“I want that too, Charles.”
He stirred on the chair, and she could sense the tension flowing through him. “I must speak to Jason and find out about this doctor. His treatment doesn’t seem to be helping my mother.”
A knock on the door brought Nellie and Charles to their feet.
The footman carried in her dog. “Lilly wishes to know if you require her services, Your Grace.”
“Yes, tell her to come, James.”
Peter scampered across the carpet and made several unsuccessful attempts to leap onto the high bed.
“Into your basket, you rascal,” Charles ordered, half-amused by the dog’s antics. Peter merely wagged his tail.
Charles stood with a hand on the door latch. “We must talk, sweetheart. But I’ll see Jason now. They have returned from church. I heard the crunch of carriage wheels on the gravel.” He shook his head. “I give it two minutes before that dog is on your bed. He is not to be there when I am.”
“I’ll explain your feelings to Peter.”
A faint smile flickered over his lips. “We shall continue this at a later time. When you’ve changed your clothes, join us in the drawing room.”
After the door closed, Nellie curled up on the bed with her dog. “You shall have to sleep in your basket when your master is here.” She buried her face in his soft fur. “Oh, he is so worried, my heart aches for him. She must be so dreadfully ill.”
Peter whined and licked her cheek.
Nellie was sitting at her dressing table, sorting through her jewelry box, when Lilly entered.
“There was a bible reading in the servants’ hall after the meal,” Lilly called through the open dressing room door, where she was taking Nellie’s clothes out of the trunk. “Mr. Feeley read it beautifully. He has such a pleasant voice.”
Nellie paused with a gold chain necklace in her hand. “There is nothing between you and Mr. Feeley, is there, Lilly?”
Lilly appeared at the door. “I do like him, Your Grace.” Nellie turned and took note of the maid’s wide eyes and flushed cheeks. She replaced the necklace and rose from the stool. “He has a bad reputation with women. Please, please be careful, Lilly.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Lilly cast her eyes down and became intent of smoothing out the rumpled shawl she held in her hands.
Exasperated, Nellie let the matter go. She had little time for it but would have to remain vigilant. After all, she was responsible for the girl’s welfare. It would be a lapse of her care if Lilly succumbed to Feeley’s advances. The result of such romances could result in an unwanted pregnancy and dismissal. And while no servant would be dismissed from this house, it would ruin Lilly’s life to give birth to a child without the father’s support.
*
As he crossed the gallery, Charles spied Jason and Beverly below in the great hall where Grove relieved them of their outerwear. He leaned on the balustrade and hailed his brother.
Jason ran up the stairs and enveloped Charles in a brief hug. He pulled away to search his face, his eyes anxious. “I gather you’ve seen Mother?”
“Yes.” Charles grimaced. “She doesn’t look at all well. Thank you for writing and alerting me.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” Jason confessed. “It was getting too much for me to handle alone.”
“Charles, I am so pleased to see you.” Beverly reached them, her pregnancy obvious as she moved ponderously up the stairs.
Charles kissed her cheek. “You appear to be in rosy good health, Beverly. I trust it is so?”
“I am, thank you, Charles.”
“Nellie is anxious to see you both. I want to know about Mother’s treatment, Jas. I have little confidence in this surgeon.”
After Beverly left them, they settled in the drawing room with glasses of claret. “Who is this new physician?” Charles asked.
“Wells is from London,” Jason said. “Came well recommended.”
Charles waved that aside. “Some of these medical men support each other. Where is Dr. Chapman residing these days?”
“He retired to Loughborough. He’s a good age now, Charles. Tended my ills and yours before me, remember.”
Charles nodded. “A competent surgeon. Set my broken leg, which another doctor had said would cripple me, and he saved Michael’s life more than once. What do you think of this, Wells?”
“He is keen on bleeding his patients.”
Charles scowled. “Mother looks too pale. She’s very weak.”
Jason rubbed the back of his neck. “I agree. What should be done?”
“Is Wells still here? Or do we have to go to London to fetch him?”
“He is putting up with his sister, who lives near Oakham. We expect him to visi Mother this afternoon.”
Charles tossed back his drink. “Good. I will have words with him.”
Jason frowned. “Should you anger him, Charles, she will be without a doctor for some time.”
“I’ll deal with it. If it means driving to Loughborough to bring Chapman back, then I’m happy to do so.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“I’m told Charles disagreed with the surgeon’s treatment,” Beverly said while she and Nellie took tea in the small south parlor. “Jason is unsure it was wise.”
“I don’t believe things could have been left as they were. When Charles advised the surgeon that he intended to get a second opinion, Mr. Wells took exception to it. Charles invited him to leave. I believe the surgeon has gone back to London.”
“What will happen to our mama-in-law now?” Beverly asked with a catch in her voice.
Nellie, aware of her sister-in-law’s delicate condition, reached across and patted her hand. “Charles has driven the curricle to Loughborough. He intends to bring Dr. Chapman back with him. He has great confidence in the doctor.”
She stared out at the heavy dark clouds beyond the tall windows, which made the room dim. “I pray they return before nightfall. If it rains heavily, the roads will become impassable.”
An hour later, while drenching rain continued to fall, Nellie watched the carriage drive for a
