“No, I wanted to captain a ship in the Royal Navy, like my father,” he said. “But I did seem to be drawn to fixing people up. After sea battles, I often helped the ship’s surgeon clean and bandage wounds when he needed help. Later when I was a prisoner of the French, that experience came in handy since prisoners received little medical treatment. I did the work since I was willing to do it. I liked helping people feel better.”

“It’s a very good feeling,” she agreed. “I understand that after you escaped, you worked with a Franciscan friar who was a bonesetter and traveled with him through Belgium and northern France?”

“Yes. Frère Emmanuel saved my life after I was wounded in my escape from the French prison.” Lucas swallowed hard as he thought of the gentle old man who had become his teacher and friend. “Since he was frail, I slipped into the role of servant and apprentice. We traveled an irregular circuit through the countryside, going where we were needed and staying in farms and villages. Bonesetters were often the only medical people available, so we did what we could no matter what the problem.”

“Versatility is useful in a place like our infirmary,” she said with approval. “Broken bones and dislocated joints are common. We have surgeons who do such work, but we could use a really skilled specialist.” She gave him a slanting glance.

“Frère Emmanuel trained me well,” he said, thinking this was no time for false modesty. “He came from a family of skilled bonesetters who over the years had developed special techniques for challenging problems, and he developed some himself. I learned those as well as the more usual methods.”

“Our infirmary will give you ample scope to practice your skills, if you choose to volunteer with us.”

“I’d like that,” he said. “Tell me more about how it’s organized.”

“Zion House and the infirmary are run by a combination of paid employees and volunteers,” she explained. “Many of our employees were originally clients of Zion House or patients at the infirmary. Several physicians and surgeons are paid to work half time, and there are also volunteer physicians and surgeons who work when they can. We have several training programs for our clients, including ones for nursing, cooking, and being a lady’s maid. We also have guards who were soldiers or sailors and had nowhere to go after they left the military.”

His brows arched. “Are guards needed often?”

“Not often, but sometimes violent husbands come seeking their wives. The thieves and drunks usually avoid us because we are valued here and our neighbors don’t want us to be troubled.”