Free Lavender Lady by Carola Dunn Page A

adventure.
    “Quite ready,” he replied, “though I shall perfectly understand if you wish to postpone it until tomorrow. It is not easy to shake off the distressing impressions of such a harrowing experience as you have just passed through.”
    “It may seem heartless, but one cannot brood over such a happening; indeed one ought not. People who brood do not notice the next person in need who chances by. If I had been still in the mopes over your accident, I’d have been unable to help Grace. Now there is no more I can do for her, so I shall make up for my unconscionable neglect of you, I hope.”
    “Miss Alice and the boys and Ivy have taken good care of me, never fear. And I beg you will not tell Mistress Ivy, but I vow Susan’s cooking is quite as good as hers. Neither compares with yours, of course. What is for luncheon?”
    “You will see when you are below stairs. I fear the boys will not be able to manage your weight if you eat first.”
    “Wretch! If I am grown fat, it is entirely your fault. Pray say that you do not think I shall have to wear corsets, like Prinny.”
    “Does he really? You are bamming me, Mr. Fairfax. I had heard the rumour but could not credit it.”
    “You should hear him creak every time he moves, and you’d believe.”
    “You met him then? You moved in exalted circles, sir.”
    “Oh, the Regent is not the least exclusive,” assured Lord Alton hurriedly. “Where are my bearers, Miss Godric? They shall find me halfway down the stairs if they do not hurry!”
    Hester went to the door and called. “James! Geoffrey! Mr. Fairfax threatens to carry himself below!”
    Robbie was persuaded to be satisfied with carrying a waterglass and some books, and very shortly Mr. Fairfax was ensconced on a comfortably overstuffed, faded chintz sofa. He looked somewhat green about the gills.
    “Are you in great pain?” asked Hester anxiously, shooing her brothers out. “You do not look at all the thing.”
    “I confess I do not feel in prime twig,” admitted Mr. Fairfax with a crooked grin, “but I promise I am not yet ready to stick my spoon in the wall. My leg is not so bad. To tell the truth, I felt a little faint.”
    “Burnt feathers! Smelling salts! Lavender water! I shall fetch—”
    “No, pray do not. It is past already. I’ve no wish to make a cake of myself.”
    His colour was indeed a little improved, but Hester insisted on bathing his forehead with lavender water. He lay half-dreaming after the unaccustomed exertion, basking in the warmth of the fire, for it was a chilly, damp day, the first of autumn. The fresh, delicate scent pervaded the air and stilled the dizziness in his head.
    “Do not let it worry you,” Hester said in her gentle voice. “Recollect that you have been confined to your bed for a whole month. The weakness will not last.”
    Overwhelmed by a wave of gratitude, he took her hand and pressed a kiss on her fingers.
    “My angel of mercy,” he murmured, and fell asleep.
    Withdrawing her hand from his clasp, Hester felt tears rising to her eyes. She had a deplorable tendency to cry recently, she thought crossly. Well, she didn’t know what it was this time, for sure. She was growing as vapourish as Alice, and she had a family to take care of. She went to make lunch, feeling inexplicably low.
    * * * *
    Mr. Fairfax slept scarce half an hour and woke in fine fettle, very ready for luncheon. They all ate with him in the back parlour, sitting at the scratched and ink-stained table, which more often saw lesson books than the platters of cold ham and beef and bowls of fruit that were now set upon it.
    Mr. Fairfax, feeling now entirely one of the family, could not imagine how he had endured the isolation of the bedchamber above.
    “For though you all visited me often,” he declared, “now I may take part in your daily activities. When it comes to lessons, Robbie shall see what a harsh taskmaster I can be, as James already knows.”
    James mimed terror, as Hester