15
The next day, as Anne returned from walking Louie, Rosa met her in the hall. Distress marred her pretty face.
“Lady Celia is sending me to Gloucester! To her favorite modiste there. Now that she’s spending so much time in bed, she wants me to select a new dressing gown for her, like a man’s banyan. And a new lace cap. I suggested she send Toby, but she insists I go along. I suppose she’s right that a footman knows nothing about women’s garments. Still...”
“I would think you’d be glad for an excuse to go into the city.”
“I don’t want to be gone so long.”
“Gloucester is only six or seven miles away.”
“Even so, the trip there and back will take a few hours. Maybe longer. She wants us to stop at her solicitor’s office while we’re there and apparently Toby has a list of things to gather for Mrs. Pratt as well. What if something should happen while I’m gone?”
“I will be here.”
“No, I don’t mean with Lady Celia. I mean ...” She groaned. “I do wish he had not made me promise.”
“Who?”
Rosa swept a glance at her from under her lashes, then away again. “Are you someone who prays?”
Anne blinked at the unexpected question. “Yes, although not as often as I should.”
“Will you pray for ... someone very dear to me? He is not feeling well. Probably nothing serious, but—”
“Is Dr. Finch unwell?”
“No. Not Dr. Finch.” Rosa sighed. “Just pray while I’m gone, will you?”
“Of course I will. I don’t have to know the details.” Though Anne certainly wished she did.
After Rosa left, Anne returned to her patient’s room to take care of Lady Celia, reading to her and helping her to the commode during Rosa’s absence.
A few hours later, Anne took a wriggling Louie outside again. She was just returning to the house when Dr. Finch hurried up the drive, looking harried.
“I need to see Rosa,” he said, following her inside.
“I’m afraid she is not here. She went to Gloucester on an errand for Lady Celia.”
He grimaced. “What? When will she be back?”
Anne glanced at her watch pin. “In another hour or so, I would expect.”
He muttered something under his breath and ran an agitated hand over his face. “Then will you come? I need help with—” he darted a glance around the hall—“a patient.”
Questions spun through her mind. Then why ask for Rosa? And what patient? Remembering Rosa’s distress, Anne thought she knew.
“Your young ... ward?”
He swallowed. “Yes.”
“I will be happy to help. Just let me see if Jasper or Miss Fitzjohn is available to sit with Lady Celia.” She started up the stairs, and Louie followed.
The doctor called after her, “Bring your medicine case, please. Might save a trip to the druggist’s.”
Leaving Dr. Finch pacing in the hall, Anne hurried to Lady Celia’s room, Louie at her heels. She found Jasper already there with his aunt, book again in hand. “Oh good,” Anne said. “Would you mind staying here till I return? Dr. Finch needs help with a patient.”
“Not at all.”
