John went back to the carriage and prepared Simon to bemoved.
“We’re here,” John said, shaking the sleepingSimon.
“Oh, we’rehome?”
“Yes. And you’ll be soon again in your ownbed.”
“Hownice.”
Standish came with two footmen, not properly dressed yet, but ready to help. They assisted Simon out of the carriage and into a chair they’d brought, and which they now lifted to carry him up to hisroom.
“Have someone sit with him in case he needs anything,” John called out toStandish.
“Yes, YourGrace.”
Now John was utterly exhausted. He’d been running in an emergency mode for the last several days, and now, that his immediate care was no longer needed, hecrashed.
* * *
Neither Susannor Clarissa had any idea that John had returned with Simon when they went down to breakfast later that samemorning.
As soon as they had seated themselves after serving their plates from the covered dishes at the sideboard, Standish came in and whispered to Aunt Clarissa. She seemed surprised, and, after he left, she said to Susan, “John has returned with Simon. It seems he has been seriously ill and John has brought him home torecover.”
“Did he say what the illnesswas?”
“No. But there was an extreme fever. And he says John is resting now. Apparently, they left early in the morning and arrived just afterdawn.”
“Poor Simon, I hope he’ll recover quickly,” Susansaid.
Clarissa replied, “I’ll look on him later this morning. I feel certain they are both exhausted and will need a good longsleep.”
“Today’s the day the Franklin twins are coming to play with Elizabeth. I hope they won’t create any disturbance to disrupt theirsleep.”
Clarissa laughed. “In a house this size? I doubt they will disturb anyone. The brothers’ rooms are in a totally differentwing.”
“I’ll need to prepare Elizabeth to meet heruncle.”
“There’s no rush. I think Simon will need some time to recuperate. I’ve seen what a severe fever can do to abody.”
Susan chuckled, “And I need to prepare myself as well. Simon and I did not part on the best of terms when we met inLondon.”
“Illness has a way of humbling one. You might find him greatlychanged.”
Susan smiled. “I wonder whatever became of Miss Leticia Cresswell of Bristol. I assume she was not still with Simon when Johnarrived.”
“Standish didn’tsay.”
“From what I could observe of Miss Leticia, my guess is that she would have fled at the first sign of anyinconvenience.”
“What time are the twins arriving?” Clarissaasked.
“Ten…well they are being called for at ten. I’m guessing it will be ten-thirty or eleven before the children startplaying.”
“And what will the instruction part of this playtimebe?”
“I thought it would be instrumental to have Elizabeth give the lesson in basic sums. Nothing like teaching, to solidify what she herself haslearned.”
“That sounds mostwise.”
