A Season to Be Sinful (8 page)

The boys seemed to have found nothing odd about her attire that night, yet they knew very well that she was a woman full grown. Did they understand the purpose of her disguise? Sherry realized he had never asked them. Recognition of this oversight changed the shape of his slight smile so that it became more derisive. How many more mistakes could he make before the full weight of them was brought to bear?

Sighing deeply enough to make the candlelight flicker, Sherry wondered about his next course of action. He would permit her to recuperate in his home, if she survived the journey there. To protect his reputation and that of his family, some measure of secrecy would be required, but he was practiced at secrets. He had already decided that moving her into his residence would best be accomplished at night and through the servants entrance. His neighbors were unlikely to notice anything untoward, but their retainers were infinitely more alert to activity out of the ordinary. He would rely on his own staff to quell rumors. It was to their benefit to do so. There was no standing in being associated with an employereven one with a title and fortunewho had gone queer in the head.

Sherry leaned toward the table and set the candlestick down. He started to rise, glimpsed a faint movement from his patient, and dropped back in the chair. At first he didnt know what it was he had seen. Her breathing seemed unchanged by any exertion or flutter of awareness. Then he caught the quarter turn of her wrist. Her fingers began to curl with aching slowness until her hand formed a loose fist. She did it several times over before he realized she was trying to tug at the blanket covering.

Uncomfortable, are you? he asked. That is something I can fix. He lifted the woolen blanket carefully where it had bunched under her hip and retucked it under the mattress. Better?

The question was not meant to elicit a response, so Sherry was surprised when two of his fingers were caught by hers. She squeezed lightly at first, so lightly that he thought he imagined it; then he saw the change in the shape of her knuckles and knew it was true. His eyes went to hers and saw they were still closed, but when his gaze dropped to her mouth he witnessed the parting of her lips and the effort to form words.

Qu est que vous faites ici?

He thought she might ask for something to moisten her dry lips. A sip of wine perhaps, or tea. What she wanted, though, was to know what he was doing here. She had definitely stolen a glance in his direction. His response was in French, although he didnt answer the question she put to him. Do you remember me?

Oui, vous étiez au théâtre

Her voice was whisper soft, and he had to lean closer to hear. Yes, he said, in French again. I do go to the theatre. Is that where you saw me?

Her lashes lifted a fraction in response, as though it were too great an effort to nod. She touched the tip of her tongue to her lips. Instead of wetting them, it seemed to cling there. Jai soif .

Of course youre thirsty. I have wine for you. The water is not fit to drink. He did not inform her the wine also had tincture of laudanum in it. The wine bottle was sitting on the windowsill. Sherry retrieved it and filled a third of a glass. Slipping an arm gingerly under her shoulders, he helped her rise just enough to tip the glass against her bottom lip. Sip.

She pursed her lips, breathing in the wine more than drinking it. When she tried to reach for the glass to hold it herself, he would not let her. Instead, he made sure she was resting the weight of her shoulders fully against his forearm and kept the glass firmly in place.

Fermez vos yeux , he told her.

The corners of her mouth tilted upward even as she complied and closed her eyes. Quel jour sommes nous?

Mercredi , he said. Wednesday. Then he realized the lateness of the hour and corrected himself. Non, cesttau jourdhui jeudi . He could not tell if she was in any way surprised by this intelligence; her pale and placid features gave nothing away. Five days had passed since the stabbing, but it was likely she was aware during some of that time.

Thursday, she said on a thread of sound. Thursdays child has far to go. It is as good a day to die as any, I suppose, and mayhap heaven is no greater a distance to journey than hell.

The movement of her shoulders was what he always thought of as the quintessential Gallic shrug. The words, nevertheless, were spoken in English, and the accent was the perfectly pitched inflection of the ton .

Sherry sat, stunned. Her command of the Kings English was flawless. The tone and cadence of her speech would have allowed her to converse among the guests at the Court of St. James without arousing suspicion. She spoke English as fluently as she did French, a talent mastered only by those young women with an exemplary education or a demanding tutor. At present, Miss Rose did not strike him as one who had had benefit of either.

