Chapter 1 #3
Caroline blushed, her eyes darting to the ground before looking at Valeria again.
The years had been kind to her in her transition from girlhood to womanhood.
Her heart-shaped face lost its baby fat, and her skin was now utterly flawless.
Her deep brown eyes were so captivating Caroline had trouble looking away.
She was about to ask another question when Valeria’s eyes rolled back in her head, and she fell in a heap on the floor. Crushed petals from the yellow roses in her hair lay on the marble floor.
Caroline screamed. It was as if time sped up and slowed down all at once. Edgar sprang into action beside her, but she couldn’t tear her eyes from Valeria. It was a cruel trick of fate to have Valeria ripped from her after so many years of waiting to see her again.
* * *
Caroline paced outside the door, her hand kept sneaking towards her mouth before she remembered that biting her nails was a disgusting habit she was far too old to indulge. The bedroom door opened, and a crying woman emerged.
“How is she?” Caroline asked.
“She appears to be stabilized, but she’s asleep. I only hope she hasn’t fallen into another coma,” the woman sobbed before burying her face into a frilly handkerchief.
Caroline was fairly sure the woman’s name was Miss Elizabeth, but she was wailing so hard when she introduced herself as Valeria’s companion that Caroline couldn’t be entirely sure.
“Has she fallen into a coma before?”
“Yes, but usually there are signs when she is sick. She has never fainted without warning before.”
“The poor dear,” Caroline’s mother said. She had been waiting with Caroline since they brought Valeria up from the ballroom. “Is there anything we can do for her?”
“Unfortunately not. I have left her tonic on the bedside table. I’m afraid I must go to London to fetch her doctor. She sees a specialist since her disease is so rare. However, Lady Valeria is in no state to travel; can I trouble you with keeping watch over her until I return?”
“Of course,” her mother responded. “Lady Valeria may stay here for as long as she needs.”
“I thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Blythe. Your kindness is appreciated, especially as you and your daughter are so busy planning her wedding.”
“She will be in good hands, Miss Elizabeth; you don’t have to worry,” Caroline said. “Is there anything we should know about her care?”
The sound of Valeria hitting the marble floor haunted Caroline. She was thankful the woman hadn’t died right there.
“She has a sun sickness, so the curtains must be closed all day. Because of her difficulty with sunlight, she sleeps all day and is only awake at night, so don’t be alarmed if you never see her during daylight hours.”
Carline frowned; Valeria didn’t have such an illness eight years ago.
Their days were spent swimming in the sea and basking in fields of wildflowers.
A vivid memory of Valeria sitting on one of the rolling hills on her family’s vineyard with her head tilted towards the sun as if she were a sunflower came to mind.
“Of course,” her mother said, taking the companion’s hand and offering a reassuring squeeze. “Just focus on fetching the doctor. We’ll take care of her.”
“Thank you, Lady Valeria’s family will remember your kindness and your hospitality will not go unrewarded.”
“There’s no need for that. I’m only doing what I would hope to be done if my daughter were in the same situation.”
“Our town’s doctor is downstairs; let me get him,” Caroline said, wringing her hands. “He may not be familiar with Lady Valeria’s specific case, but I’m sure he could help her while we wait for your return.”
“No, the wrong treatment could make it worse, perhaps even causing her death. We cannot risk her being treated incorrectly.”
Caroline wanted to point out that there was no chance of death from an examination, but her mother placed a hand on her arm to silence her.
“Of course, my daughter only wishes to help. If it were possible for her to fix things through pure force of will, Lady Valeria would already be healed.”
Caroline wanted to roll her eyes at her mother’s dramatics
“I must prepare my carriage for the journey. I thank you both again.” Miss Elizabeth gave them a quick curtsey. “I will return very soon.”
The woman rushed off, leaving Caroline and her mother standing in front of the closed guest room door.
“Why can’t I fetch Dr. Murnau?”
“It’s important to respect people’s wishes. If she isn’t contagious and doesn’t want to see another doctor, then she won’t. Besides, Dr. Murnau likely won’t know what to do with her anyway.”
“I wouldn’t say it’s clear that she isn’t contagious,” Caroline grumbled.
Which was why Dr. Murnau should be there. Sure, Miss Elizabeth insisted she wasn’t contagious, and she knew convulsions weren’t contagious, but she still didn’t understand why they couldn’t use the doctor in hand first.
“Let the young woman rest. You can check on her tomorrow and ask if she would like to see the doctor then.”
“Fine.”
The compromise was fair. Caroline was sure that with a little bit of pressure, she could convince Valeria to see a doctor. Dr. Murnau may be a village doctor, but he had trained at a prestigious university in Munich before settling in the countryside.
Caroline looked back at the guest room door. Valeria would be all right. She would make sure of it.