Sliger was still beside him. “Of course you are right.”
Seeing how he hung his head, Alwyn’s conscience prickled him.And what about me?If Miss Everson had cast any admiring glancesmyway, wouldInot be the one now jigging down the street?
They went on in silence for a good stretch before the younger man cleared his throat.
“I—I am truly sorry, Mr Alwyn. I—“
With his pangs of hypocrisy growing ever sharper, Alwyn interrupted, “No, Sliger. Please forgive me. I spoke too harshly.”
The ghost of a smile appeared on the boy’s face. “That’s not the worst tongue-lashing I’ve ever had – not even the worst this week.” He lifted his chin higher and said, “I hereby promise that in the future, I will be as respectful as possible to both patients and their families.”
No one can help but like this boy,Alwyn rued as they continued somberly, back to the Bull.
Saving Aunt Rose Some Trouble
HE HARDLY remembered my name!
Belinda was still standing in the same place since Mr Alwyn’s departure, the threat of tears burning in her eyes.
I must have made a very faint impression on him even though we were together so often, and in spite of how frequentlyIthink ofhim!And now it seems I must face him again tomorrow!
Taking stock of how she had just done so, she strove to calm herself.
I spoke in a steady voice — even looked directly at him twice. That was good.
However, her self-reflection was cut short as she noticed her aunt was still beside her.
Goodness, she looks wan! Well, she did have hopes that Mr Alwyn and I might suit. I mustn’t raise them again by showing how affected I am at his reappearance.
“Come, Aunt Rose. You look as if you could do with a cup of tea.” Though her legs wobbled beneath her, she drew her aunt into the parlour. As they settled onto the settee, she asked uneasily, “How fares Minnie?”
“Minnie?” Rose asked, her face blank.
Uncertainty dawned in Belinda’s mind.
Aunt Rose would call in a doctor to treat her ailing servant, wouldn’t she?
“Erm, yes. What did he…what did Mr Alwyn say about her?”
Coming alive, Mrs Caspar reached for Lindy’s hand. “No, no — he came to see George!”
The words broke like an ice cold wave over Belinda’s head.
“My uncle?” she gasped, ashamed that her injured pride at being forgotten by Mr Alwyn had blinded her to all else. “What has happened to him?”
Swallowing hard, Rose began, “When Minnie led me upstairs, she said that George had had a fall. I thought at first she meant from his horse, so when she said Lee had helped him up off of the study floor, I nearly scolded her for giving me such a fright. I was so relieved to see George then, safe in bed.” Her breath caught. “But then, I saw his face…”
Her voice drifted off as she stared at the far wall.
Belinda waited, afraid to ask what troubling images filled her aunt’s mind.
Finally, Rose continued, though still in that distant manner. “Mr Alwyn said it was apoplexy that struck him.”
Apoplexy?
Trying to quell her own sense of alarm at the strange word, Belinda squeezed her aunt’s fingers and said, “Well, having seen Mr Alwyn tend to my mother, I trust my uncle is in good hands.”
Mrs Caspar returned to herself.
