Another half an hour passed as I watched a moth beating its wings on the other side of the window before I summoned enough energy to ring the bell.
To my surprise, the door opened almost instantly. I had only managed to sit up, and lifted the covers to my chin when Kent walked into the room.
“Milady?” he asked, but his eyes immediately roamed my face, as if he was searching for something.
“I’m sorry, I was calling for Sally,” I said, looking down at my hands gripping the quilt.
“Would you like me to get her?”
“No. I don’t want to trouble you.”
“It’s no trouble. How do you feel?” Kent took a careful step inside of the room.
His gaze took in my bed and the scattered books surrounding me.
“I’m feeling better. Thank you for helping me the other day.” I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear.
“What are you reading?” he asked, and my face turned bright red when I remembered the frisky couples on the covers.
“Sally brought me some books, but I can’t get into them.” I sighed, fighting my surprising embarrassment.
“I see.”
His voice was low and gentle, as if he wanted to soothe my nerves. I liked the sound of it, its softness when he talked was comforting to me for some reason. It was so different from his direct stare, and the sharp lines of his face. The contrast was alluring, and somehow intimate.
“I’m sorry for alarming you.”
“Would you like me to bring you more books?”
“I... I’ll be fine. Thank you.” I lied.
He stood for a long moment just watching me, then as if remembering something, a frown formed between his eyebrows. With a last parting look, he walked out of the room.
I burrowed deeper under my covers, not prepared to deal with all the emotions our brief encounter stirred within me.
When Sally walked into my room an hour later, a sigh of relief, or maybe disappointment escaped my lips.
“There. Your dress for tea milady.” Sally approached me with a cream-colored silk gown in her hands.
“Am I expected to join the others for tea?” I asked, suddenly uncomfortable.
“No, milady. Only Lord Edsel, the youngest son of Lord Adger, is going to be there.” Sally peeled my blanket off and I shivered.
“I’m not feeling well enough –”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be there, too. If you get too sick, we can cut the meeting short.”
Sally got me out of bed and into a chair. Then she started brushing my hair and pinning it on top of my head. When she was done, pearl flowers decorated my locks and accentuated the hollowness of my pale cheeks.
“I look dreadful,” I said.
“Nonsense. You’re the most beautiful lady this city has ever seen.”
I gave up and raised my arms allowing my maid to dress me in the beautiful silk. The dress appeared loose in the bodice, and I remembered that it had already been altered once. That meant that I had lost even more weight.
Slowly, we walked out of the room, and almost immediately, I saw Kent standing by the door with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked incredibly handsome, and his eyes were fixed on my face. Suddenly, I became self-conscious about the frailty of my body, the dark circlesunder my eyes, and the bright dress and makeup that were meant to conceal my illness. I took a step forward, and against my will, my body tipped to the side.
“Mr. Kent, do you mind lending us a hand?” Sally asked.
