The streets of Braemar were busy; it was market day. Wagons and carriages, peasants and noblemen peppered the walkways, crossing wherever they could, sidestepping as much garbage and manure as humanly possible.
Gavin studied the throng. “As messy as streets are out here, they are nothing compared with the city.” He and Colin crossed to the other side of the road where a physician’s sign hung, swinging in the wind. “And when I think of the years Robbie had to endure the slums of Edinburgh, my whole being shakes with rage.”
“You found the most patient woman in the world, you lucky man.”
“Indeed. And if it’s the last thing I do, I will bring our little Alice home. Robbie was just beginning to warm to her, did you know that? As much as she used to scold the other women for holding Alice too much, she’s responsible for that very thing herself.” Gavin wondered what kind of life they would have if Alice were never found. Would Robbie stay, or would the surroundings be too much for her to bear? And what in the name of God would he do if she left him?
• • •
Lydia found Robbie pacing in the foyer, Lady trailing along behind her. She took Robbie’s arm and led her away, into the small room where Robbie took her breakfast. A teapot, its spout wafting steam, sat on the table. Two cups and saucers were in place. A variety of sweets covered a plate. Eve had gone into Galashiels once again to visit with Mrs. Ferguson, the dressmaker.
“Sit. Have a cuppa. That’s an order.”
“Why haven’t we heard anything?” Robbie took a seat but ignored the bounty on the table. Lady curled up at her feet.
“Someone once said that no news is good news,” Lydia suggested, helping herself to tea and a freshly baked oat cake.
“Nonsense. People say that just to keep others from worrying themselves ill.” She let Lydia pour her some tea. “I haven’t even said this out loud, but what happens if—”
“I’d tell you to keep it to yourself, but you probably wouldn’t listen.”
Robbie rubbed her hands over her face. “If, God forbid, Alice isn’t found, what am I doing here? Why should I stay here?”
“Because you have a husband you love, a beautiful estate, and if you leave, I’d have to go as well, so that’s reason enough to stay.”
In spite of herself, Robbie smiled. “Leave it to you to make light of my departure.”
Lydia put her hand on Robbie’s arm. “I’m not, believe me. I feel your angst, dear. I have not lived your pain, but I understand it. You love Gavin; you have since the first time you saw him.”
Robbie swallowed. “Aye.”
“And months ago, he admitted to you that he cared for you. He hesitated to say he loved you, and he still hasn’t.”
“Nae, he still hasn’t. So what is my purpose here? To merely be on his arm when he entertains? To make sure the staff is working the way they should be? Join inane clubs and circles, make quilts and knit clothing for the indigent? Is that what an unloved wife does with the rest of her life?”
“For many wives, it’s enough,” Lydia reminded her.
Robbie’s fist came down on the table, making the tea slop over into the saucer and Lady scoot out from under her feet. “It isn’t enough for me.”
“You are putting the cart before the horse, Robbie dear. You don’t know how he feels now; don’t start assuming things before they even happen.”
It was as if Lydia could read her mind, Robbie decided. “I do love it here. I love the countryside, the people, the clean, fresh air, the fact that I can write whatever I want, and not have to write swill, and I will always love my husband, no matter what occurs.”
“Now,” Lydia began, “have some tea, and then we’ll go over to see how the workmen are doing on the clinic. Won’t the men be surprised when they return with little Alice, to find things are almost ready for patients.”
• • •
Colin realized the man who stood before them was not the man he remembered. His friend was in his middle thirties, tall, with a fine head of auburn hair. This man was short, stubby with a ridiculous comb-over of gray hair. And he didn’t appear happy. Nevertheless, Colin stepped forward and introduced himself and Gavin. After telling him their story, and who they were looking for, the doctor continued to frown, removed his glasses, and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“So, you be looking for a female bairn.”
Trying to contain his patience, Gavin nodded.
The stubby doctor paced in front of his battered desk, “Interesting you should come by,” he began.
“Why is that?” Colin asked.
The doctor seemed happy to prolong giving them any information he might have. He went to the window and studied the street. Finally, he said, “I happened to return to the office two nights ago; forgot some important papers, and there was a box on my doorstep.”
Gavin’s heart took a leap in his chest. “A bairn?”
“Aye,” the doctor replied, but offered no other explanation.
Gavin grabbed the man’s sleeve, “Was it a girl?”
“Aye, a girl, and in very poor condition, indeed.”
“But she was alive?” Gavin hardly dared ask.
“Alive, aye, with a barking cough like a sea lion, if truth be told. And a fever to beat all.” His perpetual frown deepened. “I don’t know who would do such a thing to an ill bairn, but whoever did,” he said turning his frown upon Gavin and Colin, “doesn’t deserve to have her.”
