Drake nodded confidently. He lifted one of the kittens. ‘We should give the kittens names.’
Evelyn smiled at Drake’s attempt to distract her. Perhaps it would do her good to think of something else. They agreed on some names that suited each kitten, before lapsing intoa companionable silence again. However, Nicky was never far from her thoughts and she still feared for his future.
‘What is it like when someone you love dies?’ Drake would know. His father had died, hadn’t he? Drake leaned back and thought for a moment, trying to remember. She could see that he was struggling to put his memories into words that made sense.
‘Life changes,’ he said eventually. ‘What was normal is lost forever and a new normal replaces it.’
He looked sad, but she had to know more. Drake was the only one she felt she could ask. Who else would know? Who else would tell her the truth?
‘What did it feel like to lose someone so close to you?’
‘It felt . . . it felt . . .’ he took a deep breath and sighed away the painful memory ‘. . . unfair. Very unfair.’ He looked at her and smiled. ‘I’m meant to be cheering you up. Besides,’ said Drake, trying to make light of things, ‘Nicholas is young and has the best medicine available. He will get better.’
Evelyn lifted the sleeping kitten to her lips and kissed it. ‘Yes. You are probably right.’ She handed the kitten back to him. ‘I’d better go.’
‘Yes, me too.’
They touched hands again as the kitten was passed from one to the other. This time there was no embarrassment as they had just shared more than an accidental touch. They made their way carefully down the ladder, pausing at the door to see if the yard remained clear of workers. There was no one to see them, so Evelyn made to leave first.
‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘For showing me the kittens.’
‘There is no need to thank me, Miss Evelyn.’
She didn’t want him to call her Miss Evelyn. She wanted them to be friends and true friends don’t use formal address.
‘My name is Evelyn.’
‘I couldn’t call you that. I’m not of your class. It wouldn’t seem right to call you the name your parents gave you.’
She didn’t care. Having a friend was more important than etiquette. ‘Then call me something else, just not Effy. Nicholas calls me Effy.’
‘I’ll think on it,’ he replied. He was unsure — she could see it in his eyes. She would not press him further. A fledgling friendship was forming and she did not want to ruin it before it had really begun.
Chapter Six
Following her visit, Drake found himself taking an avid interest in the comings and goings of Carrack House. Doctor Birch visited daily, arriving late in the afternoon and, on occasions, staying for dinner. As always, Doctor Birch appeared confident and relaxed when he disembarked from his carriage. Filled with port and good food, his countenance remained unchanged when he left a few hours later. Drake saw this as a good sign that Master Nicholas would soon recover, for who could remain unmoved when a child remained so ill?
The following Sunday, Drake arrived at his mother’s house, hungry and pleased to see her. Drake shrugged off his coat and followed his nose to his mother’s range, where a pot of stew simmered. He lifted the lid as his mother asked the usual questions. He answered each one, pre-empting some. It was a weekly routine that both frustrated and amused him.
‘Do they feed you enough? Your work is physical and you need a full belly.’
‘We have enough, just not as tasty as yours.’
Pleased with the compliment, she made a show of tidying the table in preparation for their meal.
‘What’s this?’ she asked, holding up the thin parcel Evelyn had given him.
He quickly explained, playing down his part in fetching her parents, for he had done nothing out of the ordinary.
‘It was nothing,’ he added. ‘Anyone would have done the same.’ He dipped a spoon in the pot and blew on the stew, before taking it into his mouth. He waved the spoon at her. ‘Open it. It’s for you.’
‘Only because you refused it. I’m right, aren’t I?’ she said, opening it. Inside was a single sheet of paper. She carefully unfolded it. ‘It’s a painting,’ she said, surprised.
He thought as much. ‘Miss Evelyn paints,’ he explained.
‘She did this? She is very good.’
Drake watched his mother’s eyes as she studied it. He saw her face fall. She looked worried.
