Part 6 (1/2)

”What, my lord?”

”You will stay?”

”Of course, my lord.”

He closed his eyes but would not release her hand. She was still sitting thus, atop the bed beside Lord Adrian, hand in hand, when Mallatt returned.

”My lady?” he stated incredulously.

”It is the only manner in which he will be quiet,” answered Juliane calmly. ”I feel the fever is worsening.”

As if in answer, Lord Adrian sat up, flinging his arms wildly. It took all of Mallatt's and Lady Juliane's

strength to restrain him. The struggle continued for the better part of an hour-Juliane all the while trying

to calm him with her voice. After a last violent effort, he lay back, spent.

All three were wet with perspiration from the effort. Wiping her dripping forehead, Lady Juliane shouted for Meg.

As Meg rushed in, she was met with a barrage of orders.

”Get the fire roaring-we must not chance a further chill now! We must change his lords.h.i.+p's garments

and the bedding if we are to come out of this night ahead of the fever. Move quickly now,” Lady Juliane snapped.

A quick glance at the earl bespoke the need of hurried action. Meg threw a few logs atop the fire, then

hustled from the chamber to fetch clean sheeting for the bed.

As the fire crackled and popped into a roar, Juliane tore the bedding from the empty side of the bed.

Satisfied with that work, she came around to Mallatt. ”You have a fresh nights.h.i.+rt ready?”

”Yes, my lady, if you will leave...”

”Leave,” she snapped. ”What do you take me for-I am no simpering young miss. I have cared for grown men before. We must get him out of these wet things, dried, and redressed as quickly as possible.

In his state you would be a long time handling even the first by yourself. Meg-you make the bed fresh while we tend to his lords.h.i.+p,” she ordered as the woman re-entered the room.

Together the two had Lord Adrian disrobed, buffed dry, and redressed as Meg finished making one side of the bed. Mallatt marvelled anew at Lady Juliane.

Almost carrying Lord Adrian, they moved him to the dry bedding. While Juliane tucked the covers about him, Meg removed the last of the sweat-soaked bed linens and Mallatt worked furiously to complete the making.

Juliane sat on the bedside rubbing a handful of snow across Lord Adrian's face. Suddenly his hand grabbed her arm, his eyes open wide. A string of vile epitaphs spewed out, shocking even Mallatt.

Juliane was taken aback, not so much by the words themselves as by the hatred trembling in the voice.

Just as suddenly, he halted and closed his eyes. After tenderly replacing his hands beneath the coverlets, Juliane continued to cool his crimson face with the snow. Meg parted with one last, wondering glance at the pair before removing from the room with the wet linen and bedclothes.

An hour pa.s.sed with Lady Juliane and Mallatt taking turns with the constant attempts to cool Lord Adrian; Juliane maintained a steady flow of lulling tones throughout.

At last it seemed the crisis had pa.s.sed. Lord Adrian was much calmer and the flush not quite as p.r.o.nounced.

Juliane had just replaced Mallatt at the earl's side when he opened his eyes and gazed at her. She smiled rea.s.suringly.

”You are better, my lord. Sleep now; by morning you will feel much improved.”

”My angel,” he said quietly. ”Your voice is from heaven.” The grey eyes were only slightly feverish now and held hers steadily. ”Who are you? Where did you come from?”

”Hush, now, my lord. Rest. There is plenty of time tomorrow for all the answers you wish.” She pa.s.sed her hand gently over his eyes, closing them.

”Yes, my angel,” he answered tiredly, ”if you will promise to be here when I awake.”

”Of course, my lord. Sleep now.”

His hand crept from beneath the coverlet and covered hers. Juliane was startled by the strength of the grasp and by the thrill it sent through her. With her heart beating erratically-caused by the night's work, she a.s.sured herself-she returned the grip softly. Mallatt watched the two silently, a smile creeping over his features. Ah, yes. He would have to connive some way to constrain the two together. If the match can be made, it would curtail my lord's, ah, ”ramblings” to a great degree, he thought, and certainly ensure my life a longer span. My age is beginning to tell, the hearth side is much more appealing than the, er, adventures of the past few years. Lady Juliane may be the means to my peace.

”Mallatt, you may go,” Juliane said. ”Lord Adrian is sleeping peacefully-the worst has pa.s.sed. I am certain he will sleep well the remainder of this night. I will watch and call you if any change occurs.”

”Yes, my lady. Have a care for yourself.”