Come Midnight by Veronica Sattler Read Free Book Online Page A

wake of what's occurred?"
    "She has, sorr."
    "Then, you will understand why it is impossible to secure his lordship's permission any time soon."
    "And time is the very thing we don't have!" the housekeeper cried, picking up the thread. "If we wait until his lordship is approachable, Lord Andrew could ... could be—" She broke off on a sob.
    Caitlin glanced from one to the other, seeing the strain on their plain, no-nonsense faces. They clearly doted on the lad. They were even willing to risk their employer's displeasure to save him. How could she, a healer, do less?
    She sighed, and touched the housekeeper's sleeve. "I'm not promisin' anythin', understand, but... If ye'll be showin' me the way, I'll do me best."
    Her reward was a fresh bout of weeping from the housekeeper, who hugged her. And a glimmer of a smile from the butler she'd have sworn never smiled at all.
    ***
    A quick check revealed the marquis was still shut up in the library. But before they let Caitlin in to see the child, they urged her to prepare for the possibility his lordship might discover her. It took some persuading, but they convinced her to masquerade as a new housemaid they'd taken on. Mrs. Hodgkins even produced a proper costume, borrowed from one of the maidservants.
    A short time later, Caitlin tiptoed into the bedchamber. The butler had built up the fire, which had nearly gone out, then repaired to another part of the house on some errand. The housekeeper waited outside the partially open door. Likely to keep an eye peeled for the distraught father, though she hadn't said.
    On the other hand, Caitlin thought as she moved toward the great canopied bed, Mrs. Hodgkins could very well be keeping an eye on her. To make certain she did no harm. In the next instant, she dismissed the thought as uncharitable.
    Reaching the bed, she let out a soft sigh as she took in the small figure lying there. A comely lad, to be sure, even with his wee features so slack and pale. Ach, the little ones are always the worst to see this way! Children should be vibrant and laughing. . . full of life and straining at the bit to embrace it!
    Moving quickly and efficiently, she examined the boy. She felt for a pulse—it was thready and weak—and frowned when she laid her hand on the side of his neck: feverish. She began to lift the bandages ....
    And suppressed a groan. The mangled leg was bad, very bad. But someone had done a fair job of stitching torn flesh and setting broken bones. Perhaps he wouldn't lose it, though he'd surely lose the use of it. The wound to the head was another matter. This was, indeed, grave ... and likely mortal.
    Yet as she'd indicated to the servants, she didn't believe in giving up. Praying silently to the Blessed Virgin for help and guidance, she withdrew some pouches from her bag. At her request, the butler had brought a kettle of water with them and set it to the boil when he built up the fire. Stirring the powders from her bag into the water, she sat down to watch. And wait.
    Minutes passed, the ticking of the clock on the mantel measuring out seconds. Glancing at the bed, Caitlin bit her lip, schooling herself to patience. She must allow the exact time needed for the brew to steep, just as Crionna had shown her. Ach, but it was so hard, what with the lad lying there, still as death! At long last, she heaved a sigh. The brew was finally right Caitlin withdrew some clean rags from her bag and set about making a poultice ....
    ***
    Quelling a shudder, Adam watched a disgruntled Appleby take his leave. He'd half expected the creature to disappear in a puff of smoke, but m'lord merely closed the library door behind him. Slammed it, actually.
    Adam smiled. He'd always had an affinity for chess. No one at Eton had ever bested him. The worst he'd ever suffered at Oxford was a stalemate, and that was on a night he'd been thoroughly foxed.
    Now, at the age of thirty-four, he'd lost more men than he'd ever done in a lifetime of playing. And lost the