The Thorn Keeper

by Pepper D. Basham

  Adelaide hesitated, looking back at David for clarification.

  “I certainly don’t want my poor sister to be embarrassed by her lack of skill.”

  Adelaide sighed. “Of course not. Come over here, Nurse Ross, and I will see if Dr. Pike can be your partner. He is quite spry for his age and a known dancer.” She pushed Catherine toward David. “He doesn’t have long before his next surgery, so every minute is valuable practice time.”

  David held out a hand and his smile teased her forward. The sweet dizziness of his presence shot a delightful wave of pleasure over her skin. How she’d missed him.

  “As Miss Moore said, I haven’t much time, and I need my practice.”

  She pinched down a swallow and stepped into the perimeter of his arms. He slid one palm to her waist, drawing her close. The action must have caught him by surprise as much as it did her because she heard his quick intake of breath. Or was that hers?

  The tenderness in his gaze distracted her from the scripted and shallow conversation she’d planned. His warmth, his gentleness, his humor, fed her heart with the most painfully beautiful hopes.

  “I didn’t peg you as the jealous sort.”

  She tried to create some space between them, but his endearing scent of peppermint seemed to hold some magic power over her good intentions. “I’m not jealous.”

  “Are you certain?” He searched her face. “Not even a little?”

  A swell of heat between them took her breath. “What? No.” She cleared her throat and tilted her chin to fight status. “In fact, I’ve been hoping you would see the many virtues of Miss Moore and eject me from your head.”

  His grin turned more lethal than cannon fire. “But I’m quite fond of having you in my head.” And then he took his time examining her gown. “And you’ve greatly improved the view from my perspective.”

  “You’re not very good at doing what’s best for you, are you?”

  “I don’t think you know what’s best for me as well as I do.”

  She straightened like a seasoned schoolmistress and drew in a breath. “Loose your grip on the hand, dear Doctor.” Catherine squeezed his fingers. “You don’t want to communicate an intensity you shouldn’t.”

  He loosened his hold but not before returning the squeeze to her hand. “If you’re not jealous, why are you suddenly in my arms instead of Miss Moore? And don’t patronize me with the same excuse you gave to her.”

  Catherine shot Jessica a look. “Because your sister doesn’t believe Miss Moore’s dancing skills are as exalted as she claims, and she wanted me to….improve upon them.”

  “My sister?”

  Adelaide reentered with Dr. Pike behind her. “Ah, I see you are making a nice start together.” She offered a tight smile. “Good, very good. Keep practicing now.” She turned to Jessica. “Let’s see to you.”

  “So you’re to improve my dancing?”

  “Yes, if I can.” She studied his shoulders in an attempt to avoid focusing on his lips. “You have good posture, if a little stiff at the moment, but I think that might have been from poor modeling.”

  “You mean it’s not supposed to feel like you’re dancing with a tree?”

  Catherine turned her head to try to hide her laugh. “No. It’s definitely not.”

  He tilted his head closer, a teasing glow in his eyes drawing up fire through her middle. Oh, the man would be the undoing of all her selfless intentions. “And you’re to show me the proper way.”

  A delightful thrill sparked a responsive tremor over her skin. She’d definitely been a bad influence on him. He was actually learning how to flirt, a dangerous weapon in his arsenal against her self-control. Oh, this would never do!

  She set a rule in her mind that after this dancing lesson, she would make every attempt to avoid him. If he wouldn’t protect his heart, she certainly would.

  David could barely believe the sweet hand of Providence. One minute he was struggling through an uncomfortable attempt at dull conversation and awkward dance-steps, and the next, Catherine appeared in his arms as an apparition from his daydreams. Gone was the usual nurse’s uniform, replaced by a rich purple suit tailored to her curves. She embodied the picture of a lady. And, oh, how he’d missed her.

  “I don’t think I’ve properly thanked you for all you’ve done to help the hospital.”

  She avoided his face, staring instead at his shoulders. “Dancing is supposed to be an enjoyable activity where two people move as one.” She ran her palm down his arm, ignoring his statement. “Relax this.”

