Page 32 of The Lady’s Guide to Deception and Desire
Really, it was too bad!
Meanwhile, her mother continued to decline leaving her chamber.
It was time to adopt a stern approach.
“Ma, I insist, you must dress and join me downstairs tomorrow,” Rosamund said with as much authority as she could muster.
Mrs. Burnell plucked at a stray thread on the coverlet. “It’s only that, I do still worry, dear. There are so many stairs.”
“You'll be fine if I take your arm.” Rosamund endeavoured to be the voice of reason, though she knew there was no logic to her mother’s frame of mind. It was all due to the séance, and Madame Florian’s doom-laden Tarot reading.
“I don’t like to point it out, Ma, but we’re just as likely to come to harm in this room as anywhere else.”
A look of dread crossed her mother’s features.
“You mean a murderer could enter in the night and do away with me! I’d be helpless. They might strangle me before I had a chance to scream!” Her gaze darted about the room, as if the villain might already be in wait behind the curtains.
Rosamund took several deep breaths. “No. I don’t mean that at all.”
It was time to say whatever was necessary to give her mother reassurance. “You must know Lord Studborne has an army of brave footmen guarding the doors at night. The abbey is safer from intruders than the Queen’s own palaces.”
Mrs. Burnell blinked, taking in this new piece of information.
Rosamund continued. “I’m just saying that accidents can happen anywhere. You might choke on a fish bone, for instance. Far better to be where other people are about, who can come to your aid.”
“The sole! I never thought of it.” Mrs. Burnell eyed her empty plate with suspicion. “I’ll insist on having only soup from now on. No one shall do away with me by making me eat fish.”
Her fingers, still plucking at the quilt, had begun to unravel the crewel-work embroidery. Much as it distressed Rosamund to admit, her mother was in the grip of an obsession.
With heavy heart, Rosamund brought out the bottle of laudanum. Immediately, Mrs. Burnell stuck out her tongue to receive the drops.
She took her daughter’s hand. “I know I worry over much, but I’ll be better soon. Once you’ve wed the duke, everything will be alright, I just know it. Your father might even let Ethan visit us, don’t you think, when he hears of your grand marriage?”
“I’m sure he will.”
Rosamund could hardly tell her mother that the duke didn’t appear interested in her after all.
Mrs. Burnell was altogether worsein the morning, shrinking back as Rosamund drew open the curtains.
“There was someone behind the drapes, in the night—just as you said there would be!” Mrs. Burnell pulled the coverlet up and Rosamund saw it was threadbare where her mother had been worrying at it.
“I never said that, Ma, and I’m sure there wasn’t.” Rosamund took her wrist. The pulse was faster than it should be, and her mother’s cheeks were unnaturally flushed.
“Let’s get you some warm milk.” Rosamund gave the bellpull a tug. “Try to rest, and clear your head of these worries.”
Her mother lay down obediently and seemed soothed by Rosamund’s hand on her brow.
Nevertheless, her eyes moved to the drawer. “Might I have some more of the medicine, dear? Just to settle me?”
“I don’t think so. In fact, it might be better if I took them away.” However, as Rosamund reached over, her mother grabbed her by the wrist.
“No! Don’t!” Her mother’s eyes were pleading. “I’ve been good. I’ve hardly touched them. Only a drop now and then.”
Wretchedly, Rosamund took out the bottle and held it to the light. The level of the liquid had dropped more than she would have expected, but it was as her mother said. She’d only helped herself to a modest dose.
“Very well.” Rosamund replaced the bottle in the drawer. “But you mustn’t take them unless I’m here.”
Mrs. Burnell nodded.
