Page 78 of Lady of Charade
“How do you find life on the road with a little one?” Sarah asked, changing the subject as she looked to Julia, who smiled prettily.
“Oh, just fine,” she said. “We love being around the horses and the other families for part of the year. Besides that, we often find ourselves in London for most of the time, or if Eddie has not far to go, we stay home. We do like to be together, though, and I must admit that I find it hard to miss a race.”
“Particularly after you have trained the horse,” Phoebe said pointedly.
“Exactly,” Julia said. “Will you continue your practice?” she then asked Sarah, who nodded enthusiastically.
“Absolutely, if the villagers will have me,” she said, tilting her head to the side. “The housekeeper doesn’t see why they wouldn’t — she said they have been lacking someone who can aid them, and she’s hopeful I would be welcomed, though she thinks they may be unsure about coming to the wife of the Earl’s son for treatment.”
“I’m sure as soon as the first meets you, all of their worries will be swept away,” Phoebe said confidently, and Sarah smiled at her in thanks.
“I do hope so,” she said. “How do you fare, with motherhood and the newspaper?”
“As well as always,” Phoebe said, smiling wide now. “Rhoda, my editor, remains remarkable, which provides me plenty of time to do what I must at home, though I cannot imagine giving up the paper entirely. Which had me thinking — we could freshen up some of our columns. Perhaps, in addition to our column on horse racing, we could use a couple newer items. Elizabeth, we could have one on finances, for there are many women — widows and the like — who are left with financial burdens they must learn to handle, and have no prior knowledge on how to do so. And Sarah, while I realize that we cannot prescribe entire medical knowledge as much is on a case-by-case basis, perhaps you could include some basic remedies or ideas on the treatment of common ailments. What do you think?”
Even if they did not think her ideas to be grand — which they certainly were — Sarah thought they had no choice but to agree, so enthusiastic was Phoebe about her scheme.
“I would love to,” Sarah said, “assuming you would do most of the writing portion. I can’t say it is my strongest skill.”
“Of course,” Phoebe said. “Send on what you come up with and I will work with it.”
“I would enjoy it as well, I think,” agreed Elizabeth, and Phoebe clapped her hands together, just once, in appreciation.
“Wonderful!” she said. “Start as soon as you like, and simply post your submission to me as Julia does.”
As she sat back in the chair, Sarah looked around at her friends with a smile on her face.
“We are fortunate,” she said, and they turned to look at her to see to what she was referring. “It is not often that a woman has the opportunity to marry a man she truly loves. Even rarer is the chance to follow her passions, to do what she enjoys and be supported by her husband. Look at us — we have all found the man we love while doing what we love. It is rather extraordinary, is it not?”
They nodded in agreement, and then Julia’s grin somewhat widened.
“And then there are the children,” she said.
“Wait until it’s your turn,” Phoebe said with a wink, and Sarah blushed, for she had a feeling that may be coming very, very soon.
EPILOGUE
Sarah had seen many ill people within her lifetime. But never had she seen anyone truly as green as David when the ship pulled into Baltimore’s harbor.
The poor man had a case of seasickness that even Sarah’s remedies could only offset, not completely prevent. The fact that he had suggested — even insisted — on this trip to America proved how much he truly did love her, for a week in such a state was not one she envied.
“This really wasn’t necessary,” Sarah said as the two of them stood at the rail, the port becoming ever larger as they approached.
“But it was,” David said, covering her hand on the rail with his own. “I needed to see where you come from, love. You know all of me — my life, my family, the homes where I grew up. I have seen none of your background. Besides that, I know there are people here you must see again, are there not?”
She turned to him, her eyes watery.
“There are. And I thank you.”
“We also know that our home is in good hands, so there is nothing to worry about.”
There had been quite the dramatic turn of events shortly before their departure to America. Lady Georgina and her footman had run away and eloped, much to the delight of both David and Sarah. David had hired her husband as a steward within his estate, and the arrangement was working out wonderfully. It was an interesting position for Lady Georgina to have changed such positions in life, but she was happy, and she and Sarah had gotten on well together.
Her own stomach lurched, and she gripped the rail ever harder.
“Are you all right?” David asked, and she nodded. “Seasickness?”
“No,” she said with a shake of her head, but she wasn’t quite ready to tell him just exactly what it was that was causing her stomach to roil in pain. Not with all of the passengers around, nor with the ship just beginning to dock.
