by Leah Conolly
“We will take care of you, Miss Becker,” he said. “Don’t worry about a thing.”
Charlotte lifted her hand and closed it around Duncan’s.
“I am fine,” she croaked weakly.
Duncan frowned.
“I do not believe that you are,” he said. “In fact, I would like you to stay here, in my home, until you are well again.”
Charlotte’s heart stopped. She knew what Duncan could not. She knew that her sudden illness had been caused by seeing her mother, and she knew the very real possibility that her true identity would soon be exposed.
She had no doubt that she would recover quickly once she was away from Duncan and back in the comfort of the room she shared with Ruth at the inn. However, she also knew that, to prove to him that she was alright, she would very likely have to incriminate herself. And with Duncan being so kind and worried about her wellbeing, she could not bring herself to hurt him that way. She was trapped, and she had no choice but to go along with his wishes. Too frightened to speak, she merely nodded her head.
Duncan’s relief was apparent. He managed a weak smile and nodded.
“Good,” he said. “And, of course, Ruthie will be welcome to stay here with you, to help keep you comfortable and keep an eye on you.”
Charlotte dared to glance at Ruth, who was still sitting beside her, holding her hand. Ruth’s eyes looked as fearful as she felt, and Charlotte closed her eyes again. How had everything gone so wrong? Why had she been foolish enough to try going out in public with Duncan? Charlotte groaned at the thought of how she had thoughtlessly compromised everything she had worked to build by going to the theater.
Duncan, still clueless as to what was ailing her, became alarmed once more.
“I believe that a physician should examine you,” he said.
Once more, Charlotte felt as though she might faint. Could this situation get any worse?
She tried to shake her head and give Duncan a reassuring look.
“Really, my lord,” she said. “That will not be necessary. I assure you that I will be fine shortly. This is just a spell of some sort, and it will be over soon.”
Duncan seemed to think it over for a moment. Charlotte felt that, perhaps, she had gotten him to see reason.
“Are you prone to these types of spells?” he asked.
Charlotte opened her mouth to speak, but Ruth chimed in.
“No, my lord,” she said. “She had never had such an episode in all the time that I have known her.”
Charlotte looked at Ruth, horrified. Ruth, however, was focused on Duncan, and could not see Charlotte’s desperate expression.
Duncan nodded decisively.
“You must stay here overnight,” he said. “And I will send for a doctor first thing in the morning.”
Panicked, Charlotte looked at Ruth, who still wore a look of fear. She needed to tell Ruth what had really happened and see if they could think of a way to get her out of there.
At last Duncan rose to his feet.
“I will have the servants make you some broth,” he said.
Charlotte heaved a sigh of relief. She was far from hungry, but it would likely be her only opportunity to speak to Ruth in private.
“Thank you,” she said with a smile.
Duncan nodded and exited the room.
As soon as they were alone, Charlotte grabbed Ruth’s hands.
“Oh, Ruth,” she said, her tears flowing freely. “I am not ill.”
Ruth looked at her as though she were mad.
“You certainly could have fooled me,” she said. “I was not aware that snow white was a healthy color for once rosy skin.”
Charlotte chuckled despite herself.
“Please,” she said. “I need you to listen to me.”
Ruth sensed the urgency in Charlotte’s voice and she nodded, falling silent.
“Tonight, at the theater, I saw Mother,” she said, shuddering violently as she recalled how spotting her mother had made her feel.
Ruth’s eyes widened and understanding flooded her expression.
“Oh, no,” she whispered. “Do you believe that she saw you?”
Charlotte shrugged weakly.
“I cannot say,” she said. “I was so panicked and surprised that I could not tell if she recognized me.”
Ruth covered her mouth with her hands.
“Is it the fright and worry about seeing her that has you in this state?” Ruth asked.
Charlotte nodded.
“I am not sick at all,” she repeated. “I just cannot compose myself. I was near hysteria, and I could not control it. Oh, I am so humiliated.”
Ruth nodded.
“I understand,” she said, relief flooding her face. Charlotte smiled, grateful to be able to tell someone the truth about her condition. “What will you do when the physician arrives?”
Charlotte shook her head.
“Well,” she said. “If I look as unwell as the two of you are saying, I will at least not need to tell yet another lie.”
Ruth nodded once more.
“You certainly look unwell,” she said. “I believe that even a doctor will believe that you are very ill.”
Charlotte laughed dryly.
“Well, thank goodness for a small favor,” she said. She felt anything but grateful, however. Even if she did not directly tell Duncan a lie about her health, she was still lying by omitting the truth.
