Page 117 of Ghost of the Ton

“Son?”

He glanced up at her crystal-clear eyes.

“I’ll not tell ye what to do about yer wife. Ye must look to yer own conscience. But there’s one thing I will ask of ye.”

He braced himself. “What is it, Ma?”

“Take the vaccine,” she said. “If I must lose my daughter-in-law, I shall at least take comfort in knowing that she’ll succeed wherever she goes. But I couldn’t bear to lose my son.”

But the expression in her eyes told him that she wouldn’t be able to bear losing Mia, the daughter-in-law who had secured a place in her heart.

And neither would he.

But I’ve already lost her.

He curled his fingers around hers, then nodded.

“Aye,” he said, “I will.”

Chapter Thirty

“There!” Mia said, rolling down the little girl’s sleeve. “Well done for being such a brave girl.”

“Ma said it wouldnae hurt,” Ada said. “And it didnae—not at all.”

Mia raised an eyebrow.

“Well, maybe a wee bit,” Ada said, “but not as much as when ye treated my shoulder. Thank ye, ma’am.”

“Ye should be thanking me, Ada. It was me who passed the special medicine on.”

Ada turned to the boy who’d just spoken, who sat on the edge of Mia’s table, swinging his legs.

“Thank ye, Jamie.” Blushing, Ada leaned over to kiss the boy on the cheek.

“Bleurgh!” Jamie shrank back, but he made no attempt to wipe his cheek, and his face turned a similar shade to Ada’s.

Mia exchanged a smile with Ada’s mother. “Your daughter shouldn’t feel any worse than you did after your vaccination,” she said. “Being a child, she should recover more quickly. But keep her home for at least two days. I’ll give you some willow bark should you need it, but if you have any concerns, send for me and I’ll come directly.”

“Did I do right by not bringing Ada sooner?” Aileen said. “She’s not been well. I kept her away from school, as she’d taken a chill and I didnae want to take her out until she’d recovered.”

“That was the sensible thing to do,” Mia said, placing a hand on the woman’s arm. “It’s best to take the vaccine while healthy to avoid being overwhelmed. I’d only advocate taking it when unwell if there was an outbreak of smallpox, when the risk of taking the vaccine is minimal compared to the alternative.”

The kitchen door opened and Iona appeared. “Shall I make tea?”

“Och, no need to bother, lass,” Aileen said. “We mustn’t take up any more of yer time. Ada, lass, let’s get ye home and tucked up in front of a fire. Do ye want to come with us, Jamie, lad? That is, if Miss Lucas isn’t expecting any more patients today?”

Iona’s eyes narrowed at Aileen’s address.

Mia shook her head. “No one else is coming today.”

“If they do, they can come back tomorrow,” Iona said. “Ye must be exhausted, Mia. How many folk have ye treated today? Ten?”

“Eleven, counting Ada,” Mia said.

“Then it’s time we left ye in peace,” Aileen said. “Come along, Ada. Ye too, Jamie.”

“Wait,” Iona said. “I’ve a piece of shortbread for each of ye brave children. Ye can take a piece also if ye wish, Aileen.”