  Her touch worked magic and warmth down his arm. “Catherine.”

  The hitch in her breath caught his attention. She was not immune to his presence any more than he was to hers.

  “I have two additional supports coming your way.”

  “Two?”

  “Feel the music with your partner. See?” Her hand on his shoulder guided him, their bodies moving more fluidly. “Madame’s brother-in-law, Dr. Randolph Burr.”

  Air left David’s lungs in one gush, and he stumbled. “Dr. Randolph Burr is her brother-in-law? The renowned osteopathic surgeon?”

  “Steady there.” Her gaze came up then, smile flashing. “Yes, I believe so, and there’s the simple fact that I received a donation today that will purchase you a better x-ray machine than the second-hand one we currently have.”

  He stopped completely. “Truly?”

  She tapped his shoulder to get him moving again, but her lips kept their pleased slant.

  “Truly. The benefactress plans on continuing her support indefinitely.”

  The dance steps suddenly fell, obsolete. “All those letters? Your trip to London?”

  “Yes.” She raised a brow. “Don’t look so surprised. I’m known to be quite convincing when I put my mind to it.”

  He pressed her back and drew her a little closer. “Of that, Miss Dougall, I have no doubt.”

  He held her gaze for a moment longer, but she looked away quickly.

  “Thank you, Catherine.”

  She fought an obvious battle, keeping her gaze from his. Those enchanting twin sapphires focused on his chin or his shoulder or something just beyond his shoulder. There was a vulnerability and uncertainty, and the awareness increased the protectiveness inside of him.

  He always observed dancers from the far side of the room, taking in the intimacy of the movements and the touch. But never had he expected it to feel like this, a sweet connection. A perfect fit.

  “Fantastic.” Her smile bloomed anew. “I believe you’re starting to feel it.”

  Most certainly. “All I needed was the right partner.”

  Her gaze flashed up to his and a rush of rose colored her cheeks. “Um…yes, well… Now, you try to lead.”

  “You’ll actually allow me to lead?”

  She nailed him with a smirk. “Desperate times and all that…”

  What did reputation matter when there was such a woman! She’d be the making of him.

  “Go on, Doctor, or you’ll have me taking over the lead again.”

  He looked down to check his movements in an attempt to keep in step. “Dancing in the arms of a friend is one thing, but dancing with in a roomful of high-class socialites is quite another.”

  “Stop right there.” Her hand squeezed against his shoulder. “You have no reason to let them intimidate you. You are one of the best men I’ve ever known. I have every faith you can do this in front of the king, if need be. Now, feel the movements with your partner, together. A dance can only be beautiful when it’s done together.”

  The confidence in her gaze brought his chin up. Her full smile rewarded him, urging him into motion with more certainly. He cast another glance at his feet for clarity.

  “No, no,” came her quick reprimand. “Look at me. Focus on me. We can do this together, David.”

  From the widening of her eyes, she never intended to say his name, but she had. And the sweetness of it, knowing her struggle, drew him closer. He forgot a
ll about rhythm and movement, except a nearer step to her lovely face. Her passion, her spirit for living, proved as much an aphrodisiac as the lavender scent surrounding her.

  “Catherine.” Her name whispered out on a rattled breath, from his soul.

  For a moment, her entire body softened against his, her lips drawing temptingly close. Those sapphire eyes glistened with nearness and interest and sweet adoration, but then she stopped. “I can’t.”

  “I see the truth of it now.” The thunderous tones of his great Aunt Maureen exploded into the room. “You dare refuse my generous offer for someone like her?”

  The threat in her tone sent a blast of ice through David’s veins. “I will not be ruined once again by this family. You have no idea what you’ve done, David Ross.” Her glare switched to Catherine. “I will not allow you to win. Not ever.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Catherine awoke from a deep sleep, grasping for air. It had taken her hours to fall asleep after the dance lesson and Lady Cavanaugh’s threat. Her heart thumped in a wild tangle of extremes from an unexpected fairytale to the sobering look on Lady Cavanaugh’s face…and now she was awakened because she couldn’t breathe?

