Page 10 of A Maid's Fateful Courtship
There was no sign of him anywhere, which was highly unusual. In his absence, she approached the stewards and ordered them out of the room, too. Half-expecting them to ignore her demands, it pleased her when they all complied with her instructions.
“I… I am trying not to get in the way, but it hurts me to see my brother in this way,” Lady Cynthia sobbed. Josephine poured her a glass of water. “He is the strongest of us all. What can possibly have brought him to the floor in such a weakened state?”
“Here’s some water to wet your lips, my lady," Josephine offered. "Please, take a sip and it will help to soothe the dryness in your throat.”
As Lady Cynthia accepted the glass, Josephine turned back around to approach Ethan's father, Lord Ellsworth. She spotted Lettie at the open doorway and waved her in.
“Will you find Lady Cynthia’s personal maid?" she asked of Lettie. "I cannot remember her name... the new one.”
“It is Rosy, but she is away visiting her mother today,” Lettie informed her.
“Then go and sit with Lady Cynthia, will you? Try to encourage her to leave the room to her bedchamber, or at the very least the parlour.”
Lettie automatically curtsied at Josephine’s instructions and dashed over to the lady. Josephine turned to speak with the marquess.
“Well done, Josephine," Lord Ellsworth said to her as she neared the group. "For making sure everyone was out of the way.”
“It is my duty, my lord," she said to the marquess. "But I must inform you that I do not think it is the travel that ails Lord Ethan, m’lord.”
“He should not have got out of the carriage to go running through fields with you, Josephine,” Cedric barked over as he looked up at her. “You should have discouraged his idiotic behaviour. You knew full well that he was at the end of a long journey.”
The marquess ignored his son’s remarks, asking, “What do think it is then, Josephine? Tell me, if you will. You know I value your opinions.”
“Lord Ethan was stung this afternoon whilst he walked through the fields,” she said, though she wished she did not have to admit that he was walking with her.
“Good Lord!” Aunt Geraldine called out as she watched on. “He does not take kindly to bee stings. Was it a bee, Josephine?”
“I am not sure, my lady, but it started to swell. The Missus dealt with it by putting a rag soaked in white vinegar on the wound. I had assumed it had healed him.”
“I suggest you send for Doreen,” Lord Marcus said.
“She is off duty this evening, m’lord,” Josephine said, knowing she would be in bed early with all her aches and pains. “May I take a look at the wound, Lord?” she asked, looking down at Ethan, whom she now noticed was unconscious.
“Please, do all that you can,” the marquess said.
Josephine knelt and asked Cedric if he could take off Ethan’s jacket so she could look at his arm. As he did so, it was soon obvious how swollen and red the skin was.
“Is my son poisoned?” Lady Ellsworth asked, looking dismayed.
Before Josephine could answer, Ronald entered the room, panting as if he had been rushing.
“I have sent for the physician, my lord,” the butter informed the marquess. “May I arrange to have Lord Ethan carried to his bedchamber?”
“Yes… yes. That would be better for him,” Lord Ellsworth agreed. “Bring forward your strongest stewards, I do not want him getting further injured as we move him.”
“I have brought one of the stable hands with me, Lord," the butler said, waving a giant of a man forward. "I collected Theo on my way back, he is the strongest man for the job."
Josephine and Cedric both stood up, moving out of the way as Theo leaned over Ethan. With huge, muscular arms, he scooped the lord up effortlessly from the floor, as if Ethan were but a child.
“Out of the way, everyone,” Ronald called out to the household staff who were lingering outside the dining room.
The marquess followed Theo. Josephine led Lady Ellsworth into the parlour to join her daughter, Lady Cynthia.
“Josephine," Lord Ellsworth called out and she dashed back into the large hallway, "I want you to follow us.”
Deep inside, she was relieved as she yearned to be by Ethan’s side whilst he was so vulnerable. As Theo laid him down on his bed, Ethan did not stir. The stable hand turned to leave the room, but Lord Ellsworth stopped him to thank him.
“It will make all the difference laying on his bed rather than the hard floor,” Lord Ellsworth told him. Josephine could see that Theo appreciated the personal thanks.
