“I’m afraid you are mistaken,” she smiled sadly. “Best get you to bed to rest.”
“I don’t have the measles,” Henry forced, then coughed on the last words.
“Of course you don’t.” She smiled as if humoring him then turned to her husband. “We should send for the doctor and you should get your friend to bed before he worsens.”
“I am not ill.” If he said it enough, it would be so. He didn’t have time to be sick. He needed to see Eve.
“Then I suppose those spots along your hairline are nothing to be concerned about.”
Alarm shot through him. “Spots?”
“More of a rash, but I know the symptoms better than you, Kilsyth. I did teach at a girls school for a number of years.”
Henry marched across the room and lifted the first item he could find to offer a reflection of his person. It happened to be a silver tray that the tea cups had set upon. He lifted it and stared at his hair. Bloody hell, he was getting a rash.
“How long does this last? A few days?”
She snorted. “A sennight, at least.”
“A sennight?” he barked. “I can’t be ill for so long.”
“You aren’t exactly given a choice.” Norbright chuckled.
“Rest in a dark room and willow bark tea will help make you comfortable,” Lady Norbright assured him. “You’ll just have to have patience until the illness has run its course.”
“Patience?” Pickmore laughed, then just as quickly winced and put a hand against his injured ribs. “The one thing that Kilsyth does not possess is patience.”
“At least he’ll be in his chamber and not pacing around here like a caged animal,” Ashford grumbled.
Kilsyth glared at him. “I assure you, I will vanquish this disease and be back to myself in a few days. Just because the students took so long to recover, doesn’t mean I will.”
“Yes, well, if you are going to recover, you’d best get in bed and go about doing so,” Ashford griped. “I’d wager he won’t leave his chamber for a fortnight.”
Pickmore studied Kilsyth. “The man is determined. I say a sennight.”
Norbright sat forward. “Ten days.”
Keegan was the last and looked at Henry thoughtfully. “Three weeks.”
“Three weeks?” Henry demanded. “You have so little faith in me? You think I’m so weak.”
“I think you are stubborn and will keep trying to force yourself from bed, thus actually prolonging the illness,” Keegan answered with a grin.
“We have a wager, Gentlemen?” Norbright asked.
Henry glared at them each individually. “What kind of friends are you? Making a wager on my illness as if you’ve got nothing better to do.”
“Actually, we don’t have anything better to occupy our time.” Pickmore grinned. “Now, run along so that I can win.” He took in the room. “What say you, ten pounds each?”
As they agreed, Henry stomped from the room. He’d show them all. He’d be up and about in no less than four days, then all of them would lose.
* * *
Eve settled into a chair by the large widow overlooking the back lawn, ready to enjoy a blessedly quiet moment with a steaming cup of tea. Though none of the students had fully recovered, none of them had worsened to the point of concern either, for which she was grateful. But, while they waited for the illness to run its course, she’d been busy helping take care of the girls. Though she didn’t wish ill on anyone, Eve was also grateful that she’d been too busy to spend much time wondering after Kilsyth. However, soon, the school would be recovered and she’d need to come to a decision.
Did she leave to avoid seeing him? Or, did she stay?
With a frown, Eve picked up the cup of tea and pondered her options.
