Page 31 of Lady of Charade
“Thank you.”
“We will be back to pay you, I promise,” Billy said earnestly. “I just began at the club and in due time, I’m sure I will—”
“It’s fine,” Sarah said, shaking her head, and when Billy began to protest, she held up a hand.
“No, please. You have a family to support now. I do not need it.”
“I will make it up to you, Miss Jones, I promise.”
Sarah held the baby one last time, making cooing noises that David would have thought would bother him but instead were causing all kinds of warm feelings within his heart, as Billy helped Emily to the door.
“Here,” David said, helplessness overcoming him as he attempted to be of some use. “I will call a hack for you.”
“We are not far—”
“I insist,” he said. “I will pay for it, as my gift to you in celebration of your new joy.”
“We appreciate it, very much,” Billy said with a smile. “Next time you’re at The Red Lion, your drinks are on me.”
“Very well,” David agreed, sensing the man needed to somewhat repay them in order to keep his honor and pride intact. “I will take you up on that.”
After hailing the hack and helping the family on board, Sarah and David stood at the doorway together like proud parents themselves as they watched Billy, Emily, and little Sarah depart.
David looked down to see tears within Sarah’s eyes.
“Are you all right?”
“I think so,” she sniffed. “It’s just such a miracle. I know that sounds trite, but it’s true.”
He nodded slowly. “And all was fine?”
“Are you sure you want to know further details?”
“Sure,” he said with a shrug, though he wasn’t entirely sure that he did.
“The cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck during delivery, but I managed to free it. Thank goodness.”
David wasn’t entirely sure of what she was speaking, but it sounded dangerous, and he was once more impressed with Sarah’s skill, as well as the calm she had maintained.
She walked over to a chair and sat down upon it as though she was suddenly overcome by all that had occurred.
“What time is it?” she asked, clearly having completely lost track.
“It’s late,” David replied. “After midnight, for certain. You best get some rest.”
He looked over to the bed in its current state of disarray.
“Sit. I’ll clean up the bed for you.”
“Absolutely not. I will—”
He turned and quelled her with a look.
“Let me do this for you — please?”
Then he turned back around before she could see the panic on his face due to the sight in front of him, took a deep breath, and proceeded to strip a bed to replace it with clean linens for the first time in his life.
CHAPTER14
