Page 31 of Never Love a Lord
Sybilla turned to Julian. “Excuse me, Lord Griffin.”
Julian bowed along with the rest of the staff while Sybilla Foxe swept from the room. He wanted to follow her.
Instead he turned back to the glowering mass of red, sweat-dampened faces regarding him with obvious hostility.
“All right, then, let’s get on with it.”
Sybilla hesitated at the bottom of the long, spiral staircase. She looked down at her gown; she was a wrinkled, dusty mess. Her head pounded, her muscles ached. The supper meal had passed more than an hour ago, and she had only just now come from seeing that the last of the eight servants showing signs of sickness had been ferreted out and were well tucked away from the castle and cared for.
Sybilla longed for Cecily, who, up until a few weeks ago, had been Fallstowe’s resident angel and healer, and Sybilla made a mental note to draft a letter right away, seeking the middle Foxe sister’s advice.
She was in no way presentable enough to address Julian Griffin, but she felt it her responsibility to inform him of the goings-on of the day, considering that he had foolishly brought his infant with him. And she didn’t care one whit what he thought of her appearance, any matter.
She stood at the bottom of the stairs a moment longer, and then turned on her heel and knocked upon the narrow door of the guest chamber at the bottom of the stairs instead.
Informing the nurse would suffice.
The door opened straightaway, and Murrin’s pale face appeared in the seam of the door and jamb. The young woman’s eyes widened a bit before she gave a quick curtsy.
“Lady Foxe, good evening,” she said, surprise making her quiet words bright. “Is there something you require of me?”
“Yes,” Sybilla said, wondering for an instant at the silence of the room and the absence of the babe from the nurse’s arms. The child must be already abed. “Please inform Lord Griffin that sickness has indeed been found at Fallstowe. The maid who was taking care of your rooms has been touched. She has been removed, however, and a healthy girl will take her place in the morn.”
“Oh, mercy,” Murrin gasped, looking up and over her shoulder as the door opened wider. “Did you hear, milord?”
Julian Griffin’s imposing physique soon filled the doorway, the yellow candlelight from the room spilling out around him and the lumpy bundle he held high on his chest. Julian frowned down at Sybilla, one large hand easily supporting Lucy’s backside, the other resting on the door. His topaz eyes swept her from head to toe. Murrin disappeared behind him into the chamber.
Inside, Sybilla grimaced. So much for avoiding him.
“I heard,” he said in a low voice. Then his eyes met Sybilla’s. “Did it keep you engaged all the day, Lady Foxe?”
Sybilla nodded. “We can only hope for the best now.”
“How many?” Julian pressed.
“Eight.” She fought the urge to fidget.
“I’d see one or two of them tomorrow, with your permission, of course, to ascertain if the symptoms match what I saw in London.”
“Of course. Do as you will.” Sybilla paused. “Goodnight, Lord Griffin.” She turned to go.
“Wait,” he called out, louder than he should have, apparently, for the bundle on his shoulder began to squirm as Sybilla turned quickly back to him. He held up a finger toward her, patting the child’s rounded back and making shushing noises.
He turned back to the room and Sybilla could see him carefully hand the baby to the nurse. He murmured something and then turned back to the doorway. As he stepped into the corridor and pulled the door shut behind him, Sybilla saw Murrin’s perplexed expression.
“Sorry to keep you,” he said in a slightly louder voice. “I’m sure you must be fatigued. But I have something for you.”
Sybilla felt her eyebrows rise. “Something for me?”
Julian nodded and gestured toward the stairs. “Would it trouble you very much to come up? It’s in my portfolio.” When Sybilla hesitated, Julian spoke again. “You’re tired, I understand. I’ll bring it to you in the morn.”
“No,” Sybilla heard a voice say, and then in surprise realized that it was her own mouth forming the words. “I’m fine. Lead the way, Lord Griffin.”
Julian smiled as he held his hand toward her, and Sybilla placed her fingertips in his palm. He led her lightly to the stairs.
“After you, my lady.”
Chapter 12