The door slowly opened, pulling the women’s attention away from their conversation. Charlotte smiled weakly, expecting to see Duncan walk back into the room to check on her. Her heart leapt into her throat once more, however, when she saw who was entering the room.
“Oh, dear,” Helena said, folding her hands together, her brow creasing with what Charlotte assumed was supposed to be concern. “Duncan told me that you were unwell, and it would appear he was quite correct.”
She made her way into the room, brushing past Ruth as though she was invisible.
“Duncan also told me that he has insisted that you stay here until you are well again,” Helena continued.
Charlotte closed her eyes. Helena’s cruelty and disdain were the last things she needed right then, but she was too weak and upset to put up a fight. Instead, she stared blankly at the thin woman, refusing to let Helena bait her.
Helena glanced over her shoulder in Ruth’s direction.
“Maid, leave us for a moment,” she said. “I would like to speak to Miss Becker privately.”
Ruth looked terrified, but she did not move.
“I believe that Lord Willeton wished for me to sit in here with Miss Becker,” she said weakly. “In case she should need something.”
Helena raised a hand, still not looking directly at Ruth.
“You may wait in the hall,” she said flatly. “I will fetch you when we are done speaking.”
Ruth looked at Charlotte silently for confirmation. Charlotte looked at Helena, then back at Ruth. She gave her maid a small nod. Ruth stood for a moment longer, clearly hesitant to leave the two women in the room alone together. After a moment, however, she dipped her head and exited the room wordlessly.
When Helena was satisfied that she would not be overhead, she turned her attention back to Charlotte.
“Whatever ploy of yours this is, you will cease it at once,” she hissed.
Charlotte stared at the woman, wishing that she were anywhere else.
“Ploy?” Charlotte asked.
Helena loomed over her, glaring.
“I do not believe for a single moment that you are ill,” she said.
Charlotte chuckled dryly.
“What reason could I possibly have for feigning an ailment?” she asked.
Helena crossed her arms.
“You wish to gain my son’s sympathy,” she said. “And, I do believe, his heart.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened. She had thought Helena was just a shrew. Now, she was beginning to think that she was a madwoman.
“Well,�
�� Charlotte said, too unwell to tolerate Helena’s nonsense. “I certainly have a unique talent, to be capable of faking such a state of ill health.”
Helena leaned down, her eyes full of pure hatred.
“I do not care how you managed it,” she said, “but I will say this only once. You will cease this act immediately.”
Charlotte gave the woman a weak glare in return.
“Of course, my lady,” she said, her voice feeble but full of sarcasm. “I shall snap my fingers and will away all the symptoms that I am clearly feigning.”
Helena continued her relentless gaze, acting as though Charlotte had not spoken.
“And you will not do something foolish, like fall in love with Duncan,” she said. “If you do, I will make your employment, and your life, quite unpleasant. Do I make myself clear?”
Charlotte stared, bewildered. She could not believe what she was hearing.
Rather than waiting for Charlotte to respond, Helena stormed for the door. As soon as she opened it, her entire demeanor changed, sending a chill down Charlotte’s spine. Helena smiled warmly and turned in the open doorway to face Charlotte.
“I do hope you get well soon, darling,” she said loudly.
Charlotte stared after her in disbelief, even as Ruth reentered the room. Ruth noticed her strained expression and closed the door once more.
“What happened?” she asked.
Charlotte shook her head, looking at Ruth with wide eyes.
“I really must get out of here, Ruth,” she said.
Chapter 14
Duncan sat in his study, drinking his favorite brandy. He was deeply worried about Christine. Despite her insistence that she was fine, she looked quite the opposite. He feared that she had some sort of heart condition of which no one had been aware. Or perhaps she was afflicted by a serious illness, and that was the reason behind her odd behavior earlier in the week.
He decided that he would not and could not sleep that night. Instead he intended to ride into town himself and fetch a physician as early as possible. He did not know what was ailing Christine, but he intended to get answers as quickly as he could, and to do anything he needed to help her get well. He would spare no expense nor leave any options unexplored. All that mattered to him was getting Christine better. He was falling in love with her, and he could not bear the thought of losing her.
The next morning, he left his home at dawn and rode straight into town. He arrived at the office of the nearest physician, which, fortunately, was the same doctor that saw him when he was a child. He had gone to this man intentionally, and he was prepared to wait as long as necessary. As soon as he saw the physician, he wasted no time with formalities.
“Doctor Johnson, please,” Duncan said hurriedly, “I need your assistance.”
The physician looked at him in bewilderment.
“Of course, Lord Willeton,” he said. “What is it that you need?”
