“Oh. Yes, of course.” Rebecca’s arm wrapped Serena’s shoulders as the innkeeper’s wife led them up the stairs. Sebastian stayed close behind in the event Rebecca lost hold of her very ill servant.
Once they cleared the sight of the public rooms, Sebastian swept the girl up the next flight and a half of stairs. The chamber was as large as Sebastian recalled with a smaller room specifically designed for a lady’s companion. He glanced at the large bed dominating the space, barely hiding his wince.
“Place her on the bed in the smaller chamber,” Rebecca said softly. “There’s a chair. I’ll stay there with her.”
With the innkeeper watching their every move, he had no choice but to do as Rebecca bid.
“Please bring us fresh water, tea, broth, and…” She looked about helplessly.
Sebastian stepped in. “Just hurry. That will be all, thank you. We’ll require a hot tub as well for”—he waved out his hand—“for, er, Her Grace.”
“Yes, Your Grace. I’ll git right on it, I will.” The innkeeper’s wife dipped a shallow curtsey and hurried from the chamber.
“I need to make Serena more comfortable. If you’ll close the door on your way out, sir.” Rebecca turned to her patient and spoke softly. “Come, Serena. These wet clothes must go.”
Sebastian shut the door to give them privacy. Rebecca’s dress was likely ruined. Her quick actions had amazed him. She would be lucky not to come down with something herself, the fool girl. But he could hardly be angry with her. Especially after witnessing her lack of hysterics when her maid cast up her accounts all over Rebecca’s skirts. He didn’t know many women who could handle the situation with such aplomb.
There was a knock at the door. Sebastian opened it to Barrett delivering their baggage, thankfully. “Thank you, Barrett. The rig is taken care of, I take it?”
“Yes, Your Grace. How is Miss Serena?”
“She’s quite ill. We might be here for a day or two.”
Rebecca’s head peered around the door. “Has the baggage arrived—oh, good. Sebastian, please dig about for a night rail, makes no difference to me whose it is.” The door latched soundly.
For a minute, Sebastian stood like a statue at hearing his name from her lips.
Barrett cleared his throat, jarring Sebastian into action, and willing back the red crawling up his neck. He couldn’t very well ask Barrett to go through his mistress’s personals; he was stuck. He went over to the bags, intending to reach for the smaller one. His hand took on a mind of its own and he gripped the handle of the larger one. Most women traveled with a trunk. Why hadn’t she?
“I have a tray for ye, Your Grace.”
Sebastian glanced up and saw Barrett standing aside for the innkeeper’s wife holding a tray.
“Thank you.” He waved a hand for her to enter.
She entered, taking the tray to a table near the window.
The bath followed soon after with a horde of servants carrying the tub and pails of steaming water.
He located a soft linen night rail and another dress of brilliant yellow-orange that looked like something Lady Rebecca would wear and pulled that out as well, then straightened. “Perhaps you have a woman who can act as a lady’s maid? My… er, wife, will need assistance.” Grimacing, he then said, “Her dress will need to be disposed of.” He refused to let her keep it.
The innkeeper’s wife nodded, then dipping another curtsey and disappeared once more.
Sebastian moved across the room to the smaller chamber and knocked.
The door opened quickly, and Rebecca grabbed the clothing, but Sebastian held fast on his end. He almost smiled at the glare she shot him. “The tea and broth are here. I’ve ordered you a bath as well.”
“Yes, yes. Thank you.” She started to back away. “Also, they are sending up a woman to assist you with your toilette. That gown you are wearing will be disposed of.”
“Of all the—” But she’d caught sight of Barrett and stopped. “Very well. I’ll be out as soon as I get Serena settled. If you wouldn’tmind, Your Grace, please fix a heavily sugared cup of tea. Leave off the milk. That would not do well for her unsettled stomach.”
He let go of her clothes. “Very well. Should Barrett remain to assist you with feeding Serena?”
“No.” She spoke with a touch of exasperation. “He needs food and rest too. He’s the one who had to drive in all that muck.” The door shut in his face. Then opened again. “Through no choice of his own.” Then, shut again.
One couldn’t very well accuse the lady of mistreating her servants. He filed the notion away to examine at a later date.
~~~
