*
The next morning dawned with Goodly sitting in a chair, dozing. Dory was sound asleep with her head resting against the corner cupboard. Winifred was snoring from her room.
“What is going on here?” Gertrude looked at all of the steam in the room and the sleeping figures close by. “Mother? Mother what is going on?” Gertrude tried to move but found out quickly how weak he was.
Everyone was awake now. Winifred came out into the kitchen and hugged Gertrude. Dory stirred and sat bleary-eyed by the cupboard and Goodly sat smiling while he watched Gertrude.
“Well I think my job is finished here. You look like you will be staying among the living a while longer.” Goodly started packing his satchel. He withheld a small amount of the yellow powder and gave it to Winifred. “Gertrude, you are to stay in today and rest. Take the medicine that I gave your mother two more times today, once this noon and the next time right before bed.”
“What happened? Why are you here, Goodly?” Gertrude looked puzzled. He started to say something but started coughing and bringing up ribbons of green phlegm. “Was I sick?”
Winifred sat down in the chair at his side. “You developed pleurisy from your infected wound and being out in the cold too long. Your fever would not break and we had to ask Goodly to come over.”
Gertrude shook his head as if to try to clear away the haze he seemed to be in. “I don’t remember too much but I recall hearing this beautiful voice singing to me. I had been lost in a dark mist and the voice led me to a beautiful bright garden. Then I found myself here.”
Goodly smiled. “Your fever was high and you were delirious. You came down sick yesterday morning.” He turned to both ladies. “Keep the water boiling in here for the rest of the day. It will help clear his lungs.” He closed his bag and donned his hat and coat. “If you need me, I may be at the Starre hovel, helping to bring forth another life. Good day.”
Gertrude looked at his mother and Dory. They both looked exhausted. “How long was I with fever, Mother?”
Winifred was busy at the stove. “You have been ill since yesterday morning. Don’t you remember Goodly telling you that? Do you feel hungry, Gertrude? I am going to make Dory and me some ‘hopping hotcakes’ with some eggs.”
“I do feel hungry now that you mention it, Mother. Yes, please, I would like to have breakfast.” Gertrude rolled his feet down onto the floor. He blushed when he realized that he was almost naked except for his undershorts. “Excuse me while I go and get dressed.” When he stood up, he wrapped himself in a quilt. Halfway to his room he had a coughing fit. He looked at his mother. “So I lost a whole day?” He shook his head and went into his room.
A knock sounded on the door. Dory went over and opened it. “Come in, child, before the winter wind nibbles more at you.”
Norman stepped over the threshold. “You are most kind to invite me in.” She smiled when she spied Winifred. “Good morning, Lady Winifred. If I may be so bold, could I please enjoy a mug of your delicious blog?”
“Of course, my child, please come in. Take your coat off and warm yourself by the fire while I finish preparing breakfast. Would you care to join us for a bite to eat?”
“You are very kind. Yes, I would love to join you.” Norman looked around the room and it struck her odd at all of the water boiling. “Lady Winifred, Why do you have all of this water boiling?”
“Gertrude has a touch of pleurisy left and the apothecary wants us to keep the air moist. Dory and I, along with the apothecary, have been up most of the night taking care of him.” Winifred glanced over at Norman. “He is going to be just fine. Our apothecary said that he should remain quiet today and get his rest.”
Gertrude shuffled into the kitchen, spied Norman and smiled. “And what brings my beautiful friend down here on such a blustery day?”