The sheering was completed and John was conferring with Standish in the library about a staff issue when a horseman rode up, got off his horse, and strode up to the front door and knocked.

“Excuse me, Your Grace. I must answer the door.”

“Yes,” John said.

Standish left and returned a moment later. “Your Grace, it’s a messenger from London. He says he needs to speak with you urgently.”

“Show him in.”

The burley rider came inside with the hat in his hand. “The Duke of Lennox?” The man asked.

“I am.”

“Sir, I have a message from a gentleman by the name of Sir Casper Reynolds.”

“I know no one of that name.”

“Here Sir, he asked me to deliver this to you and asked me to wait for a response.”

“Very well,” John said. “You may sit if you like while I read.”

“Thank you, sir, it’s been a long ride.”

John looked up. Standish was still at the door. “Standish, offer the man some refreshment.”

“Your Grace,” he said, nodding, and gestured for the man to follow him.

J0hn opened the letter. It read:

30 October, 1830

Sir Casper Reynolds

No. 10 Brook’s Way

London

Your Grace,

You don’t know me, but I am a neighbor of your brother, Simon. It was recently brought to my attention by his closest neighbor, a lady, that he is seriously ill. This neighbor asked if I could look in on him, and in doing so, found him to be feverish and nearly delusional.

I took it upon myself to call my doctor to attend to him, as I was told your brother did not have the resources to call one for himself.

My doctor informs me that he has contracted a severe fever and needs serious and immediate attention and monitoring. In one of his calmer moments your brother mentioned you, and I am taking it upon myself to inform you of the situation.

It appears he has no one else he can turn to at this desperate time and I implore you to do what you can to help him.

Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any further assistance.

Sincerely,

Sir Casper Reynolds

P.S. Your brother’s address is number 6 Brook’s Way.

John was shocked. He instantly regretted not having made more of an effort to locate his brother previously. But this was no time for regret. He must act immediately.

He dashed out of the library and ran to the kitchen where he suspected Standish would have taken the messenger for refreshment. And, indeed, it was so.

“Standish, please order my horse, I must go immediately to London. My brother is very ill.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

John turned to the messenger. “My man, please inform Sir Casper that I shall be leaving immediately for London, and I will contact him when I arrive.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And I’m ashamed to say I don’t know London that well. Can you tell me how I might find Brook’s Way?”

“It’s quite central. If you give me a pen and paper I will draw you a rough map.”

“Thank you. And I shall be right back.” He turned to cook. “Pen and paper if you please.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” she answered.

John left the kitchen and ran upstairs to his room and threw a few things into a saddle bag. Then he went to Aunt Clarissa’s room and burst inside.

“I’m sorry Aunt, but I must leave for London urgently. Simon is seriously ill. Please inform Miss Susan and Elizabeth.”

“Will you be gone long?” Clarissa asked.

“I have no idea. I must assess the situation and make whatever arrangements are necessary.”

“Is there anything you need me to do here?”

“Just manage the household and deal with any situations that might arise. I trust your judgment completely.”

John left and returned to the messenger in the kitchen.

The man was waiting for him. “Are you leaving soon, Sir?”

“Right away.”

“Then let us ride together and I will take you directly to Sir Casper. No need for a map.”

“Your horse is not tired?”

“It’s not been that long of a trip. We will be fine.”

“Excellent. Then one moment and I’ll be right back.”

John went to the library and took some money from his desk and hurried back to the messenger.

“I’m ready. Are you?”

“I am.”

“Then, let’s go.”

* * *

Susan was picking up the toys in the school room just before Elizabeth was to have her morning snack.

“Hello, my dears,” Clarissa said peeking inside.

“Oh, Clarissa, hello,” Susan replied.

“Might I have a quick word with you, Susan?”

“Of course.”

Clarissa jerked her head. “Outside, if you please.”

Susan joined Clarissa in the hallway but kept the door open a crack so she could keep an eye on Elizabeth.

