Free The Armored Doctor (Curiosity Chronicles Book 2) by Ava Morgan

occur once the amputation site is healed. Miss Benton, bring me that model we just looked at before Mr. Carney arrived.”
    Abigail stopped writing in the notebook to go to the cabinet. She lifted the prosthetic metal hand from its place and brought it to him. She observed him adjust it to fit the train conductor’s forearm.
    “Now, Mr. Carney, in the same motion that you used to open and close the hook, I want you to move the fingers of this model.”
    He curled his new hand into a fist. “Well, look at that.”
    “Good. Try to grab your coat off the chair.”
    He was successful after two attempts. “I can go back to directing the trains, I can.” Laughing, he dangled his coat in the air by its sleeve.
    Abigail couldn’t help but smile as she witnessed the man regain some of his dexterity and much of his confidence. Dr. Valerian nodded with satisfaction, but he remained sober.
    “It will take time for you to master the movements, but after that, you can return to your work. You’ll need to have a model custom made.”
    He proceeded to schedule his patient for a second visit for measurements. Abigail recorded the date in the ledger.
    Mr. Carney reluctantly gave the prosthetic model back to Dr. Valerian and returned his hook to his forearm once the visit was concluded. “This visit was worth the trip from Birmingham. I’ll see you next week, Doctor.” He set payment on the desk. “And you as well, Miss Benton.”
    “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Carney,” Abigail replied.
    The train conductor gave Dr. Valerian a conspiratorial look. “I like her better as your assistant. Much nicer to look at.”
    Dr. Valerian cleared his throat. “Have a good week, Mr. Carney.” He saw him to the door.
    Abigail hid a smile as she finished recording the last of her notes. She looked in the record book and saw that another patient was due to arrive in the next ten minutes. She straightened the chairs in preparation for his arrival.
    The second patient was a former admiral in the Queen’s navy. Having lost his left leg to a case of gangrene at sea, he arrived to get the custom artificial limb that Dr. Valerian made for him. Abigail took note of how he expertly fitted the former admiral with the mechanical limb and gave instructions on how to walk with it, a task that took patience, considering how the limb’s pressure plates and pulley mechanisms needed to work in tandem to allow the wearer to move.
    Yet, at noon, the admiral stepped out of the office a contented man, on his way to no longer being inhibited by the stilting movements of a wooden leg.
    “That concludes the morning patients,” said Dr. Valerian after he had left. “We’ll break for noonday meal.”
    Abigail followed him out of the office. She smelled something savory coming from the front of the house. Expecting Dr. Valerian to go that way, she was surprised when he pivoted in the opposite direction.
    “Appointments will resume at one o’ clock. I have four more patients and a client to see,” he said as he stopped before another door and unlocked it with a key. Without further word, he vanished behind the door and left her standing in the short hallway. She heard his footsteps descend stairs.
    Abigail went into the vanity closet to wash her hands and returned to the hallway, all the while wondering why Dr. Valerian had left so quickly.
    “Pardon me, Miss Benton. Lunch is served. Follow me.”
    She looked to the doorman Struthers after he addressed her. Abigail left the hallway. She saw that he and another domestic employee, a cheery-faced, middle-aged woman of medium height and stout build, set a tray in the dining room.
    Abigail took her seat in front of the table, stealing a glance behind her to see if Dr. Valerian would reemerge from the door of what had to be the cellar.
    Struthers introduced the other employee. “This is Mrs. Struthers, my wife. She is the cook and housekeeper.”
    “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Struthers,” Abigail greeted