Part 4 (1/2)
lords.h.i.+p came to his senses and learned the state of affairs. I would hate to be in her place-poor thing,
he thought.
What about you, his subconscious tweaked him. Lord Adrian will not look kindly on your handling of matters thus far.
Well, I'd best play it mum and see if there wasn't a way to blunder out of this. She mustn't know their
thoughts yet, he pondered, or I'd been awakened earlier. Ladies of quality do raise such a fuss at things.
Draining the last from his mug, Mallatt silently commended Meg. She was right, things did look a little better. He certainly felt buoyed. He dug into the steaming porridge she sat before him.
As he finished it, Mallatt heard footsteps. Turning, he saw Lady Juliane. Her worried features eased and she broke into a smile.
”Why, Mallatt, how good to see you are unharmed.”
He stood and bowed stiffly. ”May I say the same, my lady.”
”Andre is fine also. I just checked on him, but Alva said Leora was here.” She looking at Meg who pointed to the cradle.
Juliane hurried to it and knelt. She laid a hand on the babe and threw a startled glance at Meg.
”Aye, m'lady,” the woman nodded sadly. ”She's taken a chill for sure. I'm readyin' a poultice for her now.”
”Hur-rumph,” Mallatt loudly cleared his throat.
lady, but how fares Lord Tretain?”
She looked at him blankly.
He came closer and lowered his voice. ”How does my lord do?” he asked again. A deep blush replaced Lady Juliane's blank look; she lowered her eyes.
They must have said something to her after all, he concluded. Trying to ease her mind, he whispered,”I understand, the, er, 'situation' here. The, uh, conclusion which was drawn. We will find a way out ofthe toil, never fear.”
Lady Juliane threw him such a grateful look Mallatt smiled at her. ”That is better. Now, how is Lord Adrian?”
Juliane once more looked to Leora. She fiddled with the blankets to hide her blush at the thought of Mallatt learning she and the earl had been placed abed together. ”He is still unconscious, although he did open his eyes briefly this morning. He does not seem to have taken a fever yet and may regain his senses at any time. One never knows about blows to the head, however. They are unpredictable, his especially with the cold he endured.”
Mallatt waited for more. ”Anything else, my lady?”
”Yes,” she said absentmindedly, vaguely recalling what she would order for her brother. ”You should shave Lord Tretain. I feel he would not be pleased to awaken untidy. I left Alva watching him. When I can, I will return to the room.” The words spoke dismissal.
Mallatt looked to Meg.
”Top o' the stairs-door to the left. Ye'll find what ye be need'n there I suppose. The bags were placed in that room.
”Hot water is there.” She pointed to the smaller pot hanging over the fire and then to a large bowl on a nearby shelf.
After dipping the bowl half full, Mallatt proceeded up the stairs. What would he say to Lord Adrian?
How could this be logically explained to raise the fault from his shoulders? His lord was such a stickler at times. One never knew what his reaction would be, and he had never been in a situation quite like this before.
”Not meaning to be disloyal, my lord,” he muttered, ”but I hope it's a long sleep you have this time.”
CHAPTER 5.
Meg bustled over to the cradle with the poultice. Lady Juliane moved swiftly to the side and watched closely as she skilfully attended to Leora.
”Ye can leave her to me, m'lady-many a sick child I've nursed. If it's possible, we'll have her well in no time a'tal.” Wrapping the babe tightly, Meg stole a look at Juliane. ”Here,” she said gently, holding out the still bundle. ”Ye rock her a spell. The boys will be bringin' milk fresh from the cow soon and we'll see if she'll take some.”
Lady Juliane pulled the worn, smoothly polished rocker closer to the warmth of the glowing fire and took Leora gratefully. Smoothing back the corn-silk fine hair, she rocked, unconsciously humming a nursery tune recalled from the depths of the past. Odd, how attached I have become to the children in such a short time, she thought wistfully. It is as if they are my own.
Musing over Leora, she was startled by tramping feet, bl.u.s.tering voices, and the banging and clattering that accompanied the entry of Jove and his sons.
Jove nodded brusquely at Juliane to acknowledge her presence as he pulled off his warm outer cloak.