After picking up the wine bottle, Sherry permitted himself a long pull. He watched her for several more minutes, the bottle neck dangling between two fingers, before he got to his feet. He went to the window, set the bottle down, and braced his arms against the frame while he stared out. It was a cool night. The light from small fires flickered along the street. People gathered in twos and threes to keep warm; some found respite in the protected doorways of taverns or under the canted bed of a produce wagon. He heard a bottle crash against the cobbles, then the sound of cursing followed by raucous laughter. There was a scuffle, muffled oaths, and then blessed silence. Sherry supposed the combatants had finally felled each other or made amends.

It was a hard life here, he reflected. Even the meanest structure became someones home, and usually it became home to more than a single someone. The Gazette reported of tenements that accommodated thirty people in their cellars. It was in his lifetime that there had been mass open graves within sight of where he stood. Rats had roamed the streets with impunity. The graves were finally covered; the rats were only marginally less bold.

Sherry leaned forward and pressed his forehead against the glass. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to consider the fate of the woman he knew only as Miss Rose. In spite of his intervention, it was a very real possibility that she would die tonight. He had known it, accepted it, at the moment hed approached her foul-smelling quarters. Now he wondered if he was prepared to accept as fully the possibility that she might live.

He was brave enough to pose the question to himself but unwilling to hear his own answer. Pushing away from the window, he straightened and wearily rubbed the back of his neck.

He returned to the chair and sat. He would keep vigil here, he decided, and offer her what comfort he could. To that end, he took her hand in his.

He was of the firm opinion that no one should die alone.

Pinch opened the door just enough to slip inside the sickroom. Dash and Midge followed. They tiptoed to the bed, although their stealth was unnecessary. They were so slight of build that their weight did not cause the boards to creak.

Dash took his place on the floor near the head of the bed and leaned sideways so his cheek rested against the mattress. Pinch knelt beside the chair where Sherry slept. He edged his fingers close to the handclasp. Midge carefully crawled into the bed and lay down. He did not mind that she smelled like the advent of death.

The beginnings of a fever were upon her, but then so was the beginning of a new day.

She had survived the night.

Sherry stood and reached over her to lift Midge off the bed. He had to untangle the childs fingers from where they were wound in her hair. Turning, he made to set Midge in the chair and paused when he heard movement outside the door. A moment later, Kearns stepped into the room and was arrested by the sight of his employer holding a child in his arms while two others knelt sleeping at his feet.

Sherry sighed. I cannot explain it myself.

One frequently cannot, my lord, the valet said briskly. He advanced to assist Sheridan with Midge, steadying the chair while Sherry placed the boy on it.

Once Midge was set down, his pointed chin fell heavily and jabbed his chest. This seemed to be enough to trigger an abrupt snore but was insufficient to wake him.

Little baggage, Kearns said.

One of Sherrys brows lifted at the tone of this observation. There was tolerance hereand if he was not mistakena hint of something that might be approaching tenderness. You are demonstrating remarkable forbearance, Kearns.

The valet sighed. I cannot explain it myself.

Chuckling wryly, Sherry stepped away from the bed and pointed to their patient. I think shes coming into a fever. Will you send the footman for a basin of water and some clean cloths? Tell him to wake Mr. Rutland if he must.

Kearns nodded. And you, mlord? I have your clothes in the

Sherry dismissed this with a wave of his hand. If a tub can be found, I think these three should be introduced to it.

The addition of soap and water and a scrub brush would not be amiss. Mrs. Ponsonby will bar the door and every window if we do not apply some spit and polish to them. Sherry gave his valet Ml marks for the attempt he made at schooling his features. You have some thought on the matter, Kearns? I should like to hear it.

Uncomfortable, Kearns cleared his throat. You mean to take them to your residence.

Yes. I mean to take her, he said, gesturing to the bed. Then he indicated the three awkwardly positioned, exhausted boys. Do you imagine these lads will stay away?

Kearns looked from one childs bent head to the next. Although they were all sleeping, their posture and attitude was reminiscent of prayer. I take your lordships point.

Sherry nodded. The tub, then.

I shall see to it immediately.

Harris arrived before the noon hour. The first thing he noticed was what wasnt present. The nearly overwhelming odor of decay had disappeared, and it gave him hope.

