“Miss Smith, this is Miss Daisy Blakewood. She is clearly in the early stages of falling ill,” Lady Amelia said. “Miss Blakewood, this is Miss Smith, Lord Alston’s nurse.”
“How do you do?” Daisy asked.
“I am feeling better than you, I suspect.” Miss Smith approached and touched her forehead. “Can you tell me what you feel, Miss Blakewood?”
“I feel warm, and... my head is woozy and aching.”
“I have headache powder.” Miss Smith turned and fixed a cup of tea, mixing in a powder from her apron pocket. “I predict a fever will set in by morning,” Miss Smith said.
“A fever?” Lady Amelia said in alarm.
Daisy accepted the cup of tea and took a sip.
“I don’t anticipate any severe symptoms,” Miss Smith said. “I think this is just a minor cold.”
“But she should stay away from Lord Alston?” Lady Amelia asked.
Miss Smith looked between them. “That would be wise once the fever sets in.”
“Thank you, Miss Smith,” Lady Amelia said. The nurse left them, and Lady Amelia sighed.
“Don’t worry over me,” Daisy said. “I’ve had sniffles and coughs before. I’ve never been severely sick.”
“I’m sure that is true, I just can’t stop this constant worry I feel for my brother. If you could have seen him just a week ago, you’d understand. You’re a sister, too. As much as a brother can be a nuisance to our social lives, they are our first friend. My brother is all I have left of my mother and father.”
Daisy’s throat tightened with emotion, and she bit her lip anxiously. Her brother was a giant to her, in more than just height. She’d always looked up to Graham for his unshakable confidence and integrity. He was her protecter, her playmate,and he’d grown into her idealistic image of a hero. If she ever saw him on the brink of death, she’d be inconsolable.
“If I need to go—”
“No,” Lady Amelia said. “You will stay here, and I will care for you just as diligently as I did my brother. Likely, I’m being overly concerned, and you just need another day of rest. Who doesn’t need those from time to time? Oh! I almost forgot to tell you. Your brother is sending a letter to your parents and thought you might like to add your own. If you do, give it to Merry and we can send it in the morning.”
“I will.” Daisy felt a tickle in her throat. “I think I’ll eat and go back to sleep.”
“That is wise. I’ll check on you in the morning.”
Merry returned with a supper tray and Daisy moved back to the desk to eat her soup and pen a letter to her parents. She held the quill over the paper as she pondered what to say and a drop splattered on the paper.
“Drat.” She sighed. But she didn’t know how to explain what had happened. It was all so surreal. Her mother and father would not be pleased to learn she’d taken the night coach and—Lady Claystone! Daisy would also have to tell Lady Claystone what happened and where she was, wouldn’t she? Daisy winced and set the quill down, using a scrap of paper to blot the drop of ink.
She sighed heavily, not feeling at all up to writing a letter to Lady Claystone, but it must be done. The longer she put it off, the harsher Lady Claystone’s response would be. Starting with fresh paper, Daisy gave her parents a quick description of her change of circumstances, positive her brother would be more forthcoming. Then she pulled out a fresh sheet of paper to write to Lady Claystone, careful not to drop a single speck of ink as she began.
Lady Claystone,
It is with humility and concern that I write to you. Mrs. Miranda found my company to be unsuitable for her daughter after my brother’s recent marriage to Lady Amelia Clark, sister of the Earl of Alston. Many despicable rumors are circulating about the circumstances of their marriage, but I trust you know, having been such a close friend to my mother, that my brother is always and irrefutably an honorable man. He assisted Lady Amelia and the earl through a difficult time which required his constant presence in their home. He and Lady Amelia developed an affection and decided to marry hastily while her brother still lived. He was grievously injured from a horse-riding accident but now is recovering. Since my parents are traveling, I am now residing in my brother’s care at Alston House, waiting for my parents to return—
Daisy’s stomach tightened. She prayed Lady Claystone wouldn’t insist on making Daisy stay at Claystone Terrace instead. To have to endure Lady Claystone’s constant scrutiny would be a nightmare. She could only hope that Lady Claystone would choose to have nothing to do with Daisy and end the betrothal all together.
Daisy smiled as she finished her letter and blew the ink dry. She folded it and left it on the desk, then climbed back into the bed. She closed her eyes, trying not to picture Lady Claystone’s reaction, but instead what her life would be like if she were no longer engaged to Cliffton. She’d be free.
Chapter Seven
Three days later
Sam’s mood wasalready bleak when he awoke. He had a recurring nightmare plaguing him when he slept. In this dream he was in his bed and there was blood everywhere. He was surrounded by people: Amelia, Blakewood, even the widow, Mrs. Dove-Lyon. They stood at his bedside talking over him while he remained frozen, unable to move or speak. Then another figure would appear, veiled in black like Mrs. Dove-Lyon, with a priest at her side. Everyone else would fade except the veiled woman and the priest. The priest would then begin to recite the marriage vows, and the woman would reach for his hand with bone fingers, her touch as cold as ice. His unknown bride, the stranger he was obligated to marry, was death itself.
Sam would jerk awake and then spend hours staring at the shadows of his room, waiting for the specter of his bride to step out. It was foolish. He wasn’t a child who feared the dark anymore, but all the same, he couldn’t shake the ominous feeling he got when he thought of the contract and the unknown woman. A hollowness spread through his chest. He did everything he could tonotthink about that woman, whoevershe was, and focus on the present, but it was difficult when he couldn’t get out of his bed. He needed distraction, he needed something meaningful to do instead of waiting for a future he didn’t want to come.
More importantly, he needed to find a way to get out of the contract, but to do that, he had to get his strength back and get out of this bed without anyone knowing.
