Free Jack on the Box by Patricia Wynn

say yesterday?”
    Mrs. Selby would not oblige him. She looked as if she would like to, but for some reason could not repeat his words. “Never you mind,” was all she said. “But you were that disrespectful.”
    “I was?” Jack was thoroughly mystified. He had never spoken disrespectfully to a lady in his life. And if he had, why had Miss Cecily given no sign of being offended? He decided Mrs. Selby must be exaggerating and dismissed her comment from his mind.
    “Well, never mind that now. I, of course, shall be most respectful to your mistress. But would you please send someone to fetch her. I really am in the most intolerable pain.”
    Now Mrs. Selby was not a cruel woman, but neither did she think Miss Cecily should be waiting on a common coachman. She tried to get Jack to drink his laudanum, but he refused. Then she tried to coax him with his soup, but he complained that it was too cold. In frustration, she told him that if it were left to her she would let him lie and rot, but Miss Cecily had left her orders that he was to be made comfortable.
    “Then ask her to come here, please, and I will promise to be a good boy.”
    Mrs. Selby noticed the firm set of his mouth. There was something about him she mistrusted, but she had lived long enough to respect determination wherever she saw it. She also knew that Jack’s ghostly pallor was a sign of real pain.
    Without another word she nodded to the servant girl, who ran gratefully from the room. Mrs. Selby rose ponderously from her chair and started towards the door, looking over her shoulder only to deliver these final words: “Very well, young man. But just so you know, I’ll be right outside here in the corridor if Miss Cecily needs me.”
    Jack closed his eyes and sighed in relief, but he wondered what he had said yesterday to make Mrs. Selby so wary of him. Perhaps the pain had made him curse. He must apologize to Cecily if he had said anything rude.
    After a few minutes, Cecily entered. She must have come quickly to arrive so soon, he reflected, and now that she was there he felt sheepish. She studied him with concern as she stood by the bed.
    “What is the matter, Mr. Henley? Sarah said you would not take your medicine.”
    She looked young and fresh standing there, in a green muslin gown which hugged her neat figure. Feeling curiously better, Jack stared at her a moment longer before answering.
    “I am sorry for disturbing you, Miss Cecily, but I must ask a favour.”
    “Yes, what is it?” she asked. She still did not seem to be offended.
    “Might I have . . .” he began. It sounded so silly, really. “Might I  have something to eat?”
    Her eyes widened in shock. “Haven’t you been given anything, Mr. Henley? Oh, I am so very sorry! But I brought you in a bowl of soup myself!”
    “You did?” Jack said, peculiarly pleased. “Well, yes, the soup was here when I awoke. But, you see, it was very cold by that time, and I could not eat it.”
    “Naturally,” she said, quite contrite. “I should have left instructions for it to be heated and brought to you later. You were sleeping so soundly when I brought it, that I did not like to disturb you. I thought you would wake soon. Would you like to have more brought now?”
    Jack directed her a pleading look. “No, not exactly. I was wondering whether I might not have something more substantial. You see, my leg may be injured, but I assure you, my stomach is perfectly unharmed.”
    Cecily looked blankly at him for one moment and then laughed. “Yes, I see. I am so sorry, Mr. Henley. You must be starving! Well, I had quite thought you would be feeling too poorly to eat. I shall have something brought up to you quickly. But you must take your laudanum. Mrs. Selby told me you were in pain.”
    Jack shifted uncomfortably and saw her wince in sympathy.
    “I can’t very well do that or I shall fall asleep before my food gets here,” he said.
    She frowned, thinking for a moment. Then she said, “You ought