Socializing

The sound of someone using the privy woke her up but she had no desire to get out of bed. Her arm was sore and her head still ached though better than before. She felt utterly disgusting and wanted a bath but she had no energy to try to untie her dress again, she was going to have to dig out one of her daggers from beneath the false bottom of her trunk and cut the damn thing off. Her aunt would be pissed but she was trapped in the damned thing and she wanted out.

Whoever it was soon left complaining that the jug of water was empty and she couldn't believe she'd drank from that and in front of the duke no less. What on earth had he overheard her aunt say that made him say that last night? Is that why he gave her his handkerchief again? Out of pity? She looked around her room, which he had surely seen was a dressing room closet, and realized that was exactly what it had been. How could she ever face him again?

A knock sounded at the front door to their apartments and she could hear her cuzen go to answer it. A few minutes later her aunt said "Hold on a moment, let me go get her she just went to the bathroom." then the bathroom door opened and her heels clacked across the tile floor to her door. "There is a servant here with a delivery for you." then quieter she said, "You're filthy, and you stink. Why are you still wearing the same dress from yesterday?"

"I couldn't get it off on my own and gave up," she admitted truthfully enough.

"I'll call for some servants to help you get cleaned up, but as embarrassing as it is you must go meet the doctor as you are."

"The doctor?"

"Yes apparently he has orders from a young lord he will not name to check on you personally and will not leave until he can accurately report on your condition," She said eyebrow raised in question as she eyed the handkerchief on her arm.

"Oh, it must be the stranger that I ran into last night, I took a short walk outside to get some fresh air and he helped me out," she said absently remembering the lie the duke had come up with for her, but not remembering anything in the plan for him to have someone check in on her.

She walked out to the sitting room and greeted the doctor from last night with a head bob to show respect for his position and thanks for seeing her. A waitstaff stood beside him with a domed silver plater and a small vase with a single pink rose with a card leaning against it.

"Ah, it's nice to see you again my lady," he said and she raised an eyebrow in question, she clearly remembered the duke telling him not to mention he'd ever treated her.

"You may not remember it as you were so sick last night, but a considerate young man brought you to my office where I gave you some medicine to help you expel your sickness and help you sleep."

She nodded her head not sure what to say as this hadn't been part of the plan she was aware of.

"Here this is some tea that should help reduce your fever and settle your stomach." when you're done with the tea, eat as much as you like you'll need the protein, but I suggest you start slowly." she took the offered cup of Tea with a thank you and took a sip. It was warm and bitter and she was hesitant to drink it after what he'd given her last night but if she had to drink it in order to eat, well then she'd do so. She'd been starving ever since she'd finished vomiting up the last thing he'd given her.

When she finished he said, "Good, and how are you feeling right now?"

"Better, much better than yesterday, thank you. May I eat now? She asked eyeing the plater.

"Yes you may, I'll leave this pot of tea with you. Drink as needed if you start to feel unwell again."

"I will, thank you," she said and the dome was lifted from the plate to reveal a breakfast of eggs, sausage, ham, a stake, a bowl of sweetened porridge, another of fresh fruit, fresh bread with butter and jelly, and some tarts. A cup of juice and one of coffee sat on the side. Her mouth watered at the aray and she thanked the waiter who bowed out and had a word with her aunt before following the doctor out the door.

She made it through her eggs and half her stake before her aunt demanded to know what was in the letter. She took a sip of the coffee and grinned at the memories of her father the smell brought with it. Although, it was far more bitter than she expected for something that smelled so good.

Apprehensively, she grabbed the card and looked it over. It had no words on the outside, not even her name, and the wax seal held no stamp. But the blue was of a similar shade to the handkerchief on her arm. She opened the envelope under the impatient stares of her aunt and cousin.

Inside it read. "I hope this sees you feeling better this morning and that if you are well enough I might see you at the banquet." and that was all, no name signed at the bottom or anything else.

She handed it to her aunt and continued eating. "This, this tells us nothing. He didn't even sign it. Do you remember his name?"

"No," she lied.

"Well, what did he look like?"

She scrunched up her face and pretended to be thinking about it, then said, "I'm not really sure… it was dark."

"Well, what can you tell us about him?"

"He's kind." she offered half-heartedly.

"Was he short, tall, young, old?" her cuzen prodded.

"Tall" she answered without thinking then shrugged.

"Did you notice any family crests? Or distinktive jewlery?"

"Nope, I was too busy trying to puke in the least embarrassing way possible."

"How about his voice?"

She thought about it and his voice from last night sounded clear in her ears, "Gentle" she offered figuring that true enough without giving any real hints as to who he might be.

"Well despite your complete incompetence, it sounds like he might be interested in you, so you better be feeling up to attending the banquet or we might not get a chance to figure out if he could be a good prospect for you." Her aunt said sweetly. Besides, even if he's not, you have a handkerchief and one more night to gain a proper suitor's attention.