A Yuletide Treasure by Cynthia Bailey Pratt

Author:Cynthia Bailey Pratt [Pratt, Cynthia Bailey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 2003-10-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Camilla felt that her first duty, even before breakfast, was to visit Nanny Mallow. Assured by Mavis that the patient was awake and eager for visitors, Camilla knocked, wishing she had some flowers or calf’s foot jelly to bring to a sufferer. Her mother made wonderfully clear jellies.

“You’re looking very well,” Camilla said, smiling on the wrinkled face turned up to hers. Nanny seemed to expect more, so Camilla bent down and kissed her surprisingly soft cheek. She felt a little off balance about it; she’d not been raised to expect or to give easy kisses.

“It’s like a miracle to be so safe and comfortable after so hard a time.”

“Well, you look blooming,” Camilla said stoutly. “If I thought it would improve my looks at all, I’d do the same as you. Only with my fortune, I should be more likely to sprain my nose rather than a knee.”

“Oh, I know just the right treatment for a sprained nose,” Nanny Mallow said with her young-old laughter. Camilla didn’t know whether to take her seriously or not.

“I hope you are feeling much better this morning,” Camilla said.

Nanny grasped Camilla’s sleeve, and leaning forward, she turned a sly glance toward the nurse. “She pretends to be so stern and unfeeling, but she’s as gentle as a mother.”

Mrs. Duke growled a little, like a dog making sure no one makes off with her special bone. Then she whisked away to stand by the fireplace, poking at some aromatic mixture in a pot set down among the ashes.

Nanny Mallow laughed and settled back again against her mounded pillows and cushions. A twinge of pain crossed her face. “I never would have believed so many bits of ourselves are strung through the knee,” she said. “Even if I don’t use it or go anywhere near it, it starts aching all over again. Mind you, I’m glad to be clean and warm— two I thought I’d never see anymore—but I wish this clever doctor’d explain how come when I wiggle m’left thumb, m’right knee starts giving me three kinds of gyp.”

“I know it must be hard to find the patience to wait for yourself to heal.”

“I know, I know,” she said irritably. “That’s the same advice I give m’self. Can’t say I pay much attention.”

“None at all,” Mrs. Duke muttered under her breath but clear enough to be heard.

“Never mind her. How are you getting on, Miss Camilla?”

“Everyone is treating me like an old friend already.”

“Hmmm, could be good that, or could be bad. Which is it?”

“Oh, good, very good. I feel quite one of the family already. Sir Philip—” She began and then hesitated. These fearsome old women could build a whole tragic fairy tale out of two chance-fallen words. “Sir Philip has been more than gracious,” she said quickly.

The two women exchanged glances. Mrs. Duke twitched her shoulder and turned again to the mixture on the hearth. “He’s a very pleasant gentleman,” Nanny Mallow allowed. “Very good to his dependents. Sent me down a venison pasty last time he shot a deer in the park.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.