Chapter 15. Nieces & Nephews
On what was to be their fourth day in Yorkshire, Rosalie fell ill of a fever accompanied by a bad cough. Georgiana could not bring herself to leave under the circumstances. She penned a letter to the Earl immediately explaining the delay in their departure. She needed to be certain of Rosalie’s recovery.
She took Selina aside into her bedroom after a discussion with Beth and asked her not to spend any further time in close proximity to Rosalie. “Not just for your sake, my dear, but that of your father. If anything happened to you, I would never be able to explain it. Please do take good care of yourself and do not fall ill.”
“I promise to keep a safe distance. Though I cannot bare to see little Rosalie suffer, as I feel the same as you, should we not then leave rather than risk our health too?”
“Not until I’m certain it isn’t dreadfully serious.” Georgiana said flatly.
“What then? What if it is very serious?”
“If ‘tis serious, we’ve probably already been exposed. We must pray for the best outcome. For my sister’s sake, I want to remain in Yorkshire until I know Rosalie is going to pull through this. I want to do everything in my power to assist Elizabeth. For one, she has been up all night with a sick child and she must be terribly exhausted. Maybe there are some small things I can do to provide her with additional comfort and support. Rosalie needs her mother’s full attention at the moment… but there are all these boys to tend to… and I’m afraid she’s neglected them a little in order to visit with me during much of these past few days.”
“Yes, I agree Lady Georgiana. We should help your sister in absolutely any way we can.” Selina agreed staunchly, squaring her shoulders in a resolute manner to provide her assistance. “What can I do?”
“Well, with all of this rain we’re having today… could you play an indoor game of sorts… and read a story to the boys? Try to find things for them to do that are quiet in nature so Rosalie can have plenty of undisturbed rest and recover as quickly as possible.”
“Yes. I’ll do my best. I’ll read Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” to them. Later in the day we could explore some artistic pursuit perhaps, and they’ll all want a lie down after dinner …before supper.”
“An excellent plan Selina. I’m certain Molly will assist you. Now I’m going to say some prayers for Rosalie and then I’m going to find Sir Hadley to have him send someone to fetch a doctor.”
Georgiana felt much better when she had prayed and when the doctor had been to inspect Rosalie. The doctor seemed hopeful but vague. His prognosis was encouraging, but he could not be for certain that his diagnosis was correct. He thought it was some strain of influenza, found no indication of a rash and hoped that by the time the fever broke she would be back to normal-- in a few days.
She brought fresh water and linens to Elizabeth, who remained at her daughter’s bed side all day, despite exhaustion from having been awake through the night with a whimpering child. Georgiana finally convinced her to lie down for a few hours in the late afternoon, albeit reluctantly, and took her sister’s place beside Rosalie. She did her best to keep her frail niece cool, comfortable and restful. She offered a plea for the child throughout the afternoon. Dear Lord, she is so young and frail. Please, heal this child…
Jenny brought a tray upstairs to Rosalie’s bedroom with chicken broth, hot tea and fresh water. Georgiana spoon fed a little of the broth to the child when she awoke, rearranging her pillows to aid her in sitting up and kept a cool compress of linen cloths on her forehead. When Rosalie kicked her quilt off of her bed, Georgiana followed her instinct and allowed the child to sleep beneath only the top sheet. Hadn’t the doctor said to keep her comfortable? Her niece fell back to sleep and all she could do was to pray and keep replacing the compresses for cool, fresh ones every so often. Richard checked in on them twice and both times said Elizabeth, completely worn out, was still sleeping.
By evening, the fever broke and Georgiana knew they were finally out of danger. She rang the bell pull and Molly appeared a short while later.
“Her fever broke,” she said, relief in her voice. “Would you please wake my sister and find Sir Hadley?”
“Thank the Lord above who answers our prayers! Yes m’lady!” Molly beamed as she left to awaken Lady Hadley.
“Indeed… He does wondrous things!”
The Following Evening
“Georgie, why not stay a few more days? You’ve been such a tremendous help to me. There is a dance at The Assembly Rooms in York this coming Tuesday evening.” A footman placed a salad of cucumbers and tomatoes in front of Lady Hadley after the first course of a vegetable beef and barley soup.
“Yes Aunt Georgiana, we’d like you to stay a little longer…” Noah said with a grin on his fourteen year old face. “Mother said if you stay, we can escort you and Lady Selina to see The Country Girl at the Theater Royale.”
“Oh, how exciting!” Lady Selina perked up from her seat beside Josiah. Turning to her governess eagerly, “Could we?”
Georgiana tilted her head as she considered the invitations mentioned. Well, she did have her olive green silk and her other new gowns from Paris with her. Before she could respond, Daniel chimed in.
“There are also some officers from the Calvary Barracks Father invited to sit with us at the performance,” he added, trying to appear nonchalant. At sixteen, he tried to sound more mature than his brothers. Besides, he hoped it would impress Lady Selina. Not that he had any romantic interest in her. He simply enjoyed his position as the eldest son in the Hadley family. “You would have liked Madame Tussaud’s wax display.”
“Mama, why can’t Josiah and I go along?” Wesley asked. “We’re old enough to sit still.”
“Oh no, young man, you and Josiah are not old enough yet.” Father said firmly. “Eat your salad and then you may have some kidney pie.”
“Yes Sir,” Wesley said, looking down at his plate dejectedly.
“Eight years old is far too young to attend an event such as this, Wesley,” Elizabeth said gently.
“That means I don’t stand a chance!” Josiah’s fork clanked against his plate and he crossed his arms over his six year old chest. A most amusing and defiant pout protruded his lower lip. He was thinking how much he hated being told to eat his greens. He also wondered how long he and his brother would have to wait to attend the theater or a dance and be invited to see the Barracks.
Georgiana struggled to hide her amusement and when she had recovered: “I would certainly like to take all of the boys along on an outing to the New Walk along the River Ouse. Perhaps we could view some of the fine architecture York has to offer after our walk and peruse a book store and a linen-draper shop?” Georgiana said, looking directly at her younger nephews. They had behaved so well this time; all of them. She had endeared them to her heart.
Josiah looked up, hope spreading across his face. He decided he really liked Aunt Georgie a whole lot. She had helped with Rosalie and she actually paid attention to him when everyone else was too busy. He held his breath to see what Father might say.
Sir Hadley looked at Elizabeth and she nodded and smiled, her eyes lighting up with great pleasure at this prospect. Her heart was in tangles trying to tell her youngest boys they couldn’t attend the performance at the theater, or the ball at The Assembly Rooms. How much they would enjoy a day in York and a walk along the river with their only relations!
“I don’t see why not… we could spend Wednesday in York, that is if it all right with your Aunt Georgiana.”
“It sounds delightful!” Georgiana agreed as a footman took her salad and set a slice of kidney pie with golden brown, flaky crust before her. “I will write Selina’s father this evening and explain our plan… and my mother-in-law. She sent a letter today though I have yet to read it. I wonder how she is enjoying the seaside or if they have returned to Bride
sgate Park by now?”
Nehemiah 8:10, Authorized King James Version
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.