Well? Sherry asked as the physician made his examination. Is she improved by the fever or made worse by it?

A moment, said Harris. He tapped her chest and listened to her lungs and heart. He smelled her breath, nodded to himself, then laid two fingers along the pulse in her neck. You have been keeping her warm?

Yes. She does not always appreciate the effort, but she has little strength to fight me.

Harris nodded. His eyes fell on the basin of water on the table and the cloths lying along its rim. And her brow cool?

Yes, Sherry said with a touch of impatience. What I want to know is if it has been efficacious.

Carefully peeling back the blankets and sheet, Harris took his first look at the wound through her nightshirt and bandage. He would not be pressed by Sherrys chafing. He answered cautiously, It is a good sign the wound is not weeping overmuch. The shirt is largely unstained. He rolled the hem upward until the bandage was exposed. Are you aware if she awakened at all? he asked as he began to loosen the cloth wrap.

Yes, he said. She also briefly spoke.

She was lucid?

Yes. Sherry did not offer to introduce their conversation, and Harris did not ask.

Harris stopped his examination to retrieve a tincture from his bag. He applied it to the ragged edges of the wound. Hold her down, he instructed as his patient began to thrash.

Sherry knelt at the head of the bed as he had done the previous day and took her wrists. Although he had been gentle on that occasion, he saw now that he had also been firm enough to leave faint braises. For entirely selfish reasons he hoped she would not fight him.

Hold her, Harris repeated, looking pointedly at Sheridans loosely engaged fingertips. He grunted, satisfied, when he saw the grip tighten. You wont break her. Or if you do, it will be far and away less painful than this. He poured more of the tincture into the wound, causing his patients slight frame to seize.

Bloody hell, Harris, Sherry said under his breath. He felt every line of her body tense as though the physician had poured liquid fire into her blood. She arched, her back rising off the bed. Her knuckles whitened. In the last moment before her muscles exhausted themselves she ground out her pain between clenched teeth. Part whimper, part outrage, it was all wounded animal.

Sherry grimaced.

The doctor winced.

They both remained dedicated to their task.

There, Harris said, satisfied with his work when a white froth bubbled from the wound.

What is that? Sherry asked as the physician stoppered the small vial.

Harris shrugged. Something the chemist has encouraged me to try. A compound that may have healing properties. He wiped the froth away. Never fear, I intend to use a poultice and bleed her. I do not abandon old treatments for untried ones, yet if one never tried anything new there would be no advancements.

Frowning, Sherry regarded the wound. Can you say there will be no unfavorable consequences as a result of combining both treatments?

Nothing is certain.

Sherry considered this. Then dont bleed her. Surely that was done to great effect by the nature of her injury. As to the matter of the poultice, I will leave that up to you.

I am gratified to hear it, Harris said wryly

Do you think I overstep, Harris?

Not at all, my lord.

Sherry knew it was a lie. The physician had not established his successful and lucrative practice without learning how to placate his patients, most of whom were members of the ton . I am paying you for the best application of your knowledge and judgment, Sherry told him. Not for you to accede to mine. What is your opinion about bleeding her?

It is necessary for the removal of the impurities that remain in her blood; however, delaying the procedure until she is abed in your residence is the proper course of action here. In that environment there is less risk that infection of the blood will fix itself a second time.

Very well. Sherry realized he was still holding her wrists. He let her go while Harris redressed the wound. I have given some thought as to how we will get her out of here. Since we cannot negotiate her descent on those stairs with a litter, I suggest we make a sling and lower her out a window.

Harriss glance went from his patient to the window and then to Sheridan. Her weight will not present much problem. You can rig such a thing securely?

I have spoken to Mr. Rutland about it. He assures me he learned more than stitchery in His Majestys service. He knows a thing or two about knots and rigging. He sent the boys out to get the proper ropes.

Steal them, you mean.

Very likely.

Harris withheld comment and concentrated on the care of his patient. Sherry fell silent, watching.

Unnoticed by either of them, the young womans eyelashes fluttered once, twice, then quieted again. She offered no opinion of the plan.

