Just as quickly, he replaced the cork in the bottle and jumped up from his seat, hurrying over to the drinks cabinet at the far side of the room. Struggling to hold his breath, already able to taste the vile bitterness of whatever herbs were in the concoction, Elijah grabbed the nearest bottle of alcohol and swigged directly from it. The burning sensation that chased down the disgusting elixir was a welcome relief, and he finally breathed a sigh, upending the alcohol bottle one more time before slamming it back down on the cabinet.
That was perhaps the most disgusting thing he had ever tasted, and he had been forced to swallow several things while trying to cure his illness.
None of that had ever done him any good, some things causing him to break out in hives or even vomit for days. But swallowing something vile was far better and quicker than the thought of all those leeches that the London doctors had insisted upon putting all over his arms and sometimes his legs. He quivered whenever he thought about them, sometimes even having nightmares of the little slimy black creatures that latched on and drained him of his little strength when he felt his worst.
It was worth a shot,Elijah thought, clutching his hand to his stomach in the hopes he might actually be able to feel the elixir doing its work. When he felt nothing, he sighed and decided he was probably too hopeful.
Wandering back to his chair, he dropped back down into it to check through the letters he had received since arriving in Oxfordshire. He’d had several invites to balls, parties, and luncheons all over the countryside, all from the mothers of eligible debutantes who had likely heard he was the wealthiest bachelor in the area, choosing to overlook his chequered past for a chance at the title of duchess for their daughter one day.
It didn’t bear thinking about, nor did the thought of accepting any such invites. He had already got himself into enough trouble of late, and it was likely time to give all that a rest, even though he had promised himself he would have as much fun as possible while he could stilldo so. It did not seem worth it now when he thought of the kind of memory he would be leaving behind for his family.
Seeing the looks of disappointment and horror on his parents’ faces the last time he had seen them both was enough to dissuade him from any more funny business.
Deciding to write a quick letter to them both, he lost himself in concentration, and when he finally finished up, he saw it was far later than he had anticipated. With a deep yawn, he sealed both letters and carried them to the table beside the house's front door. Even a younger butler such as Greaves would surely understand what to do with two freshly written letters addressed to his parents when he came across them in the morning.
With that, he headed up to bed, and it was only as his foot touched the step halfway up the staircase that he gleaned something miraculous.
Usually, when he was climbing the stairs, his stomach grew worse, leaving him breathless with pain. But tonight, he felt only a small twinging. It was uncomfortable but not at all painful as it had often been whenever he was on his way into one of his worst bouts of illness.
Pausing on the stairs, he held onto the bannister with one hand and clutched his abdomen with the other, pressing it quite firmly until he felt that it was not nearly so tender as usual. Making an effort to bend this way and that, he found repeatedly that Lady Belmont’s concoction had actually worked.
And it was with that he thought that first thing in the morning he had to visit her to find out more about her work. If even all she could do was manage his pain until the end finally came, then he was willing to accept the help.
Of course, it didn’t hurt either that she was far more beautiful than any of the male doctors he had been forced into seeing in London by his mother, who was adamant and desperate that he be cured.
As he continued up the stairs to bed, he thought,Maybe I shall have something positive to write home about yet.
Chapter 7
For once, Flit lay splayed out in the sunshine, giving the bird and bees a rest as Melissa and Betty knelt in the garden tending to the herb patches and flower beds. Melissa could see why, as the day was exceptionally beautiful, and the warmth was making her feel more than a little dozy as she crouched and pruned a few more stems of lavender, ready for her calming perfume. She took a moment to sniff the flowers, enjoying the effect it had upon her, before placing them in the basket between her and Betty.
“My Lady, Winston is coming,” Betty pointed out just as Melissa heard the sound of his feet upon the gravel path. Without rising to her feet, she turned to look at him, offering a smile to the old butler.
“Yes, Winston? Do you have need of me?”
“Forgive the disturbance, My Lady, but you have received a visitor,” Winston explained with a bow of greeting as he stood beside her. “A Lord Elijah Spurnrose.”
Already?Melissa thought, startled that it had taken the viscount less than twenty-four hours to come and seek her out since she had given him the vial to help with his pain management. Perhaps her painkiller had been more potent than she had anticipated for whatever was ailing him.
Rising to her feet, Melissa wiped her soiled hands on her apron and said, “Please, Winston, show him through. I shall receive him here in the garden.”
“Of course, My Lady.”
The butler bowed and hurried off, disappearing through the back patio door. Not a moment later, he was replaced upon the patio steps by Lord Spurnrose himself, who must have been waiting just within.
As he stood there, Melissa met his gaze, and her breath hitched up in her throat, catching her off guard. She had to admit that Lord Spurnrose was an exceptionally handsome man with his auburn hair, forest green eyes, well-tanned yet supple skin, and the afternoon shadow that always seemed to grace his jawline.
Heart racing, Melissa found herself smiling uncontrollably. Feeling quite off, she lifted her hand and waved at him, encouraging him down the steps before she turned to Betty, forcing her gaze away from his.
“Betty, please would you take the lavender and put it up to hang in the kitchen?” she asked her maid, feeling as though she did not want her around to witness whatever exchange might come between her and Lord Spurnrose. Though she was certain it would be nothing overly exciting, she didn’t like the thought of anyone seeing her blush in his presence.
After all, if nobody were around to see it, had it really happened at all?
“Of course, My Lady.” Betty rose to her feet almost as Lord Spurnrose’s footsteps joined them, and Flit jumped, beginning to bark as though he was warning the nobleman to keep his distance from her.
Turning towards the noble, Melissa said over her shoulder, “Betty, please would you take Flit with you? I think he has had enough sun for one day.”
“Of course, My Lady,” Betty said, gripping hold of the basket and making a clicking sound with her tongue against her teeth to draw the dog's attention. “Come, Flit.”