  As soon as she opened her eyes, her vision blurred with a veil of smoke. A gulp of soot-filled air sent her into a coughing spasm. She shoveled back a fistful of her eiderdown and blinked her teary eyes to gain her bearings. Smoke? Stumbling to the door, she snatched her robe from the bedside chair and cinched it tight around her waist. A sudden memory from the Zeppelin attack a few month ago faltered her steps. Oh no!

  She jerked her bedroom door open and met the same foggy scene in the hallway, except the smoke grew thicker toward the East Wing. The children! She ran in bare feet down the hallway, banging her fist against the doors as she passed.

  “Wake up! Fire!”

  She nearly collided with someone coming from the next room. David! He grabbed her by the shoulders, taking inventory of her from head to foot. “Are you all right?”

  “There’s a fire in children’s wing.”

  “I sent Cook to call the fire brigade.” Fanny’s voice broke into their conversation from down the hallway. “Michael’s gone to wake Dr. Pike and Hudson to help move patients from the ballroom. If the second-floor balcony collapses…”

  Fanny didn’t have to finish her statement. The visual imaging hung in the air like the smoke invading their vision.

  “Has anyone seen Kara?”

  They all looked toward the children’s wing, the place Kara slept every night. David took off, with Catherine and Fanny close behind. Smoke thickened the air.

  David’s hand caught hers, pulling her down. “Remain low, breathing will be easier.”

  The cloud dissipated a little as they entered the open passageway into the East Wing. The balcony overlooking the lower floor released some of the dense air and gave them a clearer view of the corridor ahead.

  A specter emerged from the sooty cloud, a child at both sides and one in her arms. Kara!

  They all ran forward to help relieve Kara of the little burden in her arms as she stumbled to keep her balance. The little boy, Jonesie, moaned and clutched his arm.

  “I can’t”—Kara coughed—“see… It’s too…”

  “Jonesie’s arm is severely burned.” David took Kara’s shoulders. “Do you know where my medicine bag is? In my office?”

  She nodded, wiping her watery eyes and smearing gray across her pale face.

  “Can you manage taking him with you?”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “I’ll keep the other two with me,” Fanny volunteered, pulling the little boy and girl to her sides and locking eyes with her sister. “They’ll be safe.”

  “There is an ointment inside and some morphine.” David made a motion over the boy’s arm as if to apply the medicine. “Smooth the ointment over his arm, and give him a very small amount of morphine to ease the pain, if necessary.”

  “Where are the other children?” Catherine searched Kara’s face for an answer she already knew. A dreadful knowledge waited, somewhere hidden within the fog. And the fire.

  “Room collapsed,” Kara added between coughs.

  Stephen? Charlie? Nathanael? Sarah and Bree? Lost inside the flames somewhere?

  “Catherine, Fanny, stay here to help with the children once I return with them,” David commanded. He placed his handkerchief to his nose and darted into the smoke.

  Catherine followed without hesitation.

  “I said stay behind.” David half shouted. “I need you to be safe.”

  “And I you,” she replied, keeping in step with him across the balcony. “But since neither of us are good at obeying the other, I supposed four hands and four eyes are better than only two.”

  They entered the West Hall and visibility dropped to nothing. Catherine brought her robe up to cover her nose and turned to him. “Take the rooms to the left, I’ll see to the ones on the right.”

  He snatched her hand before she took another step. “Catherine.” His red-rimmed eyes held hers, showing his heart, his love, without hindrance. “Be careful.”

  She nodded, swallowing a wash of tears. “You too.”

  A strange sound, like wind, rushed from the stairwell at the end of the hallway, and a dry warmth heated her skin. Years ago, a fire had taken part of the house but halted when it contacted the stone-framed center of the house. How far would this fire burn?

  Her eyes stung, so she closed them and felt her way down the hallway. The robe provided some protection from the ashy air, but not enough to keep her throat from the itch and constriction of smoke. She pushed open the first door she came to and met the same hazy scene.

