“And I believe you told me I needed to read the Old Testament.”
“Thatyou choose to remember.” She smiled gently. “It is not your fault.”
It had taken a long time for Charlotte to believe this herself. She feared Daniel Taylor would prove no quicker a student.
He took a deep breath, then straightened. “Thank you again for finding Anne. I don’t know that I could have gone on if—”
“Shh ... Someone else would have found her had I not happened along.”
“I can only hope so. How did you happen to be here that day?”
She took a deep breath. “I awoke with the darkest foreboding that morning. Even though Sally assured me at the inn that all was well, I had to come. I should have walked, but Dr. Kendall and Thomas passed by on their way here and offered me a ride.”
“And what were they about? I never asked, and after, well, everything, I quite forgot.”
“Dr. Kendall brought Thomas out with the intention of convincing the both of you that Thomas should remain here ashisapprentice. But after he saw Thomas’s loyalty to you that day, I believe he quite gave it up.”
“Yes. That boy has a place with me for as long as he wants one.”
The two sat for several more minutes without speaking before Daniel said, “I shall be returning to London soon. Letting go of this place early. You are welcome to stay on here until I do. That is, unless Kendall ... unless you have made other arrangements.”
“I have made other arrangements.”
“I see.” He rose abruptly. “Of course that is none of my affair.”
“My arrangements are not with Dr. Kendall, however,” she said.
“No?”
“I have taken a post with a family in Old Shoreham.”
“May I ask in what capacity?”
“As their nurse.”
“Oh ... I had not realized you planned to continue in that vocation.”
“I had not planned to do so. But they were in need and, well, there I was. It is only temporary.”
In fact, Georgiana Henshaw was well on her way to nursing her son herself. She had begun nursing him once or twice a day as her recovery allowed while Charlotte kept up with the other feedings. But the young mother was quickly assuming the majority of nursing. Mrs. Henshaw had assured Charlotte she would be welcome to stay on as long as she liked, but Charlotte doubted Mr. Henshaw would agree to such generous terms.
“And after?”
She shrugged. “Return to Crawley, I suppose. As I intended to do before.”
But the next morning, Sally received a letter that changed Charlotte’s plans once again.
Charlotte had returned to take breakfast with Sally and, privately, to assure herself that Mr. Taylor was all right. As they sat visiting, Mrs. Beebe came into the kitchen with the morning post. “Letter for you, Sally.”
Sally took the letter and studied the direction with surprise but none of the happiness Charlotte might have expected.
“’Tis from my sister.”
Dr. Taylor came in for a cup of tea while Sally opened the missive and read as quickly as her skill allowed. After a moment, she propped a hand on the table as if to support herself.
Alarmed, Charlotte asked, “Sally, what is it?”
“’Tis Dickie. She says he’s very ill. Oh! I must go to him at once.”
