Christmas Child: an absolutely heartbreaking and emotional Victorian romance Carol Rivers (great books for teens .TXT) 📖
- Author: Carol Rivers
Book online «Christmas Child: an absolutely heartbreaking and emotional Victorian romance Carol Rivers (great books for teens .TXT) 📖». Author Carol Rivers
‘Run to the physician of Soho Square and tell him he is needed at the tobacconist’s of Silver Street,’ she instructed the dirty urchin who had taken to occupying the step outside the salon on Sundays. ‘If you bring him, there’s another sixpence waiting for you.’
The tousled-haired boy scampered off and Ettie returned to the bedroom.
Her patient tossed in distress, the delirium she had feared, now overcoming him. She bathed his forehead with a rag and washed his sweating limbs with cold water. And all the while he talked in riddles. His Mama’s name was constantly on his dry, swelling lips. But his soft and gentle pleading soon changed to anger and accusation when he spoke of his Papa.
‘Lay still,’ Ettie begged him as he writhed about, refusing to be covered. The sweat poured from him and his forehead burned red hot.
By the time the physician arrived and Ettie had paid the boy, Lucas was in a deep delirium.
‘How long has he been sick?’ he enquired.
‘I don’t know, sir. Mr Benjamin returned from Switzerland only yesterday. He was most distressed. I am grieved to say his wife has passed away.’
‘The same lady I came here to treat some while ago for her addiction?’
Ettie nodded sadly. ‘She died in childbirth, so he told me. But I am not certain why. His only description was that the baby …’ here Ettie had to forcibly command herself to continue, ‘the baby boy was deformed, only the size of his hand and … and twisted.’ She could barely bring herself to say the word.
But the physician nodded slowly. ‘I am not surprised.’
‘What does it mean, sir?’
‘Since I was not her consultant, I cannot say for sure. But I have seen others …’ he paused, bowing his grey head. ‘The interference of that poisonous drug in a body’s system may be responsible for such a tragedy.’
Ettie swallowed, feeling her head swim. Had Clara not escaped the opium’s effects after all? But such a price to pay! It was unthinkable. Yet, Ettie sensed this misfortune might very well be true.
‘Your employer has a dangerous fever. He must be tended day and night. Give him a teaspoon of this linctus for his cough. If the fever breaks, he will survive.’ He took a small brown bottle from his Gladstone bag. ‘Bathe him frequently and though he might not eat, fluid is essential. I shall call tomorrow.’
The Sunday bells were pealing across Soho for evening prayer as Ettie brought coddled eggs and warm milk to the bedroom. Setting it down on the bedside table, she drew away the bed sheet and pushed up the damp pillows behind Lucas’s head. He clutched her arm.
‘The Pass Book – have you got it?’ he babbled.
‘No, Sir. What Pass Book?’
‘I must have it. I must!’
‘Eat first and I will find the Pass Book,’ Ettie replied, trying to turn, but he pulled her close.
‘Mama will give it to you, but beware, if he tries for an advance, warn her to refuse.’
Suddenly afraid, Ettie stared into his eyes that were wide with fear. ‘Who, Sir, who will try for an advance?’
‘Papa,’ he gasped. ‘There will be nothing left to pay our debts. Mama will bear the burden.’
‘But Sir, I …’
‘I shall stop him, I must, for Mama’s sake. May he rot in hell if he tries!’ The curse was uttered with ferocity.
She stood, quaking, for the man in the bed was not Lucas Benjamin, nor the weak and disabled stranger who had returned from Switzerland. This was a soul possessed, burning not just with fever but a savage anger.
‘Devil!’ he shouted so passionately that Ettie jumped back against the wall. She saw his attention was riveted on something other than her. He pointed a shaking finger, half rising from the bed like a wild animal about to spring. What would she do if he leaped up? Could she prevent him from doing himself damage? For he would surely fall without her help. And yet there was an energy in him that radiated. Those burning eyes, the loathsome expression, were all directed towards this unseen figure.
Ettie trembled from head to toe. She believed in the power of angels, but there was no good spirit in this room that felt protective or holy.
Edging her way to the door, she left him with his eyes fixed upon this supernatural force as the moisture ran down his face and into his beard. Taking the stairs two at a time, she burst into the nursery and snatched the bishop’s crucifix from the wall. Without pause for breath, she returned to the bedroom.
‘Mr Benjamin,’ she cried, ‘I have this to comfort you.’
A sudden moan came from his parched lips.
Ettie shuddered as his eyes, previously so fixed and furious, rolled upward into their sockets. Then, as if all the violence inside him drained out, he crumpled to the bed.
Ettie’s heart was thundering, her senses alert for any sudden movement. But there was nothing, not even a gasped breath.
‘Mr Benjamin, Sir?’ Ettie bent to touch his hand. Though damp with sweat, she felt the tremor of life. Gently pulling him back to the pillows, she slipped the crucifix beneath.
‘Jesus, Mary and Joseph, protect this kind and distressed soul and bring him peace,’ she prayed.
Wiping a tear from her eye, she loosened the buttons of his nightshirt as the fever consumed him.
Chapter 40
That evening, Ettie drew every blind in the salon and by the light of a single candle took the quill pen and began to write. ‘We are closed temporarily for business. With many apologies, Lucas Benjamin, Proprietor.’
Fixing string through holes she made on either side of the notice, she hung it directly from the door.
Casting her eyes briefly around the shelves that were now almost bare despite her attempts to fill the vacant spaces, a heavy truth
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