Rumors and Promises (26 page)

Ian changed his mind and didn’t bother to telephone the doctor first. He needed some time by himself to think. The March wind blasted his face as he set out in the direction of Dr. Moore’s house. How ignorant could he have been? He had wanted to get away from Sophie to stop his growing feelings. But perhaps he shouldn’t have fancied himself the object of Sophie’s return affection.

James Cooper must have had plenty of time to charm both the older and the younger girl while living at the boardinghouse. He sighed, walking with head down and hands behind his back for the distance of two blocks. Would Cooper be so cozy with Sophie if he knew her secret? Taking on a woman raising a sibling was one thing, but if he knew Caira was her very own daughter? And what had he been thinking by almost leaving her alone with the boy after what she’d been through in her past? In his moment of panic and jealousy, Ian had wanted to be away from both of them, from witnessing any affection held between them. As usual, he’d acted selfishly.

Ian knew one thing for sure. As hurt and disappointed as he had felt with Sophie, he didn’t like to think James had any special claim on the girl’s heart. She could do better than that immature, self-important newspaperman. Sophie needed a godly man to share God’s love with her and help her heal, not a backslidden fellow who barely attended church, and then as not much more than an afterthought.

The red brick front of the two-story home stood like a sentinel on one of Main Street’s corners. When he reached the porch, Ian hammered the ornate brass knocker into the thick front door.

The muted yellow glow of spring sunshine slanted from the west through the lone window in the bedroom. Maggie had helped her move upstairs earlier. Sophie since figured the afternoon had
slipped away. Maggie’s delicious soup had been soothing but hard to swallow. Wrapped in a blanket, each touch sent pinpricks of pain through her skin and made her shiver. It was so difficult to get warm. She tried to read the book she’d asked Maggie to fetch, but dozed off several times, awakening to Caira’s tinkling laughter while her friend kept her amused. What her daughter really needed was a nap.

Hearing heavy steps and deep voices travel up the stairs, Sophie opened her eyes once again to find Ian with a tall, older man close at his heels and Maggie leading the way.

She recognized Dr. Moore from the disastrous elder board meeting. He looked out through his spectacles with kind brown eyes. “Let’s see what we can do for this young lady.”

Sophie dug the heels of her hands into the sheets underneath, pushing herself to a sitting position. “The white willow extract Maggie gave me this morning helped,” she rasped.

“I’m sure it did.” Maggie patted her hand on the side of the bed opposite the doctor.

“Hmm.” Dr. Moore touched her forehead with a large cool palm. “Fever’s likely up again.” He found a thermometer in his bag, which he promptly unsheathed from its case and shook down. “Open up.” After placing the glass object under her tongue, he took out his stethoscope and listened to her chest. Once finished with that he snapped open his pocket watch.

Tick, tick, tick. Sophie could hear the timepiece in the silence of the room. The feeling of someone else watching came upon her and she looked up, behind the doctor. Ian stood with arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe and searching for something in her eyes. She felt it, like a penetrating question. But what was he asking of her? She pulled the sheets up a bit farther, gripping the edge. One of Ian’s hands went up to rub his chin. His gaze flitted to the back of the doctor’s head. “Well, Thad, what do you think?”

“Let me have that, my dear.” Dr. Moore pulled the thermometer from Sophie’s mouth and studied it for a minute. “A hundred and three. Let’s see your throat now.”

Sophie opened up.

“A little wider please. Ahh. That’s good.” He turned round toward Ian. “The quinsy, Reverend. Her tonsils are quite swollen, and I see some pus back there. Nothing a few good days of rest and a bit of medicine can’t fix.”

Dr. Moore turned back to Sophie, gently feeling her neck. “You need to sleep and to drink lots of fluids. White willow extract should bring that fever down, as you mentioned. You’ll need a bit of this tincture applied to your throat twice a day.” He pulled out a small bottle and a brush. “And a bit of laudanum will help you sleep these next couple of nights, but just a small amount. We want you to get better or I may have to lance those abscesses.”

Sophie put her hand to the base of her throat. The thought of a brush or lancet touching her painful tonsils made her nearly gag, but she nodded her assent.

Ian loomed over them with a sudden hawk-like gaze. “How can I help?” Ian held fast to the back of the doctor’s chair.

“Ian, really, back up and give Dr. Moore a little elbow room.” Maggie sent her little brother a cross look.

