5. Chapter 4
For the first time, Caroline truly missed Edgar. She supposed it was a good thing it finally happened—and before the wedding—but he had been gone for only a few days, and already she was desperate for his letter to arrive.
Wedding planning was going fine, but putting together a guest list made it all seem so hopeless. It wasn’t as if he would have been a massive help in the planning process, but she wouldn’t have to be building a guest list with only her mother for help at the very least.
“Did you put down my brother Patrick and his wife? They’re in Liverpool now, and I think they would appreciate the invitation.”
“Yes, I have both of them and their four children on the list.”
“The oldest two boys are still in Ireland, so you won’t have to worry about them.”
Her mother frowned at the list before them, looking over the names they had both added over the past hour. Remembering everyone you had ever met was rather exhausting.
“I still feel like we are missing people.”
“There are more than two hundred names here. I don’t know who we could be missing.” Caroline frowned as she read the list again. “Except anyone on Edgar’s side.”
“His parents are on the list.”
“The church will look awfully lopsided with only two people on his side.”
Her mother shot her a look. “Where’s his list then?”
Caroline shrugged. “I assume it’s with him. I thought he would be here to help me with this.”
“You knew he was going away for business.”
“Yes, but I hadn’t thought about the guest list before he left,” she sighed.
This was always bound to be her responsibility, but she didn’t think it would ever be quite this lonely.
The details of planning a wedding always seemed so exciting, but when her mother told her it was time to work on the guest list, she didn’t realize how boring it could be.
“I never thought to ask him to give me the names and addresses of everyone he’s ever met.
He hasn’t been much help overall. He grunts and asks what I like when I show him swatches of linen. ”
Her mother shot her a look she couldn’t read. “You truly thought he would help you with wedding planning?” She snorted, shaking her head before continuing. “Men aren’t known for being remarkably helpful in planning anything, let alone a wedding.”
“Edgar didn’t seem dismayed at the prospect.”
Her cheeks reddened as she thought back to her talks with Edgar, where she detailed what needed to be done as he nodded. Perhaps his interest had been more polite than enthusiastic.
“If anyone on his side would be interested in assisting you, it would be his mother. You should write to her to get a guest list. If you want to get on her good side, you should maybe ask for her advice on a few minor details.”
She nodded as she added that task to her to-do list. Caroline wanted to do everything in her power to ensure her marriage began on the best terms.
“What else do you suggest I do with her?”
“I’m not sure,” her mother sighed. “I’m not exactly an expert when it comes to mothers-in-law, but I would like you to be treated with respect. You want to make sure your relationship is settled before you have children.”
Once Caroline had been born, Viscount and Vicountess Blythe had welcomed her parents back into the family.
She had never been made to feel inferior amongst her cousins, and both she and her mother had inherited family jewelry when the Viscountess passed.
Although her mother’s pieces had been simple chains and some pearls, while everyone else received jewels.
However, her mother had always remained sensitive about that relationship, which was something Caroline wished to avoid for herself.
“I do wish Edgar was here to help facilitate the relationship. I’ve only met his mother a few times, and I’ve never written her before.”
Her mother patted her hand. “I know you miss him, but this is the cost of marrying an ambitious man. He is always going to want more, and it’s your job as his wife to support him.”
Mrs. Thomas entered the room holding the silver tray with the ugly china her mother loved.
“Good Afternoon, Mrs. Thomas,” her mother beamed at their housekeeper. “You are just in time for a much-needed break.”
“I figured you ladies would work through lunch. Miss Blythe is nothing if not dedicated.”
Caroline organized the papers so Mrs. Thomas could put the tray on the table.
“I would have had this up to you sooner, but the housemaids were in turmoil so the chores took longer than usual.”
Her mother frowned. “I hope it’s nothing serious.”
Mrs. Thomas shook her head. “Nothing to concern yourself over. It was barely worth mentioning, except I know you like to know all the goings on in the house. One of the maids has fallen ill.”
“Who?” Caroline asked. Sickness wasn’t unusual in a home with a staff as big as theirs. A few times a year sickness would tear through them, and they would have to juggle all of the household responsibilities until everyone was well again.
