Here Comes a Candle (41 page)

“
Don
’
t, Kate.
”
Once again, astonishing, it was Sarah
’
s voice.
“
Don
’
t cry. He
’
ll come. He always comes.
”

And miraculously, with the words, came a sort of groan from the crowd. Kate, blinded by tears, could see nothing, but:
“
Well, I
’
ll be jiggered,
”
said the man beside her.
“
He got clear through and out the other end.
”

And,
“
There he is,
”
said Sarah.
“
There
’
s Father.
”
And was down from Kate
’
s arms, holding her hand, pulling her through the crowd toward the far end of the building, where a dark figure had staggered from the house and reeled forward, blinded by the smoke, with something in his arms.

Something? Someone. Arabella, but Arabella almost unrecognizable, horribly burned, and writhing with pain.

“
This way, sir,
”
a man pushed forward through the crowd.
“
Bring her this way. I
’
m a doctor. My house is right here, on K Street.
”

“
Thank you.
”
The crowd fell back respectfully as Jonathan turned to follow the strange doctor.
“
Kate! You
’
ve got Sarah?
”

“
Yes, we
’
re here.
”
Kate picked
u
p Sarah again and felt her shiver uncontrollably in her arms.
“
But, Jon, you
’
re not hurt?
”

“
Nothing to signify. But Arabella ... I don
’
t know. She
’
d fainted—the smoke, I suppose. She saved Sarah, Kate. If she
’
d not unlocked that door, I
’
d never have got to her. If I could only have brought them both at once—
”

“
This way.
”
The doctor opened the door of his house.
“
Lay her down there.
”
Pointing to a sofa in the front room.
“
Gently, now.
”
He bent over her.

Arabella moaned. Then:
“
No use.
”
She spoke with difficulty, in a hoarse whisper.
“
And I
’
m glad. What
’
s left
...
? But—Sarah. Where is she?
”

“
She
’
s safe.
”
Jonathan was on the other side of the sofa.
“
Quite safe. You saved her, Bella, God bless you.
”
Across her body, his eye caught the doctor
’
s, to ask a silent question. Almost imperceptibly, the doctor shook his head; his lips formed the words,
“
Noticing I can do.
”

“
I know.
”
Arabella had understood.
“
I
’
m dying. I don
’
t even care. Not now. Only—first—Jonathan, I must tell you. It was all my fault.
”
The words came in painful gasps.
“
Sarah. That day at Saratoga. I was meeting
”
—she fought for breath—
“
Josiah.
”
A travesty of a smile distorted her ravaged face.
“
I didn
’
t love
him.
I didn
’
t
know, then
...
anything
...
But it was so dull, Jon, with you away. Only—that day
...
Sarah followed us
...
through the woods
...
down the long, straight path ... to the hut. She caught us. She didn
’
t mean to.
”
Her strength was failing.
“
I
wa
s angry ... I shut her in. Then—the search was out—I couldn
’
t get back. I
’
m
...
sorry, Jon.
”
She tried to raise her head.
“
Charles! Where
’
s Charles?
”
And then, remembering.
“
He left me, of course. He never cared
...
for me. What a fool—
”
Her head fell back.

“
She
’
s gone, I
’
m afraid,
”
said the doctor.
“
Poor creature.
”

“
She didn
’
t want to be saved,
”
said Jonathan.
“
Not after Manningham left her like that. She told me so. But she saved Sarah. She
’
d got her out of that room. She could have gone with Manningham, but she didn
’
t.
”
He was talking across the doctor, to Kate, who had stayed at the door of the room, holding Sarah so she could not see. But,
“
Poor Mother,
”
said Sarah.
“
She
’
s hurt.
”

Jonathan was across the room in one stride.
“
Sarah! You
’
re talking!
”

“
Talking?
”
Sarah sounded puzzled.

This was no time for discussion or exclamation.
“
Jonathan,
”
Kate put in quickly.
“
Do you think we could take Sarah home? It
’
s way past her bedtime.
”
She was afraid it sounded heartless, but there was no help for it. Sarah had had all she could stand.

“
Yes,
”
said the doctor.
“
You
’
re quite right, ma
’
am.
”
And then, to Jonathan:
“
I
’
ll take care of
every
thin
g
sir.
”
He bent to lay a knitted shawl gently over Arabella
’
s body.
“
Your nursemaid, I take it? Went back for the child? Gallant of her. And of you. Poor thing; she did
her
best
.
And so did you. Remember that. And now, you must , think of the living. Best get your wife and child home, sir. Call on me tomorrow, if you will.
”

“
My—? Oh, thank you. Yes, I
’
ll do that. Tomorrow.
”
He was beyond thought, beyond feeling. For a moment, he just stood there, gazing down at the brightly colored shawl.

“
Father!
”
Sarah
’
s voice again.
“
Can
’
t we go home? Home to Penrose?
”

He roused, shook himself.
“
Not tonight, honey. It
’
s too far.
”

“
Tomorrow then?
”
Her voice Shook.
“
I want to go home.
”

“
And so you shall,
”
said Kate.
“
Just as soon as we can. Home to Penrose.
”

Now that Jonathan had roused himself, their sad arrangements were soon made, their thanks and farewells said. The doctor went on speaking as if Jonathan and Kate were man and wife, and after one brief, expressive exchange of glances they let him do so.

At last, they were outside, walking up 18th Street, with Sarah between them and the fires behind.

“
She
’
s talking. I can
’
t believe it.
”
Jonathan looked across the child to Kate.

“
Don
’
t—
”
The less they commented on it, the better.

“
No.
”
He understood at once.
“
Arabella saved her.
”
It was still strange to him.
“
Poor Arabella. She wouldn
’
t try to save herself. There was nothing I could do.
”

“
I know,
”
said Kate.
“
You did everything you could.
”

“
Now, yes,
”
said Jonathan.
“
But not before. It was my fault, all of it. I brought her away from Richmond, where she was happy. She was gay, Kate, she loved to laugh, and dance, and flirt. I left her alone in Penrose. It was my fault.
”

“
Don
’
t think about it. It
’
s no use.
”
What was there she could say?

But now another voice broke in. Sarah
’
s.
“
Kate! What did the man mean? Whose wife and child?
”

“
He was in a muddle, honey.
”

“
Muddle?
”
Here was a word that was strange to her.
“
I like his muddle, Kate.
”
Only she pronounced it muggle.

Kate looked up to meet Jonathan
’
s eyes across her.
“
Do you, honey?
”
The glow of firelight was less intense now, as they walked steadily away up 18th Street, but they could still see each other, strangely illuminated.

The child gave a little skip, supporting herself on both their hands.
“
Yes, I do.
”

“
So do I,
”
said Jonathan.