Page 79 of The Best-Kept Secrets
“Do you need to lie down?” Eve asked.
“Could I lie down here? I think I’m too tired to climb the stairs again.”
Eve saw her sister comfortably situated on the sofa with a warm throw spread over her. She was paler than she had been even a half hour earlier.
“Any palpitations?” Eve asked her quietly.
“No.” Nia closed her eyes.
Eve pressed her hand to Nia’s forehead. Nia was a little feverish.
Dr. Wilstead had said Nia’s fevers would ebb and flow for weeks or months. And if the fevers did reach her heart, they would need to begin treatments immediately. Eve couldn’t drag her feet. She needed to start looking for a position now.
She didn’t know many people, not of the generation most likely to hire a companion. Finding that elusive future employer would be difficult and take a great deal of time. But she didn’t have that luxury.
“You look worried,” Nia said softly, having opened her eyes a little once more.
Eve quickly produced a smile. “My thoughts were wandering, is all.”
“Could those thoughts wander to finding another blanket?”
Eve tucked the blanket Nia already had more firmly around her. “I’ll procure you an entire pile of blankets.”
“And more gingerbread?” Nia’s eyes were only half open.
Eve leaned close and lowered her voice. “Is it as good asmygingerbread?”
“No.”
“Good answer.” Eve rose and crossed to where Colm stood. She set a hand on his arm to get his attention. “Nia is asking for another blanket, but I don’t know where to find any.”
He looked over at Nia. “The room isn’t actually very cold.” He sounded as concerned as Eve felt. “Should I send for Dr. Wilstead? I don’t think he’s left Fairfield.”
“He did look in on her this morning,” Eve said. “But if he is still here, having him check on her again wouldn’t be a terrible thing.”
“What else can I do?” Colm asked.
“You sound like Duke.”
Colm shrugged. “He and Iarethe pride of the Seymour family.” There was a hint of a laugh in the declaration.
“As the pride of the Seymour family, perhaps you could pilfer a bit more gingerbread.”
He snapped a salute. “Miss Nia will have all the blankets, gingerbread, and medical attention she could possibly want.”
“Thank you.”
Colm set to action. Knowing she could trust him to do all he’d promised, Eve took a moment to think. Mater might know of someone looking for a companion; the Jonquils had connections all over the kingdom. The Greenberrys and Fortiers did as well. She could begin there to look for a position.
Though their hostess had been very gracious and hadn’t begrudged Nia the help she’d needed, Eve didn’t feel entirely comfortable asking for yet another favor. Neither did she know how much of her situation she could trust to Mrs. Greenberry’s discretion.
But Duke would know.
If she could phrase her question in a way that didn’t set his back up again, she might learn what she needed to move forward with confidence. It was entirely possible that she would mismanage the balance between speaking with a friend and burdening him with her troubles. And if she did, he might very well respond with that blunt directness that still caused an ache in her heart when she thought back on it.
But she would be asking only for a little information, not for any true assistance. Surely he wouldn’t object to that.
She turned toward him. In so doing, she discovered he was actually already looking at her.
