Chapter 19
Ava and Christian had done a wonderful job of welcoming Edith and Tilly into the estate.
Tilly was distracted most days, playing with Luke and Anthony. She really did like helping children, and Luke had taken a shine to her.
Pudding was also an adorable distraction, but he spent more time with Edith. Whenever she needed a quiet moment to herself, Pudding would find her. She didn’t need to worry about crying around a cat, and he was content to sit and purr on her lap.
Every morning, Edith would come downstairs to breakfast and find Tilly, Anthony, and Luke already there with Ava and Christian.
They would eat, and then the children would go to play.
Ava and Edith would often be the last to leave, talking in hushed tones.
Ava would check on Edith, and Edith would ask about how Ava’s pregnancy was progressing.
On the fourth day after she and Tilly had arrived, Edith noticed that Tilly was late getting up.
Usually, she was practically racing Anthony downstairs.
Today, she was down after breakfast had already been served.
Edith and Ava both noticed, sharing a look.
Tilly ate with little enthusiasm, listlessly pushing around the food on her plate.
“Tilly, how are you feeling?” Edith asked.
Tilly paused and looked up at her. “I’m all right, Your Grace.”
Edith frowned, unconvinced. The little girl looked tired, with dark circles under her eyes, and her skin was pale. Edith couldn’t be sure, but she thought she also saw some perspiration on Tilly’s forehead.
“Are you sure?” she pressed. “You can rest if you are feeling under the weather.”
“I am quite sure, Your Grace.”
“It’s fine if you need to rest,” Ava said.
Tilly shook her head vehemently. “I want to see the ducks.” She pouted.
“Ducks?” Edith asked, confused.
“Yes, it’s not raining today,” Tilly said.
Edith looked at Ava, who seemed to understand.
“The Duchess of Richmond was going to take me to feed the ducks today. I really don’t want to rest and miss it.”
“Ah, I see,” Edith said, nodding slowly. “The ducks will still be there tomorrow, though, if you are unwell.”
“I want to see the ducks,” Tilly insisted, with tears in her eyes.
Edith’s heart sank. She knew Tilly had been taking the separation from Laurence poorly, but she hadn’t expected her reaction.
Ava put a hand on Edith’s shoulder. “I think Miss Tilly has made herself clear,” she said softly. “Sometimes children can react to the oddest things when they are overwhelmed.”
“It would seem so.” Edith nodded. “I am just worried she isn’t well enough. Surely she should rest.”
“The duck pond is not that far away,” Ava said. “And if she gets tired, she can always rest this afternoon.”
“Please?” Tilly said plaintively, looking at Edith with her big brown eyes.
Edith looked between her friend and Tilly, her heart aching with worry. But perhaps Ava was right, and Tilly needed the outing to lift her spirits.
“All right,” she relented.
Tilly’s eyes lit up, and she wrapped her arms around Edith’s arm. “Thank you, Your Grace,” she whispered.
Edith smiled weakly and rubbed her small back affectionately.
Ava cleared her throat. “Miss Tilly, Her Grace has said you can come with me, so you can,” she said. “But you will be under my care. As such, you must wear a good coat and proper shoes.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
For a moment, it seemed as if her fatigue had been forgotten.
“But if you feel worse this afternoon, you must go for a nap,” Edith said firmly.
“I will,” Tilly assured her.
Edith looked over at Ava, who nodded.
“Maybe Tilly can nap with me,” Anthony chimed in.
“We can all nap after we play,” Luke piped up.
“I will keep an eye on her, Edith,” Ava promised quietly.
“Thank you,” Edith said gratefully.
After breakfast, Edith watched as Ava and the children departed.
It wasn’t like Tilly to be so tired, but it was not as if she could blame the little girl.
They had fled to Richmond Estate so quickly after the botched charity event.
Any adult would have trouble adjusting, let alone a scared and sad child.
It’s just fatigue. She will be fine. A walk will do her good.
At least, that was what Edith told herself as she waited for them to return. She had sat with Pudding in her lap, listening to the children’s laughter fade down the path. Christian soon left to carry out his duties.
Edith sat there, listening, before taking out her embroidery again. She looked at the work she hadn’t been able to finish in the last few weeks. It was time.
Idle hands and all that.
She sat in the parlor and embroidered while waiting for them to return to the estate. Pudding purred and stretched in her lap.
It was exactly what she had needed. Quiet. Rest. Peace. A small part of her almost hoped that Ava would keep the children out for a little longer, or that the children would go straight upstairs for a nap.
A thought crossed her mind. Would Laurence want to know that Tilly was unwell?
Her hands paused. For a moment, she let herself believe that Laurence would want to know. That he would be the same caring man who had read to Tilly at night. The man who stayed with her during the storm. Then, she thought back to the night that followed the ruined event, and tears stung her eyes.
