Twice Upon A Time (Unfinished Fairy Tales #2)(78)

A moment later, the doorman returns and apologizes for not recognizing me. “Her ladyship is pleased to receive you. If you’d follow me, Your Highness?”

The house is pretty quiet. There’s no one in the parlor or sitting room, not even a servant cleaning up.

“Isn’t your master home?”

“He’s gone for the weekend, Your Highness. On a hunting trip in the country.”

I’m reminded of that house party thrown by Philip and Constance, right before Edward and I were engaged. As I’ve grown accustomed to Athelian culture, I’ve learned that the hunting party is a common pastime among aristocrats during autumn. With Parliament closed, the Season over, and few things to occupy the time, shooting for grouse and stag in the moorlands has become popular. It’s also an excellent way for the men to demonstrate their athletic spirits.

It may also be why Lady Gregory specifically chose this weekend for her half-fae, half-human daughter to visit. The servants seem to have their own vacation as well, judging from the lax attitude of the doorman and the lack of servants present in such a large house.

Lady Gregory is knitting a bright yellow sock when I enter her room. She looks up and smiles, gesturing that I take a seat.

“Hello, dearie. Sit down and have some tea. Meg should appear shortly.”

“How do you communicate?”

She points to a handheld mirror on the dresser. I remember that when Meg agreed to help me get Elle to the ball, she traveled through the mirror as well. I hope that she won’t get stuck this time.

We chat for some time. Lady Gregory asks how the outing went, and I tell her that it was a success.

“It’s mostly because of Edward and Henry—you should have seen how the girls looked during the lessons.”

“Ah, to be young and filled with romantic feelings.” Lady Gregory catches the ball of yarn, which is in danger of rolling off the table. “You should organize another one.”

“Maybe we can try something different next time,” I say, crossing my legs. “Is there a skating rink in the capital? It’s going to be winter soon, and the girls might enjoy an excursion. They’ll need the exercise too. Some parents think it’s necessary to keep their daughters indoors.”

She looks puzzled, and I realize that I’ve blundered. I shouldn’t be asking her about a skating rink when I’m more likely to know the answer than her.

To cover up, I change the subject and pretend to admire one of her crocheted bags hanging on another table placed under a window.

“It’s really beautiful,” I say, fingering the intricate patterns and the perfect combination of colors. “If I weren’t so busy, I’d take up crocheting as well. I have a pair of godchildren . . .”

Lady Gregory slumps across the table, and her knitting needles clatter on the floor.

“Oh, my God.” I hurry to her side and check her pulse. She’s alive, but her face has gone deathly pale. “Lady Gregory? Can you hear me?”

She doesn’t budge. Her eyes remain closed, her mouth slightly open.

Alarmed, I rush out of the room, calling for help.

To my annoyance, the servants—that consist of the doorman and one maid—are slow to emerge.

“Call the doctor! Lady Gregory has fainted away.”

They stare at me in disbelief. The doorman is still rubbing sleep from his eyes, and the maid even looks tipsy. God, what’s up with this place? Once the master is absent, the servants act like it’s Christmas.

I decide to run for a doctor myself. I dash outside and yell for Bertram, who immediately drives for a doctor. I’ve never been more thankful that Edward used to accompany Henry with his visits, as it turns out that Bertram is super quick in finding a doctor.

The doctor checks Lady Gregory, who is still unconscious, her arm hanging limply to a side. For a moment, I’m scared stiff she is dead, but after the doctor applies a tube to her mouth—I suspect it has to do with pumping air into her lungs—he tells us to transport her to a hospital immediately.

“What’s wrong with her?” I ask.

“Heart attack,” he says succinctly. “It’s a good thing you called for me right away, or she could be dead. We need to start additional treatments to restore her blood flow. Can your servant carry her to the carriage?”

“No problem.” I get to my feet and call Bertram.

When Bertram carries Lady Gregory from her room, I glance at the handheld mirror, which is glowing on the bed. For a second, I wonder if I should bring the mirror, but I soon decide against it. It’ll be a disaster if Meg appears in a hospital room. It’ll be the doctor’s turn to have a heart attack.

It doesn’t take long before we arrive at the hospital. When Lady Gregory finally recovers consciousness, I breathe a sigh of relief, then send a message to Mansfield House, informing them that Lady Gregory is all right, but the doctor thought it best that she remain at the hospital for the night.

“I cannot thank you enough, dearie.” Lady Gregory grasps my hand when I have to go. “At my age, there’s little I crave in life, but I’d consider it a tragedy if I couldn’t see my daughter before I die.”

“I’m glad I came to see you,” I say, and I mean it. Even if the servants at Mansfield House were vigilant, it’s unlikely that they would discover Lady Gregory until it was too late. “Take care. I’ll come back to see you sometime.”