“About the same. I had hoped for more improvement by now, some good news to welcome you home, but—”
“He has not awakened?”
“I’m afraid not.”
Relief. Had she smiled? She hadn’t meant to, but she realized Mrs. Parrish was looking at her askance. Hannah hastened to add, “Yet he lives and that is good news in itself. You can’t know how I worried what might await me.”
That was perfectly true.
“Yes, we can thank God for that.” Mrs. Turrill smiled. “For while there is life, there is hope.” She came forward and held out her arms. “And here he is, the little man. Hand him over, my lady. I’ve been waitin’ to get a good look at ’im.”
Reluctantly, Hannah handed Danny to the housekeeper.
The older woman beamed. “Oh! Aren’t you the handsome one? Looks like his mamma he does. And there’s a bit of his pa around his nose and mouth.”
Hannah felt heat creep up her neck at the words. She reminded herself that the woman would naturally assume he was Sir John’s son.
Mrs. Turrill turned toward the door, carrying Hannah’s boy into Sir John Mayfield’s house. At the thought, Hannah’s knees suddenly wobbled and her head swam.
Dr. Parrish was at her side in an instant. “Steady on, my lady.”
Mrs. Parrish added, “Careful, Dr. Parrish, she looks ready to swoon.”
“I’m sorry,” Hannah murmured, embarrassed. “I’m fine, really. I—”
“And no wonder. Such a long journey so soon after your injuries. Come inside, my lady, and let’s get you settled. A good meal and a good night’s sleep in your own bed, that’s what I prescribe.”
My own bed, she silently echoed.The bed I’ve made for myself, and now must lie in.
The Parrishes invited her to join them for dinner at the Grange, their quaint thatched house adjacent to the grounds of Clifton. But Hannah claimed fatigue and politely declined. She thanked Edgar and Nancy warmly for helping her retrieve her son. Then, with a chorus of “welcome homes” and “you rest nows,” Mrs. Parrish, Edgar, and Nancy departed.
Dr. Parrish remained to look in on Sir John once more. He opened the door for the women and followed them inside. Danny still in her arms, Mrs. Turrill surveyed Becky’s scrawny figure and ordered her down to the kitchen for tea and toast.
Dr. Parrish invited Hannah to accompany him upstairs to Sir John’s bedchamber. Knowing it would be unnatural not to want to see her “husband,” she took the doctor’s arm and allowed him to help her up the stairs and into Sir John’s room. There, she met the chamber nurse, Mrs. Weaver, who had arrived whilethey were gone. Hannah smiled wanly at the woman, who then excused herself to give them privacy.
Dr. Parrish approached the bed, but Hannah held back, watching from a distance as the physician performed his usual routine, examining Sir John’s eyes, his heart rate, his breathing.
When he finished, Hannah stepped nearer and looked down at the injured man. His whiskers had grown a little longer, while his swelling had subsided somewhat. Even if it was wrong of her to be relieved he had yet to regain his senses, she was sincerely glad he still lived.It’s all right, she said to him silently.I’ve got my son back. You can wake up now.
Dr. Parrish turned to her. “I’ll have a look at your arm, if you don’t mind. Make sure nothing’s gone awry during the journey.”
“Very well.” She sat in the chair he indicated while he tested the condition of the stiff bandages and the circulation in her hand, then palpated her upper arm above the sling.
“Still tender?”
She bit back a yelp. “A little.”
He tilted her chin and looked into her eyes. “Any headaches?”
Her head had pounded with tension all day. “A small one.”
“I’ll give you something for it. Take it the next time you eat something and try to get a good night’s sleep.”
“I shall. Thank you.”
He smiled at her, patted her good arm, and then took his leave, following his family home.
Hannah went to find Danny. Belowstairs, she found Mrs. Turrill and the kitchen maid filling a small tub with warm water. Together they bathed her son and dressed him in the clean things Hannah had purchased. If the housekeeper noticed that Danny had smelled less than sweet, she’d been too polite to comment.
