A Flaw in the Blood by Stephanie Barron

Author:Stephanie Barron
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9780553904680
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2008-09-06T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

THE COLD ITSELF SHOULD BE a trifling indisposition,” said Harris, the Sheerness doctor, as he descended the stairs at Shurland that evening, “but when complicated by fever, is necessarily of concern. Miss Armstead must be kept warm and quiet for a se'nnight at least, if we are not to see an inflammation of the lung. That would be most dangerous, Mr. Fitzgerald, as I am sure I need not tell you. If only Shurland were not so draughty!”

Fitzgerald had driven the pony trap from the barn, his anxiety for Georgie spurred by his need to be free of the Hall and its ghosts. The chill air, laden with Channel salt and the scent of sheep dung, whipped his cheeks as it swept the length of treeless Sheppey—and he understood why Theo was so often out-of-doors, on Clive's back, during these end-of-term vacs. The boy could be free of anything—even social theory—on these moors.

“I have known just such a healthy young woman carried off in the past, from an inflammation of the lung, when insufficient care was taken,” Harris persisted. “I should have bled Miss Armistead, had she not strenuously set herself against it; and I will not undertake to promise never to bleed her, if the fever persists.”

“Sure and I'll do my best to support you, Harris,” Fitzgerald returned, “but Miss Armistead is by way of being learned in medicine herself, and will object to meddling.”

“Learned!” the doctor snorted. “The dear ladies will always believe they know best, in all matters of health, regardless of their limited experience and education—it is the maternal impulse, instilled by the Creator—but in Miss Armistead's case, it is for her natural protectors to steer her between the shoals of over-confidence and willful conceit. I shall call again in the morning, Mr. Fitzgerald. Pray see that Miss Armistead swallows the draught I have left in Mrs. Coultrip's keeping, at bedtime and again at two o'clock in the morning. I shall leave instructions as to gruel and fortifying broth.”

Fitzgerald promised faithfully, and showed Dr. Harris the door; then stood in the chill Hall for an instant considering his position.

In choosing Shurland as a point of refuge, he'd never intended to make a prolonged stay. Now he was trapped until Georgiana's health improved—unless he left her behind, and went on to France alone.

“What did the doctor say, begging your pardon, Mr. Fitz?”

“He says you're a grand sort for a doctor's clerk, having spotted Miss Georgie's illness before she did herself. I'm afraid we're tied to Shurland until she is well, Gibbon.”

“That means a few days, at the least. And what of these murderous folk who're after your blood, if I may be so bold?”

“We shall have to hope they've lost me altogether.”

Gibbon shook his head, and held out the London Times. “I took the liberty of ironing the newspaper you brought back from Sheerness, as is usual—and I don't like the look of one item.”

Fitzgerald glanced at the column under Gibbon's blunt thumb. Noted Barrister Dead After Attack in Chambers—

“Sep,” he whispered, and took the paper from Gibbon's hand.

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