Marry in Haste (The Vaughns #2)

Chapter 31

M other’s tone was quite serious, and Eddie slid into the proffered seat with a sinking feeling. She remained standing, which only added to his discomfort, and when Joanna drew close to him again and took his arm of her own accord, he couldn’t help but feel it must be something dire, indeed.

Standing by the fireplace, Mother rested her hand on the mantelpiece for a long moment before Father came up beside her and whispered to her; she shook it off and turned to Eddie, her expression so grim that he nearly flinched.

“I suppose I ought to speak to you privately, but as Joanna is the one who badgered me about this, it is only fair that she hear what I have to say,” murmured Mother, which caused Eddie to glance at the lady in question, who grew paler by the moment.

“It is late, Mother. Can we not speak of this tomorrow?” he began.

The lady drew up in front of her son and stood with a rigid spine as she met his gaze. “I am sorry, Edward.”

Brow scrunching, he stared at her, wondering what she meant (though he understood the words readily enough).

Drawing in a deep breath, Mother sank onto the chair that faced his sofa, and Father sat in the one beside her. “I never meant to make you feel as though I do not respect you. Though I had my fears, I had thought I was more supportive than condescending, and it is clear I failed miserably.”

Before Eddie could think what to say to that, she hurried to add, “I know this isn’t an excuse, but I allowed my history with my brother to color my behavior toward you. Isaac isn’t a bad man, but he is careless, and you know how much he has struggled in his life. He destroyed my family’s practice and nearly ruined any chance for your father and me to be together, and if not for his wife’s wealthy connections, he would’ve been ruined a dozen times over. And though I know you are not Isaac, I do see similarities within you that have caused me to worry unduly.”

Mother’s words halted, her hand reaching for her husband’s, and they held fast to one another. “We are proud of you.”

“Truly?” The question slipped out before Eddie could think better of it, and though he hated the pain that flashed in his mother’s eyes, the sight had his pulse quickening, his heart pressing against his ribs as though leaning closer to hear the answer.

Rising to her feet, Mother came over and pulled him up so she could wrap her arms around him. “I am so very sorry that you feel you have to ask. I love you, and I am so proud of who you are.”

Eddie clung to her, leaning into her hold like he used to as a child, but when she leaned back with tears in her eyes, she brushed them away and patted his cheek with her other hand. “My feelings are only my silly fears that have more to do with my past than anything you have done. I am sorry for not seeing it sooner, and I will do better. I promise.”

With a shuddering breath, she stepped away, her eyes aglow with the warmth of a mother’s love, and Eddie didn’t know what to say; it wasn’t as though she had ever treated him coldly or withheld her affection, but hearing such unwavering support felt as though the ground had shifted beneath him.

Glancing over to his seat, he spied Joanna, whose eyes glimmered with unshed tears, and Mother’s earlier confession rang in his thoughts, making it clear to whom he owed this moment. Eddie didn’t know how, but Joanna had brought this about with her faith and support, and when he took his seat once more, he leaned close.

She stiffened a touch, but he simply whispered into her ear, “Thank you.”

Joanna pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, and matching his tone, she whispered back, “I meant what I said, Edward. You are a good man, and you ought not to doubt it.”

Spine straightening, he felt as though his whole body were growing, her confidence seeping into him and filling him until he was a foot taller than before. Her strength coursed through Edward, and at that moment, he felt as though he were capable of succeeding at any feat.

Glancing at his parents, who met his gaze with matching expressions of concern, Edward allowed himself to ask the question he had longed to speak for far too long.

“Then why do you not allow me to assist you with our work? Why am I relegated to the sidelines as you manage the majority? Gregory is trusted to manage the apothecary shop, but I am still treated like an apprentice—though even they are allowed to shadow their master, whereas I am left with nothing.”

Father straightened, his brows rising. “That has nothing to do with your capability, son. I am not ready to hand my work over. That is all.”

“Arthur,” whispered Mother, her furrowed brows turned to her husband.

Edward glanced between the pair, and though a phantom instinct warned him to remain silent, he forced it aside. The conversation was broached, and he was done waiting for an answer.

“What is the matter?” he demanded. “I know something is amiss, but you won’t tell me. What else am I to assume but that you do not trust me?”

