The Governess of Highland Hall (25 page)

William strode out of his bedroom the next morning, his mind churning with the unresolved issues between him and his sister. Following their confrontation in Dalton’s office yesterday morning, she had fled to her bedroom and stayed there the rest of the day. He had hoped they could discuss the issue calmly at dinner, but Sarah had not come down. His cousins had been away dining with friends, so he had eaten alone.

Later, he had knocked on her door, but she had refused to speak to him any further. He instructed Mrs. Emmitt to bring her a dinner tray, but it had remained untouched in the hall.

His plan to bring Miss Foster home to help sort out the situation had failed miserably. His head began to throb as he recalled their conversation. How could she take Sarah’s side and refuse to help him convince his sister to break off the romance with Dalton? He thought Miss Foster was sensible and loyal, but he had been disappointed by her response.

He supposed her youth and inexperience, along with her romantic ideals, made it difficult for her to understand the situation clearly.

She knew nothing of the scandal his late wife’s unfaithfulness and death had caused him. He grimaced, thinking of the social snubs and cool dismissals he had faced. If a new round of gossip about his sister spread through London society, it would be much worse.

Perhaps he should not care what people thought of him and his family, but experience had been a harsh teacher. If Sarah ran away with Dalton, the ripples of disgrace would hang over them for years, and it would make it very difficult for his son to get into the right schools and for both children
to find suitable mates. He growled under his breath as he crossed the gallery and headed down the main staircase.

He ought to dismiss Dalton, but that would only infuriate his sister, and there was a slim chance she might actually follow through on her threat to run away with him. If she did, he would never forgive himself for pushing her toward that choice.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he glanced at the line of servants waiting in the great hall for morning Scripture reading and prayer. Dalton stood near the end of the line, stone-faced, eyes fixed straight ahead, with the two under gardeners beside him. William set his jaw and shifted his gaze to the fireplace. Not one member of his family waited at the opposite side of the hall. His shoulders tensed as his butler approached.

“Good morning, sir.” Mr. Lawrence nodded to him.

William pulled his pocket watch from his vest and checked the time. “Where is my family? Why haven’t they come down?”

Lawrence leaned closer and lowered his voice. “It appears there is illness in the house, sir.”

William frowned. “Who is ill?”

“One of the maids just informed me that Master Andrew and Miss Millicent are sick in bed.”

Alarm shot through William, and he scanned the line of servants again, searching for his housekeeper. “Where is Mrs. Emmitt?”

“She has gone up to check on them, sir.”

William glared toward the stairs and gallery. “What about Miss Ramsey and the young ladies? Are they ill as well?”

Dalton’s head jerked to the left, and he shot William a panicked glance.

William ignored him and focused on Lawrence.

“I have not seen them this morning, sir.”

William huffed, his irritation matching his concern. He wanted to dash up the stairs and search out the situation himself, but the staff waited. “Very well. In light of the children’s illness, we will dispense with Scripture reading this morning. Let us pray.”

He waited while the servants bowed their heads and closed their eyes, then he followed suit. A dark foreboding pressed down on his heart. Though he was master of Highland and head of his family, he had no real control over what would happen to his children. Their health and well-being were in the hands of God.

“Dear heavenly Father, we come today acknowledging our dependence upon You.” His throat tightened, and he had to swallow twice before he could go on. “We ask You to watch over our household and care for those who are ill. Please comfort and heal them, and give us wisdom as we carry out our duties to the best of our abilities. In the name of Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.”

Lawrence stepped forward. “How can I be of service, sir?”

“We may need to send for Dr. Hadley. I’ll go up to see the children and discuss it with Mrs. Emmitt.” But he had no idea if the housekeeper was knowledgeable about such matters. Blast! Why wasn’t Miss Foster here? She would know what to do.

“Very good, sir. I’ll await your orders.” Lawrence bowed slightly to William, then he nodded to the staff to dismiss them. They filed out, their mood somber.

William narrowed his eyes at Dalton as he passed, but the gardener stared straight ahead, his jaw set. There was no time to discuss matters with him this morning, and even if there were, William was not certain what he would say. He must settle things with Sarah before he spoke to Dalton again.

He hurried up the stairs and passed through the gallery. Sarah’s room as well as the nursery and schoolroom were in the east wing, on the opposite side of the house from William’s bedroom.

Mrs. Emmitt met him at the door of the children’s room and ushered him in. Both children lay in their beds, their faces flushed, hair damp, and their breathing heavy. Lydia sponged Millicent’s forehead while Ann stood by Andrew’s bed, her hands clasped and a tired, worried expression lining her young face.

“What is wrong with the children?”

Mrs. Emmitt leaned toward him. “Ann was up with them all night. Both have fevers, chills, headaches, stomachaches, and sore throats.” She glanced toward them with a weary sigh. “Their fevers are quite high. One of the kitchen maids is also sick with the same symptoms.”

“Do you think that’s how the children caught it?”

“I’m afraid so. We must be very careful and keep the others away so it doesn’t spread through the house.”

“I’ll send for the doctor.” William crossed to the desk. Taking out a sheet of paper, he quickly penned a note to Dr. Hadley, asking him to come as soon as possible. While the ink dried, he turned and considered whom he should send. The nursery maid seemed the least busy, so he summoned her and sent her off to find Lawrence or one of the footmen.

William scanned the children’s faces again. “Mrs. Emmitt, I’ll leave you in charge here.”

The housekeeper’s eyes widened. “I am not a trained nurse, and I have other duties to see to.”

Irritation burned in his chest. “You will stay until the doctor arrives or until I return with someone else to oversee the children’s care. Do you understand?”

