“I’ll find a way to see you tomorrow. I promise.” She cupped his cheek, and he leant into her palm.
A sound like the hoot of an angry owl came from the street. Captain Jackson was growing impatient.
He kissed her hand before letting her go. She waved when he jumped on the tree. He went down slowly, thinking about going up again.
The emotions running through him turned cold when he was on the pavement, heading home with a brooding Captain.
What could he possibly offer to a lady like Vivienne?
He didn’t have a legal name, and Murdock was likely searching for him. And she was used to living in a beautiful house and wearing expensive gowns.
He pulled the collar of his jacket up to fend off the chilly wind.
For the cold gripping his heart, there was nothing he could do.
Vivienne had had enoughof drinking useless potions and resting to recover from a disease she didn’t have. But Mother had decided she needed to rest more, claiming her complexion wasn’t healthy.
In truth, she’d stayed up until late the other night after Samuel had left her bedroom. As she was sitting in her bedroom in front of the window, her thoughts kept going back and forth; one minute, she just wanted to live the moment with him without caring about the future; the next, she was too scared to hurt him as the captain had warned. Or to hurt herself.
“How do you feel today?” Mother tucked a shawl around her shoulders.
“More rested than yesterday.”
“Shall I send for more primrose potion?”
“No need. Truly, I feel rested and well.”
“It’s very cold today. The pavements are frosted, and the Serpentine is frozen, and even the Boating Lake in The Regent’s Park is solid ice. People are ice skating on it. Reckless.”
Yes, but it was boiling in her room. The fire had been going on for hours. Mother had added more blankets to the bed, and Vivienne wore so many layers her shoulders stooped under their weight.
If she stayed in bed one more day, she would truly fall ill from the lack of sunshine, air, and activity.
“I have to leave this afternoon,” Mother said. “I have an appointment with Dr. Tucker. He’s quite brilliant and so knowledgeable.”
Thank goodness.
“Will you be all right?” Mother asked.
“Yes. Don’t worry. Enjoy your afternoon.”
“I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“I’m not dying!” She regretted her words the moment they left her lips.
Mother paled and seemed to have aged years in seconds. Her eyes clouded with hurt.
Vivienne rubbed her face. “I didn’t mean to raise my voice.”
Mother stared at the floor. “I only care about you.”
How could she say, ‘You’re smothering me’ without sounding harsh? “You must trust me when I say I’m fine, and you must stop believing everything around us is trying to kill us.”
“I’ll see you later.”
Vivienne pressed two fingers to her temples after Mother left. Mother’s worry was understandable, mostly, but Vivienne should be free to live her life without being constantly stifled by her mother’s fears. No one else in the family had fallen ill when Adele had contracted the scarlet fever. Surely that meant something.
Well, if Vivienne spent another day in her stifling bedroom, drinking that horrible potion, she would go mad. She changed into the dress she used to take long walks and put on a pair of thick boots. The sound of the carriage leaving brought her so much relief she felt guilty.
