Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
* * *
Their expressions immediately changed. “Oh, well then, show us where.”
* * *
He quickly began to hurry back to Janice, trusting that the milkmaids would follow. He found her just as still as he’d left her, and his heart shriveled with fear. “Please be alright,” he said as he knelt by her head. He gestured towards her feet. “Help me to put her on the travois please.”
* * *
The girls understood at once what he wanted. One took hold of Janice’s legs while the other snaked her arms under Janice’s waist.
* * *
“One…two…three…lift,” Arthur said and they all lifted together as quickly as possible, placing her on the crisscrossed strips of Arthur’s shirt. Without being asked, one girl took hold of the left stick while the other held the right. With Arthur at the head, holding on to both sides of the travois, they lifted Janice up and began to carry her the half mile to Somerton Manor.
* * *
“Help!” Arthur called as they approached the gate. A guard peered curiously out at them as they approached. Arthur saw the moment he recognized Janice for he began to open the gate with speed. He ran up to them, peering down at her.
* * *
“What to do?” he asked, pushing aside the milkmaids as he took hold of the tail end of the travois, “What’s happened?”
* * *
Arthur took a deep breath. “She fell off a tree.”
* * *
The two milkmaids were standing back, just watching them. Arthur nodded to them. “Just a moment and I shall come out and pay you,” he called.
* * *
They waved at him. “No need sir. You just take care of Lady Janice. We’ll be off then.” With that, they continued on their way.
* * *
“Thank you!” Arthur called to them and they waved once more before walking on.
* * *
He and the guard hurried down the driveway, where one of the passing gardeners hurried up to them, saw who they were carrying, and hurried forward to open the front door, hailing the household from there.
* * *
The butler appeared, took one look at Janice, and ushered them to the parlor. They laid the travois down on the daybed and the guard left immediately to resume his post. Arthur folded his arms, shifting from foot to foot, wondering what he should do next. He felt the need to summon a sawbones at once but he knew it was not his business to do so.
* * *
Emily came bursting into the room, whispering her sister’s name. “What happened to her?” she asked Arthur, her look almost accusing.
* * *
“She fell out of a tree, rescuing a cat I believe. I happened to be in the area and saw it happen.”
* * *
Emily gaped at him with an open mouth before returning her gaze to the prone form of her sister.
* * *
“There were no visible injuries that I could see but she has been unconscious ever since,” Arthur volunteered.
* * *
“Mmm,” Emily was surveying her sister’s body critically. She turned to Arthur. “I’m sorry, would you wait outside?”
* * *
“Oh! Of course. Yes, I shall just…” he began backing towards the door even as Emily reached for Janice’s bodice. He stumbled out of the room and stood by the door like a sentry.
* * *
Lord Benjamin came hurrying towards him and he held up a hand to stop him from entering the parlor. “Emily is taking care of her,” Arthur said simply.
* * *
“What happened?” he demanded.
* * *
“She fell out of a tree. I believe she was rescuing a kitty.” Arthur had the feeling he would be repeating himself a lot that day.
* * *
“A kitty?” Lord Benjamin frowned. “Heavens help us.”
* * *
“Hadn’t you better call a surgeon?” Arthur asked.
* * *
Lord Benjamin sighed. “The nearest one is in the next town. Mr. Sainsbury. We are used to having the blacksmith, Mr. Grey Junior, helping us with minor injuries.”
* * *
“Well, I don’t think this is minor, so summon Mr. Sainsbury. I can send a carriage for him if you’d like.”
* * *
“No no. I shall just send Frederick to fetch him. But you are kind to offer.”
* * *
Arthur was not feeling kind. He was feeling frantic and worried. But he just nodded and shifted from foot to foot as Lord Benjamin had his son summoned and tasked him with fetching the sawbones.
* * *
To his credit, Frederick left quite quickly, and then all they could do was wait. Emily was soon joined by Anne, and the housekeeper, while the men paced outside. Arthur understood that the aunt had taken to her bed in upset at the news.
* * *
Arthur felt the guilt of not having done more and he wondered if her family would blame him. If only he’d seen her sooner, he might have helped her out of the tree with no injury to her person. Instead, he was left to pick up the pieces and bring her broken body home. Arthur prayed with all his might that she had suffered no permanent life-threatening injury.