Chapter 1
At a Physician’s Touch
Helena pushed the door and held it open for her friend to enter. Miss Justina had taken the dresses and hats they bought at the market to her room a few minutes ago. Helena watched as Lady Lavinia struggled to carry her luggage and still walk with a graceful gait. It was a comedic and impossible task. Lady Lavinia pushed the door to a close with the back of her feet and sauntered to the collection of cushions in the middle of the parlour. Helena couldn’t hold back the laughter. Lady Lavinia looked at her friend with mock anger in her eyes.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing is. I just don’t understand why you refused to leave the clothes in your coach,” Helena replied.
“I told you before. I want to test them on me,” Lady Lavinia said.
Helena shook her head.
“You could have tested them at home too. I don’t know why you are always so eager to try on new clothes,” Helena said.
Lady Lavinia turned up her nose at her friend’s soft chastisement.
“Say what you like. I dare say this brooch really fits that pink dress I bought the other day,” Lady Lavinia said, throwing the brooch to her friend.
Helena caught the brooch which sparkled as light bounced off the minute stones embedded in its tough outer skin. It was red and white. Helena nodded her head.
It will fit really well with that pink dress. It would fit well with my white rayon dress too.
“How about I give you something for this brooch?” Helena asked.
Lady Lavinia raised one eyebrow. A smile slowly spread through her face, and her teeth gleamed through her open lips as she shook her head.
“No, no way,” she said.
“Please, I’ll give you that hat with small dragon images you love so much,” Helena said.
Lady Lavinia walked quickly to her and snatched the brooch out of Helena’s left hand.
“No. Thank you very much.”
Helena was about to speak when she heard footsteps behind her.
Those are Justina’s steps.
The passage was behind the chair Helena was sitting on, so she couldn’t see who it was. She looked to her side just as Miss Justina got to her.
“Did you hang them in my wardrobe?” Helena asked her maid.
“Yes, I did that,” Miss Justina replied.
“Did you see any of my sisters?” Helena asked.
“I couldn’t find Lady Melanie anywhere. She might have gone off with her friends again. Miss Jacqueline was in her room. She’s been attended to by a physician,” Miss Justina said.
Helena looked up to Miss Justina’s face. The dark tone of her skin did not look so striking in the subdued lighting of the parlour. Miss Justina was what Helen always described as a dark beauty.
“Is she being treated right now?” Helena asked.
“Yes ma. I saw him convincing her to drink a small cup of a particular draught. He told the Baroness that Miss Jacqueline would be fine in a couple of days.”
That’s good. I don’t like it when she falls sick, when any of my siblings fall ill.
“Justina, what do you think of this brooch?” Lady Lavinia asked, taking the focus away from the visiting physician.