“Steady on,” Dr. Taylor said. “What else does she say?”
“He’s weak, high fever, won’t eat... . She fears the worst. And this was written days ago now! Dr. Taylor, please help him. You will come, won’t you? Please.”
He hesitated a moment, in which time Charlotte feared he was offended by Sally’s presumption that he should drop everything to help a child he barely knew, or that, in his morose state, he felt ill-equipped to save anyone.
Instead, he set his cup down. “We shall go directly.”
In a flurry of plans and instructions, Charlotte agreed to remain at Lloyd Lodge for a few days to nurse Anne and give notice to the Henshaws. Marie would return with Sally and Dr. Taylor to prepare the London house, which had no doubt gathered dust during their absence with only John Taylor to care for it. Charlotte would stay behind long enough to see to the packing and help the Beebes set the place to rights. Then she would escort Anne back to London, to the home Dr. Taylor shared with his father. After that ... she did not know.
It wasn’t within her to refuse any help Anne Taylor—or her father—needed. Still it chafed her a bit to realize she was allowing her course to be set by the winds of circumstance. Yet again.
Forcing thoughts off herself, she set to work and prayed fervently for the recovery of Sally’s son.
What will you think when I tell you she is not yet weaned?
How to set about it is more than I know ...
—1765LETTER BETWEEN FRIENDS, FROM
THEGENTLEMAN’SDAUGHTERBYAMANDAVICKERY
CHAPTER31
Mr. John Taylor met her coach with broad smiles for both Anne and herself.
“How good to see you again, Miss Charlotte. And little Anne! How much you have grown!”
Anne’s little lip trembled as her grandfather put his face close to hers.
“Forgot me already, did you? We shall soon put that to rights.”
“I am sure you shall—if you can catch her. She has just learned to creep about.”
“Has she indeed. Well, there’ll be no rest for any of us now. All those tempting staircases.”
He gestured to the hackney driver he had hired to take them the rest of the way to the Taylor residence. The bulky man came and gathered her baggage and carried the load to his carriage. They followed and Mr. Taylor held Anne while Charlotte climbed in. The child looked at him warily but did not cry.
Once they were all settled and Anne back in Charlotte’s arms, Mr. Taylor looked across at them and said, “You look as well fed as a stuffed goose at Christmas. I mean Anne, of course. I must say you look far too thin. You are in good health, I hope.”
“I am. Thank you.”
“What a trying time this has been for all of you, no doubt. Daniel looked positively dreadful upon his return.”
“And little Dickie?”
Mr. Taylor shook his head gravely. “I’m afraid the lad is very ill indeed. Still, Daniel hasn’t given up hope.”
Coming to a halt at the Taylors’ offices and residence on Wimpole Street, Mr. Taylor paid the driver and asked him to bring the baggage to the living quarters above.
Marie, looking worn and apathetic as usual, met them on the first floor up. “You and ze child will be in ze same chamber as before.” She turned her back without offering to help carry up their things.
“I must say that having you back with us is the one bright spot in the whole dismal affair,” John Taylor added kindly. “Though I would not have chosen the circumstances for the world.”
“No, of course not.”
“I’m afraid we won’t see much of Daniel for some time, between his work at the Manor, his own practice, and seeing the Mitchell boy. But we’ll do quite nicely on our own, I trust. Do let me know if there is anything you need.”
“Thank you. You are very kind.” Tears filled Charlotte eyes as she spoke the words, and she didn’t stop to wonder why.
