Haloran Hall. Myrna G. Raines

of Dolly? She is my Cousin Bartholomew’s wife. Why would I mention her?”

      “I do not know, sir,” she said breathily, relieved for some odd reason. “I only know what I heard. You did speak of Bart, also. You did not call him Bartholomew.”

      “I wouldn’t. He has been my favorite cousin, although I have looked after Peyton since he was the weak one. Has he not arrived yet? As you must have gathered, I was on my way to him when we were so unfortunately waylaid. Peyton is almost a brother to me as we were raised up together. I am very distressed at what has befallen him.”

      Could this man be so bad if he constantly had a worry for his cousin? But one concern did not make a man one way or the other. Perhaps he only had a penchant for this one Lord Peyton and cared nothing for anyone else. That could be the way of it as he did say the man was as a brother to him.

      “Addie,” she said to the maid who had entered the room. “I am so glad to see you. Our patient has awakened, and he is suffering from the headache. Would the draught Peterson left perhaps ease it?”

      Addie reached in her voluminous pockets and came out with the draught. “Perhaps. It is for pain, is it not? Would the potion know which way it was supposed to go inside the body? Who knows?” And Shalan laughed. Addie was always coming up with presumptions that no one could ever answer.

      As soon as she had the dose in him, Addie ran to have Ardith prepare him a bite to eat and to arrange for his bath. His nightclothes, borrowed from Lord Kiley, were soaked in sweat, and she must take care of that as soon as possible. She would have to bathe him down; the bedding would have to be changed…

      On the stairs she met Lord Kiley and another gentleman, a small, pale man, making their way up from the main floor. It seemed as if the man could hardly put one foot in front of the other on the long, winding stone steps, and was glad for the respite when his host stopped to talk with the servant.

      “He’s awake, Your Lordship. The fever has broken and it seems that he shall be all right. I must get him some food, though, as I dosed him with the draught. If I don’t, he’ll be most dreadfully ill. If you have need of me, I’ll be in the kitchen.”

      “Very well, Addie. Is Shalan with Lord Haloran?” And the servant answered that she was, as she ran on down the stairs to attend to her duties.