“I have an emergency, and I need you to come at once,” he said.
Dr. Johnson nodded and put his hand on Duncan’s shoulder.
“What’s happened?” he asked, concerned. “Are you quite well?”
Duncan nodded quickly.
“I am fine,” he said. “It is my assistant. She has fallen suddenly ill. Will you come see her?”
Dr. Johnson nodded.
“Of course,” he said. “Just let me fetch my medical bag from my study.”
Duncan nodded, flooded with relief.
“Thank you, Doctor,” he said.
When Duncan and Dr. Johnson reached his home, Ruthie was pacing outside Christine’s room. She ran up to him when she saw Duncan racing up the stairs.
“My lord,” Ruthie said, her eyes full of tears. “I do not know what is happening, but Lady Helena has closed the door to Miss Becker’s room and will not let me see her.”
Duncan’s heart fell.
“I have brought the doctor,” he said. “Please, excuse us.”
Ruthie nodded as Duncan brushed past her, ushering the physician into Christine’s room. He burst through the door and found Christine even paler than she had been the night before, and his mother standing over her like some sort of predator. When his mother saw the men enter the room, her expression brightened.
“Oh, thank goodness,” she said, wringing her hands. “I am afraid that the young lady is not faring well at all.”
“Excuse us, Mother,” Duncan hissed, not believing her worried pretense. “The physician must examine Miss Becker now.”
Helena smiled knowingly at the doctor and tipped her head.
“Of course,” she said, slowly moving toward the door. “I do hope you can determine what is ailing our little Miss Beckner.”
Duncan glared at his mother, as she exited the room. She knew full well what Christine’s name was, and it infuriated him when she purposely misspoke it.
Before leaving the room himself, Duncan walked over to Christine and touched her gently on the forehead.
“I will be just outside the door,” he said softly, surprised to find himself choking back tears. “I have known Dr. Johnson for many years, and he will take excellent care of you. I promise.”
Christine smiled weakly at him, and Duncan saw that tears were welling in her eyes, as well. He wanted nothing more in that moment than to take her into his arms, comfort her, and sit with her as the doctor examined her. Instead, for propriety’s sake, he merely stroked her head once more and then left the room.
He was relieved that the hallway was empty when he closed the door behind him. His mother must have gone downstairs. Good, he thought. Let her stay as far away from Christine as possible. He was certainly in no mood to deal with his mother just then, and he knew that it would only put a strain on Christine’s condition to have her hovering in her cold, harsh manner.
Duncan paced for what felt like an age, as he waited for the doctor to finish examining Christine. He checked his watch and saw that it had been almost an hour since the doctor had arrived. His heart began to beat wildly. Why would the doctor take so long unless there was something seriously wrong? He forced himself to cease pacing and breathe deeply.
Dr. Johnson was most likely only being thorough, but that thought did nothing to assuage Duncan’s worry. He was almost prepared to interrupt them and demand to know what was wrong when the door finally opened. Ruthie stood there, her eyes red from crying, and she motioned him inside. Without hesitation, Duncan rushed in and went straight to Christine’s side. Her face was paler than he had ever seen it, but her eyes were slowly beginning to close. The doctor looked at him and gave him a reassuring smile and gestured toward the bedroom door. Duncan followed him into the hall, reluctant to leave Christine’s side.
The doctor closed the door behind them and clapped Duncan gently on the shoulder.
“I gave her something to help her sleep,” he said.
Duncan nodded.
“Good,” he said. “Did you find what is ailing her?”
The doctor shook his head slowly.
“Her heartbeat is rather high, and she is very weak,” he said. “Otherwise she seems to be in perfect health.”
Duncan frowned.
“There must be something causing this,” he said, frustrated. “She went from being completely well one moment to being like this the next.”
The doctor nodded.
“I agree,” the doctor said. “But without any other symptoms it is impossible to tell. She could have come down with a terrible cold or had some sort of shock.”
Duncan shook his head. Something was wrong with Christine, and not even the doctor could understand what it was. He bit his lip and blinked back fresh tears.
Dr. Johnson patted his arm again.
“Do not worry,” he said. “I do believe she will recover. I think she just needs a few days’ rest and she will be as good as new.”
Duncan nodded, unconvinced.
The doctor smiled warmly.
“I will come back to check on Miss B
ecker in two days,” he said. “Just to be sure that she has not come down with some illness, and that there is no further need for concern. In the meantime, I have left the sleeping draught on the bedside table. She can have a dose every evening. I also suggest that if her heart begins racing as it was just now, you give her the nighttime dose early.”
