Page 113 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

Why does father need a hot water flask?

Regina ran from the bed and jumped into her brother’s arms as he closed the door behind him. She shook and wept, pouring hot droplets of tears on his shoulder and neck. Duchess Henrietta just sat down on a chair beside her husband’s bed. She looked tired.

“What is it Regina? What is wrong with father?” William asked her.

She didn’t reply. She just kept her head on William’s shoulder, inhaling and exhaling rather audibly as she forced the breath out despite her blocked nose. William eased her out of his embrace and walked to his mother.

“What is wrong with father, ma?” he asked.

The Duchess shook her head first.

“It started this morning son, about an hour after you left. He was alone with me in this room and wanted to walk to the door from the bed. He has been complaining about a recurring headache and tiredness in his limbs everyday now for about a week. And he made the same complaints today. I had already sent for the doctor through Francis before it happened.”

“What happened, mother?” William asked.

“He made for the door, William. He didn’t get there. All of a sudden he fell, clutching his head. I immediately ran to his side and carried him but he was already losing consciousness and his words lacked coherence. I called on some stewards whom helped me put him on his bed. He was growing cold so we put hot water bottle at his feet.”

William drew her into his embrace, hugging her. She said nothing, her eyes didn’t water but she held on to William tight as if scared he would disappear if she let go. William walked, with his mother still holding him, to his father’s bed. He placed his hand on his father’s head. The man was cold. His skin was sweaty.

‘’So did Francis meet the doctor??” William asked.

“Yes, he says he did but that the doctor was just returning from somewhere and was looking for something in his house. Francis said he promised to be here in less than an hour or so,” she replied.

William nodded his head and sat down. It was when his mother went to the other end of the room to get a chair that he realized he was sitting on her favourite chair, the chair immediately beside his father’s head. William had initially intended to tell his mother about the new chance offered him by Joane’s father. He doubted his mother would like it. She would stand even more vehemently against other folks than Joane did but William had made up his mind. This was a rare chance to blot out the stain that the first lost was on him.

Now he couldn’t speak about it, at least not until he was not in his father’s room. William rubbed his nose with his right hand.

Father, please don’t do this.

Regina walked to stand beside William.

“So since he fell, he has been unconscious,,” William asked.

“Yes,” Regina replied.

“He cannot eat but his mouth is slightly open, water goes in” she continued.

There was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” William said. His mother and sister had their gaze on his father, they didn’t even flinch.

In came one of the house stewards, she raised her head as she entered, meeting William’s gaze.

“What is it?” William asked.

“Sir, Lord James and another lady are here to see you,” she said.

Lord James and Joane, what is she doing here?

William nodded his head.

“I am on my way, tell them that,” William answered.

The steward curtseyed and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. William stretched his hand and squeezed his father’s cold digits.

“I’ll be back shortly,” William said to his mother and sister.

Regina looked up to him but said nothing, her eyes were empty. The Duchess did not look at him. William stood up and walked quietly out of the room. He was scared the noise could still find a way of disturbing his unconscious father. He pulled the door in and walked out. When he got outside the door, he dusted his apparel with his hands and cleaned his face with the sleeve. He walked down the corridor, bursting into the sitting room. He first saw Lord James and rising to stand behind him was not Joane, it was Emma.