James didn't think that he knew Miss Sempill all that well; but perhaps he was worried for a fellow employee. As the oldest person in this manor, employee or otherwise, he had a habit of somewhat taking the younger ones under his wing. Regardless, it was good to know that he cared. "Archie, have you noticed any of the staff acting unusual recently? Anyone showing any sort of hostility towards Miss Sempill, or else just not acting like themselves?"
He knew, immediately, that it was the wrong thing to ask. Archie flushed red, a wide-eyed look flashing across his face so briefly, that James might have missed it had he not known Archie so well. "My lord," he said slowly, as if it was a struggle to say the words, "are you suggesting that one of our own tried to hurt her?"
Irritation bubbled in James' chest, and he snapped, "Are you questioning me, Archie?"
He flushed even darker but leaned away from the desk. "Of course not, my lord."
"Good." Immediately, James felt a wash of guilt that dampened everything else. It wasn't Archie's fault that Alicia was ill. But it wassomebody'sfault, and he had to find out who. With a deep breath, he asked, "Is there anyone you know who might want to hurt her."
Archie only shook his head, eyes downcast. "No, there's nobody. Miss Sempill is well respected here, and I can't imagine anyone wanting to do her harm. She gets on well with the maids, and on the occasions, I've seen her she always says hello and greets me with a smile. I don't see a reason for someone to... what did happen, exactly?"
James' lips formed a thin line, and he had to fight to get the words out. "She's been poisoned, although I don't know by what."
"Ask the gardener, my lord," Archie suggested, "I've been told that there are certain plants one can use to slip into a person's drink." He winced. "This is purely from reading books, of course."
It was the second time that someone had suggested such a thing, and now it had stuck – not that any of it made sense. "Thank you, Archie," James said, dismissing him with a smile, "you may leave."
"Would you like me to send for the gardener?"
"No, I'll find him myself."
Archie nodded, then slipped from the study as silently as if he were walking on air. Even when he closed the door, it didn't make a sound.
A headache had formed in the back of his skull now, and James rubbed his temples with the flat of his hands. When he stood, the pain only increased, jabbing at the back of his head like a little needle stabbing him a dozen times. Ignoring it, James pushed past the door and strode into the hall-
And right into Edwin.
Edwin yelped as he stumbled back; and James did too, bumping into the wall behind. As Edwin righted himself, straightening out his waistcoat in the process, he quirked a brow in James' direction. "Any reason why you're trying to kill me, brother?"
"Sorry, I simply wasn't watching where I was going."
"Evidently." His expression furrowed. "I saw a doctor by the guest wing. Miss Sempill is the only one staying there, is she not?"
Ah, he hadn't heard? In his panic, James had been so focused on gathering the staff that telling Edwin had... well, it had fled his mind. Besides, he was always so busy doing God knew what, that it was often pointless to interrupt him. "She passed out in the servant's wing earlier," he replied, "I think she was on her way back from the library and got turned around. The doctor says it's poison."
Edwin paled. His eyes flickered to the grand staircase, into the darkness leaking from the long hallways, and scowled. "Poison?"
"That's what he said."
Lips pursed, he didn't reply at first - when he did, it was with the cool kind of practicality that James had never expected from a man like Edwin. "Poison is a terrible thing; if you don't know what kind has been used, there's not much we can do. If she can't flush it out of her system... I'm sorry, James. I know you like the girl."
That was it? Cold, emotionless acceptance that Alicia was already as good as gone? The headache thudded in the back of his skull, but now it had spread to behind his eyes, making his vision fuzzy. "Edwin," he said with forced calm, "you don't know the first thing aboutanythingmedical, and neither do I. Let's leave Doctor Ashburn to do his job, shall we?"
Edwin flushed, pale cheeks turning cherry red as he folded thick arms across his chest. "I'm only trying to prepare you for the worst outcome," he snapped, "but please, ignore me."
If they had been younger, less mature, James might have had a few choice words for Edwin then. Perhaps he might have even lashed out. He was a marquess now though, and couldn't indulge in such childish things, so he fought down the urge to snap and forced a breath from his lungs. He wasn't a man arguing with his brother; he was a marquess trying to look after his staff.
Edwin turned to storm up the stairs, shoes thudding heavily on the carpet. "The children are in their rooms," he called down to James, "It's getting late, and I imagine they're asleep. Do you plan to tell them what's happened to their dear governess?"
James had to crush that urge again; the urge to stride up those steps and give Edwin the lecture he deserved for his coldness. Instead, he simply answered, "Tomorrow, maybe. I don't want them to be hurt."
Edwin hummed in response, then vanished upstairs.
Leaving James alone, for the first time all day, to deal with his feelings. Maybe it was better to be alone than to be with Edwin right now, so he tried to ignore the loneliness creeping up on him. After a moment, he followed Edwin's footsteps up the stairs, and found himself standing by Alicia's bedroom door once again.
Doctor Ashburn was still there, muttering quietly as he looked over Alicia. Although what else he could possibly do after such a long time, James didn't know. Hadn't they already established that there was nothing they could do?
The door creaked open as James stood there - and as if on cue, Doctor Ashburn slipped into the hall. He blinked up at James for a moment, his gray eyes wary. "Lord Arvill."
