Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

“ M iss Turtledove?”

Holly heard the voice but wasn’t sure what it was at first. She was cocooned in her blankets and was wonderfully warm.

“Miss Turtledove?”

There it was again. That voice. Was it a man? Holly poked her face out from beneath the covers and blinked back sleep. A man hovered near the bed. A very handsome man. She sucked in a tiny breath. It was the man that rescued her!

Holly ducked beneath the covers.

He chuckled. “You’re awake,” he said in a soft voice. “Shall I read to you, or are you of a mind to get more sleep?”

She lowered the blankets enough to look at him with wide eyes. “Wh-what are you doing here?”

He smiled. “I can leave if you prefer…”

She lowered the blankets some more, exposing her face. “Why are you here?”

“Mrs. Pettigrew thought you might be bored and sent me up to read to you for a bit.”

Holly pushed the blankets away a little further. “Read?”

He gave her a gentle smile. “You seem out of sorts. Perhaps some water?” He went to the pitcher on the dresser and poured her a glass. When he turned back to her, he gave her a tender look. “Here.” He looked at the bed and smiled. “You’ll have to sit up if you want a drink.”

Holly pushed herself up to a sitting position. It wasn’t easy. Thank goodness she looked better than she had. Abigail the maid and Mrs. Fraser had washed her face, brushed and braided her hair, and helped her change into a new nightgown. It was beautiful with tiny lace bows.

“Are you alright?”

She looked at him. “Huh?”

“You’re quite flushed.” He sat in the chair near the bed. “If I may?” He put the back of his hand to her forehead. “You’re warm, but not burning up like the night we found you.”

She swallowed hard. “Thank you.”

He smiled. “You’re welcome. Here.” He handed her the water.

She drank and wondered where everyone was. She was alone with a gentleman, after all. Her eyes darted to the door.

“Oh, you needn’t worry. Abigail is sitting right outside, knitting.”

Holly stared at him. “She is?”

“Mm-hm. Abigail!”

The maid hurried into the bedroom. “Do ye need something, Mr. Bradshaw?”

“I was just reassuring Miss Turtledove that we are not entirely alone. Thank you for coming so quickly.”

Abigail bobbed a curtsy. “I’m right outside, Miss Turtledove.” She smiled and left the room.

Holly lowered her hand with the glass, and Mr. Bradshaw quickly took it from her. “You’re weak. I must remember that.”

She looked at him. “Thank you for the water.”

He set the glass on the dresser. “I hear the doctor was here earlier.”

“Yes, he said I’m recovering.” She stared at the blankets. “But it will take time.”

He nodded and pulled a book from the inside pocket of his jacket. “I’ve brought a novel.”

Holly smiled. “You’re really going to read to me?”

He nodded. “Is that so surprising?”

“It is.” She tried to take a breath, but her chest felt tight and achy. “No one has ever read to me before.”

“Not even your mother?”

“Mama couldn’t read.” Her cheeks heated at the admission, and she could just imagine what he thought of her now.

“But you read,” he stated.

“Yes.” She sat back against the pillows, suddenly tired.

“I don’t want to wear you out,” he said. “Tell me to stop if you wish me to leave, or…”

“It’s fine, sir. You may read if you wish.”

He smiled. “Very well.” He started to read a book called The Princess and the Pirate . It was an adventure story that she was sure had to have some romance in it. He barely got through the first chapter when her eyelids grew heavy, and she could no longer keep them open. The next thing she knew, someone was tucking the blankets around her, and she was once again cocooned in her little nest.

When she awoke sometime later, Mrs. Pettigrew was sitting by her bedside reading a book. The woman smiled when Holly poked her head out from underneath the blankets. “Good evening, Miss Turtledove. Did you enjoy your visit with Mr. Bradshaw?”

Holly tried to take a decent breath, but her chest still felt like an anvil had been laid on top of it. “He read to me,” she whispered.

Mrs. Pettigrew frowned. “Oh, dear. Perhaps some soup for dinner? Are you able to sit up?”

Holly shook her head.

“Very well.” Mrs. Pettigrew left the room. She returned moments later with Abigail who helped Holly sit up.

“There ye are, Miss Turtledove,” Abigail said. “Dinner will be right up.”

Holly noticed there was no sign of Mrs. Pettigrew. “Abigail?”

“Aye?”

“How long will I be able to stay?” There was no mistaking the worry in her voice.

“Now don’t ye worry about that. Ye concentrate on getting well first.”

“I… need to speak with Mrs. Pettigrew.” She surveyed the room. Even when dimly lit, it was cheery.

“I’ll let her know. I believe she’s gone to check on your dinner.”

Holly nodded. “Thank you.” She fiddled with the lace trim of her bed sheets. They were lovely, and such a pristine white.

