Christmas Child: an absolutely heartbreaking and emotional Victorian romance by Carol Rivers (i wanna iguana read aloud .txt) 📗

and balmy. Market traders dismantled their stalls. Late customers jostled for bargains, turning to smile as they passed. Sunbeams danced from the dirty shop windows and played on the cobbles. To Ettie, everything looked perfect.

‘Visit again soon,’ Gwen said as they reached Silver Street.

Ettie smiled. ’I will.’

‘We love you,’ whispered Lily, kissing her cheek. ’Goodbye, sister.’

Ettie beamed. Sister!

Chapter 14

Lucas was pacing in the passage, smoking a cigar amidst plumes of smoke when Ettie arrived home. His curly red hair stood on end and two scarlet patches coloured his cheeks.

He put out his cigar in the dish. ‘Where have you been?’ he asked anxiously.

‘I visited a friend,’ she replied, ‘and have come home well in time to cook supper.’

Lucas nervously fiddled with his watch chain. ‘Yes, yes, thank you. But supper won’t be necessary. As you can see, our friends have gone.’

‘Was lunch not to their liking?’ Ettie asked worriedly.

Lucas just sighed. ‘Come and see.’

Though the bottle of wine on the dining room table was empty, the food that Ettie had left was only half-eaten. There were newspapers strewn untidily and the fire in the hearth had burned out.

‘Oh, Ettie, I am quite put out!’ he continued pointing a trembling finger to the stairs. ‘Clara is in the bedroom. She has been quite unlike herself today. Beset by a disorder that I can’t even describe. At first, she welcomed Florence and Thomas with heartfelt greetings. But her mood swiftly changed. She hardly ate. Would not drink. I am sad to say she barely addressed our friends. Florence and Thomas took their leave, politely of course. But what a dismal failure the afternoon was!’

Ettie quickly took off her bonnet and cape. ‘I’m very sorry to hear that, Sir.’

‘Please go to Clara and calm her. She will not listen to me.’

‘I’ll try, Sir.’

‘Go quickly!’ He waved her up the stairs.

Ettie left her cape and bonnet in her bedroom then returned to the landing beneath. She heard a stifled sobbing coming from Clara’s bedroom.

‘Mrs Benjamin, it’s me, Ettie.’

Almost before Ettie had finished speaking, the door flew open. Clara stood there in her pretty blue silk gown, her face smudged by tears.

‘Oh, so you chose to come home after deserting me!’

Ettie took in a sharp breath. She knew her mistress was in one of her black moods. ‘Mr Benjamin said I may be of help?’

‘Have you stolen my remedy?’ Clara demanded.

‘No, Mrs Benjamin. It is in the pedestal desk.’

‘I have looked – and looked,’ sobbed Clara. ‘I’m at my wits’ end. If only Maggie were here. She would bring it.’

Ettie had heard Maggie’s name repeated many times from Clara. The young maid had left unexpectedly without giving notice, so Lucas had said.

Suddenly Clara gave a shriek. ‘I must have it! I must have it!’ Her face was so pale and gaunt that Ettie thought she might faint.

‘Please sit down.’ Ettie gently urged Clara to the chair. Sobbing, Clara swayed from side to side, her arms locked tight around her.

‘Please don’t cry,’ Ettie soothed. ‘I’ll find your remedy.’

At this Clara fell silent. ‘Thank you, Maggie.’

Ettie nodded. She knew Clara was sick. But when she arrived downstairs, Lucas had disappeared. Had he taken his evening stroll? Did he not care about his wife’s condition? A physician must be called at once.

Ettie went to the pedestal desk and opened it. She lifted the blue bottle. She was not surprised to find it empty. Heart pounding, she returned to the bedroom.

‘Maggie!’ Clara cried. ‘Did you find it?’ Her eyes were glassy, her voice low and husky. This was the darkest mood that Ettie had ever witnessed. If only Lucas was here!

Suddenly Clara threw herself forward. Spittle flew from her lips, her hair came loose from its pins and hung in tangles. Her nails dug painfully into Ettie's arms.

‘Help me, help me! You know I can’t live without my medicine. I will die, I promise you.’

Ettie was frightened. Would Clara die without her remedy? She could feel her mistress’s eyes following her as she went to the dressing table. When Clara saw the bottle, she snatched it from Ettie's grasp and put it to her lips. Shivering and shaking, she fell to the floor.

Lucas and Ettie waited downstairs as the physician from Soho Square attended Clara.

‘I shouldn’t have gone for my stroll,’ Lucas berated himself, pacing the floor again.

‘You came back in time, Sir,’ she reassured him, though the physician had been with Clara for a very long time.

‘What causes my wife to act in this way? To be friendly to Thomas and Florence, then ignore them?’ Lucas’s blue eyes were filled with confusion. ‘She has not been herself for some time. Not since we hired that wretched maid, Maggie.’

He marched to Clara’s chair by the fire and sat down with a thump. ‘I shall give you my honest opinion about Maggie. She was a thief and liar. At first it was a china curio or silver candlestick, a brooch or a necklace that disappeared. Then I caught her red-handed one day, stuffing my finest tobacco into her pockets. I dismissed her immediately of course.’

Ettie gazed down at the floor. ‘I’m sorry, Sir.’

‘It’s not your fault dear girl.’ He jumped up and went over to Ettie, taking hold of her hands. ‘I cannot tell you how relieved I was to find you. I knew at once I could trust you.’

‘I tried to persuade Mrs Benjamin not to take her remedy,’ Ettie burst out. ‘But that only made things worse.’

‘I have tried, too,’ confessed the tobacconist. He pushed his hands through his hair and sighed. ‘I cannot bear to see her upset. And so I give in.’

There were footsteps on the stairs and Lucas went to the door. ‘How is she?’

The old doctor, carrying his large black bag entered the room. He looked sternly at Lucas.

‘Your wife will sleep for a while now, but it’s not good news.’

Lucas rocked on his heels. ‘Tell me!’

The physician handed over a small package. ‘Administer two drops of this mixture four times