The Lady Who Lived Again by Thomasine Rappold

Author:Thomasine Rappold [Rappold, Thomasine]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

“Daniel!” Amelia gasped.

Maddie’s heart pounded.

“He’s right, Amelia,” Gertrude cried. “That woman is cursed, and everyone knows it. I warned Lester that inviting her would be bad luck—”

“That’s enough!” Jace’s voice boomed over the throng of startled faces. He took a deep breath, unfurling his fists. With a shocking degree of calm, he said, “Miss Hogle, you’re clearly distressed and concerned for your cousin. As a physician—and Miss Sutter’s fiancé—I strongly suggest you take both him and your hysterics home.”

Gertrude gaped in silence. Seeking support, her gaze flew to Lester.

“I agree, Gert,” Lester said, sounding more sober than he had all day. “Matthew, take Daniel and the girls home. Aunt Sally will see to him.”

Matthew’s derisive glare fixed on Maddie for an endless moment before he grasped Dolly’s elbow and ushered her away. Gertrude huffed, but to Maddie’s relief, she followed the group to the wagon, where they readied to take Daniel home.

Maddie’s erratic pulse calmed amid the air of awkward silence around her. Amelia gave a sharp clap of her hands. “All right, now, everybody, the day is still young. Let’s get back to enjoying it. Luncheon will be ready soon.”

Everyone ambled off in different directions. Philip ambled straight toward Maddie. He handed her the glove she’d discarded when she’d stuffed the other one with ice. “Are you all right, Miss Sutter?”

The concern in Philip’s soft brown eyes earned him a smile. Whatever he’d heard of her past, the dear man remained unaffected. “I’m fine, Philip. Thank you.”

Jace placed his hand on the small of her back. “Let’s put the unfortunate incident behind us, shall we?”

“Of course,” Philip agreed with a nod.

Jace led Maddie back to their spot beneath the tree. Her mind raced as she reviewed her actions. The fear that Daniel might suspect what she’d done—that Jace would find her out—tightened like a noose around her neck. Had Jace seemed surprised by how quickly the lump on Daniel’s head had shrunk? She hoped that, due to the ice, such progression was plausible.

Maddie wrenched the stray glove in her hand as they sat quietly. Too quietly. Jace’s lingering silence heightened her dread. She’d been lucky so far, but she was taking more chances. Yesterday, while Jace was treating patients in his examination room, she’d been particularly daring with two patients in the waiting area. Under the guise of applying her trusty “warm herbal compress” she’d relieved the severe pain in Mrs. Canfield’s arthritic knee, and then she’d silenced the chronic ringing in Mr. Schyler’s ears.

Maddie was drawn from the memory by Bitsy and Henry, who were spinning in front of her, trying to capture an elusive butterfly. She watched, entranced by the fluttering thing as it darted around the young couple. Henry finally managed to scoop it into his flailing net, and Bitsy let out a cheer.

Maddie sighed, sympathizing with the poor creature’s plight. This business of healing in public was risky. It was only a matter of time before she was caught, too. She inhaled a deep breath, breaking the unbearable stillness.

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