“William?” Constantine asked, stepping closer. “What happened?”
Chapter 26
“Is everything all right with him, Betsy?” Elara asked in a worried tone.
“He spiked a fever a little while ago,” Betsy hurriedly explained. “I have been trying to bring it down with cool water, but it will not go down! I was heading to the kitchens to acquire some herbs that will hopefully help.”
Urgency shot through Elara’s heart as she shared a worried glance with Constantine, and they both hurried away.
“Bring the herbs!” Constantine called over his shoulder. “Quickly!”
Together they raced up the stairs, Elara’s heart pounding as they began to hear William’s pain-filled cries all the way from his room.
“What has caused this?” Constantine demanded as they finally reached the baby. His wet nurse was holding him, making soothing sounds as she bounced him lightly.
“I do not know for sure, Your Grace,” the wet nurse replied, her tone desperate as Elara hurried to her and William.
“Give him to me,” Elara said, her tone a mixture of command and plea.
The wet nurse handed William over to her without protest, and Elara cradled him tightly to her. Her worry intensified as she immediately felt the heat radiating from the poor boy.
“It is all right, darling, easy,” she cooed, rocking him. “I am here.”
As if William understood her, his cries softened. Still, his little mouth quivered as he frowned, tears still pouring down the cheeks she loved to kiss.
“Weare here,” Constantine said, his voice gentle as she felt him put a hand on her shoulder.
Elara looked up and saw Constantine’s affection for the boy glittering in his green eyes. She did her best to give him a smile, then turned her face back to William.
“Tell us of his evening,” Constantine demanded of the wet nurse. “When he ate, what you ate. When this started. All of it.”
“I do not believe I ate anything out of the ordinary, Your Grace,” she replied, gripping her hands together in front of her chest. “As for the little lord, I fed him at his usual time of eight o’clock with no troubles. He fell asleep as he usually did. I promise you, nothing seemed out of the ordinary until he woke up crying a little while ago! Oh, dear, what is to be done now!”
“Calm yourself,” Elara urged calmly, sparing a kind glance toward the wet nurse and then a slight warning glance up at Constantine, who looked ready to strangle anyone who daredhurt his nephew. The moment he saw her face, though, some of that rage dissipated, and he drew a sharp inhale through his nostrils.
“No one is blaming you,” she said, turning back to the wet nurse. “I am sure there is a reasonable explanation for this.”
As she said so, the nanny came hurrying back in with a dark brown glass bottle and dropper. A look came over her face, as if she was both startled and pleased that the Duke and Duchess had come to see the baby. Then William let out a high-pitched cry, and the woman moved into action.
“Betsy,” Constantine said, his tone calmer now. “I have brought you on because you have raised several babies. Can you tell us what ails poor William?”
“I surmise that our young master is going through another growth spurt,” she explained, drawing some of the brown liquid atop her left pointer finger. “His teeth started to come in months ago; however, it can be a long process. I have seen children as old as three struggle with budding teeth. It is a painful process that not only causes discomfort but sparks a fever.”
“I see. So what can we do?” Elara asked.
“Hold him still for me, Your Grace?” Betsy asked, approaching.
Elara stopped rocking William immediately and tilted him away from her chest just enough for Betsy to reach his mouth. She and Constantine both watched as Betsy gently brushed her finger over William’s gums; his instinct to cry made it easy.
“What is it you are giving him?” Constantine asked.
“A concentrate of willow bark, Your Grace,” Betsy answered, wiping her hands on her apron. “It will help fight the fever andease the pain. We must be careful with it, though. He is still very small and cannot have too much.”
“Is he going to be all right, then?” Elara asked.
“Yes, I can take him now, Your Grace,” Betsy said when she finished cleaning her hands. She held them out to Elara expectantly, but Elara only drew William closer to her chest, not wanting to let go of him yet.
“We will take over his care for the night,” Constantine commanded, his tone gentle but firm. “Give me the instructions for the willow bark, then you two may be dismissed. We shall ring for you if you are needed.”