“Yer worried, aren’t ye?”

Holly’s head came up. “What?”

“Ye needn’t be, ye know. Mrs. Pettigrew is a generous soul. A little odd perhaps, but she won’t turn ye out.”

Tears stung the backs of Holly’s eyes at Abigail’s words. “That’s good to know.”

Abigail smiled at her and slipped from the room. As soon as she was gone, Holly let the tears fall. She’d managed to escape, found her way to this place. But how long would her refuge last? Was Randall combing the streets for her? Would he come to this part of town?

“Here you are,” Miss Eastwick said and placed a tray on Holly’s lap. “Soup and biscuits. You’ll let someone know if you’re still hungry when you’re finished?”

Holly noticed the woman was dressed up. “Are you going out?”

Miss Eastwick blushed. “I am. My betrothed and I are attending a small gathering of his friends.”

Holly’s mouth curved into a smile. She’d never owned anything so fine. “You look beautiful.” Her voice sounded like a frog’s.

“Thank you. Now eat, and Mrs. Pettigrew will be up shortly.” Miss Eastwick patted her dark hair and left the room.

Holly said a quick blessing over her food and began to eat. She was halfway done with the food when Mrs. Pettigrew joined her. “Well, your appetite seems to be getting better.”

Holly nodded, her mouth full of biscuit. She chewed and swallowed. “Thank you for taking care of me. I don’t know how I’m ever going to repay you.”

“Well,” Mrs. Pettigrew drawled. “I think I have a solution to that.”

Holly paled. “I haven’t any money, ma’am…”

Mrs. Pettigrew shook her head and smiled. “I’m not talking about taking money from you. On the contrary, I’d like to pay you.”

Holly almost dropped her spoon. “I beg your pardon?”

“I want to hire you as my new assistant. Miss Eastwick will be leaving me, and I’ll need someone to take her place. Rather than have to interview a bunch of applicants, I thought you might be interested in the position.” She smiled again but said nothing more.

Holly openly gawked. The woman was offering her a job?! Tears stung the backs of her eyes as she gaped at Mrs. Pettigrew. “Th-thank…” she buried her face in her hands, unable to keep the tears from coming.

A warm hand touched her shoulder. Holly looked up at Mrs. Pettigrew. “I’m sorry.” She sniffed back tears. “But… you have no idea how much this means to me, you giving me a chance.”

Mrs. Pettigrew gave her a heartfelt smile. “Oh, but I think I do, ma petite .” She gave Holly’s shoulder a gentle pat and sat in the chair at her bedside. “Now finish your dinner, and we’ll discuss things in the morning. I don’t want to tire you out. Miss Eastwick can fill you in on your duties and help you until she’s unable to perform those same duties.”

“When is she getting married?”

“June, but a wedding takes time to plan, mon cherie , and Miss Eastwick will be far too busy to do the work of both.”

Holly sniffed back more tears then wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. “Thank you again, Mrs. Pettigrew. This means the world to me. I’ll work hard for you, I promise.”

“See that you do.” She eyed Holly for a moment. “Now if you would be so kind as to give me the name and a description of your brother.”

Holly paled as a hand flew to her chest.

“Come now, mon cherie . If what you say is true regarding the man, then I want my staff to know what to watch for. I’ll not have such a reprobate let into the house.”

Holly lowered her hand. “Randall Turtledove. He’s tall, nearly six feet. Brown hair, green eyes.”

“And dressed much the same as you when we found you?”

“If you mean in raggedy clothes, then yes. After our parents died Randall got it in his head to sell the farm and come west. Denver is as far as we got. We had little from the sale of the farm, as our father had debts…”

Mrs. Pettigrew gave her a sage nod. “I understand. And when the money finally ran out, rather than get a job, he decided to start selling things off, including you, is that it?”

She bit her lower lip at the sheer horror of it and nodded.

Mrs. Pettigrew let out a long breath. “You are safe here, ma petite . You escaped him then?”

Holly drew in a shuddering breath and recounted the story of how Randall subdued her and everything that happened up to the point of taking refuge in the woman’s carriage. “And then I woke up here,” she finished and patted the bed.

Mrs. Pettigrew shook her head in amazement. “You are lucky to be alive, ma petite . When I think of all that could have happened to you!”

Holly nodded and stared at what food remained. She set the tray to the side, unable to eat another bite. She was growing tired again, and hoped she recovered quickly. Holly didn’t want anything to jeopardize the blessing Mrs. Pettigrew was granting her.

“Get some rest,” Mrs. Pettigrew said and rose from her chair. “We will speak again in the morning.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Holly gave the woman a smile, then settled back and within moments, fell fast asleep.