“We agree, certainly,” Gavin replied.
“Croup, then,” Colin interjected.
Gavin gaze swept the room as if she might appear to him out of thin air. “Where is she? I must see her. I must be sure she’s my Alice.”
“My missus took her to the house,” the doctor said. “She’s a midwife and has dealt with bairns such as this. But—”
“Please,” Gavin nearly begged, “I must see her.”
“Maybe ’tisn’t the bairn you’re looking for.”
“I must see her to find out; you understand that, don’t you?” Gavin could barely contain his frustration and anger. Colin put his hand on Gavin’s arm, as if he were afraid Gavin would attack the man.
“So you have no idea how she got here? Who left her here?”
The doctor studied Colin before answering. “Nae, no idea.” He went behind his desk and drew out a blanket. “She was bundled in this, but the missus put her in a clean one to take her home. Now—”
Gavin grabbed it. “Look, her initial.”
And there it was; the big, intricate “A” crocheted in the corner.
Gavin and Colin looked at each other. Finally Colin said, “You go. Take her to Erskine House as soon as possible. Both Robbie and Lydia are capable of her care.”
Gavin glanced at the doctor. “Is she well enough to travel?”
The doctor took out his timepiece and look at it. “I’m sorry to say that by now, she and my missus are half way to Dundee.”
“Dundee!?” Gavin thought his heart would leave his chest. “What on earth—”
The doctor took his greatcoat and hat off the hook by the door. “It was the right thing to do. She needed more care than either my wife or I could give her. She was left on my doorstep as a foundling.”
“A foundling?” Gavin all but shouted.
The doctor’s defenses went up. “How was I to know? ’Tisn’t the first bairn I’ve had to shuttle off to Baldovan.”
Now Colin was shaken. “Baldovan Orphanage…and,” he almost completed the title, for Baldovan was also an asylum and school for imbecilic children who were unfit to learn elsewhere.
Gavin looked at Colin, his gaze pleading.
“Aye,” the doctor said, defiant. “’Tis what we do with foundlings.”
“Go,” Colin said to a pale Gavin. “If you ride hard you may even catch up with them. In the meantime, I’m going to find those women, and god help them if something happens to Alice because of this outrageous stunt.”
“Do you know where the next coach is going?”
With a shrug the doctor answered, “Prob’ly Crathie, if ’tis a coach they’re wanting.”
It was the only clue they had.
“Is the telegraph office open?”
The doctor shook his head. “But I’ve got a key, in case of emergency.”
“Well, dammit,” Colin all but shouted, “this is one big goddamned emergency.”
“What are you going to do?” Gavin asked.
“Wire Erskine House and tell them what we know.” When Colin saw Gavin’s face, he added, “I’ll tell them we’ve found her and that you will return with her shortly.”
Gavin snorted a dry laugh. “Shortly?”
“Better to tell them that than have them know the exact truth, don’t you think?”
Gavin agreed, and nosed his mount toward Dundee. How often had he said he didn’t like drama in his life? Well, like it or not, this was one drama he would follow through until the very end.
• • •
Faith paced the floor of their room at the inn. “I wish we didn’t have to wait another whole day for the coach,” she grumbled.
Birdie sat by the window, listless. Her hair was in a snarl of messy curls, and she had not changed her gown in three days. “Where are we going?”
Faith pulled her sweater close around her. Truthfully, she had no idea but Birdie was close to breaking, and Faith knew it. “My uncle at the university will take us in for a short while, until we can find our footing.”
Birdie blinked away tears. “I never imagined my life would be like this.” Her chin quivered and she wiped away tears with her fingers, her lacy handkerchief long gone; she didn’t know where. “And you’re sure Adrianna was okay when you left her?”
Faith heaved an impatient sigh. “Birdie, I told you she was. When I left her at the doctor’s door—”
“You left her on the doorstep? Like a foundling?” Birdie sputtered incredulously. “How could you? She might have died before she was found. How do you know she didn’t die alone, scared and sick?”
“I know the doctor was in the office when I left her at the door,” Faith lied. Actually, the office was completely dark. But again, Birdie was fragile. “And I knocked on the door before I left, all right?” Faith shrugged her coat on. “I’m going out. I’ll bring you something to eat.”
“Maybe some chocolates, if you can find any.” Birdie watched Faith stride down the street toward the mercantile. How had things come to this? Why had she thought she could care for a bairn? To be sure, it had been exciting in the beginning. It was something that needed her, and it gave her a great sense of purpose. But even now she didn’t think of the bairn as a real person; she had been a toy for Birdie to play with. She actually felt a stab of shame.
As she observed Faith, she noticed a man on horseback riding into town. She squinted to get a better look, and her stomach fell. God in heaven, what was he doing here?