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Chapter 19
Aweek had passed since Mr. Boyle had arrived in Graton, and he’d made himself quite scarce. Charles had gone to Falbrooke Court a handful of times to visit with Mrs. Halpert, but each time Amelia had shaken her head and told him that no, Mr. Boyle had yet to make significant progress. Evidently, the man had a few ideas, but he could not share them for risk of exposing the guilty party.
Though that would imply that the guilty party lived in Graton, and they all knew the gypsies had taken four horses and run in the night. Why else would they have moved on so suddenly, leaving hardly a trace of a trail? Their efforts to flee were proof enough.
Riding his uncle’s horse into the drive of Falbrooke Court, Charles swung down and shook out his hands. He tossed the reins to a groom and crossed the gravel toward Falbrooke’s large front door.
He’d spent the better part of the day seeing to finishing touches on the cottage he and Nick had begun together and had walked away with the heady feeling of accomplishment that it was now complete and ready for a new family. His fields were thriving, his tenant farmers happily situated, and now he could write to his uncle and inform the man that there was another cottage vacancy ready for a family.
The front door opened, and Amelia’s butler stepped to the side. Charles removed his gloves, yanking on them one finger at a time, and recalled when Mr. Fawn had moved to Graton, bringing his confident personality and more money than he likely knew what to do with. Watching the man swoop in and steal Amelia had given Charles the strongest disliking for him—a disappointment when he’d rather liked Mr. Fawn before Amelia had moved back to Graton and caught his eye. Though it truly had been a shame when he’d contracted a horrible bout of pneumonia and died so soon after their wedding. Charles would not wish that on anyone.
To say nothing for the toll it had clearly taken on Amelia since she had yet to wear anything but black.
“Mrs. Halpert?” he requested, handing the butler his gloves and hat.
“Of course, sir.” The butler took his things and preceded him up the stairs, pausing at Mrs. Halpert’s open doorway. Charles had come to learn that when the door was open it meant she was awake and open for visitors.
After being announced, Charles stepped into the room, grateful to see the maid in her seat near the fire to lend them some propriety. “Good day, Mrs. Halpert. You look well.” And he meant it. Her face had filled out a little more over the last week. Though still too thin, she did not look sickly any longer, and Charles thanked the heavens that was so.
“I’m not certain I look well, for I certainly don’t feel it. But I can admit to feeling better.” She gave him a tired smile. “I am well enough, at least.”
Nodding, he took the seat closest to her and lowered himself. A chessboard was set up on the small table beside his chair, the pieces all over the board as though it had been left mid-game. “Would you like me to reset the board?”
“No, I thank you. I believe we will finish it once we are able.” She sighed, shaking her head, and her lips curved into a soft smile. “I cannot begin to express how grateful I am to Mrs. Fawn and Dr. Mason for the consideration they’ve shown me. I don’t think—” She swallowed, her eyes blinking rapidly as if she hoped to stem the tears gathering within them. “I know I would not have made it without their help. That this babe would not have made it.”
“They are good people.”
“They are charitable people,” she said with a rueful smile. “I will never be able to repay them.”
Charles brought his ankle up to rest on his other knee. “They would never expect that of you. Andrew is a doctor. It is in his nature to heal and nurture. He could not live with himself unless he was doing everything in his power to help.”
“Which is why you thought to enlist him.” She spoke as though it was a fact, not a question.
“Yes.” Charles had had no other option. Mrs. Jennings had apprised him of the situation and how Mrs. Halpert’s needs were growing too taxing when Mrs. Jennings had her own household and children to manage. He’d known right away that he needed to beg help from Andrew and do whatever he could to assuage the guilt he felt for not having checked on Mrs. Halpert sooner. He’d been remiss in his duties and had needed to make up for it.
Charles had believed he had done his part in allowing her to remain in the cottage after her husband died instead of removing her to bring in another family with a man who would farm the land. He’d had his housekeeper deliver baskets to her in an effort to support her in her time of grieving, and internally praised his own thoughtfulness, but never had he imagined how much more she had needed from him—how paltry those baskets were.
Mrs. Halpert had appeared on death’s door when he’d gone to see her himself. He’d had no other choice but to call on a doctor. Mrs. Jennings would likely have done the same thing had she been able to afford it. “You were unable to care for yourself, and I couldn’t very well bring you to my house. What would people have said?”
She laughed. “They certainly would have made wrong assumptions. No, you are right, that would not have worked. And it is just as well, for it was Mrs. Fawn who thought a diet of bread might be beneficial.”
“Mrs. Fawn, is she out at present? I did not see her when I arrived.” He did his best to sound off-hand but knew he hadn’t succeeded by the smile growing on Mrs. Halpert’s face.
“She has gone to visit Mrs. Pepper and her new baby.”
“Ah, of course.”
She adjusted her position on the bed, her eyes squinting as she sucked a breath through her teeth, her dark braid falling over the deep blue of her dressing gown.
Alarmed, Charles lowered his other foot to the floor. “What can I do to help you?”
“It is nothing, just a minor pain. It shall pass.” She did her best to give him a reassuring smile, but he could see the strain in her eyes.
“Has this happened to you before?”
She nodded, her attention drawn to her stomach. One arm behind her to brace herself, she rested the other on her babe. “A few times. It is nothing, really. See?” She looked up at him, a hopeful look in her eyes. “It has already passed.”
“Have you spoken to anyone else about this? Dr. Mason?”
