A Christmas Caroline by Christa Paige

Author:Christa Paige
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc.
Published: 2013-10-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

He counted it a Christmas miracle. The morning following, Virginia slept late. Typically, her cheerful hollering and the thunder of her running the corridors woke him, or Kate’s complaint at such did. But the sun was already out and quite blinding, and as yet he’d heard no whisper from either Kate’s room or the nursery. He peeked into the latter before he left the house, just to reassure himself that Virginia was quite safe. She was. Bundled snug in a quilt, her mouth open and breath fanning the ruffle on her thin bolster.

She’d slept with her wooden horse. Again.

Samuel left early to attend to patients who had sent messages the day before. He also went by the apothecary and a fresh-herb market to replenish his bag. His more affluent patients would still be abed, but those from the lower classes would appreciate an early morning visit.

Lord Withering was the first of his ton calls of the day, but he forced himself to patience rather than heading to Berkeley Square directly. Some restraint would do him good. Also, visiting Bess Albright, who he suspected suffered more from hunger than disease, and the still-feverish Widow Pickering, both of whom resided in St. Giles, reminded him who he was. Where he came from.

He might treat peers of the realm, might have taught his sisters to read and speak properly, might keep household in a respectable neighborhood and reasonably dream about, someday, a place in the country where Virginia could run, but this comfort and plenty had not always been so. His father had been a shop clerk and his mother had taken in piecework. Times had oft been lean. A bequest from his maternal grandfather had enabled Samuel to attend school, and sponsors had funded the continuance of his education. He had paid them all back as demand for his services grew, but that did not make him genteel. It did not even make him a respectable tradesman.

If Caroline knew what sort of man she’d propositioned with this fake engagement, she would be horrified. Samuel, of course, had no intention of telling her. Soon, too soon, this whole adventure would be naught but a beautiful memory and his real life would continue on much as it had been. One bright Christmastide, tidily encapsulated like the scene in Mr. Cleary’s automaton. He would pull it out of memory from time to time and look upon it fondly, but it would be long over.

He needed to prepare himself for that. And he probably ought to begin preparing his sisters as well.

At Withering House, a footman showed him up to the earl’s room, and he forced himself to calmly relinquish his topper and coat to the servant, quite as if he’d been doing so all his life.

“Avery,” Lord Withering croaked when he came into the sick room, still redolent with festive greenery, as it would be for the rest of the fortnight.

“My lord.”

The old gentleman chuckled, which turned into a deep, wet cough. In a few steps, Samuel was at his bedside.

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