The Heart's Companion - By Holly Newman Page 0,58

listen to me and heed my words concerning the Willoughbys and your aunt. They are planning mischief."

"No, sir. You do not know that. I will not listen," she said decisively, gathering her wits. She stood up, sending Sir Helmsdon surging to his feet as she did.

"Please, Miss Grantley—"

"No, sir, though I do appreciate your sincerity."

He shrugged, his hands falling limply by his sides. "All right. That is a noble attitude. I pray you do not live to regret it."

A faint wisp of icy dread swept over Jane. She blinked and shivered slightly, then her spine stiffened in resentment. She would not be a party to idle, ruinous gossip!

"I’ll be leaving this afternoon," he continued, unaware of her reaction. "I thank you and Lady Elsbeth for your hospitality."

She relaxed, bestowing that springtime smile on him that few gentlemen ever saw. Then her stomach gurgled, louder than before. Her eyes widened in shock, her hand rising reflexively to her stomach.

Sir Helmsdon laughed. "I see I am de trop. Come, Miss Grantley, let me not keep you any longer from your breakfast." In the hall Jeremy came to her side, impatiently waiting for her to part company with; Sir Helmsdon.

"Miss Jane, Lord and Lady Willoughby and Lady Tipton are at breakfast. Miss, I must tell you—"

"Not again, Jeremy!" Jane interrupted, weary disgust in her voice. "I’ve warned you repeatedly against eavesdropping. I will not listen to anything you say, and so I shall warn Lady Elsbeth. Perhaps without a suitable audience you will desist. "

"But Miss Jane!" he fairly wailed.

"No! Oh! I shall be glad when Nagel returns to his duties," she said dramatically, utilizing heartfelt accents.

The young footman drew back a moment, then compressed his thin lips. "I don’t care what you do, Miss. I will tell you—"

"Jane! Jane!" called Lady Elsbeth from the top of the stairs. "We have another invalid. Nurse Twinkleham is sick."

"Yes, I know, the boys told me."

"Earlier I prepared a basket to take to the parsonage; Mrs. Chitterdean sent round word that Reverend Chitterdean has also succumbed, but he can wait a bit, I only trust he does not lose his voice! Right now I believe Nurse Twinkleham’s need is greater. The basket is in the stillroom. Would you send someone for it, please? And my herbal journal? It’s in my chamber. Oh, and please extend my apologies to our guests." Lady Elsbeth came halfway down the stairs as Jane sent Jeremy off with a quick wave of her hand.

"Mrs. O'Rourke is suffering the gout again," she told her aunt when they no longer needed to shout.

Lady Elsbeth sighed. "If Nagel were well we could trust him to keep the servants out of the wine cellar. I’ll see to her later. It will not harm her to suffer a bit. In the meantime, I’ll direct my woman to answer your bell."

"Thank you. Oh, and I almost forgot. Serena claims Millicent continues to be laid low."

"I know. Tell her I shall look in on her presently."

Jane laughed in sympathy. "I dare swear a London physician is not as busy as you."

"But at least they are paid!" she answered with a tired laugh. Jane gently reminded her that she’d warned her against being at everyone’s beck and call. Then she relented and told her aunt to rest after she'd finished dispensing her healing herbs; she would see to their guests. Her stomach growled again.

Lady Elsbeth laughed. "But who shall see to you?" she asked as she turned to go back up the stairs.

After Jane found her aunt’s herb journal she gave it to a housemaid to take to Lady Elsbeth, then she started purposefully toward the breakfast parlor. Her stomach grumbles were turning to pangs. Mr. Burry met her in the hall.

"Ah, there you are Miss Grantley. A moment please."

Jane sighed, and stopped, turning to Mr. Burry with exaggerated attentiveness.

"This is deuced awkward to say, but might I trouble you to change my room? It faces east you see, and gets bright morning sunlight streaming in the smallest crack. It wakes me before times, which just does not sit well with my constitution." He leaned forward, confidentially. "Makes me bilious if I don’t get enough sleep." He rolled back on his heels, nodding.

"I think we can accommodate you, Mr. Burry. Sir Helmsdon informs me that he will be leaving today. I believe his room to be on the west side. Would that suit you?"

"Oh, indeed, Miss Grantley. Yes indeed. You are too kind. Sorry to hear Helmsdon’s off. Nice