Page 63 of The Winter Bride

She could hear the stress in his voice and frowned. ‘Why, what’s happened?’

‘It’s Peggy. She come down wi’ the flu last week an’ she ain’t gettin’ any better, so I thought I’d better let yer know.’

‘Are you managing to look after her?’ Annie asked.

‘Well, I’ve got Eve an’ Susan comin’ in to see to her personal needs, like washin’ ’er an’ what not,’ he said, sounding embarrassed. ‘But I’m tryin’ to get ’er to eat an’ drink an’ I do what I can fer her.’

‘And have you had the doctor in?’

‘Yes, nearly every day. He did say yesterday that he thought she’d do better in the hospital, but she’s too poorly to move. I’m sorry to worry yer, but Susan said you’d never forgive me if I didn’t an’ owt were to ’appen to ’er.’

There was a catch in his voice and Annie chewed worriedly on her lip. She’d not heard Levi sound so distressed since Maggie had died. She made a decision in an instant. ‘Right, I’m going to get Marie to come and look after Adam and Nancy and I’ll be there before the end of the day. Ruth will hold the fort in the shop, I’m sure.’

‘No, lass, there’s no need fer you to do that,’ he said quickly. ‘You’ve got enough to do there.’

‘I’m coming and that’s that,’ Annie said in a determined voice. ‘Now get back to Peggy, get as much fluid inside her as you can, and I’ll be there later this afternoon.’

As soon as she put the phone down, she rang Marie, who kindly agreed to come straight away. Ruth was just as helpful and promised to keep the shop running smoothly, so before lunchtime Annie was on the train bound for Nuneaton with enough clothes in a carpet bag to last her for a few days.

By mid-afternoon, she was hurrying down the ginnel to the little cottage and when she stepped into the kitchen, she found Levi looking almost as ill as Peggy.

‘She’s real bad, Annie,’ he told her with a shake in his voice. ‘An’ I don’t know what I’ll do if she don’t come through this. It’s made me realise ’ow much I think of ’er. I just wish I’d told ’er now, but I was afraid to in case she didn’t feel the same about me.’

Annie wrapped her arms about him. She’d wondered for a long time when Levi and Peggy would realise they loved each other. She just hoped there was still time.

‘So choose your moment and tell her soon,’ she urged. ‘I think you might be pleasantly surprised at her reaction. And it might be just the medicine she needs to help her get better. Put that kettle on while I go up and see her. And stop looking so worried; I’m here now and everything is going to be all right. Our Peggy is a tough old bird; it’ll take more than a flu bug to see her off.’

Despite her brave words, she was shocked when she entered Peggy’s bedroom and saw her. She seemed to have shrunk and her face was gaunt. Her eyes had large black bags beneath them and her forehead was slick with sweat. Annie wasn’t surprised by this as Levi had piled so many blankets on her she could barely breathe.

‘Right, let’s get you a bit more comfortable, eh, madam.’ She began to strip the blankets off and called downstairs for a bowl of cool water and a cloth to bathe her.

‘Did I do wrong tryin’ to keep ’er warm?’ Levi fretted when he brought the water up.

‘Well, let’s just say she had enough bedding on her to cook her alive let alone keep her warm,’ Annie teased.

He looked chastened.

‘It’s all right,’ she soothed him. ‘You were only doing what you thought was right, but I’m here now so you go and have a rest. You look all in.’

‘I am a bit tired,’ he admitted. ‘I’ve sat up wi’ her fer the last two nights. I were too afraid to leave ’er. Are yer sure yer can cope fer an hour or two?’

‘Go on, get off with you,’ she said bossily. As soon as he’d left, she began to sponge Peggy down. She didn’t even seem to realise that Annie was there and was clearly in a fever, but Annie was determined to get her well again. Peggy was the nearest thing to a mother she’d ever had, and she didn’t intend to lose her.

For the rest of that day and most of the night, Annie kept up with the cool bathing until Levi came to relieve her at almost four o’clock the next morning.

‘Right, you go an’ have a lie-down now,’ he ordered. ‘An’ I’m so sorry I’ve been so long. I must ’ave been more tired than I thought.’

‘I’ll just have an hour,’ Annie agreed. ‘But can you keep up the bathing?’

Once she’d shown him what she wanted him to do, she went downstairs and settled herself on the sofa and within minutes she was sound asleep.

The sound of the cockerel in the yard woke her, and after knuckling the sleep from her eyes she hurried upstairs to check on the patient. Levi was fast asleep with his head on the bed as he held Peggy’s hand, and Annie felt a lump form in her throat. They looked so right together; it would be too cruel if anything were to happen to Peggy now. Leaning over she felt Peggy’s forehead and was heartened when it didn’t feel quite so hot. She certainly seemed to be sleeping more peacefully, so reluctant to disturb either of them, Annie went downstairs to make up the fire and put the kettle on. Levi joined her half an hour later looking worried, and she smiled at him.

‘I’m not saying she’s out of the woods just yet, but I really think she looks a little better than she did last night,’ Annie assured him. ‘Now, come and have a cup of tea or I’m going to end up with two patients.’

The doctor called mid-morning and, like Annie, thought he saw a slight improvement. ‘Well, her temperature has come down and her breathing doesn’t seem quite so laboured,’ he told them after examining her. ‘So, whatever you’re doing, carry on with it and I’ll call back in the morning. If you need me before, don’t hesitate to send for me.’

Levi and Annie each took turns sitting with Peggy and sponging her down through the rest of the day. Annie also dripped water between her cracked lips at regular intervals. Both Eve and Susan called in to see how she was and though Annie was pleased to see them, she wished it could have been under happier circumstances.