Page 55 of Again, Scoundrel

The girl nodded again.

“Very good. Let’s get started.”

With one last look over his shoulder at Violet, Alistair led the boy outside.

“What we doing out here, gov?” the child asked, his small hand clutched in Alistair’s larger one.

“We’re giving the ladies some privacy,” Alistair said.

“I don’t think that’s right.” The boy puffed out his skeletal chest. “Jess’ll need me in there.”

“You’re the man of the house, are you?” Alistair asked, and the boy nodded.

“I am.”

“That’s good,” Alistair said. “It’s important to take care of what’s yours. And may I ask your age and name, sir?”

Inside, he could hear the moans and cries of the girl growing louder.

Bollocks, he thought, as the boy’s eyes slid toward the door. But he’d keep the child outside no matter what. He’d promised Violet he would.

“I’m Davy,” the boy said, “and I’m ten.”

Alistair quickly hid the look of astonishment from his face. The boy was so small he’d thought him no more than six or seven years old at the most.

“A fine name and age,” Alistair said. “And your sister?”

“Jess is fourteen. I think. It’s hard to know ‘cause she was here first.”

“Perfectly logical,” Alistair agreed. “And your parents?”

“What about them?”

“Are they close by?”

“No.” Davy shook his head. “We ain’t got none. Our mum died before I remembered her and our da three years ago. Too much drink Jess said. Ruined him.”

Jess let out a bloodcurdling scream just then, and they both flinched.

“Jess is alright, ain’t she?” Davy asked, the fear evident in his eyes even if he was trying not to show it.

Alistair put his hand reassuringly on the boy’s shoulder. He wanted to sweep him into a sheltering hug but thought the gesture might not be welcome. Ten-year-old boys had their prickly pride, after all.

“Violet is going to do her best to make sure Jess is okay,” Alistair said. “And you and I are going to stand outside here and keep talking while she does her work. If either of those ladies inside calls for us, we’re going to give them whatever help they need just as soon as they need it. Alright?”

Davy nodded and tried to keep his eyes from wandering back over to the door, behind which his sister lay screaming.

“Is she your lady then, the midwife?” Davy asked.

“She’s a nurse,” Alistair corrected, while he thought, she’s not my lady yet.

But she will be.

Chapter

22

Violet worked all night to turn and deliver Jess’s baby. By the time the rays of dawn made their way into the filthy room, she had managed to stabilize the girl, but the baby had not made it.