Page 40 of Surrender to the Earl
“Come lie down on my bed. Later, we can have Francis help you to your room.”
“The cot in your dressing room would be?—”
“My bed.”
She was shocked how slowly Molly moved, and she seemed to collapse when they’d reached the bed. Audrey felt a twist of fear deep inside. She was always afraid of fever and didn’t want her friend to suffer as she had, those hot, achy days that had blended into one long nightmare she still remembered though eighteen years had passed.
“You had letters you wanted me to write,” Molly said, as Audrey tucked blankets around her. “I could do it from here.”
She tsked as she shook her head. “That’s not important right now. You need to conserve your strength.”
“Then let me rest, and you go be with your lord.”
Audrey grimaced at that, remembering that she’d been off flirting while Molly was feeling ill. She brought her a pitcher of water and poured her a cup to drink.
“Have youseenhim, miss?” Molly finally asked.
“Seen him?” Audrey echoed, already making plans to talk to Mrs. Sanford about sending for a doctor. Was Molly hallucinating?
“Like you did with me. Surely he wouldn’t mind if you touched his face.”
Audrey felt the swiftness of memory, his cheek touching hers. “I—I couldn’t impose like that.”
“You’ll be touching more than his face,” Molly said, giving a weak chuckle.
“You’re a romantic,” Audrey said, trying to keep her voice light. “Now lie here and sleep while I send for the doctor.”
“Surely that’s too much trouble. Just let me sleep.”
And then she did, just drifted right off, which frightened Audrey even more. Molly was one of those women who didn’t need a lot of sleep, went to bed after Audrey and was up before dawn. She touched Molly’s burning face again.
“Stay strong, my dear,” she whispered.
She hurried downstairs as quickly as she could, holding tightly to the banister.
“What’s wrong?”
She almost stumbled on the last step at Robert’s question. He caught her arm to steady her.
“Molly has a fever, and she’s never sick. I must talk to Mrs. Sanford about the local doctor. Robert—maybe you should go before you succumb, too.”
“It’s a fever, Audrey,” he said in a soothing voice. “I’ve been exposed to far worse in the East. I’ll stay and help.”
Molly rang for Mrs. Sanford. The housekeeper sent her son off to the village for Dr. Ascham, who ended up being a young man working with his father. All he recommended was that they bathe her with cold water when the fever was at its worst, and offered small draughts of opium if she experienced any pain. Audrey was frustrated that he could do no more.
To her surprise, Mrs. Sanford insisted Audrey eat the luncheon she’d skipped, and that she’d stay with Molly. The maid was sleeping, so that was the only reason Audrey agreed.
Robert greeted her again as she descended to the entrance hall. “How is Molly? The doctor only said there was little he could do to help her improve.”
Audrey had put the earl to the back of her mind, but his concern made her feel better—and then teary-eyed. She cleared her throat and willed herself not to cry. “We just have to wait out the fever. Molly insists she’ll be fine. But as you can imagine, I don’t like the thought of anyone having a fever.”
“Of course not,” he murmured, taking her hand in his.
She allowed the comfort for a moment, then said, “Have you eaten?”
“I decided to wait for you.”
“Then come, we’ll tell Francis we’re ready to be served.”