“Nelly. The poor dear was fine yesterday, but this morning she collapsed while polishing the silverware.”
“Nelly? Has anyone else caught it?”
“No, just her. Which is unusual because usually she has a constitution like iron.”
“Ah, poor girl. Well, hopefully she feels better soon, but if you end up needing more help, feel free to hire someone temporarily at least,” her mother said.
Caroline’s heart thumped. Nelly had been assigned to Valeria, and while their houseguest seemed to be managing her illness, she still was sick enough to be largely confined to her room.
“Has anyone else been assigned to Lady Valeria?”
“Not yet. I checked on her earlier today, but she was sound asleep, and I didn’t want to disturb her. We can reassign someone to her if Nelly is out for more than a day.”
“It’ll be fine, Caroline. You worry too much,” her mother said.
Unease flowed through her. Valeria insisted her illness wasn’t contagious, but there was something about her that felt dangerous that she couldn’t explain.
“I have a headache. I’m going to go rest,” Caroline said, gathering her papers. “Besides, I should write Edgar’s mother for their guest list.”
Neither her mother nor Mrs. Thomas was concerned as she returned upstairs. Caroline needed to check on Valeria.
* * *
Valeria was clothed only in her scandalous shift, but the poor woman hadn’t even made it all the way into bed.
Or out of bed. Caroline wasn’t sure if she had been on her way in or out of bed, but her body was contorted in such a way that her torso was almost entirely off the bed, dangling over the floor.
There was something utterly disturbing about finding someone sleeping like that. It was midday, so who knew how long she had been in that position.
The most curious thing was that despite the very clear deep sleep, Valeria looked good. Her long dark hair was glossy and somehow seemed to be thicker. The palor of her skin had been fixed to such a degree that her cheeks were rosy.
Caroline felt her forehead and her skin burned, worse than any fever she had felt. Grabbing the water pitcher, Caroline poured cool water onto a cloth until it was saturated.
Taking the cool, wet cloth over to the sick woman, she gently put her back into the bed, so she rested on the pillows.
She rubbed the cloth over Valeria’s pulse points on her wrist, noting that even her hands were hot to the touch, before gently wiping her face and leaving the cloth on her forehead in a desperate hope the fever would break.
“How are you still so sick?” She murmured at no one in particular. The quiet of the room unnerved her. “Did our hospitality put everyone else in danger?”
Valeria didn’t stir at her words because of course she didn’t.
Caroline had blindly believed her when she said that what she had wasn’t contagious, but wouldn’t give a name for her illness beyond sun sickness.
She had never seen an illness like this, and she had been volunteering at Dr. Murnau’s hospital for three years.
She didn’t do any actual healing, but she changed linens, fetched meals, and spoke with patients enough to see a variety of illnesses.
If she had listened to her instincts and called for the doctor when this all began, perhaps Nelly wouldn’t have gotten sick.
Standing beside the bed, she knew it was time to go, to leave her to rest, but there was still something so compelling about her.
Her thick eyelashes fanned over her flushed cheeks, her hair was splayed out around her head like a woodland crown.
There was nothing further Caroline could do for her, besides hope the fever broke.
She would have Mrs. Thomas send up some ice and more broth once Valeria woke up in the evening.
It was uncanny how quickly the woman got up once the sun set.
In the meantime, she needed to visit Nelly to see if the two illnesses were related.
She had been to the servant’s quarters very few times over the years.
The last time had been many years ago when she had a nightmare and was looking for her nanny to soothe her back to sleep.
Laura, one of their newer scullery maids, came out of a room and frowned at her before quickly smoothing her expression.
“Which room is Nelly’s? Mrs. Thomas said she isn’t feeling well and I would like to check on her.”
“That is quite thoughtful of you, Miss Blythe. Nelly is the second door on the left. She’ll appreciate the visit.”
Caroline nodded, releasing the woman to her duties. She gently knocked on Nelly’s door, waiting for a response. Ear pressed against the door, she couldn’t hear anything, so she knocked louder. This time she was rewarded with a groan, so she opened the door.