Dr. Marsland came bustling in a short while later, black bag in hand, face red with exertion. Dr. Finch followed on his heels.
She quickly explained Lady Celia’s symptoms and the measures she had taken so far.
The physicians took over from there.
When things had calmed down and Lady Celia seemed to be stable, Dr. Finch gave her a sympathetic look and departed for an appointment he was late for—he was expected at Damsell’s to attend an ailing Mrs. Cox.
When it was only the two of them, and a sleeping Lady Celia, Dr. Marsland and Anne spoke quietly together near the fireplace.
“How did it happen?” he asked, his tone gentle, even kind.
“I don’t know. I always measure so carefully. I looked at the syrup bottle after you arrived. The level is lower than it should be. I keep the bottle in the dressing room where I sleep but I don’t have a key to lock that door. Anyone could have gone in and found it.”
He frowned. “What are you suggesting?”
“That someone could have added some to her teacup there on the side table while I was out and she dozed.” The teacup, Anne noticed, was now empty.
“Who? Who would do that?”
“I don’t know.” She recalled Jane saying she had taken up tea but surely the housemaid would not do such a thing.
His eyes turned down at the corners. Sad. Pitying. “Is not the more likely explanation that you gave her too large a dose? We all make mistakes, Miss Loveday. Let us be grateful this one was not more serious.”
Hadshe made a mistake? Somehow given Lady Fitzjohn too large a dose or an additional dose, forgetting she had already done so? She didn’t think she had. At least, she hoped not.God havemercy....
He added, “To be safe, I will replace that bottle straightaway with a new one. For if she didnotconsume too large a dose, then what she did consume might have been tainted or incorrectly prepared somehow.”
“Oh. Yes, good idea.”
Anne was rather surprised Dr. Marsland did not dismiss her on the spot. Probably would have, were there another qualified person available. She was relieved she did not have to leave in disgrace.
Anne had been gaining confidence in her role as sickroom nurse. She told herself this was only a setback. It did not mean she would end a failure. Anne was grateful she had been given another chance, and she would make sure nothing like this happened again.
Alerted to the situation by Dr. Marsland, Lady Celia’s daughter and nephews came upstairs with him, faces tight with concern.
Anne felt as though she faced a firing squad.
Unease and embarrassment flooded her, making it difficult to meet their wary gazes. Yet she knew she had done nothing wrong.
Had she?
Katherine asked a few questions, as did Jude, looking skeptical and suspicious. Worse yet, her old friend Jasper looked disappointed as well.
Dr. Marsland needed to go and see another patient, but he pressed Miss Fitzjohn’s hand and told her to send for him if her mother took a turn for the worse.
The nephews followed him out while Katherine remained.She and Anne sat together at Lady Celia’s bedside. Eventually Rosa brought them something to eat, although neither had much appetite.
Dr. Finch returned that evening after attending his other patient and came upstairs to look in on Lady Celia once more.
He listened to her heart with his wooden tube and counted her pulse using his pulse watch. “Heart rate is still irregular,” he said. “Pulse still slow but improving. Both should return to previous levels in a day or two.”
Miss Fitzjohn said, “Dr. Finch, I wonder if you might do us a great favor?”
“Anything. If I am able.”
“Would you stay here tonight with Mamma? Just until we are sure she is out of danger?”
“Well, I ... I suppose I could. If, well, if perhaps Miss Stark might go to Valley View and let my housekeeper know?”
