Page 56 of Romancing Daphne

“Until her fever breaks, we must make every effort to keep her cool.” Daphne laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder.“Just continue as you are.”

He gave her a quick smile and set back to work.

“I will return in a moment.” She wasn’t certain he heard her, but she left just the same.

Daphnestepped out into the corridor, hoping to catch sight of James. She followed the sound of tense, raised voices and found him and LordTechney eyeing one another across a desk in what appeared to be a library.

“We are not a wealthy family, James. If I sent for a doctor every time that woman gets the sniffles, it would beggar me.”

“This is no simple case of the sniffles,” James returned. “She needs a doctor.”

“She must learn not to be so dramatic.”

Time to use the skills Adam taught you, Daphne.She rallied her courage. “If you two are quite finished, I would like to address the current difficulty.” She kept her tone stiff and unyielding. Both gentlemen turned and faced her with matching expressions of shock. “Lord Techney, your wife is ill. Quite ill, in fact, and I mean that in the leastdramaticway possible. If you will not send for a physician, I will and have the bill sent to my brother-in-law labeled ‘services rendered on behalf of Lord Techney.’ You can do what you feel necessary to settle your debt with the infamous duke, but I must warn you, he isnot particularly fond of people who owe him money.”

The thinly veiled threat sank in with all the force Daphne could have hoped for. Lord Techney swallowed audibly. “I hadn’t meant to be cruel,” he insisted in choked tones. “She is simply so often unwell.”

“All the more reason for concern, sir. Am I to assume, then, a physician will be summoned?”

“Yes. Yes, of course.”

Daphne gave a quick nod. “Very good. Now, Lord Tilburn”—she turnedto James—“I believe your mother would appreciate your calming company.”

“Of course.” James moved without hesitation to the doorway where she stood.

To Lord Techney she offered a simple “Good day to you” before following James’s path out of the room.

He was waiting for her when she stepped into the corridor.

“I am sorry if I offended you with my sharp words.” She and James made their way toward Lady Techney’s bedchamber. “I could think of no other way of getting through to your father.”

He shook his head. “You were wondrous.”

Relief surged through her. “Go sit with your mother,” she instructed. “Bennett is with her now, but she cannot help but be soothed by having both of her sons at her side.”

James disappeared into the bedchamber. Daphne remained behind inLady Techney’s sitting area. She pulled out the small trunk she’d broughtwith her in which she kept those herbs crucial enough to travel with. How often she’d wished for a better means of organizing and storing them. They sat in small boxes, cloth bags, and glass vials packed in protective straw. A true apothecary would have the proper traveling trunk. She did not even have an apothecary chest at Falstone Castle. The castle, along with Falstone House, had a room for drying kitchen herbs and other plants, just as mosthouses of any significance did. But an herb room was the domain of acook, perhaps an undergardener, and was a far cry from the space neededfor properly preparing more delicate medicinal herbs and for appropriatelystoring and organizing the oils and mixtures she painstakingly created.

She took from her trunk those things she needed in that moment. Feverfew leaves. Black-elder flowers. She set both bags to the side. Her very own mortar and pestle sat in a custom-made box, an extravagant purchase she’dsaved her pin money to buy several years earlier. She’d never regretted theexpenditure, especially in moments such as this.

She pulled out a small vial of lavender oil. A drop in the water used to cool Lady Techney would help her rest.

Daphne tucked her supplies under her arms and returned to Lady Techney’s room. Everyone looked at her as she stepped inside. She nodded and motioned for them to continue their efforts.

After clearing the writing desk of papers and pens and inkwells, she set out her things, then pulled out the stone mortar and pestle and prepared to get to work. She waved over the abigail, who had returned with the ice.“Wewill need a kettle of hot water, a teacup, and a tea strainer. Can you see to that?”

“Yes, miss.” She dipped a quick curtsy and hurried off.

Daphne took a moment to add a single drop of lavender oil to the water Bennett used.“This will help her rest,” she explained.

As she crossed back to the writing desk, James followed.

“I hope the footman sent to retrieve the physician can do so quickly,” he said.“Mr. Cathcart is often away from home seeing to a sick patient.”

Daphne knew in that moment she would do best to continue with her treatment. If the physician arrived quickly, so much the better.

“How does Mother seem to you?” James asked.

“Her fever worries me.” Daphne opened the bag of dried feverfew leaves and added the right amount to her empty mortar.

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