Fullerton, J [Nolan Family 01] No Cure for Love by Jean Fullerton

Author:Jean Fullerton
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Saga, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Orion Publishing Group
Published: 2010-04-21T23:00:00+00:00

Bridget lay, ghostly pale, on the clean sheets of one of the beds in the cholera hospital. Ellen and Josie sat beside her, huddled together in a large wooden chair. Around them the two night nurses moved quietly amongst the patients, seeing to their needs and offering a word of comfort as they went. Of the sixteen beds only ten were occupied. The rest were neatly made, waiting, like cool marble slabs, for the next sufferer to be laid on their pristine surfaces.

Since Robert Munroe had materialised at Paddy’s Goose, the evening had taken on an unreal quality for Ellen. She had gone from terror to joy at his appearance, from fear of what Forster might do to him to ecstasy as he held her tenderly in his arms, and finally to dread as he told her of her mother’s condition. Her emotions were now completely unravelled and scattered around her.

Ellen had given up all pretence of being merely fond of Robert; when he appeared on the stage in the White Swan and rescued her from Hennessey, she knew that she loved him.

She had diligently guarded her heart against love since Michael had died, only to find that it was now taken by a man who could never be hers before God.

Ellen gazed at her mother, who was breathing peacefully. Next to her Josie had nodded off to sleep. Ellen adjusted her position and eased Josie under her arm. Her daughter stirred, but did not wake.

After they arrived, Robert had led her to Bridget and left her and Josie. But Ellen knew that he would stay as long as she needed him.

Knowing that he cared, that he cherished her, warmed her from within. She gazed at him as he stood next to a bed at the far end of the ward and spoke to the attending nurse. He had opened his waistcoat and loosened his cravat, his hair was tousled and there was a dark shadow on his cheeks and chin where his night beard was beginning to grow through. He turned towards her and their eyes met. He said something to the nurse and walked over. Ellen eased Josie onto the chair and covered her with a blanket.

‘Has your mother opened her eyes?’ he asked in a whisper. Josie stirred and muttered in her sleep, so he took gentle hold of Ellen’s arm and moved her away into the corner.

‘No, but she is peaceful,’ Ellen replied, feeling the strength of his presence wash over her. He left Ellen and went back to Bridget’s side. Taking her limp wrist and sliding out his gold hunter, Robert took her pulse. His mouth drew into a tight line and he lifted the covers from her mother’s feet, pressing the pad of his thumb firmly into her flesh. Bridget didn’t stir. Robert regarded her legs for a second or two, then covered them again. He picked up his stethoscope from the table next to the bed and listened to Bridget’s chest. He replaced the stethoscope and returned to Ellen’s side.

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