“A dram of whiskey?”
“Oh no,” Grace said. “Alcohol increases bleeding. I won’t have you drinking for at least a week.”
“A week?” he said, looking down at Grace. “You don’t actually believe that, do you?”
“It’s true, Mr. Harris. I certainly do not care if you believe it or not. As my patient, I strictly forbid it.”
“God save any man who becomes your patient,” he muttered as Una returned with Grace’s leather bag.
“Faith, dear, come over here,” Hope said, standing behind a chair.
Faith glanced at her elder sister and noted the death clutch her fingers had on the chair she stood behind. In fact, her whole face was quite pale.
“What’s wrong?” Faith asked, going to her sister.
Hope released the chair and gripped Faith’s hand in an almost painful grasp.
“We should leave. There will be blood, no doubt,” she said faintly. “Let Grace tend to it.”
“But I can help,” Faith argued.
Grace turned around and gave them both a concerned look.
“Faith, can you escort Hope back to her room, please? I don’t want her to faint and I’ve my hands full at the moment.”
“Faint? Hope has seen blood before,” Faith said somewhat stubbornly. “She tended to Graham last year when he was shot.”
“Yes, but in her current condition, I believe the sight of blood will make her sick. Now will you please remove her?”
Grace’s words fell on Faith slowly as she looked at Hope and then back at Grace.
“Her condition?”
“Oh, please keep it quiet,” Hope said, her breathless tone suddenly worrying Faith. “If Graham… If Graham finds out, I’ll… I’ll…”
“Take her awaynow, Faith,” Grace ordered.
With a shared look of confusion with Logan, Faith turned and guided her sister out of the room. Within moments of leaving, Hope seemed to feel better, and by the time they reached her rooms, she had even gained some color back in her cheeks.
Faith was sure to handle her with care as she brought her into the room, where Hope sat on the edge of her bed before looking up sheepishly.
“I’m sorry I did not tell you sooner,” she said quickly before Faith could ask a question. “But I’ve been trying to keep it secret,you see. If Graham were to discover it, I’m afraid he would become unbearably overprotective.”
“Why did you tell Grace then?” Faith said, unable to keep a slight hurt out of her voice.
Hope shook her head.
“My dear, you try keeping a medical condition away from that girl. Besides, she was the one who informed me, actually,” she said. “I thought I had a head cold.”
Faith smiled then, unable to stop herself. Of course Grace had guessed. It would be foolish to assume they could purposely keep a medical secret from her. She squeezed Hope’s hand.
“A baby. I can’t even imagine,” she said softly. “Does Aunt Belle know?”
“I didn’t tell her, but that woman has a knack for knowing everything about everyone at all times,” Hope said.
“When will you tell Graham?”
“Soon, most likely. It will become obvious to everyone before long.”