The boys returned late in the day with something more than the ropes they were sent out to find. Their patient surveillance of the harbor had been rewarded with an opportunity to board the Gallant unnoticed. From the focsle they carried off ropes, a hammock, and one luckless sailors extra pair of wool socks. Without fanfare they laid their booty at Sheridans feet. He hardly knew whether to praise or punish them, and since they seemed to expect neither, he simply nodded and set about preparing the rigging.

They waited until night fell before they tested the contraption. It was decided that Midge and Dash together weighed only a little more than their teacher. If the hammock held them and could be lowered safely to the ground, then it was agreed it would work for her. Sherry was struck by the fact that neither of the boys showed fear as they situated themselves in the hammock. Their heads lay at opposite ends, and they wriggled a bit when their arms and legs tangled, but they were considerably less lively than a catch of fish when Rutland and Sherry lifted the hammock to the window and began lowering it by means of the stolen rope.

Pinch was waiting for them on the ground with Sheridans footman nearby. He had given the all clear signal to begin as soon as the alley was deserted while the footman kept a watchful eye out for drunks, whores, and stragglers. When Midge and Dash were safely on the ground, Pinch helped them out and gave the contraption a hard tug, then they all watched while it was quickly hauled back inside.

Id like it better, Kearns, Sherry said to his valet, if you helped Rutland lower her, and I stood below. I grow concerned that Dunnet will be heavy handed trying to carry her to the hack alone. She is likely to suffer less if we sling her between us to transport.

It occurred to Kearns that his lordship would be better satisfied if he could find a way to be on both ends at the same time. The valet had the good sense not to point this out. As you wish, he said.

The boys and the footman returned then, were apprised of this change in the arrangement, and set off on the new assignment of procuring a hack and loading it with everything that had been carried in the previous day. Blue Rutland voiced some regrets when the beds were stripped of their linens and carted off, but Sherry did not choose to make a gift of them. The proprietor was being well compensated for his part in this nights work and double that to hold his tongue regarding it.

Sherry was not so foolish as to believe the money alone would ever buy Rutlands silence; he trusted it was the mans odd affection for Miss Rose that would encourage him to remain quiet.

The children had to be persuaded that their attendance upon the hack and its nervous driver was more important than standing under the hammock. The moderate level of cleanliness that had been achieved this morning under Kearnss watchful eye and Dunnets fierce scrubbing was no longer in evidence, and they set their dirty faces stubbornly when Sherry pointed them toward the hack. When they slunk off grumbling to themselves, it was borne home again to Sheridan that they were proving infinitely more adept at taking things than taking orders.

Upon arrival at his residence, he would be fortunate indeed if his most trusted retainers did not mutiny.

When everythingand everyonewas judged to be in readiness, the transport began. The boys directed the hack driver into the alley, and under cover of darkness Kearns and Rutland slowly lowered the hammock down the side of the building. They all considered the largest danger to the operation the patient herself. If she awoke in the middle of the transport it was easy to conceive of her crying out and calling attention to them or, even worse, doing herself more injury-

Their fears did not come to pass. She was in every way as cooperative as Midge and Dash had been during the testing of the system, though this was purely the result of her being insensible of it.

Sherry and Dunnet made short work of the knots securing the hammock. While the ropes were being hauled back into the upstairs room, they carried the sling to the hack. It was not so easy to get it inside without jostling their cargo, and they were aware of every utterance of pain, no matter how small its whisper.

The hacks bench was nowhere near long enough to allow her to fully recline. Sherry set himself in one corner and supported her as best he could. When Kearns joined him, he took the opposite bench while the footman climbed up beside the driver and gave the address.

Rutland ventured out long enough to wish them well. Yell be sending her back to me now, once shes right and tight, I mean. Shes got a way about her that the customers like. Fair popular, she is.

Sherry wondered if it was a question being put to him or a statement of the proprietors expectation. His response was noncommittal. Let us see how she fares, he said.

The lads, too. Blue Rutland pointed to the roof where the children were riding with the luggage. Theyve yet to prove their full worth, but theres promise there.

The same has occurred to me, Sherry said. He thanked Rutland for his help and directed Kearns to pay the man what was due him; with that transaction completed, the door was closed and the driver took his cue to depart.