Page 92 of The Enigmatic Governess of Buford Manor
His eyes flew open and he found Peter staring down at him, a strange expression on his face. As he blinked, he saw Theodore also leaning over the bed, concern etched on his wrinkled features.
“Your Grace, you have a fever,” Theodore announced, reaching to touch his forehead but Nicholas ducked out of his reach.
“I must see Rose!” he croaked but the men shook their heads in unison.
“I am afraid that is not possible, Your Grace,” the manservant said apologetically.
“Why not!”
He struggled to sit up but he was overcome by a wave of instability. Spots danced before his eyes as he struggled to regain his composure.
“What is wrong? Where is Miss Rose?”
“Please, Your Grace,” Theodore pleaded, casting Peter a nervous look. “It is for her benefit and your own that you do not see one another.”
“What does that mean? I demand to know what is happening this instant!”
“Of course, Your Grace. You needn’t grow upset. The entire household is quite ill with the exception of Duchess Buford and Captain Balfour.”
Nicholas tried to make sense of the words but Theodore’s voice seemed to float in and around him, as if Nicholas remained in a dream.
“Ill with what?”
“Dr. Ferner believes you have eaten something foul. He reckons you will be well in a few days, but you must rest and stay apart from one another, lest you continue to spread the fever about.”
“Harry and Betsey…?”
“Lord and Lady Arlington are worse for wear, yes,” Peter offered. “But rest assured, Trudy and the duchess are taking quite good care of them. You need only rest now, Duke Buford.”
Even as they spoke, Nicholas felt his eyes grow heavier, their frames already disappearing as his lids shut them out.
“It cannot be…” he mumbled as he fought off the darkness sweeping through him.
“Your Grace?”
“I have not…” his words were becoming thick and slurred, but he fought to get the idea out before he dissolved into unconsciousness once more.
“Rest now, Your Grace. You have been working quite strenuously and require sleep,” Theodore murmured comfortingly. “All will be well after you have rested.”
“I…not…been here…”
“You have been gone for a week,” Theodore conceded. “More the reason for you to rest.”
It was too late for him to explain what he was trying to communicate, the black enveloping him at once.
Nicholas had been in towns for a week. He had neither eaten nor drank anything at Rosecliff since arriving.
Dr. Ferner could not be correct. They could not all be ill from contaminated food or drink. Something or someone else was making them all ill.
All of us but mother and Balfour.
Chapter 31
In her heightened state of delirium, Rose believed she had been committed to Bedlam in the middle of the night.
Whenever Trudy approached with a cool compress or drink, she tried to flail her away with panicked arms in a barely conscious state. She recalled very little of what happened in those days just that she could not stay awake long enough to make sense of the conversations around her.
Balfour got his wish. He has rid himself of me just as he wanted. Now I am committed in my madness.