Clarissa told Susan about her visit with John, and his news about Simon.

Simon? She’d not thought much about him lately, but when she heard the news she felt a shiver run through her.

“Oh…”

“Are you going to be all right?” Clarissa asked putting her hand on Susan’s shoulder.

Susan nodded. “I think so.”

“I know he was your fiancé, but that was years ago. But it’s possible to still have feelings.”

Susan thought about that. “Aside from Simon’s health, I guess my greatest concern right now is for John. I know he was troubled that he’d not been in touch with Simon. He expressed to me that he wanted to find him, but he never seemed to have the opportunity to pursue his quest.”

Susan peeked in through the crack in the door to check on Elizabeth.

“I don’t mean to take you from Elizabeth, but I just wanted to let you know.”

“Thank you,” Susan said, patting Clarissa’s arm.

“I’ll leave you, then, if you’re all right.”

“I am.”

Susan went back into the room and sat at the table where the two of them worked together. Elizabeth came over and studied Susan.

“Are you all right?” Elizabeth asked. “You look funny.”

Susan realized she was lost in her own thoughts.

“I’ll be fine. I’ve just had a little bit of unsettling news, is all.”

Elizabeth leaned in and hugged Susan. “I’ll make it all better.”

“Thank you, my dear, you always do.”

* * *

John and the messenger reached London in good time. It was early evening and already starting to get dark. And after the messenger took him to Brook’s Way he went directly to Number Six. He knocked but there was no answer. He tried the door and it opened. He went inside and looked around the small house. The house was dark with no lights, and it was not easy to find his way through the house.

The house was small, cramped and dingy. The furnishings were sparse and what there was looked worn. It was obviously a furnished rented house, which had seen better times.

There was no lit fire in the sitting room so he headed toward the kitchen and called out. “Simon. Simon, are you here?”

There was no response. He looked into the kitchen and it was dark and cold. He saw a stairway to the second floor and went up. He traversed the hall and called again. “Simon?” There was no answer but he saw light coming from underneath a door and he went over to it and opened it.

It was a bedroom, with a low burning fire, and a bed with an oil lamp on the table beside it. He walked over to the bed, his eyes adjusting to the darkness.

“Simon?

He saw his brother lying in the bed, not moving. Was he dead? John leaned down and touched Simon’s shoulder. He moved and his eyes flickered open.

“John? Brother John is that you.”

“Yes, Simon, it is.”

John sat on the edge of the bed and put his hand on Simon’s forehead. He was burning up.

“Is anyone taking care of you?” John asked.

Simon blinked like he didn’t understand. “I don’t know,” he finally said.

John looked around the room and saw a basin of water and a towel. He got up and went to the basin, soaked the towel in water and took it back and placed in on Simon’s forehead.

“You came to see me?” Simon asked weakly.

“Your neighbor sent me a note that you were ill.”

“How kind.”

“And I’m here now. I’m going to make sure you get better.”

Simon didn’t answer, but closed his eyes and settled back into the bed, letting himself be cared for.

John administered to Simon for a while and then said, “I’m going to find your neighbor. I need to find the doctor that’s been treating you and get him to come back.”

Simon rocked his head back and forth like he was uncomfortable.

“I’ll be back as quickly as I can,” he said.

He got off the bed, threw some coal on the dying fire and rushed downstairs, stopping to light a lamp before leaving the house.

Number ten was just a few houses down the way and John knocked on the door. An elderly lady answered.

“May I help you?” she asked.

John introduced himself, explained his mission, and asked if Sir Casper was in.

“He is, Your Grace. Please come inside.”

The lady led the way inside to a sitting room with a comfortable fire.

“Please, Your Grace, Sir Casper will be right with you.

“Thank you.”

John looked around the room. It was well furnished and obviously the home of a gentleman. Presently, Sir Casper appeared. He was an elderly gentleman of good demeanor.

“Your Grace, thank you for coming so quickly.”

