twenty-two
Vivienne held her warm cup of tea with both hands.
She must have drunk a record number of hot cups of tea in the past three days, because her body didn’t only need the warmth but the fluids as well. High fever and cold shivers had plagued her. She didn’t stop coughing, and her lungs seemed on fire.
Dr. Tucker visited her every day, the maids never left her alone for more than a few minutes, and Mother essentially slept in her bedroom. She didn’t mind the attention and care, but being always with someone didn’t allow her to get news about Samuel from Dobkins.
The Regent’s Park skating disaster had killed more than forty people. Countless others were suffering from pneumonia or high fever; some were severely sick, and she had no idea if Samuel was safe.
The fever wasn’t her only problem. Her ankle was the size of a melon and burned every time she tried to walk. The damage wasn’t irreparable, but at the moment, it limited her freedom further. She needed help to walk to the water closet.
Cade’s presence in London topped every other worry. Hopefully, Samuel was all right and his silence was due only to him hiding from Cade.
Dobkins and a maid were cleaning the room—a daily occurrence—and she exchanged a few glances with Dobkins. Mother had blissfully left a few moments ago.
“Catherine, brew more tea for Lady Vivienne.” Dobkins gathered a basket of dirty laundry. “And take this downstairs.”
The moment Catherine left, Vivienne sat upright, wincing as her body hurt. “Do you have news?”
“I saw the captain briefly this morning. Samuel is well.”
She sagged against the pillow. “Thank heaven.”
“They moved to another flat in case Murdock and Cade surprised them.”
“As soon as I’m better—” She coughed. “I’ll go and see him.”
Dobkins’s eyebrows lowered. “My lady, I’m not sure it will be possible.”
“Why?” Her voice quivered.
“For starters, you aren’t well. The captain didn’t say anything explicit, but he hinted at the possibility for Samuel to leave London, at least for a while.”
“But he’ll come back, won’t he?”
“It wouldn’t be wise for you to see him now, and you are too ill to try. The captain doesn’t want to attract attention, and if someone is watching them, it’s safer if he and Samuel don’t get any visitors.”
The speech was reasonable, but her heart didn’t care. The last time she’d seen Samuel, he’d been half-buried in a freezing sludge, unable to move. The last word he’d told her was ‘go!’
She couldn’t allow that exchange to be their last one. “Can you give him a message?”
Dobkins squeezed her hand. “I can’t. I don’t know where the captain and Samuel live now, and unless the captain comes here, which is too dangerous, I have no means to contact him.”
“I’m here, darling.” Mother went straight to the bed and took Vivienne’s hand. “How do you feel?”
“I’m tired. Aside from that, I’m fine.”
She wasn’t. Her muscles lacked strength, her breathing was laboured, and sometimes she couldn’t stop coughing until she fell asleep from exhaustion. And she couldn’t even cross her bedroom with her ankle.
Mother caressed her head, her hand trembling. “I’ll do anything to make you feel better.”
“Darling.” Father walked over to the bed and hugged her gently. “You’re still warm.”
“I’m better. Really.” Another coughing fit belied her words.
The fear in Father’s eyes struck her harder than Mother’s concern.
“Good afternoon.” Dr. Tucker limped inside, carrying his black leather bag.
