Restless Hearts Read Free Page A

talking about expanding. The idea of moving away from Boston appealed to her, and she’d told herself that by accepting his proposal she could make a new life. She would come to love him eventually, she told herself. At least they were friends.
    But now everything had changed. She managed to avoid the other guests and sought out a quiet corner where she could think. It wasn’t a question of what she should do now. That much was clear. The question was, when should she confront Lewis?
    “There you are.” Startled, she looked up to see him standing in front of her. “Are you all right, Sarah?” He’d known her long enough to discern that something was wrong. She wished the best for him in his difficult life ahead, but she would have preferred that he wasn’t so perceptive.
    “I’m fine.” It was an automatic answer, and she retracted it almost instantly. “No, I’m not, Lewis. I’ve developed a bit of a headache. Do you mind taking me home?”
    “Not at all. I’ll have the carriage brought around, and we can leave immediately.”
     
    * * *
     
    Lewis looked over at her several times on the way home. He appeared to be getting up his nerve to speak, while Sarah looked straight ahead, gathering herself for what was to come.
    When they pulled up in front of her father’s residence, he fidgeted, making no move to get out.
    “Lewis.” She turned to him. “I’m sorry, but I can’t marry you.”
    The look on his face was almost comical. His first reaction had been joy, then a puzzled expression took over.
    “Why, Sarah?”
    Light flickered from the lamp at the gatepost, and she looked into his eyes. “I saw you with Stephen tonight. I overheard what you said.”
    The blood drained from his face and he seemed to shrink back into the depths of the carriage.
    “It’s all right, Lewis. I understand.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “We never should have become engaged in the first place.”
    He looked up, and for a moment she thought he might cry. “Do you hate me?”
    “Of course not. We’ve been friends too long for that.”
    Hope flared in his eyes. “Then you won’t tell anyone?”
    “No. I’ll tell my family that we won’t be marrying, but that we want to remain friends.” She removed the ring from her finger and handed it to him. “Here, take this.”
    He reached for the ring and she held on, reluctant to sever the connection they’d shared for so many years. “You really need to be more careful when you and Stephen are in public together.” She released her hold on the ring. “What will you do?”
    He gave her a hopeful grin. “This is all very sudden, but maybe Stephen and I could move together to Philadelphia when we expand the business. No one knows us there.”
    Sarah nodded. “That could work.” She raised a hand to his cheek. “Be careful, Lewis, but be happy.”
    He nodded wordlessly, eyes gleaming with unshed tears. Sarah got out of the carriage and walked to the front door. She didn’t look back.
     
    * * *
     
    “You’re home early.” Sarah’s mother looked up as Sarah removed her shawl and stood at the entrance to the living room.
    “Yes.” Sarah pressed fingers to her temple. “I developed a bit of a headache.” She glanced toward her father’s chair by the fire. “Has father been called out?”
    Bridget Howard sighed. “No, he turned in early. He was up most of last night trying to save that young child who was run over by a carriage.” She raised her eyes. “The child died this morning.”
    Sarah squeezed her eyes shut and said a quick prayer. A dedicated physician, her father was still saddened every time he wasn’t able to save a patient. She liked that about him; the fact that he didn’t adopt an aloof air, the way some other physicians did when dealing with death. His compassion was one of the reasons she’d been taken completely by surprise when he’d refused to support her application to medical school. Another reason was that she’d been helping him