Bone China by Laura Purcell

Author:Laura Purcell [Purcell, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9781526602510
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2019-09-18T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

‘Underground?’ Creeda spoke the word as if it meant perdition. ‘He’s put those poor sick men underground?’

‘Not precisely. They are staying inside the caves for a while. Constant exposure to the sea air will prove beneficial to their diseased lungs.’

It was certainly proving beneficial to the laundry, hung out in lines before the house. White linen snapped and bellied like the sails of the ships in Bristol harbour. It would dry in no time, and that was just as well; Louise had thought little Francis made much washing, but his clouts were nothing compared to the demands of five sick men.

Having sweated over the tubs for hours, Louise and Creeda were treating themselves to a stroll upon the cliff. Mounds of thrift grew unchecked here while moss campion hugged the soil.

Pompey scampered ahead, yapping for joy. Gulls scattered at his approach.

‘Excuse me, miss.’ Creeda’s hand twitched, picking at the wicker basket hung over the crook of her arm. ‘Did you say caves?’

‘Yes, Creeda. There are caves on the beach beneath the house. That was the main inducement for my father to purchase the property. He has had this colony in deliberation for some time.’

‘I didn’t know.’

‘Did you not? I was certain my father would tell you there were diseased men, possibly infectious men, in the vicinity of your workplace. It is not like him to omit such information.’

‘Oh. Well, aye,’ Creeda replied. Louise could only see her brown eye, peering down at the empty basket. With her hooked nose, she looked rather like a bird from this angle. ‘I knew about them. Just … not the caves.’

The wind boomed, trading cannon shot with the sea.

‘Is it …’ Creeda went on hesitantly. It seemed Louise’s earlier scold had been heeded, for the maid was certainly speaking with more care. ‘Forgive me, but is it a good idea, miss?’

‘It is an excellent notion,’ she responded in a voice that brooked no argument. ‘My father is a brilliant physician.’

‘Yes, miss.’

They could not afford to lose against death a second time. Papa’s professional reputation had already suffered two mortal blows – the loss of his family and Lord Redfern’s patronage – it would not weather a third.

The caves had to work. They would work.

She looked sideways at Creeda and felt a twinge of sympathy for her. The girl was young – about Kitty’s age – alone and far from home. She had enough to be afraid of, without worrying about the men. Perhaps Louise could help allay her fears.

‘Tell me, Creeda,’ she said softly, ‘what bothers you about the caves?’

‘It’s …’ Creeda wet her lips. ‘It’s the things that live in them, miss.’

Louise remembered standing by the mouth of the cavern, that sensation of being watched. ‘Crabs? Nesting seabirds? I do not think there is anything else that might live—’

Pompey began to bark. For an awful moment, it sounded like an echo of Chao’s abrasive cough.

Both girls looked up to see the dog’s tail wagging furiously. He snorted and pawed at the ground before him.

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