Page 53 of Romancing Daphne

All the fight drained from her in a moment. Her coloring disappeared but for the heat-induced flush in her cheeks. She nodded, though reluctantly.

James gently slipped her hand under her blanket.“I will be back as soon as I can,” he quietly promised.

He moved quickly, arriving on horseback at Falstone House at an hour generally considered far too late for social calls. He could only hope Daphneand the duchess had not chosen to attend any functions that night.

Considering the vast disservice he was doing her in continuing his charade, his conscience could not be eased knowing he was about to ask more of her. But what else could be done? Mother was truly ill.

The door opened. “Are the ladies of the house in?” The request emergedrushed and, even to his own ears, a touch desperate. “I have an urgent matter I need to discuss with Miss Lancaster.”

No show of surprise touched the butler’s expression. He led James quiteproperly up the stairs to the small, informal sitting room. Daphne and hersister were both seated within.

Daphne looked surprised to see him there. And well she might be. Though she’d not changed into her night clothes, her hair had been let down, pulled back by a single ribbon.

“Forgive me,” he said before he could second-guess his own audacity.“Iwould notunderless urgent circumstances presume to be here at this hour.”

Her shock changed immediately to concern.“What’s happened? You look nearly done in.”

“My mother is unwell and, for reasons that do not reflect well on myfamily, is not able to seek the help of our physician. I hoped you would bewilling to see if there is anything you might do to ease her suffering.”

“Of course.” She spoke as though there were no question of her assisting. She turned to her sister.

“Take Fanny with you,” Her Grace instructed. “And Willie, so he can bring back word if you need to remain longer than expected.”

Daphne stood, turning to the butler still standing in the sitting roomdoorway. “Please have Eliza retrieve my trunk of herbs and give it to Fanny.”

“Yes, Miss Lancaster.”

Daphne stepped out of the sitting room and walked alongside him toward the front of the house.“What are her symptoms?”

“She seems to have developed an infection of the throat.”

“Has her voice been affected?” The timidity that usually hovered overDaphne’s was not at all evident. She spoke with authority and decisiveness.

“It has,” James answered.“And she is feverish as well.”

They reached the front entryway. Word had apparently already spread amongst the staff. A footman stood at the front door with his outercoat already on. Willie, no doubt.

“Is she sweating at all?” Daphne asked.

“Not that I noticed.” His confidence in Daphne only grew as they climbed into the Kielder carriage, Fanny along for propriety. Daphne knew just what to ask and did so with an undeniable expertise. His worries eased simply having her there.

She did not hover at Mother’s door when they reached it but walked inside and spoke to the abigail directly.“I understand your mistress is ill.”

The abigail’s chin quivered a bit. She needed to keep herself in one piece, but James feared she wouldn’t manage it.

Daphne crossed to the distraught woman and placed a gentle handon her shoulder.“If you will tell me all you have seen and observed of this sickness, I promise to do all I can to help her. I give you my solemn word.”

The abigail rallied a bit.“She has lost most of her voice and finds evendrinking water nearly too painful to endure.”

Daphne nodded as she listened. She drew the abigail to Mother’s bedside once more.“How long has she had this fever?”

“She was a touch warm when she woke this morning.”

James didn’t like how that admission drew Daphne’s mouth into a solemn line. He stood but a few paces away, watching anxiously.

“The fever has not broken at all the entire day?” Daphne asked.

The abigail shook her head.

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