“Yes, I’ve just seen my brother and he is certainly not at all well. I was hoping you might call the doctor who has been attending to him. I will, of course, pay for his services and reimburse you for anything you have spent up to now.”

Sir Casper dismissed the offer with a wave. “It was nothing. I am happy to help however I can. Doctor Bartholomew does not live far. I shall have Margaret fetch him immediately.”

He left the room and returned almost instantly. “She’s been sent. I suggest we go to your brother; I’ve instructed the doctor to meet us there.”

“Sir Casper, there is no need for you to go with me. I shall stay with my brother as long as necessary. And thank you again for your assistance. And if you’re ever near Haverford, please be my guest.”

“Most cordial of you,” Sir Casper said.

“Good day, then,” John said, leaving the house and going directly back to Simon.

John went to Simon’s bedside. He was conscious but sweating profusely. John wet the towel with water again and put it on Simon’s forehead.

“You don’t have any staff to care for you?” John asked.

“I had to let them go. I couldn’t pay them anymore.”

“You have no one?” Simon shook his head. “When did you last eat or drink anything?”

“I don’t know.”

John was upset. “Simon, the doctor will be here presently and as soon as he arrives I’m going to make some tea and prepare you some food.”

Simon laughed gently. “You know how to cook?”

“Don’t you remember us making Mother breakfast together when she was ill?” Simon nodded. “You do have tea, no? And food?”

“Tea yes. Food… not so much.”

There was a knocking at the street door.

“That must be the doctor, I’ll be right back.”

John raced down the stairs and opened the door.

“The Duke of Lennox?” the man at the door asked.

“Yes. Doctor Bartholomew?”

“I am.”

“Please come in. And thank you for attending to my brother earlier.”

“How is he?”

“Very high fever, and in and out of consciousness.”

“Then I must see him immediately.”

John led the way up the stairs, and asked, “Do you have any idea what his illness might be?”

“I suspect scarlet fever. It’s been widely reported recently. But I’ll be able to tell more when I see him. Last time I was here the symptoms were inconclusive.”

They went into Simon’s bedroom and the doctor went immediately to John’s brother.

“Do you need me?” John asked. “I was going to make tea and fix him some food. Would you like tea?”

“Not for me. And please wait until I’ve examined him before you prepare food. Not sure he can eat much just yet or would be able to keep it down if he did. But he certainly needs lots of liquids. And most importantly, we need to get his fever down.”

“I’ll wait then.”

John stood at the side of the room and waited for the doctor to make his examination. Finally, Doctor Bartholomew turned to John and said, “See the red rash on his chest? It’s definitely scarlet fever. Just as I suspected.”

“What can be done for him?”

“I’ll drain some blood. That should help. And lots of liquids, and keep using the wet towel, to bring the fever down. And wait until he asks for food before you feed him.”

“And what about nursing? Should I hire a nurse?”

“If you like, but you can also attend to him. It’s up to you. There’s not much that can be done except for what I’ve told you.”

“How long will he take to heal?”

“Can’t say.” He stood up and came over to John and said quietly, “There is no guarantee he will even survive. This is a very dangerous disease. In fact, you might be in danger too.”

“Oh… what must I do to protect myself?”

“Burn all his clothing, sheets, anything that might be contaminated. And let me know if you feel any illness coming on.”

This frightened John and his first thought was for Elizabeth, Aunt Clarissa, and Miss Susan. What would they do if he died? But he shook off those thoughts and replied. “Yes, Doctor, I will dispose of the contamination.”

“Then I shall get to work with the bloodletting. And keep applying the wet towels.”

Simon was unconscious during the procedure, and John kept the towel wet. When the doctor had finished, he stood and disposed of the blood.

When he returned he said, “I must go. What we are looking for now is for his fever to break. If there are any changes, let me know. Here is my card where I can be reached. It’s just down the street and around the corner. And I should bill you where?”

“Haverford Estate, near Preston, Kent.”

“Sir,” the doctor said, touching his hat. And good evening.”