ill and hadn’t long to live. Even with Laura’s small experience of sickness, she saw how much restless fever there was in the woman’s speech, and some instinct prompted her to tell a long story to distract the old dear, describing their recent visit to the seaside, her new frock for the trip, her baby brother’s antics—all in an easy flow of talk that proved very soothing to the patient, giving her something to think about beyond her immediate suffering.
The woman had liked her and asked Dr. Callaway if Laura could come again. Papa agreed, pride evident in his expression. After that, she had visited the woman daily, helping as much as she could, explaining the finer directions of her treatment and diet to the rotating nurses, and talking to the patient about everything and nothing until she passed peacefully in her sleep.
As Laura again leaned near to help the man sip from the cup, Mrs. Bray came in but remained near the door.
“How is he?” she asked. “I do hope you don’t catch something, Laura. Really, you should leave the nursing to Miss Chegwin.”
Hope flared. Was that maternal concern in the woman’s voice? But Laura guessed Mrs. Bray was more concerned about her passing on some infection to Eseld.
Defensiveness rose. “Mary can’t remain awake round the clock.”
“She must have done, when she worked for Dr. Dawe.”
“But she is over seventy now, remember.”
“Yes, well. I am as charitable as the next person, but I will want our guest room restored to us soon. There must be . . . institutions for shipwrecked souls like him.”
“None near here.”
“Very well. Just . . . do all you can to move him along.”
“I shall do everything in my power to help him recover, rest assured.”
Eseld’s bright, inquisitive face appeared in the doorway beside her mother. “What is going on?”
“Stay out, Eseld. I won’t have you falling ill.”
“Of course not, Mamm. But Laura here is perfectly expendable.” She winked.
“I did not say that.” Lamorna Bray lifted her chin. “It is her choice to risk her health. I am not her mother to command her. But I am yours, so take care.”
“Yes, Mamm. I’ll just stand here and keep Laura company for a time.”
“If you must, but be careful not to take a chill.”
When Mrs. Bray had gone, Eseld looked mischievously down the passage to be sure they were alone, then tiptoed into the room, closer to the bed, though not too close.
“How old is he, do you think?”
Laura shrugged. “I would guess thirty, or a bit more.”
“Too old for me, but just right for you.”
Laura huffed. “I am only two years older than you are.”
“In numbers, perhaps, but in other ways you are far older.”
Laura could not disagree.
Eseld pushed the candle lamp closer to the man. “Hard to see if he is handsome or not, covered in all those whiskers.” She tilted her head to one side as she studied him. “He has a good nose. Thin and straight. Aristocratic almost. And a very pleasant mouth. See how his lips are fuller at the center?”
Laura had noticed but did not admit it.
“He needs a shave and haircut,” Eseld added.
“Are you offering?”
“Me? Heavens no. I wouldn’t know how. A shame your uncle hasn’t a valet.”
Laura used to cut Uncle Matthew’s hair after her aunt Anne, his first wife, died. So deep in grief he’d been, he had not cared a whit about his appearance or much of anything else. But since he’d remarried, his wife insisted he go to the barber in Black Rock.
“Well, this man will not be going to a barber for the foreseeable future,” Laura said.
“Is he very poorly?”
“If you had asked me yesterday, I would have been hard-pressed to hold out hope, but he seems much improved, thanks to Miss Chegwin and Perran Kent.”
“Did Perry help?”
“Absolutely.”
“Will he be a good doctor, do you think?”
“With experience, a very good doctor, I predict.”
“Then perhaps you should marry him, Laura. It would be perfect, your being a doctor’s daughter and all. That would leave Treeve for me. Perry isn’t as handsome, but he’s twice as clever, which is just as you like.”
Laura reared back her head in surprise but did not argue. She admired intelligence, that was true, but she was not immune to a handsome face.
Eseld looked around the room and took a deep breath. “Well, it certainly livens up the place, having a mysterious man living under our roof. Or would do, if he would hurry and come to his senses. Do