“It’s an old stone cottage west of here. Owned by the Lloyds.”
“Lloyd Lodge? On a cliff overlooking the sea? Yes, I know it!
Well, Taylor, you must be doing well for yourself.”
“I am afraid not. I treated the Lloyd’s granddaughter, and in lieu of payment they let us have the cottage for the season.”
“Generous.”
“I suppose. Though by the looks of the place, it is evident they don’t use it much anymore. It has seen better days.”
“Haven’t we all? Still, when my patients are low on quid, I get mutton and codfish. I would say a seaside cottage is not too shabby—even if it is.”
Dr. Taylor smiled. “Well, come see for yourself, then. Yes, come for dinner, Kendall. You must.”
“I should be delighted. Just name the date.”
“Would Saturday week suit? That should give Lizette time to prepare.”
“Lizette ...?”
“Yes. I hope you are not opposed to French cuisine, nor French wives.”
“If she is your wife, I have no doubt she is all a lady should be.”
“Indeed, she is very lovely,” Charlotte felt compelled to say.
“And will you be there, Miss Lamb? Or will your holiday conclude by then?”
“I ... that is ... I shall be there ...”But not at a formal dinner!She looked at Daniel for help, but he was still smiling at his old friend.
“Then, I shall look forward to seeing you again as well,” Kendall said gallantly, offering another brief bow.
When they had bid Richard Kendall farewell and were walking alone again, Charlotte asked quietly, “Why did you not tell him I was your daughter’s nurse?”
“I did not think you would want me to. Did you?”
“No, but he will find out for himself when he comes for dinner. Then I shall feel doubly foolish.”
“I am not sure I follow... . But I am awfully sorry to have upset you.”
“I should not have minded otherwise.”
“Otherwise?”
“Do you not see? He knows of the other Charlotte. Charlotte of Kent. The vicar’s daughter. The young lady you once spoke highly of ...”
“But I still—”
“But I am not that person anymore,” Charlotte interrupted him.
“And now I shall have to see your friend’s opinion of me undergo that awful transformation.” Charlotte sighed. “I shall have to fall all over again.”
Sally could not rouse the child. She removed his blanket, tickled his bare feet, stroked his cheek. No response. She picked him up gently, hoping the movement would wake him. He lay limp, his little arms drooping down and swaying as she swayed, bouncing as she bounced. She went to the pitcher and basin on the dressing table and dipped her fingers in, rubbing the cool water on his forehead and neck. Nothing.
Sally groaned. “And I haven’t even given you the stuff yet.” She had planned to give him one last feeding, with the laudanum, before she left, but the groggy biter couldn’t be bothered to wake up. She thought of getting dressed first, putting on the blue frock as Mary suggested, but she feared Edmund would spit up on it, or worse, that his nappy would leak and spoil it. Could she somehow get the stuff into his mouth without waking him? Then he could just go on sleeping. Shifting him into the crook of her left arm, she picked up the vial on the dressing table. She’d need both hands to uncork it. Setting the vial down, she went to return the child to his crib, then walked back to retrieve the vial. She uncorked it and peered down its narrow shaft. She pulled the silver teaspoon from her pocket—she had snatched it from the tea service on her way upstairs—and poured a bit of the liquid onto the spoon, until she reckoned it was halfway full. Should she try to get the spoon into his mouth? Small though the delicate utensil was, it seemed too large for Edmund’s little buttonhole mouth. Should she put the little vial itself into his mouth? But how, then, would she measure the amount? It would surely spill all over and she’d have to clean that up too before she could sneak out again.
She stood there with the teaspoon in her hand, debating. The image of Davey’s bonny brown eyes flashed in her memory. Such a handsome man, Davey was. And to think, he admiredher!Just do it and be done,she bolstered herself.
