Page 68 of The Earl Takes All
“I’m drenched, Mrs.Warren. I have no desire to ruin your furniture. I’ll stand.”
“As you wish; I shan’t be long.”
Warren on the other hand seemed to take his time. It was nearly an hour and two cups of tea later before he walked through the door. His eyes widened. “Greyling, this is a pleasant surprise.”
“Not so pleasant. I’ve just come from Mrs.Lark’s. She’s unwell.”
“Yes, influenza.”
“How would you know? You haven’t seen her.”
Warren raised his chin. “Half the village has succumbed to the disease.”
“What is the treatment?”
“There is none except to let it run its course.”
“Her husband died.”
He lowered that chin that Edward had a good mind to punch. “The disease can be quite... unforgiving.”
“She has three small children. I believe the boy to be fevered as well.”
“It is contagious, I’m afraid.”
“So is it her lack of funds or your lack of courage that prevents you from going to her?”
The chin up again, the nose at a haughty angle. “I resent the implication that I am a coward.”
“Good. Then it’s lack of money. I can deal with a man who is absent of compassion. You will go with me now to see her. You will then call on anyone who is ill. If they cannot afford to pay for your time, then you will come to me for payment. You will also let it be known that I will pay handsomely anyone who is willing to nurse those who have no one to care for them.”
Warren shook his head. “To put the well with the unwell will only spread the disease.”
“So your solution is to leave them to die?”
“Not everyone dies.”
“Then one is merely inconvenienced for a time. You will do as I demand or come spring there will be another physician in the village.” Regardless of whether Warren did as he’d insisted, there would be another physician come spring. A little competition always brought out the best in people. “Shall we be off?”
Warren sighed. “As Mr.Lark just died, I don’t know that I’ll have any luck finding anyone willing to go into the house and take care of Mrs.Lark and her children. Death tends to make people uncomfortable, as though if it visits once, it’ll visit again.”
“You don’t have to find anyone for her. I’m not going to ask others to do what I am unwilling to do. I’ll see to Mrs.Lark. I just need you to examine her and tell me how best to help her.”
Sittingon the sofa before the fireplace in her bedchamber, Julia stared at the clock on the mantel, watching as the hour hand neared two and the minute hand came ever closer to twelve. No missive alerting her to the earl’s afternoon visit to the nursery had been delivered. Did he assume that after nearly ten days it was understood that he had established a ritual and would be attending to her daughter?
Or had he grown tired of his visits, weary of giving time to Alberta? Had he been using Alberta to manipulate her, and when she failed to rise to whatever bait he was dangling, decided to cast her daughter aside like so much rubbish?
Even as she had the horrid thought, she couldn’t envision it of him, not after witnessing him with Alberta perched protectively on his chest two nights ago.
Torrie was no doubt at fault, lounging around somewhere instead of seeing to her duties. Shooting to her feet, she crossed the room and yanked on the bellpull. Then she paced, wondering why she felt strung as tightly as a bow. When the knock finally came, relief swamped through her. “Come in.”
Torrie entered, gave a little curtsy. “You rang for me, m’lady?”
“Did you not have a missive to deliver to me?”
“No, m’lady.”
Julia was unprepared for the disappointment that struck her. “The earl did not give you a note for me?”
