Page 80 of The Duke Who Loved a Widow
“And here’s Nanny,” Elinor whispered in Arabella’s ear. “My dear, it’s best just to let her take charge.”
Nanny bustled across and took a look at Henry. “Mister Freddy is waiting in the nursery for you, and I’ve had a bed made up for you in his room. As you’ve had a shock, I am going to break my rule and let your little dog come and sleep up in the nursery tonight,” she informed him.
Henry looked around for Dash, who was following with the group walking behind. “Do you think you need to be carried up to the nursery?” Nanny asked, and Henry shook his head.
Nanny turned her attention to Arabella. “You look very pale, and I’ve already asked them to fill a bath in your room and add mustard, thyme, and rosemary. It will do you the world of good. I know you will want to come up to the nursery to say goodnight and speak to Dr Alwood, but you really do need to rest,” Nanny told her.
“I suspect you are right, Nanny. I do feel tired and wrung out,” agreed Arabella.
“Quite understandable, Your Ladyship. We must make sure you get a good night's sleep,” declared Nanny. “Now come along, Master Henry. Let’s get you into bed.”
The dowager duchess spoke in a confidential tone, “We all just do exactly as she says. Her knowledge of remedies and medicines is remarkable. Ah, there’s Lady Thraxton waiting to find out what’s happened.”
She waved at Aunt Grace, who came to join them. “I remember Robert doing something very similar, although I think he was a couple of years older than Henry. He got angry with his father and took that old boat and rowed it across to the island with a determination to stay there,” the dowager informed them.
‘I doubt he fell in the lake, though,” replied Arabella.
“No, he swam like a fish from an early age. He climbed up that tall tree in the middle of the island, fell, and broke his arm. He always craved adventure,” the dowager said with a smile. “Now let’s find Mrs Slater and make sure that bath is being made ready. You could do with a change of clothes, too, as you are covered in mud,” the dowager informed Arabella looking her up and down.
For the first time, Arabella looked down at her skirt and saw mostly mud. “I was kneeling in the mud,” she explained.
“You’re about my size; I’ll send something for you to wear,” the dowager said kindly.
“I don’t …” started Arabella.
“I insist. You shall have clean clothes in the morning. I shall let you off supper. Cook has held it back, but I suspect you’d prefer a tray in your room.”
“Thank you,” Arabella said quietly, almost overcome with exhaustion.
“Lady Thraxton, I’m about to send Lady Farrington for a hot mustard bath. The doctor should be here within the hour,” the dowager told Aunt Grace.
Lady Thraxton thanked the dowager for her kind hospitality and said they all wanted to stay to be near Henry overnight.
“It’s a pleasure. The rooms in the family wing are empty, and there is no house party as they are all in Harrogate,” the dowager repeated to Aunt Grace what she’d already told Arabella. “Supper will be served as soon as everyone has had a chance to freshen up. I can hear voices, so those walking are arriving now.”
“Run upstairs, my dear, before you have to get involved in long conversations,” she told Arabella before looking around. “Dorcas,” she called to one of the maids. “Please show Lady Farrington to her bedchamber. It’s the Dawn Room, the onenearest the nursery stairs. Can you show her the way up to the nursery, too?”
Arabella followed Dorcas up the stairs and gasped as she opened the door to a delightful bedchamber with cornflower blue curtains and draping around the four-poster bed. A small fire blazed in the hearth.
“I know it’s summer, but her grace thought you would appreciate the warmth of a fire after having such a scare,” Dorcas told her.
“Thank you,” murmured Arabella. “I already feel more settled just being in this lovely room.”
“I’ve asked for a footman to set up a copper bath for you near the fire.”
“That’s so kind. Thank you so much, Dorcas.”
“If you go and take tea with your family, then when you return, the bath will be ready.”
An hour later, Arabella opened the door, breathing in the reviving rosemary, thyme, and mustard aroma. She looked longingly at the steam rising from the tin bath, still being filled with metal pitchers of hot water.
Maybe, just maybe, I’ll soon feel better, she thought as she lowered her body into the warm water and felt her muscles relax and her mind begin to clear.
“Oh goodness, I must have fallen asleep in the tub,” she cried out in surprise as she woke with a start when Dorcas knocked on the door to tell her the doctor had arrived.
“I must rush. I need to speak to Dr Alwood,” Arabella said to Dorcas.
She reached for the simple dress that the dowager had sent for her. Dorcas helped her dress quickly, then pin her hair up to look presentable to the doctor.
