AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Now she pushed open the door to Radnor’s room calmly, still tying her apron with a bow, and went in.
Adrienne was standing by the bed, ashen-faced, her hair disarranged, half pinned up, the other half wild and fallen as if she had torn at it in anguish. Now her hands were knotted together in front of her, white-knuckled.
‘Where have you been?’ she demanded as soon as she saw Hester. ‘Why weren’t you here?’
‘She has to sleep sometime,’ Rand said quietly. ‘Mrs Monk, do what you can.’ He looked at her, and then back at the prostrate form of Radnor lying on the bed. His arms were flung wide in the tangle of sheets, and his eyes were closed. His colour was terrible: grey-white around the eyes and fever-red on his cheeks. He seemed to be unaware of them, as if already falling into a coma.
Hester walked over to him, brushing past Adrienne and obliging her to move out of the way. She looked at Radnor more closely, and then touched her hand to his forehead. He was damp and burning hot. His nightshirt was so soaked with sweat she could almost have wrung it out. Even the sheets were damp.
‘Get clean sheets if you have them,’ she said, mainly to Adrienne. ‘If you don’t then we’ll make do with blankets.’
‘You can’t put him in blankets,’ Adrienne protested. ‘They’re rough and scratchy.’
Hester turned to her and looked into her eyes. ‘Do as I tell you,’ she said firmly. ‘These sheets are soiled and wet. Bring back at least two towels and a bowl of water. Now do it!’
Adrienne looked as if she had been struck.
‘Do it!’ Rand snapped.
This time she obeyed, turning on her heel and clattering out of the room clumsily, bumping into the doorpost in her agitation.
Hester looked at Radnor and felt the panic surge up inside her. Her mouth was dry and her heart was beating violently as though it might burst. If Radnor died, then Rand would have to hide what he had done. He would have no more use for Hester, or for Charlie, Maggie and Mike. He could not afford to let them live, and risk their telling anyone what had happened here.
She looked at Radnor again. She must clear her mind of everything else. His fever was raging. She had no idea why, or even if it was connected to the latest blood transfusion. It could be something else, a simple germ that a healthy person could have fought. That was the best hope, and probably the only thing she could do to help.
She turned to Rand. ‘We must try to reduce his temperature. If the fever gets any worse it will kill him. Before we change the bedding we will give him a cool bath. We’ll use wet towels, and then the evaporation will cool him further. Bring as many towels as you have.’
‘We haven’t many . . .’ he began.
‘Clothes will do, clean or used,’ she replied. ‘We have to begin as soon as Miss Radnor returns with a bowl of water.’
He went as far as the door before she spoke again.
‘Mr Rand!’
He turned, eyes wide.
‘If we need to put him in a cool bath, have the gardener fill the tub: cool, not cold. He may have to help us carry him. I assume he will do whatever you tell him to?’
‘Yes, yes of course.’ Nodding with a small gesture, Rand hurried off to obey.
Adrienne returned with a bowl of water and two towels. ‘What are you doing?’ she demanded. ‘Haven’t you got medicine to give him? Why are you just standing there? I know you hate him, but you can’t let him die! That’s murder!’ Her voice rose dangerously near hysteria.
Hester needed her under some self-control.
‘Miss Radnor, I require your help,’ she said calmly. ‘This is not an appropriate time to let your feelings overwhelm your judgement. I am going to do what I can to save your father. I don’t know what has happened to him to bring on this fever, and I have no way to find out. Put the bowl down and pass me one of those small towels. Now!’
Reluctantly Adrienne obeyed, giving Hester a hand towel.
Hester took it. ‘Now help me. We are going to wash him down gently with the water . . .’
‘It’s cold!’ Adrienne gulped. ‘And what does it matter if he’s clean? You stupid creature, he’s dying!’ Her voice rose to the edge of a scream.
‘I’m not washing him,’ Hester snapped at her. ‘The water is not cold, it’s cool! I’m trying to reduce his fever, before it stops his heart. Now do as you’re told. Hold that bowl steady and pull the sheet back from his body, down to the waist.’
Adrienne obeyed, but unwillingly, distress clear in her face.
Hester wrung out the towel and laid it gently on Radnor’s pallid flesh. She did it again, and again. Then she laid it on his brow and smoothed it over his cheeks, softly, as if she cared for him.
