He asked softly, “Where does she think she is?”
“The place where her own child died.”
Hannah dipped the cloth once more into the basin of tepid water, wishing the maid would hurry with the ice. If Becky kept this up, Mrs. Turrill would realize who she really was, as Mr. Lowden had. Maybe she already knew. But at the moment, all Hannah cared about was helping Danny. She hoped God would not strike him down as punishment for her many sins.
Again Mrs. Turrill’s troubled gaze met hers, then moved tothe solicitor. “Mr. Lowden. Perhaps you would be so good as to ride to my sister’s in Lynmouth? The little yellow cottage at the bottom of the hill past the livery? I just remembered she might have some fever powder, left over from our mother’s last illness.”
“Does she?” He straightened. “Excellent. I shall go directly.”
He turned without another word, grabbed his coat, and hastened from the room. Hannah looked at Mrs. Turrill and their gazes locked as the closing of the door reverberated through the room. If the woman now knew or guessed the truth, she didn’t say a word.
“Thank you,” Hannah whispered. And she was thanking her for far more than medicine.
Morning dawned bright and clear, and with it, Hannah’s mood. Mr. Lowden had delivered the fever powder, which they gave to Becky but hesitated giving to Danny, not knowing how it might affect his small body. Instead, Hannah had taken Mr. Lowden’s advice and subjected the miserable little boy to brief submersions in the tin tub of cool water, which made him howl, but eventually lowered his fever.
When both patients progressed from sweating to shaking, Mr. Lowden had closed the windows and brought up wood and coals with Ben’s help, stoking the fire with rolled-up shirtsleeves as though he were a manservant himself.
Mr. Lowden and Ben had left to retrieve more wood when Dr. Parrish finally jogged into the nursery huffing and puffing, red-faced and dog-tired. Even so, he ably took the situation in hand, affirming their actions so far, and recommending liquids and another dose of a fever powder of his own concoction.
Hannah breathed a prayer of thanksgiving, relieved to place Danny and Becky in the doctor’s capable hands.
Leaving the room for a brief respite, she found Mr. Lowdensitting in a chair in the passage, elbows on his knees, head in his hands.
He rose when she stepped out. “Is Daniel all right?”
“He will be, yes.”
Mr. Lowden exhaled a relieved breath. “Thank God.”
The concern on his face, the kindness and help he’d delivered, weakened Hannah’s reserve. Tears filled her eyes.
Instantly, his hands cupped her shoulders and his eyes searched hers. “What is it? Are you all right?”
She nodded, tears running in hot trails down her cheeks. “I was so afraid.”
And then his arms were around her, holding her close in a comforting embrace.
“I know. So was I.”
For several moments Hannah stood there, pressed to his chest, feeling the solid warmth of his body beneath her cheek. Savoring the feel of his arms around her, gathering her close. She wanted to stand there forever.
Instead, she stepped back and wiped at her eyes. Her voice tremulous, she said, “Thank you, Mr. Lowden. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
But she knew all too well she would soon have to do just that.
James Lowden returned to his bed, feeling torn and unsettled. He was surprised at himself. He had not meant to take Miss Rogers in his arms. He’d been surprised too at the surge of tenderness that had swept over him, the desire to protect her and comfort her. A few weeks ago, he would have declared such feelings inconceivable. He reminded himself that even though the woman he’d met at Clifton wasnotMarianna, unfaithful wife, Hannah Rogers was no model of virtue herself. She was apparently just as willing and able to deceive as her mistress had been. He could not and should not trust her. Or get too close.
He still wasn’t completely sure why he was attracted to her.She had lovely thick hair and striking eyes, yes. But her nose was too long, her mouth too wide. And then there were her freckles.... But when he remembered how it had felt to hold her in his arms, he was almost ready to throw both logic and caution to the wind. He could still feel her slender body through the nightdress, the marked curve of her waist, the warmth of her feminine figure against him.
Stop it, he told himself.
He flinched to recall the foolish nurse moaning about “Miss Hannah” and whatever wretched place they had come from. He’d seen the suspicious look on the housekeeper’s face. It was only a matter of time before she realized who her supposed mistress really was and that she had lied to them all. Did he really want to be mixed up in all of that? What would happen if people learned that he had known the truth yet remained silent? Would he be complicit in her fraud? What would that do to his legal practice and reputation?
Use your head, Lowden.He would be wise to keep the woman at arm’s length—quite literally.
Chapter18
Hannah spent the next several days remaining close to the nursery—close to Danny. She needed to watch over him. To assure herself he was improving. To think.
