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The fever broke as suddenly as it had come. A warm summer sun peeked through the windows. Miss Edmonds, half asleep, sat in a chair by the bed. Mrs. Medlock placed a fresh cloth on Mary’s forehead and nearly fainted when her eyes opened.
“Good morning, Mrs. Medlock,” Mary murmured. “Can I have something to eat?”
Mrs. Medlock, nearly beside herself with relief, called for Martha.
“Martha! Martha, come quickly!” Martha, worry etching her face, entered the room bearing a fresh bowl of ice water.
“Mary’s awake! She wants something to eat! Get her some broth, quickly!” Mrs. Medlock nearly snatched the bowl of water as Martha, joy spreading across her face, whirled around and left at a run.
Miss Edmonds, already out of her chair, was holding Mary’s hand.
“Good heavens, Mary. You gave us quite a scare. How do you feel?”
“Tired. I feel as though I have been running around forever, but I don’t remember it.”
“That’s natural,” Mrs. Medlock said, pouring Mary a glass of cool water. “You’ll regain your strength in no time, I dare say. Now drink some of this.”
Mary was sipping her water, supported by Miss Edmonds, when Colin and Lord Craven rushed into the room.
“Mary!” Colin’s voice was full of all the relief and joy everyone else felt. “You’re better again!” He stopped by the bed, nearly hopping with excitement.
“It will be a while before she is strong enough to garden again, but the worst is behind us.” Archibald Craven smiled a true smile. Not a trace of his normal sadness remained hidden in his eyes.
Mary suddenly noticed Mrs. Medlock, now sitting in a corner quietly sobbing into a white handkerchief.
“Mrs. Medlock!” Mary exclaimed. “What’s wrong?” Mary, having never seen anything but stern lines on the woman’s face, had begun to think Mrs. Medlock devoid of emotion and was quite shocked to see her crying.
“She’s just relieved you’re going to be all right, Mary.” Miss Edmonds answered for Mrs. Medlock. “We were all terribly worried you might leave us. You were very ill.”
“I guess I was,” Mary said, still staring at Mrs. Medlock. “I never knew she cared about me,” she whispered.
“We all do, Mary,” Colin said, climbing onto the bed. “Even Mrs. Medlock.”
With a happy sigh, Mary slipped back into sleep as Mrs. Medlock recovered herself and stiffly announced she needed to tend to the preparations for the arriving guest the next day. Her back ridged and head held high, she quickly left the room with a last small sniffle.
Colin continued to watch over Mary from his place on her bed and had to be wakened up at supper time. He had been so tired from the past few days’ ordeal, he had fallen asleep lying across the bed by Mary’s feet. Mary, still weak from her illness, ate a small helping of stew, thinned with broth, with Martha’s help. After supper, Colin sat on Mary’s bed, while Lord Craven settled into the window seat and Miss Edmonds continued reading Robinson Crusoe, which had not been touched since Mary fell ill. After reading three chapters, Miss Edmonds finally announced it was time for bed.
“Mary needs her rest, as do the rest of us.”
Mary had been fighting sleep for the last two chapters, but had been determined to listen. She was relieved she could now close her eyes, and everyone else was equally exhausted. For the first time in days, everyone in the manor had a full and restful sleep.
