Page 82 of The Duke's Cursed Bride
“I’ve no idea.” Henrietta had been warmer to Madeleine since the last ball, and Madeleine could tell that the Dowager Duchess was pleased with how she had handled herself. That had made her feel good at first, but today it felt like nothing could make her feel any better.
She accepted the package and tore it open. Inside was a small pouch and a folded note.
“Who is it from?” Thomas asked her.
Madeleine unfolded the note and read—
To my beloved niece—
“It’s from Uncle Joseph,” she said, surprised. She turned the note over and looked at the back, though she wasn’t sure what she expected to see there. “This isn’t his handwriting.”
“What does it say?” Thomas prompted.
Madeleine returned to the note and read it to herself.
To my beloved niece—
I’ve asked the butler to copy this down for me. As you know, my eyesight isn’t what it once was, and writing notes in the evening has become a bit of a trial. I do miss having you at the estate. The place seems so empty and quiet without you. But I’m sure you are very happy with your new husband, and you must remember how fortunate you are to have been able to marry him.
But I write to you out of concern for your well-being. I know very well that you’ve suffered from nightmares in the past, and I hate to think of you in a new place dealing with that all by yourself.
I visited an apothecary and procured the herbs I’ve enclosed. Drink them with your afternoon tea, and they should help to alleviate your nightmares.
I look forward to hearing that the herbs have been successful in helping you with your nightmares.
With love,
Your Uncle Joseph.
Madeleine held the note out to Thomas without a word. She could hardly believe something so perfect had arrived at such an opportune time—just when she had been struggling with the weight of her nightmares.
What if these herbs really could make them go away?
Thomas read the note, then handed it back to her. “We can try them at once,” he suggested. “With tea today.”
Madeleine smiled. She was beginning to feel some hope already.
* * *
She took her afternoon tea in the sitting room with Rachel for company. Sally was curled up at her feet.
“So you just add the herbs to the tea?” Rachel asked, watching with great interest on her face.
“I think so.” Madeleine put them in her cup and stirred.
“I wonder how they’re going to taste?”
“I just hope they don’t ruin the taste of the tea.” Madeleine lifted the cup to her lips, paused, and took a slow sip.
The herbs were nice, actually. They gave the tea a pleasant aftertaste, and Madeleine thought she wouldn’t have minded having tea like this every time. She took a longer sip. She could feel them against her tongue as she swallowed, rough and textured, and that was a little odd, but it was nothing she couldn’t manage.
“I’d like to try some,” Rachel said.
Madeleine smiled. “You can have some.”
“I don’t want to take them from you, though. You need them more than I do.”
“I’m sure there is more where this came from. I’ll have to write to my uncle, if it works for me, and ask him to tell me what these herbs are so I can get some of my own. But in the meantime, I see no harm in you trying some.”
