Disclaimer: I own nothing, just borrowing them.
A Bit of Earth
Chapter 5
Mrs. Medlock had been delaying seeing Mary all afternoon. She was sure Martha was overacting. She knew the pair got along and assumed Martha was just being over protective. Mary probably just had a slight cold and nothing more.
She was just telling the cook Mary would likely not be eating with her uncle and she should make up a tray for her when said uncle approached her.
"Medlock. Where's Mary?"
"She's in her room sir."
"Is she sick?"
Medlock silently cursed Martha. She still had not seen to the girl and as such did not really know how ill she was. "It's probably nothing sir, just a chill."
"Are you certain?"
"Well…of course sir." She regretted the words as soon as she spoke them She knew he'd probably go see the girl himself and if she was wrong it could mean her job.
"I will go and see her after dinner if you are sure then."
"Yes sir. Dinner will be served in a moment."
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Mary was sleeping. It was a restless sleep broken by jarring coughs and nightmares brought on by her fever.
She was jolted awake though when a round of coughing once again consumed her small body. She burrowed deeper into her thick blankets and fell back into an exhausted sleep.
XXX
Archibald finished his meal quickly and then went up to his niece's room. He had half expected Medlock to follow him but surprisingly she had not. Instead, Martha was sent up with a dinner tray that had been prepared for Mary.
When he reached her room Archibald turned to Martha and took the tray from her hands. "I know it's not the usuall way but I shall surprise her with a visit and her meal. You may go Martha."
Martha looked worried for a moment, butknowing she had no choice in the mattergave a slight nod ofher head and turned back in the direction of the servant's quarters.
Archie entered the room expecting Mary to be awake and waiting for dinner so he was a little taken aback to find that she was sleeping. He put the tray down aMarynd approached her bed with the intention on waking her so she may eat.
"Mary? Wake up child, I've brought your dinner." He looked at her sleeping face. It was not peaceful, as he had thought it would be. She was pale, the only colour on her face was in the dark pink colour of her lips and the two burning spots of red that stood out on her cheeks. He touched a hand to her forehead and was horrified at the heat emanating from her. He was about to leave the room to find out why nothing had been done for her when groaned before another coughing fit forced her awake.
"Mary?" he asked softly.
"Uncle Archie, is that you?" she rasped, trying to sit up and see him.
He came to her side and stroked her hair. "Lay back child, you're very sick. Would you like some water?"
She nodded and he filled a glass from the pitched of water near her bed. She drank it slowly, reveling in the feeling of the cool liquid soothing her raw throat.
"Don't worry child, I shall have someone fetch the doctor for you. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Mary could do nothing but lie back and nod her head. Soon enough she was asleep once more and Archibald Craven left his niece's room in search of his head housekeeper.
AN: Sorry it's short but I'll update as soon as I can. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, and I know from your reviews that a lot of you are worried about what I will be doing to Mary. Well, you'll just have to wait and see...don't worry too much though, I'm not that mean...Let me know your thoughts and suggestions cause they're always very welcome.