As they stepped into the entry hall, Dalby tipped his head to acknowledge her. “Miss Sutherland,” he greeted.
Emilia came to a stop and gestured towards Lily. “Dalby, allow me to introduce you to Miss Lily. She has graciously agreed to become my lady’s maid.”
Dalby shifted his gaze towards Lily. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lily.”
Lily dropped into a curtsy.
“We were on our way to breakfast,” Emilia shared. “Will you kindly show us the way?”
If Dalby was surprised that Lily was joining her for breakfast, he didn’t show it. Instead, he replied, “It would be my pleasure, Miss.”
Emilia felt great joy that Lily was with her. Now she didn’t feel as alone in this grand townhouse, despite it being filled with servants.
Fredrick stood outside of his mother’s bedchamber as he tried to find the strength to enter. He never knew what to expect when he visited her. Would she remember him? It was emotionally exhausting to watch his mother’s mind slip away as she withered away in bed.
But she was still here and he was going to take advantage of the time that they had together.
He knocked on the door and it was promptly opened by his mother’s lady’s maid. “Good morning, my lord,” Nancy greeted.
“Good morning,” he responded. “How is my mother this morning?”
With a glance over her shoulder, Nancy replied, “It is not a good day.”
“Should I come back?”
Nancy shook her head. “I don’t think that would make a difference,” she replied, opening the door wide.
Fredrick stepped into the darkened room and saw his mother was sitting up in bed with a tray of untouched food next to her. She looked pale and fragile amidst the expanse of the bed, and her eyes looked tired. Much more tired than he had seen previously.
His mother looked at him, and there was no flicker of recognition in her eyes regarding who he was. “Hello,” she said softly.
“Hello,” he replied. “How are you faring today?”
“I am hungry.”
Fredrick pointed towards the tray of food. “Then why don’t you eat?”
“I don’t want to eat that food,” she replied. “I want pudding.”
“Have you spoken to the doctor about this?”
His mother huffed. “I have, but he won’t listen to me. Will you talk to him? He might listen to you.”
“I would be happy to, but I doubt the doctor will change his mind,” Fredrick said. “Do you have any more dry sweetmeats that you can indulge in?”
His mother’s eyes darted towards Nancy in the corner before she lowered her voice. “I have some, but I have to keep them hidden from people that want to steal them.”
Fredrick nodded, pretending that he understood. “That is wise.” His mother had grown more wary as her mind slipped and she claimed her lady’s maid was stealing from her. Which was ludicrous. Nancy had been her loyal servant for many years.
“You look so much like my father,” his mother said. “He was just here, you know.”
“Who? Your father?”
His mother smiled. “Yes, and we had the most wonderful conversation. We are to return to our country estate after the Season. Which I am greatly looking forward to. I can’t stand the stench of London.”
Fredrick didn’t have the heart to tell his mother that her father died many years ago, and the country estate that she grew up in now belonged to a distant cousin. So instead, he remained quiet, unsure of what he could say to help her.
“Are you one of my doctors?” his mother asked.