passed the basin to Pinch and took the decanter from Dash. He was tempted to take a swallow for himself but resisted. He soaked the last clean cloth he had with a generous pour of brandy and pressed it against the wound.
She bucked, almost dislodging him from the bed. Midge arrived in that moment, Dunnet on his heels. The footman saw the problem and went to stop her from thrashing his master.
Sherry waved him aside. Dont worry about me. I want you to wake Dr. Harris and ask him for the vial of medicine he poured into her wound this afternoon. If he doesnt have any more, make him give you the name of the apothecary. Bring that vial here. Also, a tincture of laudanum would not be amiss.
Dunnet started to go, then paused. You dont want me to bring the doctor himself?
Sherry shrugged. If he wants to come, I wont turn him out. Go on. Go. Pinch, come closer. Take her hand. Perhaps it will calm her. Pinch did as he was told while Sherry removed himself from the bed. He padded into the dressing room with the basin, emptied it, and poured fresh water from the pitcher. He searched the cupboard and found more cloths. When he returned to the bed, Pinch was no longer the only one at her side. Dash had her other hand in his, and Midge was sitting at her feet.
Do you say prayers for your Miss Rose? Sherry asked. They could certainly do no harm. Their silence did not trouble him; their guilty exchange of glances did. What is it?
Midge bent his head and stared at his hands. Lily, he said.
Midge! Pinch snapped at him.
Midge! Dash cried.
Midge? Sherry asked softly. What is this about Lily?
Pinch and Dash tried to talk over him, but Sherry wouldnt let them. Squeezing cool water from a wet cloth, he quelled them with a glance. Say what you like, Midge.
The boy looked neither right nor left at his friends but directly at Sherry. Er name is Lily. It is er own name, er secret name. Not many know it, but God does, and we should use it proper when we talk to Im.
Lily. Sheridan looked from Midges earnest face to the young womans deeply flushed one. Beads of perspiration were visible above her lip. The impossibly dark hair lay damp against her scalp and forehead. Lily, he repeated, and permitted himself a small smile as he wiped her brow and an errant thought crossed his mind.
Ere now, wots this? Pinch demanded, his dark eyes narrowing on Sheridans smile. Wots amusin about er name?
Not a thing, Master Pinch. I was thinking that Shakespeare was in the right of it when he penned, Whats in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Pinch frowned deeply as he considered the import of what Sheridan was saying.
Sherry was careful not to allow his smile to deepen. It means that whether Rose or Lily, she is still the same person.
Oh, I understood that well enough. It was wot you said about er smellin sweet that didnt set right wi me.
Sherrys sudden bark of laughter caused all three boys to rear back in surprise. In turn, their wide-eyed, open-mouthed expressions made it difficult for him to rein in his amusement. For Sherry, there was no clearer indication of how tired he was than to have to work at tempering his laughter. It required looking down at Lily to sober him. There was nothing about her condition that invited amusement, and her gravely still features and the protective hovering of the boys was a forceful reminder.
He bent his head to feel her breath on his cheek. At this angle he could once again make out the shallow rise and fall of her chest.
Is she all right? Dash asked. I mean, shes not
Shes sleeping, Sherry told him. He had no better description for her condition. If you boys want to remain here, then bring the bedding Ponsonby gave you. You can make pallets on the floor. There is nothing more to be done until Dunnet returns with the medicine. Sherry hoped they would be sleeping soundly by then and would not have to witness her agony of feeling as he applied it. Go on. Im not going to leave
She bucked, almost dislodging him from the bed. Midge arrived in that moment, Dunnet on his heels. The footman saw the problem and went to stop her from thrashing his master.
Sherry waved him aside. Dont worry about me. I want you to wake Dr. Harris and ask him for the vial of medicine he poured into her wound this afternoon. If he doesnt have any more, make him give you the name of the apothecary. Bring that vial here. Also, a tincture of laudanum would not be amiss.
Dunnet started to go, then paused. You dont want me to bring the doctor himself?
Sherry shrugged. If he wants to come, I wont turn him out. Go on. Go. Pinch, come closer. Take her hand. Perhaps it will calm her. Pinch did as he was told while Sherry removed himself from the bed. He padded into the dressing room with the basin, emptied it, and poured fresh water from the pitcher. He searched the cupboard and found more cloths. When he returned to the bed, Pinch was no longer the only one at her side. Dash had her other hand in his, and Midge was sitting at her feet.
Do you say prayers for your Miss Rose? Sherry asked. They could certainly do no harm. Their silence did not trouble him; their guilty exchange of glances did. What is it?
Midge bent his head and stared at his hands. Lily, he said.
Midge! Pinch snapped at him.
Midge! Dash cried.
Midge? Sherry asked softly. What is this about Lily?
Pinch and Dash tried to talk over him, but Sherry wouldnt let them. Squeezing cool water from a wet cloth, he quelled them with a glance. Say what you like, Midge.
The boy looked neither right nor left at his friends but directly at Sherry. Er name is Lily. It is er own name, er secret name. Not many know it, but God does, and we should use it proper when we talk to Im.
Lily. Sheridan looked from Midges earnest face to the young womans deeply flushed one. Beads of perspiration were visible above her lip. The impossibly dark hair lay damp against her scalp and forehead. Lily, he repeated, and permitted himself a small smile as he wiped her brow and an errant thought crossed his mind.
Ere now, wots this? Pinch demanded, his dark eyes narrowing on Sheridans smile. Wots amusin about er name?
Not a thing, Master Pinch. I was thinking that Shakespeare was in the right of it when he penned, Whats in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Pinch frowned deeply as he considered the import of what Sheridan was saying.
Sherry was careful not to allow his smile to deepen. It means that whether Rose or Lily, she is still the same person.
Oh, I understood that well enough. It was wot you said about er smellin sweet that didnt set right wi me.
Sherrys sudden bark of laughter caused all three boys to rear back in surprise. In turn, their wide-eyed, open-mouthed expressions made it difficult for him to rein in his amusement. For Sherry, there was no clearer indication of how tired he was than to have to work at tempering his laughter. It required looking down at Lily to sober him. There was nothing about her condition that invited amusement, and her gravely still features and the protective hovering of the boys was a forceful reminder.
He bent his head to feel her breath on his cheek. At this angle he could once again make out the shallow rise and fall of her chest.
Is she all right? Dash asked. I mean, shes not
Shes sleeping, Sherry told him. He had no better description for her condition. If you boys want to remain here, then bring the bedding Ponsonby gave you. You can make pallets on the floor. There is nothing more to be done until Dunnet returns with the medicine. Sherry hoped they would be sleeping soundly by then and would not have to witness her agony of feeling as he applied it. Go on. Im not going to leave
Similar Books
