“Miss Hammond, ma’am.”
“Have her come in. I am anxious for news of Mr. Stackpoole,” Cecilia said. She grabbed her robe from beside the bed and slipped it on.
“Beg pardon, my lady,” Miss Hammond said as she entered.
“Nonsense. Please come in. Tell me of Mr. Stackpoole.”
Miss Hammond shook her head. “Not well, madam. He was better last night when I left, but when I arrived, I found him very sick again. Like it came back around again, just as ’afore.”
Cecilia frowned. “That is worrisome. Is he in danger of dying?”
“That I can’t be saying, I’ve never seen the like of this. It be almost like he’s poisoned, but he don’t die. I told Mrs. Price he is not to have anything to eat or drink save water, and that sparingly, to keep his mouth wet. She didn’t like that none as she believes her tisane is the best for what ails a body.”
“Had he had anything to eat earlier today?”
“Mrs. Price had a tray taken to him his morning as he was so much better last night. I don't know all he ate or drank. Didn’t appear to be much to eat.
“He said he took only a few bites, then pushed it away as it made his stomach queasy like. He did drink the tisane Mrs. Price made for him, and I thought that good…Pardon, madam, you don’t look so good yourself this morning. You feeling queasy?”
“No, I’m just still tired after my illness and James and the staff having to take care of me,” Cecilia said distractedly as she thought about Mr. Stackpoole.
A heavy pounding on the door startled the women.
“Miss Hammond, be you here?” They heard from the other side of the door. It was Mrs. Price. “We have need of you. Please.”
Sarah opened the door. Mrs. Price peered around her to see Miss Hammond then pushed past her to hurry toward Miss Hammond.
“It’s Susan Divers. She has taken sick just like that Mr. Stackpoole. Maybe worse.”
“Susan!” exclaimed Sarah from by the door. “We just spoke this morning. Her voice was a little hoarse, and she said her throat felt scratchy, but she didn’t appear terribly unwell.”
Mrs. Price turned toward Sarah. “And she wasn’t that sick. We both thought a cup of my tisane would make everything fine. And she was one moment, and the next not!” She turned back to Miss Hammond. “Can you come to see her, please?”
“Yes, immediately. This is all highly curious. Your pardon, my lady,” Miss Hammond said, turning to curtsy to Cecilia and then following Mrs. Price out of the room.
“Help me get dressed,” Cecilia said as she slipped off her robe. “I should see if I can help.”
“You can’t do that!” Sarah protested.
“Why ever not?”
“It wouldn’t be in keeping with your sickliness.”
“Blast. You are correct. I have painted myself into a corner. Bother.”
Sarah laughed. “Yes, ma’am, but you wouldn’t want to risk the babe either, not after you just recovering from being unwell for so long yourself,” she said as she helped Cecilia remove her nightgown.
Cecelia made a face and nodded. “Perhaps I can sit quietly in the taproom and eavesdrop on conversations. I’d wager all will be talking about the illness and most particularly speculating on its cause.”
Sarah gathered up Cecilia’s dress to help her into it. “Aren’t many here this early in the morning.”
“True, there wouldn’t be. Then where might be a good place to hear the local gossip?” she wondered. “Maybe a slow constitutional walk to the linen drapers?”
“That be a good idea,” Sarah said, securing the fastenings at the back of the dress. “Always good gossip at the drapers.”
“Well, let’s get me put together and see if we need any more ash for my weak persona.” She picked up her silver-backed hand mirror from where she’d laid it on the bed and studied her complexion. “Suitably weak looking, now it only needs the resolution to maintain the ruse.”
“Yes, ma’am”
