Dorothy Eden by Important Family

Author:Important Family
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

13

CELINA’S TRUNKS WERE STRAPPED and labelled, her wedding dress packed separately and with great care, and just two days before the party were to set out for Christchurch, catastrophe struck Emily. She developed a high fever. She lay in bed, hot and heavy-eyed, declaring she would be better by tomorrow or the next day. She had to be.

On the morning of departure her fever had dropped. She felt cooler and less dizzy. But to her horror she discovered her chest and arms were covered in red spots. So was her face, as she saw when she looked in a mirror. She began to sob loudly, and Miss Pugh came running.

“What is this all about? Oh, my goodness!” Heartlessly Miss Pugh began to laugh. “I declare you’ve got the measles.”

Measles! The disease that had killed Mam and poor Willie. The very name filled Emily with dread. How could Aunt Tab laugh!

“So you won’t be travelling anywhere, my girl. There’ll be two of us to mind house. Now, now, don’t look so upset. There’ll be other weddings. Including your own, no doubt.”

“Aunt Tab, will I die like Mam and Willie?”

“Heavens no!” Miss Pugh’s voice was suddenly deep and warm. “No, you won’t die. Emily. You’re getting better already. And I’m about to bring you a bowl of Lee Fong’s excellent chicken soup. I have to admit he makes it better than I do.”

Emily sniffed and hiccupped. “Are they all going this morning?”

“They must. It’s all arranged. And I think it wiser for them not to kiss you goodbye. Especially the bride. She wouldn’t much care to be covered with spots on her wedding day. So be a good girl and smile, and we’ll have a fine time while they’re away.”

A fine time, Emily thought miserably. Only Squire had the courage to come in her room. He even kissed her brow, his face so kindly above hers that her heart went weak with pleasure. To her disgust she cried again, but he was gone before he saw her tears.

The next day there was a strange sound on the stairs, a frail, high cry like a baby’s. Someone knocked at her door.

“Em! Can I come in?”

It was Daniel’s voice and when he came in, at her bidding, he had the smallest lamb she had ever seen rucked under his arm. It had tightly curled wool and a pink nose, and the most darling tiny hooves. She wanted to hug it.

“Oh, Daniel! How adorable! Is it for me?”

“If you want it.” Daniel’s usually pale cheeks were pink, probably from the cold. His voice was gruff, too. How funny. Daniel’s voice was breaking. He was becoming a man.

“Where’s its mother?”

“She died. The birth didn’t go right. It doesn’t always.”

Like Laura Henshaw’s, Emily thought fleetingly. This was what could happen to women. But she was no longer in a sad mood.

“How do I feed it, Daniel?”

“With a bottle, of course. I’ll show you how. It will have cow’s milk. It will think you’re its mother, Em, and follow you about.

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