Mrs. Wilhern’s expression did not change, but she said, “I am concerned that the servants would vanish in such a manner and leave Miss Grey alone. It shall be dealt with.”
“I hope you will take note of the loyalty of Kitty.” Leorah continued to stare, unblinking, at Mrs. Wilhern. “She deserves to be rewarded.”
Julia didn’t think her aunt seemed at all interested in rewarding Kitty.
“Mrs. Wilhern, I’m happy you are here at last.” Dr. Alcott stood behind Mrs. Wilhern with his medical bag.
Julia could easily imagine how her aunt felt about him saying “at last.”
Her aunt turned to face the doctor. “Dr. Alcott. How do you do?” Mrs. Wilhern’s tone was cold, her eyelids lowered over her eyes.
“Very well, madam. Your niece here has had a very serious illness, but she has turned the corner, so to speak, and is recovering well now.”
“Her illness was serious, you say?” Mrs. Wilhern asked with a condescending look.
“Indeed. When I first saw to her, after Mr. Nicholas came and fetched me, had she not improved, I believe she could have been dead in less than twenty-four hours.”
“Good heavens!” Phoebe exclaimed. “And Mr. Langdon came and fetched you?”
“Mr. Nicholas found me at home and I came immediately. Which was fortunate indeed, for she had no proper servant to care for her. But Miss Leorah and Mr. Nicholas saw to everything, as you know by now, I’m sure.”
A momentary silence followed his speech. Then Mrs. Wilhern said, “We shall leave you to attend Miss Grey. Come, Phoebe.”
Leorah left the room as well, with a backward glance at Julia. She was biting her lip and her brows were lowered, as if she were fighting back a retort.
Julia forced back her own thoughts and answered the doctor’s questions.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
An hour after the doctor left, a knock sounded at Julia’s door, and Aunt Wilhern entered the room.
“I am pleased you are getting well, Julia.” But Aunt Wilhern didn’t smile or look particularly pleased. She stepped toward the bed, though remained nearer the door than Julia.
“Thank you, Aunt. I feel much better.”
“I want you to know that, contrary to what some gossips are saying, I did not intend to leave you alone to die in this house while we all went to Bath.” Her eyes were in their usual half-closed state, and Julia couldn’t tell if her aunt was looking at her or not.
“Of course not,” Julia said quickly.
“And I did specifically instruct Anna to stay with you and care for you until you were well enough to join us in Bath, for I never imagined you had more than the small cold that Phoebe had just got over.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t—”
“And since Anna deserted you, I have sent her away. She no longer works here. Kitty the scullery maid is to take her place in the kitchen.”
This would be a promotion for Kitty. “Thank you so much for rewarding Kitty in this way.”
“And she shall have extra pay for helping you while you were sick.”
“Thank you, Aunt Wilhern.”
“Phoebe and I are leaving now to call on Mr. and Miss Langdon, to thank them for assisting you and for sending for the doctor.”
“That is very good of you.”
Aunt Wilhern nodded and turned to leave.
A few hours later, Phoebe came in to tell Julia all about their call on the Langdons. Mr. Langdon had been on his way out, but when he saw them, he had stayed and talked to Phoebe.
“And you will never believe what happened.” Phoebe’s face was alight, her small eyes round and her mouth open.
“What?”
“Mother asked him and Leorah if they would promise to visit us this winter in Warwickshire, and Leorah said she thought perhaps she would be able to, and Mr. Langdon said the same. What do you think of that? And when he comes, Father will offer him twenty thousand pounds to marry me. I could be married before next spring.”
Julia’s heart skipped a beat. Would her uncle actually approach Mr. Langdon about marrying his daughter, dangling her dowry in front of him as incentive? Perhaps he already suspected—or knew—that Mr. Langdon was spying on him. Of course Uncle Wilhern would want him to marry his daughter—to ensure that he would not ever testify against him.
Aside from all that, it was simply amazing that Phoebe was content to have her father offer her in marriage to the man, referencing her twenty thousand pounds as an inducement.
Julia listened as Phoebe talked for ten minutes about how handsome Mr. Langdon was, about his height, his grace and presence on the dance floor, his impeccable taste in clothing, and what the other girls of her acquaintance had said about how handsome he was. In all her ecstatic ramblings, she said not one word about his character.