A Spy's Devotion (The Regency Spies of London #1)(66)

Leorah demonstrated how the gentleman had walked across the street and picked up his hat, and the scowl on his face when he stared at it and then at Leorah. Julia was sitting in bed, propped up by pillows and laughing, when Phoebe burst through the door.

“Julia!” Phoebe cried. “Leorah wrote to us that you were unwell. Oh, Leorah.” She turned to Leorah and clasped her hands. “Thank you so much for taking care of Julia!”

Leorah said, “Julia was gravely ill with a lung infection, but she is much better now, as you can see.”

Mrs. Wilhern stood in the doorway. She did not proceed any farther into the room, and she had the thin-lipped look of disapproval that used to make Julia’s heart sink.

Phoebe turned her vivacity on Julia and said, “You do look a bit pale, Julia, but not so very sick.”

What answer could she make to that?

“You said the servants had all deserted her except the scullery maid,” Mrs. Wilhern stated, one hand on her hip and the other poised in the air by her shoulder, as if she were being fitted for a gown.

“Yes, that is correct,” Leorah said.

“The servants are all here now. I’ve just seen them for myself.”

Julia nearly gasped as her aunt questioned Leorah’s word.

“Well, Mrs. Wilhern,” Leorah stated, unintimidated, “that was not the case seven days ago when I found Julia here so ill she was hallucinating, burning up with fever, and without anyone to attend her except a kind scullery maid named Kitty.”

“Oh dear!” Phoebe cried, covering her mouth with her hand and staring down at Julia with wide eyes.

“She was quite alone, she and Kitty, until I discovered her plight and my brother brought our physician. Dr. Alcott was most concerned and told us that she was very seriously ill with pleurisy and a lung infection, and her recovery was by no means certain.” Leorah stared straight into Mrs. Wilhern’s eyes.

Mrs. Wilhern’s expression did not change, but she said, “I am concerned that the servants would vanish in such a manner and leave Miss Grey alone. It shall be dealt with.”

“I hope you will take note of the loyalty of Kitty.” Leorah continued to stare, unblinking, at Mrs. Wilhern. “She deserves to be rewarded.”

Julia didn’t think her aunt seemed at all interested in rewarding Kitty.

“Mrs. Wilhern, I’m happy you are here at last.” Dr. Alcott stood behind Mrs. Wilhern with his medical bag.

Julia could easily imagine how her aunt felt about him saying “at last.”

Her aunt turned to face the doctor. “Dr. Alcott. How do you do?” Mrs. Wilhern’s tone was cold, her eyelids lowered over her eyes.

“Very well, madam. Your niece here has had a very serious illness, but she has turned the corner, so to speak, and is recovering well now.”

“Her illness was serious, you say?” Mrs. Wilhern asked with a condescending look.

“Indeed. When I first saw to her, after Mr. Nicholas came and fetched me, had she not improved, I believe she could have been dead in less than twenty-four hours.”

“Good heavens!” Phoebe exclaimed. “And Mr. Langdon came and fetched you?”

“Mr. Nicholas found me at home and I came immediately. Which was fortunate indeed, for she had no proper servant to care for her. But Miss Leorah and Mr. Nicholas saw to everything, as you know by now, I’m sure.”

A momentary silence followed his speech. Then Mrs. Wilhern said, “We shall leave you to attend Miss Grey. Come, Phoebe.”

Leorah left the room as well, with a backward glance at Julia. She was biting her lip and her brows were lowered, as if she were fighting back a retort.

Julia forced back her own thoughts and answered the doctor’s questions.





CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN


An hour after the doctor left, a knock sounded at Julia’s door, and Aunt Wilhern entered the room.

“I am pleased you are getting well, Julia.” But Aunt Wilhern didn’t smile or look particularly pleased. She stepped toward the bed, though remained nearer the door than Julia.

“Thank you, Aunt. I feel much better.”

“I want you to know that, contrary to what some gossips are saying, I did not intend to leave you alone to die in this house while we all went to Bath.” Her eyes were in their usual half-closed state, and Julia couldn’t tell if her aunt was looking at her or not.

“Of course not,” Julia said quickly.

“And I did specifically instruct Anna to stay with you and care for you until you were well enough to join us in Bath, for I never imagined you had more than the small cold that Phoebe had just got over.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t—”

“And since Anna deserted you, I have sent her away. She no longer works here. Kitty the scullery maid is to take her place in the kitchen.”

This would be a promotion for Kitty. “Thank you so much for rewarding Kitty in this way.”

“And she shall have extra pay for helping you while you were sick.”

“Thank you, Aunt Wilhern.”

“Phoebe and I are leaving now to call on Mr. and Miss Langdon, to thank them for assisting you and for sending for the doctor.”

“That is very good of you.”

Aunt Wilhern nodded and turned to leave.