Loving Julia Read Online Free PDF Page A

pays his debts.”
    He started to cough then. He hadn’t coughed before, and Jewel and Father Simon looked at each other with alarm as the spasms racked him. When the attack was over, he lay without moving, looking so white and drawn that Jewel thought for an instant that he had died in that moment. But his pale eyes opened again, resting wearily on her before moving on to the priest.
    “Am I going … to die, Father?”
    Father Simon pursed his lips, and reached to pick up the white, almost womanish hand that lay so limply atop the grimy blanket.
    “Yes, my son, I fear so. But like everything, it is in God’s hands.”
    Timothy’s lips made a weak attempt at a smile. “My family always said that I’d come to a bad end.” He closed his eyes for a long moment, and the priest seemed nervous that the boy would slip into unconsciousness again.
    “Won’t you tell us where to reach your family, my son? I’m sure that any estrangement between you was not meant to withstand your finding yourself in such dire straits.”
    Timothy’s mouth twisted again in that pathetic smile, but his blue eyes remained closed. “You don’t know my family, Father,” he repeated. “They have been trying to be rid of me for years. They will be relieved, if nothing more, when I am gone.”
    “They should be contacted….”
    Timothy moved his head impatiently, then grimaced with pain. “Very well, Father, I will furnish you with their direction. If you will first do something for me.” He opened his eyes and fixed them on Jewel with an expression she could not decipher.
    “Anything within my power, my son.”
    “Is it within your power to wed me to this young lady, Father?”
    Jewel blinked, staring down at the toff as if she suspected he might have sunk back into delirium without their having noticed. Father Simon cleared his throat.
    “Why should you wish to do that, Timothy?”
    Timothy’s burning eyes shifted to the priest. “When I turn twenty-five, in four years time, I come into an inheritance from my mother. A very substantial inheritance. It would keep this young lady in comfort for the rest of her life. If I die without an heir, the cousin who is my guardian will merely add my modest fortune to his own much greater one. I would rather this young lady—what is your name, by the way?” he added impatiently to Jewel. She told him, and he went on. “I would rather Jewel here have my money in payment for her kindness than see it go to my cousin. He is a cold bastard—begging your pardon, Father—and besides, he has no need of it.”
    Father Simon was silent for a moment. Jewel was, too. They both stared down at the pale face that appeared perfectly serious and perfectly sane. But of course he could not be. His offer of marriage had to be the product of delirium. Didn’t it? Did he really have money—and would he, could he, be serious about marrying her and leaving it to her when he died? To have enough money for good food and warm clothes and a room all to herself with a big, blazing fire every night if she wished—to never be hungry or cold again … or afraid … Jewel felt dizzy from the very thought of it.
    “Jewel?” Father Simon murmured at last. “It would be a … solution for you.”
    Jewel stared at him for a moment without speaking. Her thoughts were churning so fast she felt dizzy.
    “Well?” the toff demanded irritably, his voice weaker than it had been before. “Will you or won’t you? I can’t see any reason for you to refuse.”
    “Be a bleedin’ fool to, wouldn’t I?” Jewel answered slowly, still not trusting the possibility. There had to be some catch to this; the toff couldn’t be just going to hand over money to her.
    “Make the arrangements, Father. Quickly, please.” Timothy closed his eyes on that last. As quickly as that he was asleep. Father Simon looked at Jewel again.
    “I’ll have to see about a special license.”
    Jewel nodded, still staring down at the unconscious form of