Page 104 of The Duke's Unclaimed Bride
“But… I want…” Tilly paused, taking a deep breath. “I want to keep playing.”
Christian kneeled and felt Tilly’s forehead. His jaw clenched, and he looked pointedly at Ava, who immediately understood his silent message.
“I’ll send for a physician,” she said, standing up. “We can have him here shortly.”
“I don’t need a…” Tilly took another breath. “I don’t need a physician.”
“Tilly, you are much too hot,” Edith said, her heart hammering in her chest.
“Come, let us get her up to her chambers,” Christian said, helping Edith to pick Tilly up.
She continued to murmur and protest weakly all the way up the stairs. Even when Edith laid her down on her bed, she tried to roll out of it.
“Nooo,” Tilly whined.
“Tilly,” Edith said firmly. “Please. Stay in your bed.”
“I don’t…” Tilly’s eyes closed and opened slowly.
“Tilly, you will listen to me right now,” Edith insisted. “If you are truly all right, then the physician’s visit will be quite short. I need you to rest until then. Understood?”
“All right,” Tilly finally relented.
She closed her eyes, and Edith could hear her slightly labored breathing.
“I’ll call for a cold compress,” Christian offered, standing and leaving the room briefly to alert a staff member, then returned to the room.
Edith sat, stroking Tilly’s hair, trying to soothe the poor girl.
The doctor arrived soon after and examined Tilly with quiet care. After a moment, he pulled back.
“The girl has a fever. It sounds like it was brought on by exhaustion and possibly from a chill she could have caught on the ride here,” he said calmly.
Edith nodded, but she could feel tears pricking her eyes.
“How bad is it?” she croaked.
“It is not the worst fever I have seen in a child,” the doctor explained. “But children are quite susceptible to these things. Allwe can do is wait and see how she does. She needs to remain on bed rest.”
“So, she could get worse?” Edith whispered.
“Much worse,” the physician said. “Or much better. Only God knows how she will fare. Keep her rested and keep her temperature down as best as you can.”
Edith listened, her heart racing in her chest. The thought that Tilly could be seriously ill made her hands shake. Tilly had been through so much in her life, and she did not deserve this.
Christian put a comforting hand on her arm. “The fever will pass. Miss Tilly is a strong little girl,” he soothed.
Edith nodded and sat at Tilly’s bedside.
“Send for me if there are any changes,” the doctor urged, standing up.
“Thank you,” Christian said, watching the doctor go with Ava.
Edith kept looking at Tilly, who kept drifting in and out of sleep. Her little chest rose and fell with each breath, but it never sounded clear or easy. Christian handed her a cold compress. She took it, giving him a grateful smile before placing it on Tilly’s forehead.
“Perhaps I should send a letter to your husband,” he suggested.
Edith shook her head. “I do not think he will wish to know.”