“That is not it at all,” said Father with a shake of his head. “I am managing things fine on my own—”

“Stop it, Arthur,” said Mother with a scowl. “Can’t you see that our actions are hurting our son? The time for secrets is over. Tell him!”

Grasping his wife’s hand, Father drew in a deep breath, his gaze lowering to the rug at his feet. Though it was painful to wait, Edward gave him the time he needed to gather his thoughts, and it was several long minutes before Father spoke.

“I have amaurosis,” he whispered, and a jolt shot through Edward.

Before he knew what he was about, he snatched up Joanna’s hand, clutching it and the support she offered as she held fast. Her brows pinched, her confused gaze darting between the other three as she was the only one without the medical background to understand.

“He is losing his sight,” explained Edward, and Joanna’s brows rose upward, her eyes filling with tears as she turned them to her father-in-law.

Father’s jaw tensed as his gaze fixed on the floor. “Not long after you finished your schooling, I realized the edges of my vision were fading into blackness, though I was too stubborn to acknowledge it. In the past few years, it’s worsened, and my world is growing smaller and smaller.”

“He can hardly see anything that isn’t directly in front of him,” whispered Mother through broken words.

“I didn’t want to worry the family, and I cannot bear to give up the practice yet because before long I shan’t be of any use to anyone,” he added, his shoulders slumping, though Mother immediately stiffened at that.

“Do not speak of my husband like that,” she said with a scowl. “You are of use to me, Arthur Vaughn. No matter the state of your eyes.”

“There must be treatments,” said Joanna, shifting in her seat until she was perched on the edge. “I know you are a credit to your profession, but there are doctors who specialize in eyes now, and there have been so many advances that you may not know about. Even if we have to sell every last thing we own to pay for it, there must be a way to help you.”

A quickening of his pulse sent a flood of warmth through Edward as he looked at his wife. Joanna’s concern and generosity were not unexpected, as he’d witnessed it again and again over the years, yet the resoluteness with which she spoke left him speechless. Joanna met his gaze, her brow furrowing slightly in concern, but Edward squeezed her hand, which he was all too aware she still allowed him to hold.

“We’ve been exploring options,” said Mother as she held equally strong to her husband. “And he’s consulted with a few specialists, though none were particularly hopeful.”

Her voice quavered the slightest bit, and Father lifted her hand to his lips.

Giving her a smile tinged with sorrow, he said, “You know as well as I do, son, that there are few things that can be done in these cases. I may be no specialist, but I know enough to know how little we understand the eyes.”

“That said, we are exploring some possibilities,” said Mother with a firm tone that spoke of an old argument between the pair, and as much as Edward wanted to throw in with his mother, he knew better than to do so. The three of them all had the education and training of physicians (even if she wasn’t formally schooled in such things), and they all knew that whatever hope there may be was small and fleeting.

“Now that the secret is out, I hope to convince your father to see specialists in Edinburgh and London, and while we are gone, we will need you to handle the patients,” she added.

Edward nodded. “Of course, but what else can we do?”

Drawing in a deep breath, Father shifted in his seat. Several times he attempted to speak, but he cut the words short and considered the question again.

“I know you want more responsibility, but I would ask that I be left to do as much as I can for as long as I can,” he said in a quiet voice, his shoulders lowering. “But if you could see to those on the outskirts of town and further away, that would be very helpful. I…”

Father paused again, his gaze lowering, though Mother held fast to him as though trying to prop him up. “I cannot drive anymore.”

“Of course,” said Edward. “But I can play coachman if you wish—”

“That will raise questions I am not ready to answer,” replied Father with a shake of his head. “Before long, I will have to hand it all over to you, but I…”

“You don’t have to yet, Father,” said Edward, echoing that shake of the head. “As long as you can see to your duties, I will do whatever I can to help you. I just wanted to understand why you didn’t want my help.”

Rising to his feet, Father pulled Edward into his arms, those firm limbs enfolding him as he held his son fast.

“I apologize,” he whispered. “It was our weaknesses we feared. Not yours.”

Not knowing what to say to that, for his heart was too full with the revelations of the day, he clung to his father, hoping that the action conveyed what he wished he could say.