Page 54 of Romancing Daphne

“Has she slept?”

“Only fitfully.”

Daphne turned her full attention to Mother.“I wish to help if I can,” she said,“but first I must know as much as possible about your illness. May I have permission to very gently feel your neck? I promise to be as light in my touch as I can be.”

Mother opened her mouth to say something, but no sound emerged.Had she lost her voice entirely? James stepped closer, wishing he knewhow to ease her pain.

Daphne waited patiently for an answer to her question.

“She can help, Mother,” he said.

Mother at last nodded.

Daphne sat on the side of the bed and pressed her fingertips with utmost care along Mother’s neck. James knew not what she hoped to feel or find but prayed she could do something. For a long moment, she moved her fingersabout, feeling and watching Mother. She pressed the back of one hand to Mother’s forehead, then her cheek.

“I am certain you find swallowing very painful.”Daphne’s voice alonewas soothing, calming.“I do know of a very useful tonic for a painful throat,but you will have to swallow it. Can you do that?”

Mother nodded.

“Then I will see to it immediately.” Daphne rose and nearly bumped into him, so close had he come to stand by her.

He might have apologized for getting in her way, but the concern he saw in her face silenced him.

“Will you walk with me a moment?” she whispered urgently.

He followed her to the far side of the room where Mother’s writing desk sat.

“I will write out the recipe,” Daphne said, keeping her voice low.“But,James, she needs a physician. Her throat is terribly swollen. Fever hasclouded her eyes. She ought to be seen by a professional.”

He paced away, then back again.“Father will not allow one to be sentfor. He’s given instructions to the staff not to, and I know they will notdefy him on my account.”

“Might your brother be sent?”

“Ben could go, but Father would likely refuse to pay the physician for his services.”

Daphne’s brow knit in thought. She’d wasted not a single breath, not a single moment in outrage at Father’s edict nor expressing horror at thecoldness of which his sire was capable. James was inexplicably grateful. Any other lady of his acquaintance would have washed her hands of his problems.

“If we both put our minds to it,” she said,“I am certain we can think of something. We cannot simply allow her to be neglected when she is so ill.”

She wrote in clear, concise lettering a recipe for her healing tisane.James checked on his mother once more. Her eyes were heavy with illness.Something had to be done. Father had to be dealt with.

A moment later, Daphne handed the recipe to Mother’s abigail withstrict instructions that were any of the herbs in the recipe not on hand, she was to be told at once so a suitable substitute could be found. The lady’smaid rushed off, obviously anxious to help her mistress.

“Try not to worry, James.” Daphne laid a hand on his arm.“I do not believe your mother is in imminent danger. We have time to think of a means of getting a physician here.”

“I can only imagine what you must think of my family.” He’d seldom felt more ashamed.

“Every family has its difficulties.”

He pressed his hand to hers where it yet lay on his arm.“Thank you for all you’ve done.”

That dimple of hers reappeared.“I am happy to be of help.”

“Might I ask another favor of you, then? Will you stay here with my mother until her abigail returns?”

“I mean to stay until she is well again.”

James took her hand in his and pressed a grateful kiss to her fingers. He’d come to her with a crisis, and she’d responded with a cool head and a giving heart.

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