“I like the tigers. Do they eat people?” sheasked.
“Probably. But not too often,” Katherine said with a twinkle in hereye.
Elizabeth looked up at her, somewhat surprised. “You’re joking with me, aren’tyou?”
“Just a little bit. How do you like your tea, sweetie?” sheasked.
“Cream and honeyplease?”
“Honey? Hmm? I’ll need tocheck.”
“Sugar’s fine,” Elizabeth said, stopping her. “Miss Susan always tells me to be polite and not cause aninconvenience.”
“What a big word. Youarelearningfast.”
“She’s very bright,” Susan spoke up. “I have to keep expanding the lesson plan because she learns so fast. She’s already writing out her letters and soon she’ll begin to mastercursive.”
“Want to see the dress?” Katherine asked after they’d drunk the first cup oftea.
“Oh, yes. Are you going to model it forus?”
“If you like. But is it bad luck?” she asked, as shestood.
“Not unless the groom sees it, Ibelieve.”
“I’ll be rightback.”
“Miss Susan, why is it bad luck for the groom to see a wedding dress?” Elizabethasked.
Susan thought about that. “I have no idea. But you’ll find there are many things in life that are considered to be self-evident truths that have no basis in fact atall.”
Katherine returned shortly in her dress. It had a foundation of layered silk with goldtrim.
“Oh, Katherine, it’s lovely. Did you makethat?”
She laughed. “Oh, no. I couldn’t do anything as intricate as this. It’s far outside myabilities.”
“I like it too,” Elizabeth said. “It makes you look like anangel.”
Katherine smiled. “Now what could be better thanthat?”
* * *
John satwith Simon for two days, ministering to him constantly, except for brief naps. Doctor Bartholomew came once a day to evaluate Simon’s progress and let moreblood.
On the second day, the doctor said, “I don’t know, Your Grace… Unless the fever breaks soon, I don’t think your brother will be able to survive. The stress on his system is becomingcritical.”
“Is there anything more that you or I could do?” Johnasked.
The doctor shook his head. “It’s in the hands of the Lord. Pray if that helps you. Watch him. Continue with your ministrations. That’s all that can be done for now. And by all means, let me know if his feverbreaks.”
“I will. Thank you,Doctor.”
As John continued to sit with Simon, he had a lot of time to think about their relationship. It had pained him so greatly when Simon had stolen from him and headed off before the wedding. It hurt him, but he knew it had also hurtSusan.
Sweet Susan. He realized how dependent he was becoming on her stable influence. He admired how good she was for Elizabeth. How supportive she was of his various projects. And how unassuming, but calming she was onhim.
And it had pained him when he had heard from Susan that she had seen Simon in London but that he’d not let Susan know where he lived or how he could be contacted. It was clear he wanted nothing further to do with thefamily.
