Page 67 of Once Upon a Castle
“But she’s the mistress of Falcon’s Lair, ma’am. It’s her right to do as she wishes. She’s vowed to dismiss all of us unless our work pleases her.”
“Does Lord Falcon know how his new daughter-in-law treats the servants?” Felicity twisted in her chair to face the young girl.
“Oh, ma’am, what could the old lord do about it?” Bean looked away, her voice dropping to a whisper. “There are some days he hardly knows his own name. Like now.”
“Now?” Felicity was on her feet, nearly knocking over the stool in her agitation.
“Yes, ma’am. I was in there not half an hour ago. With Simmons and Mrs. Atherton. Lord Falcon’s skin was the color of those bed linens, and I swear he didn’t even recognize us.”
“Then we must cancel dinner.” Felicity headed toward the door.
“Oh, no, ma’am. That isn’t possible,” Bean cried.
Felicity turned. “Why not?”
“Lady Honora has invited guests.”
“Guests? Knowing her father-in-law is so ill?”
The girl nodded and began twisting her apron in her hands.
“Who is coming to dinner?” Felicity demanded.
“Dr. St. John, of course. He has dinner here most nights. And Lord and Lady Summerville and their daughter, Diana.”
“Who are these people?”
“Old friends of Lord Falcon’s.” The girl lowered her voice. “They live in the lovely manor house just a carriage ride away.”
“Friends or no…” Without finishing, Felicity pulled open the door.
“Where are you going, m’lady?” Bean replaced the brush and hurried across the room to follow her.
“To pay a visit to Lord Falcon. I need see for myself whether or not he’s strong enough to accompany me to dinner.”
The sight that greeted Felicity made her gasp in shock. As Bean had said, Lord Falcon’s skin was pasty and his breathing labored.
This was not the man she had seen just this morning. In the space of several hours, he had aged beyond recognition.
Drawing a chair to the side of the bed, she sat down and took his hand in hers. “Lord Falcon, can you hear me?”
The eyelids fluttered for a moment, then closed.
Felicity touched a hand to his forehead. The skin was damp. Clammy. It had the feel of death to it.
She leaned close and said firmly, “Lord Falcon, it is Felicity Andrews. Robert’s daughter. Don’t you remember your old friend Rob?”
At that his eyes opened, and he stared vacantly at the face swimming in his line of vision. “Rob, is it truly you? Oh, praise heaven. I knew you’d come. You’re the only one who can save me.”
Felicity stiffened as his big hand closed over hers.
“See how I must pay for my sins,” the old man managed between wheezing breaths.
“Hush, now,” Felicity crooned. “You’ve nothing to atone for.”
“But I do.” His voice grew feeble, and for long moments he lay, eyes closed, breathing shallowly. After a long pause he opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on Felicity. His hand gave a gentle squeeze. “You knew. You’ve always known, haven’t you, Rob?”
When she said nothing, he closed his eyes, as if to shield himself from another wave of pain. “Of course you knew. You could always see through my little charades.” He sighed, long and deep, as if relieved that he was finally about to unburden himself. “It wasn’t just a love of adventure that caused me to lure you to Africa. I knew you couldn’t resist a chance to see firsthand how the witch doctors did their healing. But I had…other reasons.”
