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Betty took a breath and came closer. “My lady, Lady Dayton has gone to sit with her daughter,” she said, clearly trying to convince Olivia to stay away. “Such is the love for her daughter that she has chosen to accept whatever might come from sitting by Lady Margaret’s side.” She swallowed hard, reaching out to set one hand on Olivia’s shoulder. “Please, try not to worry. I know you want to go to see Lady Margaret, but you must stay away from her. I could not bear it if you became ill also, Lady Olivia.”
Olivia swallowed hard, memories flooding her of her late father. This was precisely what had occurred with him, for he had become ill suddenly—and within a few days had travelled from life to death. They had never known what had caused it. The doctors had done what they could but had told her that the cold weather, her father’s age, and a weakness within his heart had combined together to bring about his death. Closing her eyes, Olivia ran one hand over her eyes, trying to convince herself that her cousin would not die, for surely she was stronger than Olivia’s father had been, and indeed much younger. As much as she did not feel in any way close to Margaret, she was still her cousin, still family, and Olivia certainly did not want her to linger in this illness.
“I am sure she will recover,” Betty said, sounding entirely unconvinced. “You need not think the worst, Lady Olivia.”
“I-I must go.” A strange urge to leave the house, to walk about London in an attempt to calm her fears suddenly captured Olivia’s heart and mind. “I will return, of course.” She rose, relieved that she had chosen to dress and prepare herself well in advance of this afternoon’s calls. Calls which she now presumed would be canceled.
“You must have a chaperone,” Betty protested weakly, clearly aware of all that Olivia now felt and feared. “I would come with you, of course, but–”
“Lady Dayton will not remove from Margaret’s side, and I presume that Louisa will not wish to walk from the house for fear that something else might occur,” Olivia said, the urge to leave growing all the more desperate. “Betty, might you find a maid to accompany me? You need not tell Lord Dayton or Lady Dayton of my absence. I am sure they will not even think of me, given what has occurred with Margaret and their urgency in waiting for the doctor. And,” she finished, seeing the maid looking less than convinced, “I shall not be long.”
Betty sighed heavily, looking at Olivia with an uncertainty in her eyes. Sighing, she spread her hands. “If that is what you would wish, then I will have someone here to accompany you in a few minutes,” she said, as Olivia nodded. “I would go with you but Lady Dayton has asked me to ensure Lady Margaret’s lady’s maid is confined to her quarters for the next day or so, and I need to make sure she has everything she requires.”
Olivia frowned. “Why is she confined to quarters?” she asked, walking with Betty to the door. “For what cause?”
“To be quite certain that, should she also have the same malady as Lady Margaret, she has not been going here and there throughout the house,” Betty explained, as Olivia hurried down through the hallway. “I will have to look after the girl.”
“Just be careful,” Olivia said, hardly able to even allow her mind to think on what might happen should Betty become ill. “I do not want you to become unwell also. I do not think I could do without you, Betty.”
“Of course you could,” Betty said, reassuringly. “Now, you just get your bonnet and gloves and I’ll fetch that maid for you.”
Olivia sighed heavily and nodded, feeling an ache in her throat and trying to swallow it away. She had to walk for a time, had to think about what had been said and perhaps to pray for her cousin. A maid soon appeared, Olivia’s bonnet and gloves were pulled on and, just as she stepped outside, a carriage rolled up and came to a stop just outside Lord Dayton’s home.
Lord Monteforte stepped out, turning to speak to the driver, and then, as he looked up at the house, he caught sight of her.
“Lady Olivia!” he cried, striding towards her with a broad smile. “Are you about to step out this fine afternoon?”
She could not smile and, as he drew closer, the smile faded from Lord Monteforte’s face. “I cannot permit your entry, Lord Monteforte,” she said, her voice hoarse as she lifted her eyes to his. “I apologize.”
“Good gracious, Lady Olivia,” he said, one hand stretching out towards hers before he pulled it away, perhaps realizing that it was not appropriate to do so. “What is the matter? You look quite upset.”
She swallowed, tears pricking in the corners of her eyes. “My cousin,” she managed to say, her throat working furiously. “She is…she is unwell. My father—” She stopped dead, one hand pressed against her heart as she fought to keep her composure. “My father passed after a very similar illness, and I am afraid for my cousin.”
Lord Monteforte stared at her for a moment, before he took a step back and cleared his throat. “I would be happy to take you wherever it is you need to go,” he said, a little gruffly. “I am terribly sorry to hear about what has occurred with your cousin. Might I take you somewhere?”
He clearly thought that she was in search of some remedy for her cousin, and it was almost shameful to admit that she was simply taking a short walk in order to bring some sort of calmness to her tumbling, torturous thoughts.
“I am afraid that I am doing nothing more than taking a short walk, Lord Monteforte,” she said, dropping her head from mortification. “I should not have told you about my father, mayhap, but it is merely to explain just how much I am struggling at present with my thoughts.”
“I quite understand.” Her head lifted, her eyes meeting his clear hazel eyes and seeing a gentle understanding in his expression. There was a tenderness in his voice that filled her heart, making
her tears begin to burn in her eyes again. “If you would permit, I would accompany you, Lady Olivia.”
She nodded, barely able to speak save for the burning in her throat. “I thank you,” she managed to say. “I would be glad of your company, Lord Monteforte, although I fear I will not be much good for you.”
He said nothing, only smiled and offered her his arm, which she accepted at once. There was something in his gaze that made her heart lift from its current state of fear, rendering her a little more able to take a hold of her thoughts.
“Lady Dayton is with Margaret,” she said, once they had walked a few steps. “But myself and Louisa are forbidden from entering the room. My aunt fears that it may pass to us.”
“How long has she been feeling unwell?” Lord Monteforte asked, his eyes searching hers. “Has it come on very suddenly?”
“Very suddenly,” she answered, shaking her head. “Last evening, she was just as you would normally expect, whereas today I am told that she is unconscious and deeply unwell.”
Lord Monteforte let out a long, slow breath. “That is dreadful news indeed.”
“We must pray for her to recover,” Olivia continued, a single tear dripping down her cheek. “I prayed so for my father when he was unwell, but he did not recover.”
“And you fear now that your cousin will not recover either,” Lord Monteforte said calmly. “I do not blame you for such fears, Lady Olivia, but I would urge you to have a little more hope. There will be a doctor able to help her, I am sure of it.”
