The Royal Secret

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

She stared at him a moment. She couldn’t believe what he had just told her.

“I’ll sew it for you,” she said. “I just need something to clean it first. Go take off your jacket and shirt. I need to get a needle and thread.”

“Sure,” he said.

She hurried from him and up the stairs. She opened the door and grabbed a needle and thread. She hurried back to him.

“Thank you, John,” he was saying as she came back.

“Of course,” John said.

“Scarlet,” James said seeing her, “John has brought whiskey to clean the wound with.”

“Sure,” she said.

She looked at him and noticed he had taken off his shirt, jacket, and shoes. She saw that he had a furry chest and arms. She stared at him for a few seconds before she set to work. She filled a glass with the whiskey. She put the needle and thread in it. She then picked up the bottle and turned to look at him.

“Just pour it on the wound,” he said.

John looked at them both. He practically ran from the room.

“Okay,” she said and picked up a rag.

As she began to pour it on, he hissed. She would have laughed if she hadn’t seen that the wound was close to his heart. She put the bottle down. She got the needle and thread. She patted the thread dry. She then threaded the needle. She then turned to look at him.

“Would it be easier for you if I laid back?” he asked.

“Yes, it would,” she said.

He settled himself back against the pillows. She then began sewing the wound. Every time the needle sunk in she wished that it was over. Before she realized it, she was done. She bit the end off after she tied it. She then put the needle in the tray.

“Thank you,” he said.

In answer she yawned. She got on the bed next to him and curled up. She fell asleep. He didn’t have the energy to move her or call for John. He simply pulled up the covers. Then he too fell asleep.

Scarlet heard a soft gasp; she didn’t know where it came from. She slowly came awake. She realized the spot next to on the bed was very warm. She then remembered the night before.

“James,” she said, bolting up.

“So hot,” he whispered.

She put her hand on his forehead. He was burning up.

“We have to get your fever down,” she said. She got out of bed. “I’ll be right back.”

“Hurry Scarlet,” he said.

“I will, James,” she promised.

She turned to the door to call for John. She saw Amerna standing there. She realized that the gasp had come from her. She pushed Amerna aside.

“John!” she yelled.

He appeared quickly at the door. He said, “Yes, Miss Scarlet?”

“Mister James has a fever,” she said. “I need you to fill a bath tub with cold water. I’m going to go down to the lake and get some ice for the bath. I’ll be right back. Keep everyone out of the room.”

“Yes, Miss Scarlet,” John said.

She picked up her skirts and hurried to the kitchen. She grabbed the bucket by the door. The kitchen maids looked at her. It was as she was running to the lake that she realized that she wore her nightgown. She stopped and set the bucket down. She started to put snow in the bucket. It would work just as well. When she had the bucket filled with snow she went back to the house. When she opened the door she heard James yelling. She picked up her skirts in one hand and hurried up the stairs.

John was holding him down. James was screaming about being burned. She set the bucket down on the floor by the bed. She sat down next to him.

“James,” she said. “Everything is fine.”

“Help me,” he said.

“I will, James,” she said. “But you have to lay still.” She looked at John. “Get me a wash cloth.”

As he left the room she put her hand into the bucket and took out some snow. She made a snowball and put it on his chest. He moaned. John handed her the wash cloth.

“Anything else?” he asked.

“Just keep everyone else out,” she said.

“Of course,” John said. He turned and left the room. He closed the door.

“James?” she whispered. “Why are you marring her?”

She was startled when he said, “She is pregnant. I’m sorry, Scarlet. I missed you and Katie and Belle so much. I have to marry her. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, James,” she said. “I never thought we’d marry.”

“But I’ve kicked you out of your home.” he said.

“It was never my home,” she lied. She took the wash cloth out of the bucket of snow. “This was just a house. I’ve known I’d have to leave when you married.” She set the wash cloth on his forehead.

“I love you,” he said.

She froze for a moment. She realized then that he had fallen sleep.

She finished the gowns as she cared for him. She left the house for a while one day three weeks later. She had John take care of him. She gave the shoe maker the gold and silver. She had picked out the style for the shoes already. The shoe maker would bring the shoes to the house. She hurried home.

However, when she returned she was surprised to see Amerna seated next to James on his bed. He was sitting up and talking to her. She froze outside the door.

“I’m glad you helped cool my fever,” James said, drawing her attention back to them.

“It was nothing,” Amerna said. “Your sister wouldn’t help me. Neither would that other woman, Scarlet. I had to do everything. I even had to finish my dress.”

“Did you finish it?” he asked.

“Yes, I did,” Amerna said. “You will just love it.”

“What color is it?” he asked.

“Green,” Amerna said. “It will match my eyes. And it has silver on it in patterns.”

Scarlet hurried to her room. She had left the gown on the bed. It was gone. She sat down on the bed.

“Scarlet?” Belle said.

 “Go get me your gown,” she said. “I have one finishing touch for it. I also want that green gown that I made for your date with that general. That is to be my gown.”