Casting aside the book, Silas stared at the canopy and listened to the ticking of the clock. He needed to be up and about, and he was stuck in this wretched bed!
The minutes stretched on, and every footstep in the hall had him wondering if Miss Delmonte had returned, which did nothing to help his mental equilibrium. But then, a distant sound had him straightening. Silas strained his ears, trying to sort out the hubbub downstairs, but there was nothing distinct to give it away. Until he heard tiny footsteps on the stairs moments before his bedchamber door swung open.
“Papa!” Griffith flew across the room, leaping onto Silas’s bed.
“Careful, now,” said Miss Delmonte as Leah followed after her brother, but neither paid her any heed while they climbed all over their father. Felix sat on the other side of the bed, smiling as his brother and sister grappled with their papa.
Silas winced at a few misplaced elbows and knees but ignored the jabs, gathering the two of them close. He waved away Miss Delmonte’s concerns and gave all the appropriate exclamations of surprise and excitement as they told him all he’d missed. But even as he nodded and smiled at their stories, Silas looked to the doorway where Helen stood, watching him with wary eyes.
Griffith sat back on his knees, throwing his arms wide. “And the soup flew everywhere!”
Silas nodded, but Leah grabbed him by the chin, forcing his gaze to her as she added with wide eyes, “Everywhere!”
“Your aunt must’ve been quite shocked,” he said, his gaze drifting back to Helen.
The two continued to speak over one another, and Helen inched closer, her arms drawn tight around her middle, her gaze not straying from him as she studied his face. The young girl stopped at his bedside, standing there with that hunched posture, watching him as though she expected him to vanish.
“Are you feeling better?” she asked.
Silas had to hush the others before he could hear the question, but when Helen repeated herself, he nodded. “Much.”
Helen nodded, her eyelashes fluttering. “You were very sick.”
“Not anymore,” he said with a smile.
Chin trembling, Helen blinked. She gritted her teeth, her eyes glistening as she stared at him. Her breath hitched, and her expression crumpled before she threw herself at him. Silas snatched her up, and her arms came around him, and she burrowed into his hold as she shook with sobs. Miss Delmonte ushered Leah and Griffith aside, giving Helen room to snuggle into his lap as she cried.
“I was so frightened.” Her words broke between jagging breaths, coming out in pieces. “I thought you might die, and then I wouldn’t have a papa.”
Silas rocked her, holding her tight as he crooned so many little comforting things. He didn’t even know what he was saying, other than giving her every assurance that he was healed and all was well. Tears gathered in his own eyes as he listened to her cries, and though it broke his heart to hear her pain, he felt as though he could run to London and back: Helen loved him.
Lifting her to face him, Silas brushed away her tears. “I love you so much, my darling.”
“I love you, too, Papa,” she managed before breaking into more tears, and Silas gathered her close once more and motioned for Leah and Griffith to join them. The two snuggled nearer, wrapping their arms around their father and sister until they were all tangled together. Felix remained at a distance, but Silas grabbed him by the arm and dragged him into the mess. Silas pressed a kiss to Helen’s head and then to the others’, his heart swelling as he sent out a silent prayer, thanking his wife for giving life to these precious children.
Movement drew his attention, and Silas met Miss Delmonte’s gaze. Her eyes shone with tears as she watched them, a smile stretching across her face as she nodded at Helen. Silas nodded back and mouthed a thanks to her, though there was so much more he wanted to say than could be encapsulated in those little words.
Silas was no fool. Whatever unity and love his family had found was due to Miss Delmonte’s efforts and guidance, and he was going to do everything in his power to ensure she joined their ranks permanently.
Chapter 39
Decisions were well and good, but they were far easier to make in the abstract, and without continued determination, they languish away into nothing. And Judith’s resolve was lacking at present. Staring at the missives before her, she found it increasingly difficult to choose between the mistresses who’d inquired about her services.
There was always an element of fear attached to finding a new position; it was nearly impossible to know much about an employer from a single letter, but Judith hadn’t balked at making such a decision in the past. Now, no one in the stack seemed the proper choice. Having read through many such missives before, Judith had come to learn the signs of trouble, but her insides were in such a flutter, she couldn’t say if her instincts were warning her away from the mistresses or begging her to stay in Titchley.
Judith needed a new position. That much was clear, but after having such a solicitous and understanding employer, the cold and imperious mistresses in her letters seemed poor alternatives. Sifting through the sheets, she dismissed the outright terrible, but she was left with far too many. Judith tucked them into the desk drawer and rose to her feet, brushing off her skirts. Some time to clear her thoughts would likely help.
Making her way out of the servants’ quarters, Judith passed the empty nursery; Nurse Johnson had the three little ones out on a drive, and Master Felix was aiding Mr. Hatcher today, so she was not needed with the children. She continued down the stairs and paused. Turning in place, she glanced down the hallway that led to Mr. Byrnes’s bedchamber.
The maids were seeing to his needs, and Mr. Byrnes did not require her ministrations any longer, so she had no valid reason to poke her head in. But Judith had grown used to seeing him every day, and it felt unnatural for her to pass a day without spending some time with him. She knew she was being a fool, but that didn’t stop her from peeking into the bedchamber.
But his bed was empty.
Judith stepped farther in and stared at the freshly tucked bedclothes, which held no sign that Mr. Byrnes had been trapped there for the past fortnight. He was improving steadily, but Judith had expected him to remain abed for another day or two. No doubt, the stubborn fool had decided to leave the sickroom prematurely, and she pointed her feet towards his study. If he had collapsed at his desk, she would leave him there. Then he might learn his lesson.
But that room was empty as well. Judith stared at his vacant armchair.
Turning in place, she hurried back into the hall and found Mrs. Barton bustling along with an armful of linens.
