Chapter 33 To be in isolation

Hazel coughed as she pressed her hand on her chest. Her chest and throat were burning as if she was on fire. Her eyes were watery and her nose was running. On top of that, she was burning with fever. She couldn't exactly remember the last time she felt this sick. She was feeling very thirsty yet she was weak and her head was throbbing in pain. She released a painful sigh and she pulled the blanket to cover her body and she sneezed," Achoo!!"

She forced herself to sit and she leaned her back against the bed. She wanted to get up and try walking to the kitchen where she will be getting some drinking water.

Just then, the door was opened and she saw Mr Cooper getting in with an unknown man following behind him. "How are you feeling Ms Winston?" he asked looking at her with a frown. Hazel who had no energy to talk just shook her head to indicate that she wasn't feeling well. "The physician is here to examine you. I will step outside," he informed before looking at the man and gestured for him to go ahead.

"How are you feeling?" asked the physician when he came to stand next to her. "Everything is hurting..." her voice trailed as she explained her situation to him.

A long while later, Ms Cooper who was standing outside saw the door opened and the physician came out. "What is wrong with her?" he asked. "She caught influenza," he informed. "Where did she get it from?" he asked. "Definitely from someone. Is everybody safe at the Manor?"

"I don't think I've heard of anyone else," he replied. "She must have come in contact with someone who had the disease."

Recalling something, Cooper said," There was party here on the day before yesterday. Perhaps one of the guests had it." "Probably. I am going to send the medicine she should be taking the moment I reach my place. And also, keep her isolated so that no one else catches the disease. It is highly contagious," he mentioned and Cooper nodded.

Going to his master, he relayed the information and Raven frowned. Influenza was a serious disease which killed his father. "Ensure that she is well supplied with everything she needs," he instructed and Cooper nodded before leaving his room.

In the evening when the Duke came back from running some errands, he passed by the servants' quarters. Reaching the room, he knocked on the door before gently pushing it open and he stepped inside. He found her wrapped in the blanket but he could tell that she was shaking. Walking to where she was, he slowly removed the blanket to see her face and she opened her eyes.

Her eyes looked sunken and watery and her skin was paler than usual. "How are you feeling?" he asked and she only looked at him, blinking her eyes. His hand settled on her forehead and he realized that she was burning with fever. "Did you take the medicine given by the physician?" he asked and she nodded.

"Did you eat something?" he asked and she didn't reply, indicating that she hadn't eaten anything. Just then, the door was opened and Cooper peeked inside. On seeing him, he said," It's good that you're here. Why hasn't she eaten anything?" "She refused to eat your grace," he replied. "I want you to bring her food and also, get me a bowl of cold water and a cloth."

The butler disappeared at the orders and Hazel forced herself to say," I don't want to eat." "You will eat," he said before asking," Where did you get the disease?" She shook her head at the question before looking away. She appreciated the fact that he was here but she didn't want to be seen by him in this state. She just wanted him to get out.

Shortly, Cooper came back with the food and placed it on the table. He then brought the water and cloth as instructed and asked," Is there anything else you need your grace?" "That is all," he said. Hesitantly, the butler said," Your grace, the physician said that she needs to be in isolation as the disease is highly contagious." "I know," he replied and he nodded before leaving.

Hazel looked at him and she wondered what he was about to do. He brought the table near her and he dipped the cloth in the water.

He wasn't going to do what she was thinking, was he? She got surprised when she watched him wring dry the cloth before coming to place it on her forehead. She closed her eyes and sighed at the feeling. It felt so cooling and relaxing. He later removed it and repeated the process before bringing it to her temple.

When he got done with her face, he placed the cloth on her neck and she sighed once again. He did the same to her hands and later placed down the cloth then helped her sit.

"Thank you," she whispered and he placed the tray of food on her lap. "You should eat something," he said and she nodded before she picked the fork and started eating. Under normal circumstances, the food would be delicious as she didn't often get the chance to eat it but she had no appetite now. After eating a few mouthfuls, she stopped and he urged her to eat more which she did.

When she ate half of the food brought, he removed the tray from her and gave her the medicine she was supposed to take. After taking the medicine, he told her to sleep. Since her temperature had cooled down by the wet cloth, she fell asleep the moment she laid down.

Hazel didn't wake up until the following day in the morning. She sat up and she realized that compared to how she was feeling yesterday, she was now much better, thanks to the Duke.

She got off the bed and she tried to stand up but she felt dizzy and sat up on the bed.