He doesn’t want to know. He likely doesn’t want to hear from us at all.
After all, he hadn’t sent them any letters while they had been away. He had to know where they were. He just didn’t care enough to ask after their well-being.
She realized her cheeks were damp and wiped them, then slowly returned her attention to her embroidery.
Eventually, she could hear the children returning. She hadn’t made much progress with her embroidery, but it was more than the nothing she had done for weeks.
The boys burst through the door first, laughing and giggling, and immediately ran to find their toys. Pudding slowly opened his eyes in response to the chaos. Anthony reached for the snoozing cat, who allowed himself to be carried away.
Tilly walked in soon after, holding Ava’s hand. She still looked off, but she was smiling, clearly much happier than this morning. Edith was glad to see it.
“How are you feeling, Tilly?” she asked as the girl walked into the parlor.
“Better,” Tilly said with a tired smile.
“Would you like to go for a nap now?” Ava asked.
Tilly shook her head. “No, thank you, Your Grace. I want to play with Luke and Anthony.”
“Are you sure?” Edith asked. “You look tired.”
“I don’t feel it,” Tilly said, looking down slightly.
Edith looked at Ava.
“You did a lot of walking, Tilly,” Ava said gently. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like a nap?”
“I’m sure,” Tilly replied.
“Very well,” Edith relented. “But if you grow too tired, you can go to sleep.”
“I understand.” Tilly nodded.
“Tilly!” Anthony called out. “We found more dollies!”
Tilly beamed and walked over to where Anthony and Luke were seated.
“I’ll just have to keep an eye on her,” Edith said to Ava.
“Indeed. She seems rather keen on playing with her friends.” Ava chuckled. “She’ll probably fall asleep playing if she isn’t careful.”
“That just makes me worry,” Edith admitted.
“She’s still young and learning what her limits are,” Ava assured her
“If you’re certain,” Edith sighed.
She sat back in her seat and went back to her embroidery.
Edith listened to the children play. The sound of their chatter and imaginary games was a welcome, happy background noise. Christian soon came down to join them, and Ava rested across from Edith.
Slowly, though, Tilly’s voice became a less frequent fixture in the noise. Edith didn’t even notice it at first. But then…
Cough.
Edith froze at the sound. She looked up at Tilly, who had covered her mouth. Luke and Anthony had also frozen at the sound. Tilly sniffled, and a maid walked over with a handkerchief. Tilly took it and wiped her nose.
“Maybe Tilly should go for a nap,” Anthony suggested.
“I’m all right… I don’t want to nap,” Tilly murmured.
“You don’t seem all right, Tilly,” Luke noted.
Edith stood up and walked over to them. “Tilly, let me see,” she said, leaning down.
Her heart raced as she looked at her little girl. Tilly hadn’t recovered any color; her cheeks and forehead were flushed.
“Tilly, let me check something,” Edith urged, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Your Grace, I’m well,” Tilly argued weakly.
Edith wasn’t taking her word for it this time. She put her hand to Tilly’s forehead.
Her heart stopped.
Tilly was burning up.
“Tilly, how long have you felt this hot?” Edith asked.
Ava and Christian immediately looked up.
“I…” Tilly trailed off. Her eyes seemed unfocused, as though she were dizzy.
“Tilly?” Edith prompted.
“I’m not sick,” Tilly murmured.
“That’s not what I asked,” Edith said, panic seizing her heart.
“Can I feel?” Luke asked.
Edith nodded.
Luke felt Tilly’s forehead, and his eyes widened. “Papa,” he said, looking at Christian. “She’s really hot. Really, really hot.”
“Very well, let’s get Tilly upstairs so she can rest,” Christian said, taking charge.
Edith nodded and stood to pick her up, but she shuffled away.
“No,” Tilly whimpered.
“Tilly, please, you’re not well,” Edith pleaded.
“But… I want…” Tilly paused, taking a deep breath. “I want to keep playing.”
Christian kneeled and felt Tilly’s forehead. His jaw clenched, and he looked pointedly at Ava, who immediately understood his silent message.
“I’ll send for a physician,” she said, standing up. “We can have him here shortly.”
“I don’t need a…” Tilly took another breath. “I don’t need a physician.”
“Tilly, you are much too hot,” Edith said, her heart hammering in her chest.
“Come, let us get her up to her chambers,” Christian said, helping Edith to pick Tilly up.
She continued to murmur and protest weakly all the way up the stairs. Even when Edith laid her down on her bed, she tried to roll out of it.
“Nooo,” Tilly whined.
“Tilly,” Edith said firmly. “Please. Stay in your bed.”