Chapter 2 #2
“I hope that is Caroline re-united with her Mama. We must be nearly at the Hall.”
“Yes, that’s my sister, Amelia, and my Uncle Barnaby ahead,” Sebastian told her.
“I must thank you again for your actions at the ruins of the Dower House. I’ll never forget that moment of terror as the floor collapsed. I don’t think I could have saved her without your help.”
“I’m am greatly relieved I was close by. It has been quite an eventful first day at Herndale Hall,” she told him.
As they reached the edge of the woods, Amelia rushed to greet her brother. “Sebastian. Are you quite well?” she asked him with concern in her voice.
“All’s well,” he assured her.
“Caroline says you saved her, and she nearly fell through the floor of the Elms.”
“She’s right. If it hadn’t been for Miss Aston, I don’t think I could have saved her.”
Amelia turned towards the young woman standing next to her.
“Miss Aston, when I asked you to follow my brother, I had no idea there would be danger. I can only thank you for saving my little girl.”
“It was fortuitous that I found his Grace. Would you like me to begin duties immediately?” Miss Aston asked.
“Oh no, Nurse has taken the children to the nursery.” Amelia smiled.
“Though Caroline tells me that you are to take tea in the library and make a little book about Thomas.”
“She’s quite right,” laughed Sebastian.
“I promised her that before the floor collapsed to try to entice her back to safety. She’s remembered, which suggests she is not too shaken by events.”
“Let’s hope so,” said Amelia.
“Now, Miss Aston, I hope you will be happy at Herndale, and your chamber is ready for you. Mrs. Fernley will show you upstairs and give you a tour of the house.
“Thank you. I will be glad to tidy myself after the… escapade,” admitted Miss Aston.
Sebastian could see the moment his sister became concerned about his shoulder and winced as he tried to straighten himself.
“Sebastian, you’re injured?” Amelia asked him.
“I have sent for Doctor Reid as soon as Caroline disappeared, just in case we needed a surgeon. He’s on his way. He can examine you when he arrives.”
“I wrenched it a little as we pulled Caroline out of the hole in the floor. There is no lasting harm done. I’m not sure about Miss Aston though.
” He said this, hoping it might divert attention from himself.
He also knew Miss Aston herself had pulled with considerable strength during their attempt to save Caroline.
She turned to Miss Aston.
“Are you injured?” Amelia asked with concern in her voice.
“Our friend and neighbor Doctor Malcolm Reid will be here soon. I can ask him to speak with you.”
“I feel a little sore, but I believe that is to be expected,” Miss Aston told her.
“Pray do not distress yourself.”
“Nonsense. It is sensible for Doctor Reid to examine you. I absolutely insist. I can’t have our new governess becoming ill on her first day. He can give you a draught to help you sleep should the pain increase.”
“Very well,” agreed Miss Aston reluctantly.
“Ah there he is! Malcolm,” Amelia called, and ran across to a sandy haired man standing by the front steps of the Hall.
“It seems we must submit to a medical examination, Miss Aston. I had hoped we had completed our ordeals for today,” said the Duke in a dry tone.
“If it makes Lady Fenwick happy then I shall submit to Doctor Reid’s ministrations. At least we do not have to be examined by Nurse, who is thankfully occupied with the children.”
Her wit drew a hearty laugh from Sebastian.
As they walked together, he found himself acutely aware of the young woman walking next to him, the copper highlights shining in her auburn hair in the late afternoon sunshine.
She could easily take the character of a governess and be supportive of her mistress agreeing to whatever was suggested.
Yet what draw his admiration was in that moment of heightened danger, she had been capable of directing events with determination.
They talked together about the history of the house which had been re-modelled after the English civil war with limestone replacing the medieval wooden frontage.
Sebastian noticed that she did not flinch when she looked at him. He had forgotten what it felt like for someone to cast their eyes upon his countenance without flinching.
He guided Miss Aston up the steps leading to the hall where Mr. Howarth the butler guided them into the drawing room.
“Doctor Reid is in the nursery, but will join you momentarily he told them.
“Shall I bring tea?” he asked.
“Absolutely” Sebastian smiled at Miss Aston.
“I may take something stronger. Would you care for a class of medicinal Madeira?”
She demurred, smiling, while suggesting he took a glass of cognac, a little stronger than the wine.
“You have been through quite an ordeal your Grace, I’m quite sure the good physician will agree when he joins us.”
“While you await tea, please take a seat near the fire, and warm yourself.”
When Doctor Reid arrived, he announced that all was well with his young patient in the nursery.
“I’ve told Nurse that Caroline must rest, though there were protests about her need to take tea with you, Sebastian, in the library.”
“Oh yes, we have an agreement to meet for tea. It can be postponed for another day if you think that advisable,” explained Sebastian.
“It is not necessary, she needs to enjoy life, and that is my prescription. Now, I believe Miss Aston is next,” He went over to Miss Aston, who assured him she was uninjured.
“I’m not sure I believe you, Miss Aston,” Doctor Reid told her smiling.
“Show me your hands,” he ordered.
Sebastian gasped at the sight of her scraped palms. He hadn’t noticed as they had walked back together to the house.
“I’ll ask Mrs. Fernley to make up a salve for your hands. I have a recipe she can use which is efficacious,” suggested Doctor Reid.
“It’s nothing truly,” she said.
“I have been fortunate.”
“From what Lady Fenwick tells me, the floor collapsed and you could all have been killed,” replied the kind physician.
“I’ve survived far worse than old ruins, and unstable floors,” Miss Aston told him firmly.
Something in her tone caught Sebastian’s attention, and caused him to look towards her with curiosity.
What had Miss Aston survived that made risking death in dangerous ruins seem unremarkable? He wondered.
“Now before you examine me,” Sebastian told the physician.
“I shall take Miss Aston to find Mrs. Fernley. Miss Aston, we can meet tomorrow to discuss how we work together to ensure Caroline enjoys learning. We may need to be creative in the circumstances. For now I suggest you have a rest and take supper in your room if you prefer.”
“Of course,” Miss Aston murmured, and Sebastian could see the tiredness after travel, then events at the Elms etched on her face,
After the new governess had left, he settled to talk with Malcolm.
“I’ve left the Elms until now. I don’t enjoy going there, as you can imagine. However, Amelia felt the children were comforted by visiting it and feeling close to their Papa. Nonetheless, I shall instruct the grounds men to demolish what they can and make it safe as possible.”
“That seems wise Sebastian,” agreed Malcolm.
“There is always a possibility that Caroline might return there again. It was her home, and they had a happy life there.”
Sebastian knew his sister had entered the room from the expression on his friend’s face. He’d had a suspicion there was more than professional concern in Malcolm’s attentiveness to his sister.
Amelia’s voice softened as she moved towards the doctor, and they stood a little closer than propriety demanded.
There is something developing between them, though I don’t believe Amelia is aware of it yet.
Malcolm is too respectful of her loss of Thomas to press his suit. He will though, and I hope it works out for them. Amelia deserves happiness after losing Thomas.
For a moment he felt wistful for their life before the fire. He had been considered the most desirable match and was continuously overwhelmed by a collection of mothers, each determined to parade her accomplished daughters before his notice.
He’d imagined himself in life, captivated by more than one young lady.
No one would entertain any thought of his taking their daughter to the alter now…
that part of his life was over. He was quite convinced that affection was a luxury he had to relinquish.
Though his rank was paramount, he believed that even the most ambitious mama would recoil at the prospect of a son-in-law so cruelly marked by fate.