Page 31 (1/2)
"Try giving hi a carved wooden cup to Kev He pressed the edge of the cup against Rohan’s lips, and coaxed him to take a sip
The heavy lashes lifted, and Rohan focused on him with effort "Kev…"
"I’m here, little brother"
Rohan stared and blinked He reached up and clutched the placket of Kev’s open-necked shirt like a drowning … blue"
Kev slid his arlanced at the rom phuro, and tried desperately to think He’d heard of such a sympto too italis," he murlove," the rom phuro said His tone was matter-of-fact, but his face was taut with anxiety "Quite lethal Kills livestock"
"What’s the antidote?" Kev asked sharply
The leader’s reply was soft "I don’t know I don’t even know if there is one"
Chapter Twenty-one
After dispatching a footo to the Gypsy ca Leo couldn’t stand the inactivity or suspense of waiting And he was deeply troubled by the thought of anything happening to Rohan, who seemed to have beco his way down the grand staircase, Leo had just reached the entrance hall when he was approached by Miss Marks She had a houseirl by the wrist The maid was pale and red-eyed
"My lord," Miss Marks said tersely, "I bid you to co you should-"
"In your supposed knowledge of etiquette, Marks, you should know that no one bids the overness’s stern mouth twisted impatiently "Devil take etiquette This is important"
"Very well Apparently you must be humored But tell me here and now, as I’ve no time for parlor chitchat"
"The parlor," she insisted
After a brief glance heavenward, Leo followed the governess and househ the entrance hall "I warn you, if this is about some trivial householdissue to deal with right now, and-"
"Yes," Marks cut him off as they walked swiftly to the parlor "I know about that"
"You do? Hang it all, Mrs Barnstable wasn’t supposed to tell anyone"
"Secrets are rarely kept belowstairs, overness’s straight spine, and experienced the sa of irritation he always felt in her presence She was like one of those unreachable itches on one’s back It had sohtly at her nape And the narrow torso and tiny corseted waist, and the dry, pristine paleness of her skin He couldn’t help thinking about what it would be like to unlace, unpin, and unloosen her Res that would make her all pink and steamy and profoundly bothered
Yes, that was it He wanted to bother her
Repeatedly
Good God, what the bloody hell rong with him?
Once they were in the parlor, Miss Marks closed the door and patted the housemaid’s arm with a slender white hand "This is Sylvia," she told Leo "She saw so and was afraid to tell anyone But after learning of Mr Rohan’s illness, she came to me with this information"
"Why wait until now?" Leo asked i untoward should be reported at once"
Miss Marks answered with annoying calmness, "There are no protections for a servant who inadvertently sees soirl, Sylvia doesn’t want to be oat Do we have your assurance that Sylvia will suffer no ill consequences froe?"
"You have my word," Leo said "No matter what it is Tell ainst Miss Marks for support Sylvia was so overness, it was a wonder they didn’t both topple over "My lord," theand brought them to the breakfast sideboard, for the sole fillets But as I ca room, I saw Mr Merripen and Mr Rohan out on the terrace, talking And Dr Harroas in the rooirl’s lips tre into Mr Merripen’s coffeepot He reached for so in his pocket-it looked like one of those queer little glass tubes at the apothecary’s But it was so fast, I couldn’t be sure what he’d done And then he turned around and looked at , my lord I didn’t want to make trouble"
"We think that perhaps Mr Rohan drank the adulterated beverage," the governess said
Leo shook his head "Mr Rohan doesn’t take coffee"
"Isn’t it possible that he e of sarcas
"It’s possible But it wouldn’t be in character" Leo let out a harsh sigh "Da, Harrow did Thank you, Sylvia"
"Yes, my lord" The housemaid looked relieved
As Leo strode from the room, he was exasperated to discover that Miss Marks was at his heels "Do not come with me, Marks"
"You need ate a verb Whatever it is governesses do"
"I would," she said acerbically, "had I any confidence in your ability to handle the situation But frohly doubt you’ll accoovernesses dared to talk to the master this way He didn’t think so Why the devil couldn’t his sisters have chosen a quiet, pleasant woman instead of this little wasp? "I have skills you’ll never be fortunate enough to see or experience, Marks"
SheHarrow ’s rooave a perfunctory knock and went inside The wardrobe was empty, and there was an open trunk by the bed "Do excuse the intrusion, Harrow," Leo said with only the shallowest pretense of politeness "But a situation has arisen"
"Oh?" The doctor looked remarkably incurious
"Someone has been taken ill"
"That is unfortunate I wish I could be of assistance, but if I aht, I must leave shortly You’ll have to find another doctor"
"Surely you have an ethical obligation to help someone who needs it," Miss Marks said incredulously "What about the oath of Hippocrates?"