Page 25 of The Marquess's Scandalous Game
Even though itwas a few days ago that Leopold drove her to distraction, Emma remembered it like yesterday. Her heart raced when she remembered that he invaded her mouth, his tongue hot and heady. The kiss was even more heated than the few stolen ones they had before. She touched her nipples, recalling how sore they had been the following morning. She craved the feeling of him being inside her. She had beenconsumed by a fire that surprised her, for she had not expected the depth of it. He devastated her senses with his hands, that touch. She wished that he were home and she could plead with him to take her once more. Her nipples hardened thinking of his tongue.
She felt warm, and there was wetness at her core. She could feel it, and it made her ache even more. She never knew the core of her could give such pleasure, but, now that she knew, she wanted to take full advantage of the well-kept secret. There was no one to tell her how beautiful and thrilling lovemaking could be. She would be quite happy to succumb to the depths of her desire, and she hoped that she could whenever she wished, certainly as soon as Leopold returned. She could hardly wait.
She had languished in bed quite enough for the sun told her she was wiling the best of the morning away. She called for her lady’s maid, washed, dressed, and had breakfast. She decided to go for a walk in the garden to have a few minutes alone before she dealt with the children. It was not just the lovemaking. Emma missed Leo terribly. Even though her siblings remained at Adlington to keep her company, when she lay awake in her bed at night, her body ached for him. It had been three days since he left, and she hoped he would not be away for much longer. She was strolling in the garden when she heard quick steps traveling down the pathway. She wondered who was running when Cora appeared in sight. Emma’s heart thudded in her chest, and she hoped none of the children were hurt.
“There you are, Emma!” Cora exclaimed.
“Whatever is the matter, Cora?”
“Cook’s daughter, Ada, is ill. The poor thing and Cook is beside herself with worry. I told her you were a healer, Emma. Please come quickly.”
The urgency in Cora’s voice galvanized Emma, and she briskly walked down the path towards the kitchen. Cook’s namewas Mildred, the master cook at Adlington Hall. She had been at Adlington for a few years, and apparently, the staff called her Cook rather than Mildred. The name had stuck. Her siblings freely roamed Adlington and invariably found themselves in the kitchen where they met Cook and, of course, left with sweet treats. From then onward, they visited the kitchen regularly.
Emma opened the main door and hurried to the kitchen. She could not keep up with Cora, who was skipping ahead of her. Emma descended to the kitchen to find Cook sitting at the table with a note in her hand.
Cook stood. “My lady.”
“What is the matter, Cook?”
“It is Ada, my lady. They say she has a fever. She switches between cold and hot and sweating, my lady. She has been abed for a day.”
“Well, we will go to the village and see her. Tell Otto to ready the carriage. I will get my bag.”
Emma hurried to her bedchamber. She had a sizable satchel with the most common herbs and medicines she used for healing. Most of these medicines she sourced through apothecaries, who made and dispensed them. Although she was not convinced that the remedies were effective, Emma handled her satchel with care because it was valuable to her. Occasionally she made her own remedies and believed she gained better results. Her repertoire included wine, opium in alcohol, and Laudanum … traditional herbal remedies to ease symptoms such as coughs, muscle cramps, nausea, or to promote sleep. Medicines could be helpful, but she found simple remedies, including cleanliness, proper nutrition, and rest were often quite effective.
Emma found her bag and met Cook in the carriage in the courtyard. She instructed Cora to look after the children, and she would soon return. As the equipage rolled away, Cook placed herhands in her lap and wrung them. Her anxiety was evident, and Emma understood her distress.
“How old is Ada?” Emma tried to distract Cook.
“She is nine years old, my lady, and a lively one. She is ever so active and playful that she tires me out.” Talking about Ada caused Cook to lift her lips in a small smile. “Even since she was a babe, she has always been busy with something, and she is clever too.”
“She sounds adorable,” Emma said as she flashed Cook an encouraging smile. “I suppose she is getting to that age when she is fiercely independent.”
Cook beamed. “Yes, my lady. She says she does not need my help with tasks from time to time.”
Cook had stopped wringing her hands. The carriage slowed, and Emma looked out the window to see they had arrived at a small house on the outskirts of the village. She had not had the opportunity to see the village. Leo had planned to take her there before he was called away on business, and there was just not enough time. They disembarked and Cook led the way into the small but clean house.
“This is Alice, who cares for Ada while I am away, my lady,” Cook said.
The older lady greeted them and ushered them into a bedroom, where they found the child, who appeared to be asleep. The room smelled of sickness. Emma walked over to the bed and felt the child’s forehead, which was beaded with perspiration and heat.
Emma turned to Alice. “Does anyone else here have a fever?”
“No, my lady,” Alice replied.
Emma bent over to examine the child. “What else ails her?”
“She complains of tiredness and pain in her head and body.”
“Does she get the shaking chills?” Emma asked.
Alice gasped, “Yes, she does, my lady.”
“I believe this is ague, Alice, so there is no need for purging or bloodletting.” These practices were intended to cure, but Emma saw them used when her mother fell ill, and they produced little results. Supposedly, humors were removed from the body through bloodletting, which many believed reduced inflammation, removed contamination, and restored balance to the system. Although her mother did not favor the practice, she succumbed to the intervention in her latter days.
“Bloodletting will take away the nutrients from Ada’s body. We need her to get well, so she will need those nutrients,” Emma explained. “First, we will wash her, change her sheets, and feed her. Only then will I give her some medicine.”
Cook directed, “Alice, please make some broth, and I will fetch water and clean sheets.”
