His For Christmas (13 page)

 
“
Are
you
all
right?
”
he
asked,
a
furrow
between
his
elegantly
winged
eyebrows.
“
Timothy,
perhaps
you
ought
to
run
back
for
Doc
Warner.
With
luck,
he
’
ll not have the office.
”

The
boy
nodded
and
made
as
if
to
get
up.

“
No!
”
said
Ivy
and
then
instantly
regretted
it
as
another
wave
of
sudden
pain
flashed
across
the
inside
of
her
head.
She
took
a
deep
breath
and
tried
again,
this
time
slower
and
quieter.
“
No,
don
’
t
worry.
It
’
s
just
a
very
bad
headache,
I
’
m
afraid.
”
She
bit
her
lip,
thinking
of
the
paralyzing
cold
outside.
“
I
won
’
t
be
here
long.
I
am
so
sorry
to
intrude.
”

Mrs.
Chang leveled a glance at
the
man.
“
Elliot?
”

He
shook
his
head.
“
Don
’
t
say
such
a
thing.
It
’
s
my
fault
you
’
ve
been
injured.
At
the
very
least,
won
’
t
you
stay
until
you
’
ve
recovered?
”
he
said
and
then
paused,
a
strange
expression
on
his
face,
almost
as
if
he
was
ashamed.
But
for
what?
“
After
which,
I
feel
as
though
I
must
offer
you
some
sort
of
succor.
”

She
blinked
at
him,
again
lost
for
words.

Was
he
…
blushing?
“
That
is
to
say
…
I
couldn
’
t
help
but
notice
…”
his
voice
trailed
away
and
yes,
he
truly
was
blushing.

The
boy,
Timothy,
looked
at
her
intently,
so
intently,
it
fair
made
her
squirm in discomfort.
“
Mr.
Whitley
means
he
’
ll
help
you.
”

Again
the
sense
of
complete
incomprehension.
Had
her
brain
gotten
addled
as
well?
“
I
beg
your
pardon?
”

He
leaned
his
elbow
against
the
bed,
an
expression
on
his
face
that
seemed
far
too
old
and
mature
for
someone
of
his
age.
Surely,
this
small
individual
had
seen
far
more
than
anyone
in
her
social
circle.
They
knew
nothing
of
hunger,
cold,
fear,
poverty
…
but
then
again,
up
until
a
month
ago,
neither
did
she.
And
that
very
knowledge
humbled
her.