Meanwhile, Doctor Ashburn simply shook his head and said, "It's none of my business, I understand that. But if I may impart some advice?"
James only nodded dumbly.
"There's nothing like a near death experience to make people realize how they feel." He rose a brow. "So, if there was ever a time to tell Miss Sempill, it would be now."
James didn't know what to do with that information. He simply stared, still trying to force some sort of coherent sentence past his lips. Eventually he stammered, "Do you think so?"
"I do." He nodded sagely, like it was the most obvious answer in the world. Then he gestured to the door with a sweep of one slender hand and asked, "May I be excused? I'd like for Miss Sempill to have something to eat, but I should inform the cooks of exactly what her fragile body needs."
"Yes, of course." James excused him. Then he stood, taking in a deep breath, and followed Doctor Ashburn out. If he couldn't see Alicia just yet, he could visit the children in the playroom. Yesterday, he had briefly explained why Edwin was gone, and what had happened to Alicia... but with everything going on, they deserved more than a watered-down excuse and then to be left alone to deal with it themselves.
And since there was no sign that Agatha wanted to come, well, there was no point in waiting for her. Perhaps they needed some time apart before he tried to force an apology on her.
James found the two exactly where he thought they'd be. Jenny sat with a book on her lap, muttering quietly as she followed each paragraph with her finger. Samuel sat beside her, although he seemed to be paying less attention to the book and more to the wooden soldier in his hands.
"Jenny," James said softly, "I didn't know you liked to read. I thought Miss Sempill had to fight with you to get reading done during class?"
Her gaze flickered up, blue eyes fixed on his. "I don'tlike it," she replied in a voice just as soft, "but Miss Sempill says I should practice. I want her to see how good I've gotten when she wakes up." She offered a smile, but it was watery. Tears shone in her eyes but didn't quite fall.
"I think that's very thoughtful," he replied softly, "I'm sure Alicia will be delighted to see the effort you've been putting in."
Jenny's eyes lit up - and at first, he thought it was because of the compliment. Then she blurted, "You called her Alicia! Does that mean you're friends now?"
Ah. James felt that flush reappear across his cheeks, but he didn't reply right away.Friends.Could they have been described as such? He liked to think so; but Alicia was still his employee. Even so, he liked to think they were friends. He simply wished they could be more.
Can I assume that you have certain feelings towards the young Miss Sempill?Doctor Ashburn's question rose in his mind, made his chest skip a beat. When he thought of it that way, it was obvious that he hadn't done a very good job of hiding his feelings.
With a hesitant smile, James reached out to ruffle Jenny's hair. "I think she's more than a friend," he replied softly, "to all of us. I think... I think she's family."
Jenny beamed, and the last of her tears faded away. "Family," she announced, "she is, isn't she?"
James only smiled back, feeling his heart lighten. Edwin was gone and he had left damage in his wake; but perhaps they were already on their way to healing.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Alicia stared at herself in the floor length mirror, fussing with a persistent strand of hair that simply refused to stay in its braid. Even after a thorough wash, taking the time to get the knots and grease out of her hair, she didn't feel quite herself yet. She thought that perhaps putting her hair in a familiar style would help bring some normalcy back, but when she stared at that long, thick braid of hair, all Alicia could think of was how it looked so strange against the pallor of her skin.
She had always been pale to begin with, but now she looked downrightghostly.Still, at least the pale purple of her dress helped disguise some of her paleness; most of her dresses were practical blues or grays, and she had tried on two before deciding that it simply made her lookdeathly.
There was a knock at the door, so faint that at first, she thought it was her imagination. Then Nora poked her head through and said, "Lord Arvill is waiting for you in the dining room. He says to take your time, there's no rush."
Alicia smiled. "Thank you. I'll be down soon." Then, "Oh, Nora? Could you help me with something?"
Nora's smile was soft and kind. It was the smile not of a maid, but a friend eager to help. "Of course. What do you need, miss?"
Alicia rose a brow, watching Nora in the reflection of the mirror. "How many times? Alicia, please."
"Then what do you need, Alicia?" Nora's smile widened bashfully.
"I can't quite get my hair right. Would you mind braiding it for me?" She gestured to her head, where that annoying little strand poked out of the top of the braid. "I suppose my hands aren't as dexterous as they used to be." She glanced down at the hands in question, which were clasped loosely. Even relaxed, they shook now. Doctor Ashburn said that it wouldn't last forever, but she was beginning to doubt.
Seeing Nora's delighted expression, though, made it a little more bearable. She ushered Alicia over to the bed, where they both perched on the end, side by side. "What would you like?" Nora asked, beginning to unwind the long braid. Heavy strands of hair fell across Alicia's shoulders, and Nora ran a hand through the strands. "You have such lovely hair," she said quietly, "wouldn't you like something more than just a braid?"
Alicia shrugged. "It's all I ever do, except for low buns. What do you suggest?"
Nora hummed. "Do you have a ribbon?"
"In the vanity, top drawer. Why?"