  Catherine drew in a breath to call for any girls in the room, but the smoke took her words and turned her attempt into a harsh croak. A whimper responded. She stepped further into the room and saw them through the haze, both girls huddled in the corner, hugging each other, their matching white gowns almost ghost-like.

  She ran forward and knelt before them, embracing them. “Such clever girls to stay together.”

  They clung to her, coughing into her shoulders. She quickly took off her robe and dipped it into the basin of water on the washstand nearby, then placed the damp robe over the girls’ heads. Their small statures probably helped keep them coherent, praise God.

  They exited the room and walked one door down to the infant room. She had to find Nathanael. Had David located Stephen and the other boys yet? Catherine coughed and bent low, holding the girls before her, placing them against the wall beside the infant room door.

  “Wait for me right here.” Her thick voice graveled out the words. “I’m going to find the baby.”

  Their heads nodded beneath the robe.

  The door creaked open to an aching silence. No cries or whimpers, but the room didn’t show as much smoke as the others. Catherine rushed to the crib, and there lay little Nathanael, still and unmoving, his arms splayed free from the constraints of his bunting. With trembling hand, she placed the back of her hand close to his nose.

  Nothing.

  A cry caught in her throat. She lowered her palm, waiting, praying…and then she felt it. The slight puff of air. She squeezed her eyes closed in a quick prayer of thanksgiving, tears soothing the burn in her eyes, and then swept the little bundle into her arms.

  The girls waited outside, sniffling with little sobs. The thickening smoke in the hallway awakened the baby, his boisterous cry bringing a mixture of concern and gratitude. Alive. She hugged him close and leaned down to the girls.

  “Link hands, darlings.” Their small finger grabbed for each other. “Very good. Now, Sarah, take my hand, and do not let go.”

  She could hardly catch her breath as she guided her little entourage down the hall toward the open balcony. Another explosion of coughing seared her chest and sent her head into a spin. She stumbled forward into a pair of strong arms. David appeared through the smoke, a handkerchief tied across his face like a bandit a
nd three-year-old Stephen in his other arm.

  “Can you walk?”

  She pushed Nathanael into his free arm. “Take him. I’m dizzy.”

  “Stephen!” Michael ran into the smoke, his chest pumping with frantic breaths. “Oh, praise God, you found him.”

  “Daddy.” The boy, golden hair smeared with gray soot, reached for his father, and Michael pulled him close.

  Catherine tried to breathe, but air strained down her soot cloaked throat. “David?” Her voice, breathless and harsh, barely made a noise as the world began to tilt into darkness.

  Catherine’s pale face proved she needed air, and soon. Why wasn’t her face covered? Where was her robe? He looked down at the girls and sighed in frustration. Of course, she’d protect them first. He held onto her arm, her thin white nightgown smeared with dampness and soot, her hair in a tangle of black around her face.

  She raised glassy eyes to him and whispered his name.

  “Michael, take the children,” David commanded, barely handing off Nathanael in time to catch Catherine in his arms.

  Her head fell against his shoulder. He reached around her and jerked the handkerchief from his face, placing it haphazardly over hers. Dear God, please, don’t let me lose her.

  He followed Michael down the hallway, helping to usher the children along, and placed a kiss on Catherine’s head with a silent prayer. A sound outside alerted him to the arrival of the fire brigade.

  David called after Michael. “The patients?”

  “They’ve been moved out to the front garden.” Michael called back. “Three are unaccounted for.”

  A knot of relief and grief tensed David’s spine. Only three? The Zep attack had decimated the entire building and taken almost twenty lives.

  Michael led them down the stairway to the lower level then outside, but he shot David a look over his shoulder. “Radcliffe, David. Some of the boys think it was him.”

  David groaned his response and stared back down at Catherine. The front garden was littered with patients either propped up against the stone fencing or lying flat on the grass. Jessica and some of the other nurses handed out blankets against the chill in the air.