“Make sure she follows my instructions. And don’t hesitate to let me know if she gets any worse. I’ll make up some poultices if that’s the case.”

“Of course. We’ll take excellent care of her, won’t we, little brother?”

Ian crossed his arms and grimaced at Maggie’s bossiness. “Of course.”

Sophie sank back against the pillow. Who was going to watch after Caira? Or take over her duties at the boardinghouse? Maggie couldn’t keep up both houses without getting sick herself.

“Don’t worry. You just follow the good doctor’s instructions. Maggie and I will make sure that Caira and the boardinghouse are looked after.” It seemed like Ian knew exactly what she’d been thinking. “Thank you, Doctor Moore.”

“Only doing my job, young man.” The medical man winked and turned to hand Maggie a small glass bottle and a larger one, giving her instructions on dosing the patient before they left the room.

While once cheery, the walls of the little guest room grayed with the dull late afternoon light, encroaching on the space around the bed. Sophie hated the weakness enveloping her. Used to being healthy, she had taken care of things for them both, but illness crumbled further the fortress she sought to fortify around her and Caira. If anyone learned her secrets, she had no strength to run.

On Sophie’s sixth day trapped in the parsonage guest room, she awoke drenched in sweat, and groggy from the laudanum, no doubt. But with her fever broken, Maggie helped her freshen up and move to the settee in the parlor. Grateful not to feel cooped up any longer, Sophie was anxious to soak up the fledgling spring sunshine.

Maggie plumped a pillow behind her. “You’ll have a new visitor today while I check on things at Fairgrave’s.”

“Gloria and her friends have been so kind to help.” Sophie felt relieved to be able to speak again without her throat hurting too much.

“They see how kind you’ve been to Esther, the Myleses, and the difference you’ve made in little Elise’s life. That means something, especially to the few that don’t kowtow to Gertrude Wringer.” Maggie smiled.

Sophie shrugged. She knew that Gloria Myles had been behind the effort. Gloria’s friends had brought meals and helped Maggie at the boardinghouse. Gloria had even come to watch over Sophie and Caira the day before and sent a servant to work at Fairgrave’s.

“You’ll be surprised who is coming today.”

CHAPTER 16

“W
ho?” Sophie wondered at Maggie’s smug expression.

“Nora Armstrong.” Maggie stepped back and crossed her arms.

“No!” Sophie couldn’t imagine Gertrude allowing Nora within a mile of her presence.

“Oh, yes. Gertrude was as sweet as pie and insisted that Nora show neighborly kindness. And undoubtedly she was happy to send her to spy on you.”

“But Maggie, you know as well as I that poor girl is an unwitting pawn at best.” Sophie remembered the sadness in the girl’s eyes. As cruel as Gertrude could be, Nora had acted kindly to her.

A knock at the door diverted her attention. “Looks like she’s here. I hope you can bear it.” Maggie rolled her eyes before she went to answer the door.

“Good morning, Nora. Thank you for coming.” Maggie greeted her with grace, as usual.

“Good morning, Mrs. Galloway. How is your patient doing? And where is the little one?” Sophie heard Nora return the greeting.

“Caira is in the dining room, finishing her breakfast with Philip. I’ll be taking her with me today, though, after I walk Philip to school. She’s been quite rambunctious.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I miss my younger brothers and sisters. It would have been a joy to watch her for you.”

Sophie pondered how Nora could sound so cheerful after having to deal with Gertrude Wringer every day. Perhaps being out from under the awful woman’s thumb for a while was enough freedom to console her for the moment.

“Our patient is just over here in the parlor resting.” Maggie appeared in the doorway from the hall with Nora behind her.

“How are you feeling?” Nora’s eyes held sympathy.

“Much better this morning, actually.”

“I almost forgot—Mrs. Galloway!” Nora called after the retreating Maggie, “Is the Reverend McCormick here this morning? I wanted to make sure I went over next Sunday’s music with him.”

“Ian!” Maggie called. “He’s in the study. If he doesn’t hear me, you’re welcome to knock on the door.” She pointed at the door across the hallway before she looked at Sophie and raised an eyebrow. She cleared her throat. “I’m sure Sophie can help you as well.”

Nora’s mouth bowed into a shy smile. “I was looking forward to that.” Her eyes shone. “I was hoping if you were well enough, you could give me some advice.”

“How can I help you?” Sophie shrugged.

“I think everyone knows you’re the one with more talent, that you should have my job.” Nora looked down.