Maylily - Chapter 70

“Miss Aile, are you alright? Your forehead is burning up!”

Alice pressed her hand to Maylily’s flushed forehead and shouted in alarm. She had come to wake Maylily, who still hadn’t gotten up even though breakfast time was long past.

“It’s hot….”

Like melted ice cream, Maylily let out a faint, breaking voice as she shifted weakly. When the blanket slipped down below her shoulders, the marks left on her white body from the night before were laid bare.

Alice gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. In a flash, she remembered seeing the Count of Everscourt at dawn, on her way to work, walking out of the forest. The culprit responsible for leaving Maylily in this state was now painfully clear.

“Goodness, he could’ve taken it easier.”

Grimacing and shaking her head, Alice went to the wardrobe and took out underwear and a chemise. For a woman said to be the count’s mistress, her wardrobe was surprisingly sparse. It wasn’t even as good as Alice’s, and she was just a maid.

Letting out a deep sigh of pity, Alice dressed Maylily with careful hands and pulled the blanket over her again. She didn’t forget to place a cold, damp cloth on her forehead.

“Stationery… I need to… write a letter….”

As if she were dreaming, Maylily mumbled with unfocused eyes. Like soothing a fussy baby, Alice gently tapped her chest.

“Alright. I’ll bring you some stationery when you’re better, so just close your eyes and rest for now. I’ll speak to Lady Deborah and bring the doctor.”

“Yes, stationery, please….”

“Yes, yes, I’ll bring it.”

“Thank you, Miss Curren.”

Even in her half-conscious state, Maylily didn’t forget her manners and curled her lips into a small smile. Watching her silently drift back to sleep, Alice let out another heavy sigh.

Miss Aile is an important guest of the count, so you must attend to her personally, Alice.

The letter David had sent through the messenger who brought news of the count’s return last week had included Maylily’s name.

An opera singer sponsored by the master of Prowden. And probably, his mistress.

After putting the woman’s status into that single line, Alice understood why David had asked her specifically to take on this duty.

No matter how loyal the servants of House Everscourt were said to be, none of them would willingly wait on a mistress who, like them, was a commoner. Even Alice, who owed much to Everscourt, had felt the same.

To think she managed to melt that icy prince known for his coldness. She must be quite the enchantress.

But the woman who appeared under the wary curiosity of the servants was nothing like the rumors. Her soft, modest voice was unpretentious, and every one of her movements was cautious.

So Alice had wanted to get along well with her.

Seeing her collapse after just a single day in Prowden, she felt not only sorry for her but also strangely guilty, as if she bore part of the responsibility.

“Sigh… this isn’t going to be easy from the start.”

Maylily’s breathing had shifted into a steady rhythm again, as if she’d fallen back asleep. Rinsing the lukewarm cloth and placing it once more on her forehead, Alice hurried toward the main house to inform Deborah.

At midday, the family doctor of House Everscourt visited to examine Maylily. It was a kindness Deborah had granted out of sympathy.

The doctor said it was simply a cold brought on by exhaustion and prescribed painkillers and fever reducers. After taking the medicine and lying back down, Maylily found she couldn’t sleep again, perhaps because her mind had cleared a little. Still lying weakly on her side, she stared blankly at the rain-soaked forest beyond the window.

“Look at this, Miss Aile. Lady Deborah sent these especially for you, wishing for your quick recovery.”

Bright-faced, Alice entered the bedroom carrying a tray with truffle omelet, honey lemonade, and cherries.

“These tiny mushrooms sprinkled on top are as valuable as gold. And these cherries were grown directly in the greenhouse on the estate, so they’re incredibly fresh.”

While Maylily slowly pushed herself upright, Alice unfolded the bed table and swallowed hard as she arranged the food.

“Lady Deborah is generous by nature, but she must’ve taken a particular liking to you, Miss Aile. Just look at how she personally sent you something this precious.”

“Miss Curren, please sit and eat with me. It’s too much for me to finish alone.”

Alice’s eyes widened at the unexpected offer. After a brief moment of hesitation, she shook her head.

“I couldn’t possibly lay a hand on the food Lady Deborah gifted to you. Please enjoy your meal. I have something else to bring….”

With another swallowed gulp, Alice left the room. Remembering that servants in noble households were allowed to eat guests’ leftovers, Maylily cut the omelet in half, set one portion aside, and ate the rest. She also saved a handful of cherries. Once the hollow feeling in her stomach eased, she felt a bit more strength returning.

By the time she’d nearly finished eating at a slower pace than usual, Alice returned with another maid. In their arms were a lace shawl, a summer quilt, and a thick blanket. These too had been sent by Deborah.

Seeing Alice display them with excitement, as if they were gifts for herself, Maylily offered a faint smile.

“Please tell Lady Deborah I’m very grateful. And once I’m fully recovered, I’ll be sure to pay her a visit.”

“I’ll let her know.”

“And Miss Curren… I’m sorry, but could I trouble you for some stationery and a pen?”

“You were so desperate to find stationery this morning as well.”

“I… was I?” Maylily scratched her cheek, unable to remember anything.

Alice chuckled. “Yes. I thought it might be the name of an old lover. I’ll get them right away.”

A little later, Maylily placed the stationery Alice brought on the bed table. Even though she herself might reach Roden before her letters did, she still picked up the pen.

She wrote a letter to Greta, apologizing for failing to keep their promise to practice together. To her landlady, she explained she would likely have to cancel the move planned for this weekend, and added that she was willing to pay a month’s rent in apology.

And to her aunt….

Not knowing what to write, Maylily sat still for a long time, staring down at the blank page. Many things had happened, but none she could put into words. By now, that article had surely reached Purdshire as well….

“If that path ever feels wrong to you… just stop right away and come home.”

Her aunt had suspected something between her and the Count of Everscourt from the moment Maylily arrived in Roden. She couldn’t bring herself to lie again, but she also couldn’t tell the truth.

After much thought, Maylily wrote that she had safely finished the spring season and was healthy and doing well, and that she was working hard to take on a more significant role in the next season. She added that she had prepared Daisy’s tuition for the dressmaking school, so her aunt shouldn’t worry and should encourage Daisy to pursue her dream.

As for meeting her father… she decided without hesitation that she wouldn’t mention it. Knowing her father was such a worthless man would only hurt her aunt and family. If possible, she wanted to pretend that incident had never happened at all.

As she folded the letter, sealed it, and wrote the address, tears welled up several times, but she barely held them back. Once she asked Alice to handle mailing the letters and tidied up her surroundings, she felt completely drained. The effort of holding back tears left her with a slight, throbbing headache.

Maylily lay back down and closed her eyes. The sound of rain still falling outside filled the darkness behind her eyelids.

The count won’t come today.

The thought drifted through her mind as she slipped into a light doze. Being too sick to move wasn’t entirely a bad thing, it seemed.

***

Maylily awoke shivering so hard her teeth clattered together. A dim light flickered across the ceiling, and beside her sat the Count of Everscourt, holding a wet cloth. The window beyond his broad shoulders was swallowed in darkness.

“…Count?”

“Why are you shaking like this all of a sudden?”

The count, who had been wiping the cold sweat beading on Maylily’s face, looked startled at her sudden, violent trembling. It was an expression she’d rarely seen from him.

“It’s c-cold. So cold….”

Wrapping her arms around herself, Maylily forced out the words with pale lips. Watching her with a troubled expression, the count began unbuttoning his coat. In an instant, he stripped off all his upper garments and lay down beside her.

His body, cool at first, warmed quickly as he pulled Maylily into his arms. Overcome by the chill rising from deep in her bones, she instinctively burrowed into his embrace.