Her mouth puckered, but she gave a stiff nod. “Yes sir.” She turned back toward the children’s beds.

He strode down the hall to Sarah’s room and knocked on her door. After two seconds of silence, he was through waiting. “Sarah, the children are ill. I need your help.”

The door opened and she looked out, her eyes wide. “What’s wrong with the children?”

His voice suddenly locked in his throat, and he turned his head away.

“William, what is it?”

He swallowed. “They both have fevers and sore throats.”

She tipped her head, her expression easing. “I’m sure they’ll be fine. Children often catch—”

“No, this is serious. One look at them and—” His eyes suddenly burned, and he lifted his hand to rub them. Blast! He must get a grip on himself.

Sarah laid her hand on his arm. “It’s all right. I’ll go to them at once. You mustn’t worry.”

He straightened. “Thank you. I’ve sent for the doctor, but I’ll feel better knowing you’re there.”

She sent him a reassuring look, then hurried off to the children’s room.

William paced the hall. What would he do now? He didn’t have the experience or temperament for sickroom duty. But driving to fetch Dr. Hadley would be much quicker than harnessing the horses and sending a footman in the carriage.

He ran to his room and grabbed his hat, coat, and gloves, then hurried down the main staircase and out the front door. As he rounded the corner of the house, he saw a woman crossing the park. Recognition flashed through him, and he lifted his hand. “Miss Foster!”

She immediately changed course to meet him. “Good day, sir.”

“I’m glad you’ve come.”

Her eyes widened. “I wrote you a letter, but as I prayed about it, I thought I should bring it myself.” She took a letter from her coat pocket, then offered it to him.

“Thank you. I’ll read it soon. But for now, I need you to go to the house and attend the children. They’re both quite ill. I’m going to fetch the doctor.”

Concern filled her eyes. “Of course, sir. I’ll go to them at once.” She stepped away.

“Wait.” He reached for her hand. “I just want to say … I’m very glad you’ve come back.”

She smiled, and her eyes filled with warmth. “I’m glad as well.” She glanced down at their clasped hands.

Relief rushed through him. He nodded and released her hand, then jogged off to the stables, hoping to catch the groomsmen before they harnessed the horses.

Sliding open the stable door, he hurried down the center aisle, searching the stalls. “Hardy! Gates! Are you here?” But no one answered.

Frowning, he pushed open the back door and scanned the rear stable yard. His car sat in the covered portico behind the stables. And there in the shade of the building stood one of the young groomsman, Peter Gates, and the nursery maid, Ann, clasped in a tight embrace.

“What the devil!” William marched toward them.

Gates dropped his arms and spun around. The maid gasped and stepped back, her face red and blotchy.

“I sent you with an important message!” He glared at the young maid. “But did you deliver it? No! I find you cavorting with the groom in the stable yard! Have you no conscience? No decency?”

Gates stepped in front of Ann. “There’s no need to shout at her. She’s upset after being up all night with your children.”

William pointed at him. “You had better hold your tongue, young man, unless you want to be dismissed this instant.”

The groom’s face flushed red, but he clamped his mouth closed.

“I’m ever so sorry, sir.” The maid’s voice quivered as she stepped out from behind Gates. “I searched for Mr. Lawrence, but I couldn’t find him. So I thought if I came out here and told Peter, he could go for the doctor.”

“It doesn’t look like either one of you were thinking one whit about my children or the doctor.” He scowled at the maid. “Go back to the house. Report to Mrs. Emmitt. And don’t let me catch you out here with Gates ever again. Do you understand?”

“Yes sir.” She bobbed a quick curtsy, lowered her head, and ran back toward the house.

“And you, sir.” He shifted his narrow-eyed gaze to the groom. “I should send you packing, but I don’t have the time to deal with it right now. Go start my car.”

Gates hustled off without a word.

William shook his head. What was this world coming to? Every time he turned around he discovered someone else carrying on a secret romance with no thought to the impact it would have on others.

Secret romances below stairs caused all kinds of trouble. He would have to speak to Mrs. Emmitt and Lawrence about the situation later. Right now he must find Dr. Hadley and bring him back to Highland to see the children.

He clenched his jaw as an anxious prayer formed in his mind.
Please watch over Andrew and Millie and restore them to good health. I have not been the father I should be, but if You will give me another chance, I will make an effort to change my ways. Please, Lord, I could not bear to lose them
.

Sarah looked up as the clock on the nursery mantel struck three. Late afternoon sunlight spilled across the floor and touched the head of Andrew’s bed. She set his empty soup bowl on the bedside table. Surely, finishing his broth would help him regain his strength and fight off this terrible illness. She smiled down at him. “Why don’t you just close your eyes and rest for a bit?”

“All right,” he whispered and turned his head to the side. Poor lad. She had never seen him this ill.

The doctor’s diagnosis of scarlet fever had struck fear in her heart and sent a wave of panic through the house. Dr. Hadley ordered the children to be isolated, and only Sarah, Julia, and Ann were allowed in the nursery to care for them.

Sarah glanced at Ann as she put away one of Millicent’s clean nightgowns in the closet. A basket of folded laundry sat at her feet. The girl was certainly faithful and a hard worker, but for once, Sarah wished Ann would leave the room so she could speak to Julia privately.

The last thirty-six hours had been an exhausting whirl, caring for the children and grieving over her brother’s insistence that she must break off her relationship with Clark. If she wasn’t so worried about Andrew and Millie, she would go downstairs right now and beg William to change his mind.

Clark was a fine, honorable man, worthy of her love and William’s acceptance.
Surely, there was some way she could persuade her brother to agree to their courtship.

Sarah closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. Confronting her brother would have to wait until the children were out of danger and she had a little rest and could think clearly.