Page 11 of A Maid's Fateful Courtship
The Marquess of Sarandale was a kind gentleman. All who worked on his estate respected him as a fair employer. For Josephine, it was a little different. What’s more, his oldest son, Ethan, was as kind as his father, and she hated that this was happening to him.
Quickly, she set about stretching out his arms and legs to make him more comfortable. She pulled up a sheet to cover him, but as he was hot and feverish, she turned the top blankets down to the bottom of the bed.
As she had ordered earlier, in all the ruckus, a bowl of cold water and a clean cloth had been delivered to the door. Josephine set about soaking the rag so she could calm the redness on Lord Ethan’s arm.
In the room stood Lord Ethan’s father and his brother Cedric. They all watched over Josephine’s efforts at nursing Ethan. She hardly even registered their presence as she cared for him. Voices below suggested the doctor had arrived.
“That must be the doctor, Father,” Cedric said. “I will go and lead him this way.”
Within moments, Cedric had returned with an old man following him.
“It is lucky I was close by,” the doctor said to the marquess.
“Indeed, Charles, and I will be ever grateful if you can cure my son, sir,” Lord Ellsworth said in a soft voice. “Josephine is thinking that it is a sting that he endured earlier in the afternoon.”
“Looking at that arm she is soothing, I would say Josephine is right." The old man nodded. “It would be good to clear the room, except for Josephine, I may need her help.”
With those words, the marquess and Cedric left the room.
“I have been trying to bring down his fever, Doctor Charles, with cool water,” Josephine told him as she continued to dab Ethan's forehead.
“And rightly so. You keep that up whilst I check out the swelling,” the doctor instructed her as he picked up Ethan’s arm to make a thorough inspection. “We will have him up and about again in no time.”
Chapter 9
“Now then, young Ethan, what mischief are you up to the minute you get back home?” Charles said with humour as Ethan was starting to come around. The doctor placed his palm on Ethan’s forehead.
“Doctor Charlie, is that you?” Ethan asked, puzzled why his childhood doctor was in his bedchamber. “What has happened?”
“What has happened, my boy, is that you have got yourself a fever,” Charles told him.
Ethan smiled upon realising that he had referred to the doctor with the childhood name they had all used. Doctor Charles had seen each one of them through many scrapes and illnesses when they were younger. He was a great friend to many families in the area, both rich and poor.
“Well, Josephine,” the doctor said as he stood up and turned his attention to her. “You must stay by his side until this fever breaks, using that magic touch of yours.”
Ethan saw her nod in response to the doctor, recalling how she had helped to nurse each of the brothers through childhood illnesses too, even though she’d been only a child herself. Her nursing had also included Cedric, which had often surprised him.
She had refused to leave his side when he would been taken ill; that was, until he showed her his irritable face to her once again. The memory gave him a warmth and he was glad to have her nearby.
“Yes, yes, Josephine,” the marquess agreed. “Let Doreen know that your duties will be with Ethan until he is well again.”
Josephine dropped a slight curtsy at the marquess’ orders. It would be hard on Doreen, but she would agree as she was fond of the boys too.
“Lord Ethan will need close monitoring until this fever breaks,” Charles said, directing his instructions at Josephine. “Rub this on his arm until the swelling goes down,” he instructed, passing her a bottle of liquid. “It does not smell very pleasant as it is ammonia-based, but it should kill the poison from the sting.”
With that, he closed his doctor’s bag and turned to leave the bedroom chamber. “I do not need to tell you how to nurse him. I know you can be trusted with that role,” he added with a smile as he turned back to speak to her.
Ethan watched through half closed eyes as his father followed his longtime friend through the door. “Will you take a brandy with me, Charles?” he heard him ask, no doubt wishing to thank Charles for his speedy help.
“Indeed, I will, Marcus. I was on my way home after a difficult delivery of a babe when your man found me. A large brandy will wet the tongue, and you can tell me how pleased you are to have your boys’ home.”
As they passed through the open bedroom doorway, Ethan heard their voices fade as they walked down the stairway. Josephine smiled over at him as she closed the door. Ethan felt good, knowing that he had at least a couple of days in the close company of his very special friend, Josephine.
* * *
The first night had been the worst as she had fought to ease Ethan’s fever. He had been delirious at times, calling out her name and yet not knowing she was right by his side. Whilst she dabbed a cool, damp cloth on his chest and forehead, she could not help but feel pleased to see his face once again.
After the doctor left the room, she had instructed Ethan’s newly appointed personal valet, Russel, to dress him into his nightclothes. To calm his burning temperature with a chilled cloth, she had needed to undo his nightshirt at the chest.
