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.""What happened?" Elise asked."I was on my way from my family's lands& " The Surcliffes owned some rocky land somewhat to the south that they wereturning into a winery."& when a boy came from Widow Chandler's holding.It appears his mother had fallen.The boy wasfrantic.He recalled I was at my parents' and took the initiative to come after me, leaving his little sisterùonly six, I thinkùtolook after their mother.""Oh?"Elise found she was thinking very ungenerous things about this Widow Chandler and her enterprising son."Turns out," Doc went on cheerfully, "that the widow had broken a leg.Clean break, thankfully, and I was able to urge it tomend more quickly.Still, I couldn't very well leave them without a fit adult around the place.We sent a message off to WidowChandler's brother and when he came I took the road here."Elise was fighting down images of Doc handling this unknown woman's leg.A lower-leg break, surely.And she must be fairlyold if she had a six-year-old daughter and a son older than that.Couples weren't encouraged to marry until they reached at leasttheir majority at nineteen.That means this widow was at least twenty-seven&"I'd have sent a message," Doc said, apparently aware of something odd in Elise's expression, "but I thought that the boyùhe'sonly nineùhad taken enough risks."Twenty-nine! crowed the uncharitable part of Elise's mind.That means this widow was at least twenty-nine.Elise shoved these thoughts aside."Very reasonable," she replied."Will you stay for dinner? Grateful Peace has been dining with us most nights rather thanputting the staff to the trouble of preparing separate meals.""If that's the case," Doc said, "I would be honored."He looked slightly puzzled as he took his leave and Elise didn't blame him.Her attitude had been completely out of line.Onemoment she was greeting him informally as an old friend, then she was tongue-tied as a chit at her first dance, next she wasgetting frosty when all he'd done was his duty as a doctor.I really have to get myself in line, Elise scolded herself.I'm the one who told him I can offer him nothing.It's not right for me toact like a flirt.Elise and Ninette retired upstairs so that Elise could change into something other than her archery habit.By the time Elise hadaaTTnnssFFffooDDrrPPmmYYeeYYrrBB22.BBAAClick here to buyClick here to buywwmmwwoowwcc.AAYYBBYYBBr rwashed off most of the grime and put on a clean summer frock, she thought she had her emotions under control.Ninette had gone to tell Citrine that they had a guest and brought the child back with her.The girl's hands were smudged withink from her efforts at writing New Kelvinese and she willingly scrubbed them in a basin, turning the water bluish black."I like Doc," Citrine confided, letting Elise button her into a clean frock while Ninette brushed out her mistress's hair.Elise hid a sigh of relief.Citrine was reacting to the news of their guest's arrival far better than Elise had dared hope."Doc helped me when my hand was hurt," Citrine went on, pausing for a moment to stare at the maimed member."He helpedPeace, too.Peace says Doc saved his life."You know," the girl added thoughtfully, "I don't think I was hurt too bad.I lost only two fingers.Peace lost a whole arm, hisright one, from the shoulder down.He was an artist before.Now he's learning to write all over again, like he's a baby."Elise hugged her."You're very brave, Citrine."Citrine frowned."I don't know if I am.I've cried a whole lot and I still hate Baron Endbrook.""I would, too," Elise replied, taking Citrine's maimed hand in her own."Let's go down and see Doc.""I'll come down a bit later," Ninette said, taking advantage of Citrine as a replacement chaperon."I'd like a moment to put on aclean dress."Elise nodded, knowing that even sitting and watching was sweaty work in this oppressive summer heat."Take your time," she said."Citrine and I will guard each other's honor."Citrine giggled at the idea and nearly skipped down the hallway.Jared was chatting with Edlin when they entered the parlor [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ]