Chapter Text
“I think today was productive,” Doctor Thane said, adjusting his top hat. Snow had begun to fall as he and Millie walked home, forming a thin layer on the brim of his stylish hat. Millie briefly wondered how much it had cost him – his clothes were so fancy, like he would have brushed elbows with the lords of Gloomwood had he not been an outsider. “What do you think?”
Millie tried to ignore her shivering, but her chattering teeth betrayed her. “Y-y-yes. I ag-gree.” She hugged her arms tighter to her body. She was wearing a coat, but she always ran cold.
“Oh, poor thing. Why are you wearing such a thin coat?”
“I w-was using m-m-mine to cover up M-Mother Royse. Sh-she was freezing, even with the f-f-f-fire.” She glanced at him. “H-how are y-you not c-c-c-cold?!”
The doctor stopped in his tracks. “Millie,” he tsked. “You can’t care for your Sisters if you aren’t caring for yourself.” He unwrapped the blue scarf from his neck and set it down over Millie’s shoulders. He wrapped it around her neck twice, making sure it was pulled over her nose and mouth, and sitting comfortably under her ears.
And thank goodness for covering her face, because Millie was certain that despite the cold, her cheeks were bright red.
“There.” He patted her shoulders and smiled. “Better.”
“What about you…?” Millie asked. Her chill-induced stutter vanished with the scarf’s warmth.
“Oh, don’t worry about me. I like the cold,” he replied. “Went hunting with my father and brothers too much not to.”
“You were a hunter?”
“Oh, not like the Huntsmen you have here. It was…” The doctor paused, seemingly weighing what he wanted to say. “Well, it was more of a sport for us. But we did eat what we killed.”
“Ah.”
The chapel came into view far too quickly – Millie wanted to keep walking with her face in the good doctor’s scarf for as long as she could. Oh, well, she mused. At least she’d had this opportunity with him.
Doctor Thane opened the door for her, and Millie stepped inside, turned around, and started to unravel the scarf.
The doctor stopped her. “Keep it for now. I have another just like it back in my room.” He smiled softly. “Besides, we’ll be out walking in the cold tomorrow, right? You’ll need it to keep warm.”
“Oh.” Millie’s face warmed. “Um, thank you, Doctor Thane. Really.” She ran her fingers over the fabric, marvelling at its softness. She’d never held such a fancy piece of clothing – she’d done some maid work when training at Lord Marwyn’s, but his clothes were older, faded. The doctor was not only from money, but he had plenty of his own to spend on such nice things. His cologne filled her senses, drifting off the scarf and filling her head with dreams.
“See you tomorrow?”
“See you tomorrow.”
He clasped his hands with a wide grin. “Take care, Millie.”
Millie stepped inside the chapel and watched him leave from the window. Her heartbeat finally slowed when he was out of view.
She pressed the scarf to her nose, drinking in the smell of his cologne. He’d given her the scarf so easily – her, a poor acolyte of a dying church. Maybe it was just because she was shaking so violently, but… he cared about her. The thought made her head spin.
I love him.
Millie felt warmth bloom in her chest at that. I love him, she thought again, and she laughed to herself, like a giddy schoolgirl realizing a crush. Doctor Thane, I love you!
She knew she was being silly, but Millie couldn’t help it. For the first time in years, she felt a true connection to someone. And at the very least, he cared about her.
Maybe, just maybe – she’d allow herself the fantasy – he loved her, too.