Page 21 of The Duke and the Enigmatic Governess
He put the thoughts to one side as he responded to Nurse Walters. “That’s good news. We must concentrate on keeping her strong to keep fighting this illness. I believe it’s that broth you keep feeding her which has made all the difference.”
“There’s nothing better than my broth, it’s helped you and your sisters through many an illness,” responded Nurse. “Now Miss Banks temperature has dropped I’d like to move her to the forest bedchamber. She won’t need continual nursing and I’ll sleep in the little adjoining side room. It also means that there is a chaperone when you are with her. I need your help with nursing, while we are all in quarantine, but we have to think of her reputation.”
“Very well Nurse. That makes perfect sense.” he agreed.
“We’re such a tiny group, with only me, you, and Rosie to take turns in caring for Miss Banks. It’s imperative that Sasha has consistency, so I want Mrs. Driscoll to stay away from the sickroom and take charge of the little girl,” she continued, smoothing the blankets covering her patient.
“I’ll go and get some rest and return later,” he added, knowing Miss Banks could not be in better hands than those of Nurse Walters.
***
He looked out of the window into the walled garden. He loved the town garden where the warmth of the sun reflected on the earth. When he had become Duke of Clairville, he had begun to make changes in the gardens, which had surprised their head gardener and his mother.
In the midst of grief, he had asked for a gazebo and sitting places to be constructed in all their gardens, to enable the family to spend time outdoors and enjoy the grounds.
The landscaped park at Clairville was a wonderful sight from the windows of the Hall, but for him, gardening was all about being out there, close to the trees, and flowers, feeling the warmth of the soil in his hands as the seasons changed. This was his favorite time of year, when all the signs of spring were bursting through in the garden.
He promised himself that, if Miss Banks pulled through, one day they would walk in a garden, in full blossom, to somewhere they could sit and view the world together. He fervently hoped she was able to find the path which led to freedom from illness.. and life.
Chapter 6
A pain in Audrey’s temple throbbed whenever she moved. Her body felt limp and heavy, as she struggled to wriggle her fingers or move her toes.
What’s happening? I need to get up and check on Sasha. Why can’t I move?
Her eyes flickered open and she didn’t recognize the room. She liked it, the mural of a forest on the wall opposite her bed, the tree trunks, leaves, and birds helping her imagine she was in the countryside, walking in the woods.
At times she could feel the weight of the heavy blanket pressing down on her body, paralyzing her limbs, before she welcomed the darkness and faded into unconsciousness.
Once, in what she vaguely perceived must be the depths of night, she felt a hand holding hers, urging her to return and live. She tried to reach out to touch the hand, but the pull of the dark, warm place without pain was too strong.
Audrey awoke briefly and, as she did, she met the gaze of the duke, his hand pressing hers, a comfort and lifeline in the darkness. The hand did not let go of her and she relaxed knowing she was held firmly by someone willing her to return.
As she drifted in and out of consciousness, Audrey felt the pull of the dark, warm embrace of oblivion, where she did not need to be brave and fight against illness or tyranny. However, something inside her kept pulling her back. The thought of the Duke of Clairville, urging her to stay strong, and Sasha—motherless and alone—what would become of her?
In one awful dream, her brother loomed over her, and as she turned to face him, she saw a man’s face on a dragon’s body, surrounded by an army of goblins. He spoke to her, but she could not hear his words, and he then raised his scale-covered wings, ready to breathe the fire of fever onto her body.
Recoiling in fear, she could see the duke, as he appeared out of the mist, dressed as a knight in armor, ready to do battle with the fire-breathing dragon. The goblins hissed in fury before dissolving in front of her eyes. As the dream faded, Audrey breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that for now, she was safe.
Later, she found herself standing in a meadow, with a stream of crystal-clear water, flowing into a lake.
Was this another dream? If only she could walk into the clear water to cool her body, which burned with fever.
A forest stood on the horizon, all the greens of the trees blending together.
Was it the wall of the room or was she really in a meadow?
The figure of a man emerged from the lake, water dripping from his body, rippling the surface. She ran toward him as the sun’s rays cast a shimmering path across the water, and a feeling of calm coursed through her body as he took her in his arms and enfolded her against his bare chest.
“My love, my light, you must live. Hear me. Fight this fever,” the voice of the duke urged.
Words of strength and encouragement broke into her consciousness, willing her to fight the darkness and return to him. And for the first time, she found the energy to move her hand, to raise it slightly under the crisp linen sheet.
What was real? What was a dream? If only she could find the pathway, through the forest and over the lake towards the voice calling her to return.
Audrey’s grip on reality grew stronger, even though she still drifted in and out of consciousness, struggling to prevent the fever from pulling her back into that peaceful, quiet place where there was no pain.
She heard the voice of the doctor telling Nurse Walters to keep making her drink water and keep applying a cold compress to her head.
