Seasons of Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

disposition. She would know what to do.
    For the time being, Robert forgot his anger at being forced into marriage in his anxiety for the trembling creature lying on the bed, the creature who was the source of forty pounds a year for doing nothing.
    Dammit, the thing might work out very well, he thought optimistically, as he left Roxanne to deal with Helen. A wife could be dashed useful, and not just in bed.

Chapter 3
    It would be no exaggeration to say that Helen Perriman owed her life to the actress's nursing and support. Roxanne Marlborough, born a mere Janet Snape in the back streets of Manchester, took one horrified look at her back and sent Robert hot-foot for the doctor.
    ‘Who did this to you?’ she asked Helen gently.
    ‘My father.’
    She exchanged disgusted glances with Robert., but her voice was quite even as she replied,
    ‘Well, if that's an example of fatherly love, I'm glad mine died before he had had time to show his for me!'’
    ‘My father hates me,’ Helen whispered. ‘He always has done. And I've never understood why.’
    Tears of weakness were trickling down her pale cheeks.
    ‘Who ever can understand men?’ The look Roxanne threw at Robert included him in this general condemnation.
    He scowled at her, but said nothing.
    The doctor came bustling in, a fat man exuding self-importance. He tutted over the back, approved Roxanne’s treatment, then gave the patient a draught of laudanum.
    ‘Sleep,’ he announced. ‘Nature’s own nostrum.’ He found himself looking at the back of Robert’s head. The new husband, who had got over his access of pity for his wife, was standing looking out of the window, yawning and scratching his armpit.
    The doctor was unused to being ignored. He tapped Robert on the shoulder. ‘Did you hear me, sir?’
    ‘Yes. Right. She needs to sleep.’
    ‘And I'd advise you to apply a lotion to the back, which I can supply at a modest cost, but to leave the injuries uncovered as much as possible.’
    ‘How much?’ Robert demanded.
    The doctor made a quick estimate of his client's means and regretfully reduced his intended fee.
    ‘A mere two shillings, sir.’ He remembered Lord Northby’s involvement and added hastily, ‘For the lotion, that is.’
    Robert growled, but didn’t quite like to protest with Roxanne standing there looking at him so scornfully. ‘And how much for this visit?’
    ‘The same, sir. The same.’
    ‘What? You’re going to charge me four shillings, just to give us a bit of grease and tell us to let her sleep! Four shillings!’ Why, that amount of money would allow him to toss a few dice in the inn, or buy himself several drinks.
    The doctor’s face turned bright puce and he made a gobbling noise in his throat.
    Roxanne nudged her fellow actor in the ribs. ‘Shut up, Robert!’
    ‘But - ’
    ‘Shut - up! I'll lend you the money if you're short, but she needs help.’
    His expression brightened, but his words were still grudging. ‘Oh, very well!’
    Roxanne breathed deeply and poked him in the chest. ‘And you needn't think you can get out of paying me back, either. I'm doing this for your poor little wife's sake, not for yours.’
    Given this lack of appreciation for his services, the doctor didn’t bother to return. Roxanne showed Robert how to tend his poor young wife and stood over him to make sure he carried out her instructions with every care.
    When they’d finished, she decided it was no use appealing to his better nature, because she'd never seen any signs of one. ‘If you don't do it properly, you'll be paying out a lot more to the doctors than four shillings. It’ll be more like four guineas.’
    He shuddered. ‘I heard what you said. I do understand English.’ And he didn’t intend to waste any more money on doctors, thank you very much.
    ‘Then make sure you do it right, or that back’ll not heal.’ She was satisfied she’d got through to him, but decided to keep a close eye on things, nonetheless.
    Helen was