He grinned. “I came to say hello. But since you raised the subject, have the raisins been helpful?”

“They have!” She flexed the fingers on her right hand. “With just a few days of use, the pain is in a fair way to be gone. I also tried the raisins on some of my regular patients who have bad arthritis. I gave it to six people besides me. Three had good results, two thought there was some benefit, and the last one said the raisins didn’t help his joint pain, but he was willing to test different kinds of gin to see what worked best.”

“That sounds similar to results I’ve seen. I’m glad you’re one of the people who has had the best result,” Lucas said. “As for testing the gin, I’ve found others who volunteered to do the same thing.”

“They can buy their own gin! But I’ll be offering the drunken raisins to other arthritis patients, and I thank you for the remedy,” the apothecary said. “Have you had time to write out your best salve recipes?”

With all that had been happening lately, he hadn’t. “Not yet, I’ve been traveling. But I will,” he promised.

“Now it’s time for me to go down to the infirmary and see if any bones need rearranging.”

“Because you let them know yesterday when you’d be coming in, I’m sure there will be several patients waiting for you.” Dismissing Lucas, Mrs. Simmons returned to sorting her dried herbs.

Downstairs in the infirmary reception area, Lucas was welcomed by a male assistant named Reg, who escorted him to a treatment room where a woman with a broken wrist was waiting. The assistant stayed to help with the next several patients who came in with bone and joint problems. Lucas was able to help them all, which made for a satisfying morning.

They ran out of patients just before noon, and Reg left to work elsewhere. Lucas was thinking about going in search of Kendra when a tall, fair-haired man around his own age entered the room. He was dressed as a gentleman and didn’t have any obvious injury, and he bore a distinct family resemblance to Lady Kirkland.

Rising, Lucas asked, “Are you Lord Romayne, Lady Kirkland’s brother?”

“I am indeed.” The newcomer offered a hand. “I’ve been away from London, but now that I’m back, I wanted to meet you, Foxton. I hear good things about your work.”

Lucas shook hands, but said self-deprecatingly, “I’m pleased to meet you, but I’m a mere bonesetter. You, I understand, are a surgeon, physician, the infirmary’s medical director, and I believe an ordained minister?”