Chapter 400: Doctor visit [2]

Michael arrived at the estate and stepped off the carriage which was sent for him. He didn’t expect to hear from Damien so soon, as he believed they should keep their distance after what occurred.

Michael grabbed his bag and started to make his way up to where a maid was waiting for him.

"Good evening, Mr Whitefield. Lord and Lady Hawthorne are waiting for you in their chamber. I shall escort you there," Hannah said with a small bow of her head. "Shall I take your bag?"

"No. I can be a gentleman and hold onto my bag. It doesn’t look like it, but it is quite heavy. There is much I have stuffed in here. I must get a bigger bag," Michael said, lifting the bag to look at it.

"Very well," Hannah replied and led the way to the chamber. "As you know, nothing that is done here today must get out of the estate."

"I am well aware. I’ve been doing this for the Hawthornes far longer than you have been working here. Since you are taking me, you must be Lady Hawthorne’s maid," Michael assumed.

"I am. I hope you won’t ask any questions about the lady. I am quite loyal to her," said Hannah.

"As you should be, and I won’t have any questions about her. My only concern is their health. I don’t seek to learn anything more since it can get you killed. Will you be assisting me?" Michael asked, wishing to not be stuck with anyone like Camille’s maids.

"I will if you need me," Hannah replied.

Silence fell upon the pair as they reached the chamber door.

Hannah knocked before opening the door and allowing Michael to step inside.

Michael bowed his head. "Lord and Lady Hawthorne."

"Mr Whitefield. Thank you for coming on short notice. My wife has been feeling under the weather as of late. Fortunately, it is not too serious, but before it becomes concerning, I would like you to provide medicine and examine us both," Damien said.

"I see. Then, I shall get to it right away," Michael said, going to a table to empty his bag.

"You should go first," Eloise said, since it was Damien’s idea.

"I’ve done this many times, so I am not afraid. You won’t be able to watch me and get out of it," Damien said as he offered his hand to help Eloise out of bed. "I know your plot."

Hannah remained at Michael’s side to help him.

"Once we are done, should we send for the others so they can be examined? I didn’t hear any of them speaking of feeling sick, but it is better to be safe than sorry," Eloise said, wanting everyone to be in good health.

"I’ll send Michael to them when he is done here," Damien replied, focused on Eloise now.

"Well then, you may sit," Michael said, waiting for the first person to claim their seat. "I won’t need any help for this," he informed Hannah.

Hannah returned to Eloise’s side once Damien was seated.

"Hannah, please see to it that our guest is taken care of with whatever he needs. Be it food or drink, and have the carriage ready to take him home," Eloise said softly.

"Yes, Lady Hawthorne," Hannah replied.

Hannah watched as the doctor tended to Damien. She wished it had been Eloise first, as there was news she desperately hoped to hear.

Hannah looked away from the doctor and Damien to Eloise, whose gaze never left her husband. She had noticed a few changes in the lady, but wanted to wait a little bit longer before she brought them to Eloise’s attention.

’Please give the lady what she desires’, Hannah secretly prayed.

She withheld news she received from her peers who served in other homes so as not to trouble Eloise.

Unbeknownst to Hannah, Eloise had turned to her.

"Hannah, do you want to be examined as well?" Eloise asked, assuming it was why Hannah appeared to be in deep thought.

"No, Milady. My mind was elsewhere. Please forgive me," Hannah apologised, bowing her head.

"It is fine. If you wish to be examined, I will allow it for no cost. We must all be well," said Eloise.

"It is kind of you," Hannah replied, accepting the offer.

Eloise smiled and turned back to watch Damien.

Not long after, Damien’s examination came to an end.

"See, I am well," Damien said as he stood up. "And you will be well too. It is the stress of planning a gathering which got to you."

"I hope that it is so," Eloise replied and sat down where Damien had once sat.

"I may need your help for this," Michael told Hannah.

Damien stood off to the side to give Michael and Hannah the space they would need. He folded his arms, tapping his fingers against his sleeve in restless anticipation.

He hoped for some good news to come from this visit, but after watching Michael and noting how there wasn’t any reaction, Damien was left to assume that there wouldn’t be any news.

Still, what mattered most was Eloise being in good health.

"You feel quite warm," Michael said, placing his hand to Eloise’s forehead.

"I’ll open one of the windows to let a breeze come in," Damien said, moving immediately.

"But don’t open the window too much. There is quite the breeze today, as though we should expect rain," Michael said, worried the chill would make Eloise worse.

Damien opened the window and returned to watch Eloise. He listened to the questions Michael asked Eloise and the silly jokes that appeared every so often.

"You must be careful with the weather, Lady Hawthorne. It seems like you were coming down with the flu, but it is good that you have taken medicine earlier. I have medicine to leave with you to take in the morning and just before you go to bed," Michael said, searching for the bottles.

"It isn’t grave, right? My parents were always prone to becoming terribly ill," Eloise shared, unease creeping into her voice.

"No. With a little care, it shall go away quickly. You don’t have a cough or a sore throat, so we caught it fast. I do encourage you to get plenty of rest since you might be pregnant," Michael said, his gaze still fixed on the medicine. "I must be careful with what I give you," he muttered.

Eloise stared at Michael, almost certain she had heard wrong. She looked to Damien, who was equally shocked, before turning back to Michael.

"How certain are you? How do you know?" Eloise inquired, looking down at her belly, which was still quite flat.

"You had trouble mentioning the last time you bled. We must pay attention to it and mark the last time you bled. If you do not bleed within the next few weeks, it will be easy to confirm that you truly are pregnant," Michael explained, realising the shift in the chamber now that he faced Eloise again.