felt for her leatheretuiand pulled the spectacles out. She put them on.
Father saw and clenched his jaw. “Where did you get those?”
“From the oculist.”
“Where, I asked.”
“87 Harley Street.”
He pursed his lips. “Argh… take them off.”
“No.” Pippa crossed her arms.
“Now!”
“No, Father. I won’t. They help me to see better.”
“Nonsense. Ladies don’t wear glasses. Nobody will marry you with spectacles, Pippa. Off with them! Now!” He leaned forward with an alacrity she didn’t expect from him anymore, and he grabbed the glasses from her face.
Then he squashed them in his hand.
“Father! No!” Pippa cried.
“I didn’t give you permission to seek out an oculist. They’re all quacks. Just like the surgeons, dentists—”
“It would do you good to see a dentist!” Pippa shouted, heat rushing to her head as she grabbed the bent spectacles back from her father. One of the lenses had popped halfway out. She tried to squeeze it back into the metal frame with a shaking hand, but she was so angry that her eyes welled up with tears making it even more impossible to see clearly.
“You’re embarrassing us with those, on top of making no effort to wed. How do you expect us to continue to pay for you, the clumsy goose on the shelf?”
Pipa seethed with fury. “I’m so ashamed, Father.”
Ashamed of what you’ve become. Who you are. And your foul, common wife.
“As you should be, my girl. Being caught with spectacles could compromise you. It would show the Ton that you’re defective and deficient.”
