Read Online The Heiress Companion by Madeleine E. Robins - Free Book Online

so extensive as he thought at first, and in
the main were less severe than he expected; with attention and rest, Miss Margaret
might avoid being seriously marked. He expressed dismay that such a dreadful
accident had come of mere foolishness, prescribed a powder, laudanum, and
frequent application of the marigold salve (with perhaps a touch of gillyflower
or crushed wheat kernel in the preparation), and left, promising to return the
next day, or to send his assistant, Greavesey.
    After seeing the doctor to the door, Rowena went in search
of the rest of the party. Lord Bradwell had retreated to the gun room, and even
the news that the ladies stood a good chance to recover did not improve his
harried, shocked look. Mr. Bradwell and Mr. Ambercot, however, expressed their
relief feelingly, and even Eliza, sipping tea and murmuring softly about her
poor nerves, professed herself delighted that poor Jane and Miss Margaret
Cherwood would be all right.
    “Of course, Jane ought not to move for a few days. Mr.
Bradwell, do you think your mamma will mind...?” She trailed off.
    “What a ridiculous question. You know Mamma as well as I do,
Miss Cherwood.”
    “I shouldn’t like to exceed my authority, Mr. Bradwell,”
Rowena countered gently. “And Margaret — well, she will be laid up for several
weeks at least, I’m afraid, but it seems that luckily I did the right thing in
applying Mrs. Teggetbury’s salve. And now, I am going to look in again on both
of them, and see if Lady Bradwell is awake. If you will excuse me?”
    “Rowena, for God’s sake, take care of her,” Ulysses murmured
fervently.
    Leaving the room, Miss Cherwood was unsure whether it was
his sister or Margaret he meant.
    o0o
    Once assured that her patients were sleeping as deeply as
laudanum and their injuries would permit, Miss Cherwood went to look in on Lady
Bradwell. Far from being asleep, Rowena’s mistress was sitting up, fired with
curiosity and extremely irritated that no one had thought to advise her of the
calamity — whatever the calamity was.
    “Hadn’t you thought to ring and ask, ma’am?” Miss Cherwood
inquired mildly, after Lady Bradwell had done ringing a peal over her.
    Lady Bradwell assumed a face of injured virtue. “I didn’t
want to trouble anyone.” She sighed
heavily. If she had hoped to dismay Miss Cherwood with this, pronouncement she
was disappointed. Her companion smiled a little ruefully and settled herself on
the foot of the bed.
    “Well, to tell truth, Lady B, it’s been sixes and sevens
with us all this afternoon, and I did hope you’d sleep off last night’s
fatigues” — Lady Bradwell sniffed ungraciously — “before I had to trouble you
with today’s disasters. I’m afraid you will have to surrender your invalid’s
title for a while, ma’am. And worse, it really is my fault.” Rowena proceeded
to tell her employer, in terms as level and undramatic as possible, just what
had transpired in the kitchen.
    “Neither one is in danger?” Lady Bradwell asked at last.
    “The doctor swears that with proper care both of them will
be right as tops in time. Jane’s burns are not too serious, although she
sustained a shock. She’ll be wearing mitts for some time, I’m afraid. Poor
Margaret — my God, ma’am, I don’t know if I shall ever forgive myself. If Jane
Ambercot hadn’t acted to save her — I shall never forget that scene if I live
to be ninety. I blame myself. If I’d not suggested that stupid game of making
cakes in the kitchen —”
    Lady Bradwell would not allow her the luxury of
self-reproach, however. “And if I had not gone to give Katie Lester’s child
that blanket I should not have caught the scarlet fever that was in the
village, and you would not be here at all, let alone messing in my kitchen, so
the whole affair becomes entirely my fault.
Silly child. Now, Rowena, I wish you will take yourself to your room and lie
down for a while. And stop your fretting. It won’t do any good,