Well dressed as always, Wade Lambert, made a handsome impression leaning there in the doorway, a delicate tray in hand. He offered the company his famous half-smile, which, despite his tired eyes, never failed to charm hearts.

"I hope it isn't too much to have a visitor?"

"Of course not!" cried Lizzy before either her sister or the doctor could say anything. "How can anyone refuse my saviour and Idrie's dashing friend?"

There was no mistaking the elder Brightley's rising colour as her sister threw her a playful look. Lambert erupted into a merry laugh.

"Dashing you say? Well, I confess I'm flattered, Miss Brightley."

Lisabeth extended her hand in Wade's direction, and he kissed it with a boyish air that made her laugh.

"I never got to properly thank you, Mr. Lambert. It was foolish of me to go out on a day when the sky couldn't look any madder, but you know what they say: the reckless live the best lives, though I'm sure Idrie disapproves wholeheartedly—the doctor too, I suppose," she added, catching the doctor's stern, if not disapproving gaze. "How you do remind me of Uncle Edward!" And she laughed once more, only, to Garin's annoyance, Wade seemed to find it just as humorous and laughed along with her.

Garin set about plumping the cushions behind Lisabeth's head.

"It will not do to have you over-exert yourself, Miss Brightley. If you don't mind, Wade," this with an austere look for the young man, "I'll have to ask you to leave my patient to rest."

"Of course, of course!"

Wade gave him a slow, disarming smile.

"I only wanted to help where I can and wished to invite Miss Brightley to breakfast with me." He grinned wider at the man's raised brow and turned to the lady in question. "And perhaps take a turn in the garden afterwards if you're feeling so inclined."

Garin stared at his friend with an intensity that might have made a buzzing bee reconsider approaching a blossoming flower while Wade, (with much amusement on his part) returned this scrutiny with an almost curious glint in his eye.

What went unsaid between the two men was not to be understood by the opposite sex (just as the silent going-ons between women is seldom easily interpreted by men) and it must be admitted that neither woman acknowledged this muted exchange (though something Lori said reminded the elder Miss Brightley of it later in the day).

At last, (which was only a couple of seconds) Garin gave a curt nod before Wade returned his attention to Lisabeth.

"I hope you don't mind my stealing your sister away for an hour or so, Miss Brightley. Lori misses her playmate and says she hadn't come down to breakfast yet. I learnt only recently she's barely eaten since you came."

"You poor dear! Idrie, I insist you go take your meals immediately. No-no-no, I will not hear anything else. I am well enough, just a tad sore and the fever's only a mild one now, thanks to the doctor. Now go. You must look well when father comes."

"I must agree with my patient, Miss Brightley," came Garin's unhurried tone as he retrieved his bag.

"You barely tended to yourself since you took on the responsibility of nurse. I don't want to think that against my sensible reasoning, I've encouraged you to fall ill yourself. Though I must admit you've been a fine assistant."

Lisabeth reached for her sister's hands and peered into her face.

"Now I am worried, doctor. She looks... a trifle pale."

"Lizzy, I'm fine—"

Lisabeth shook her head.

"I will not hear of it. Doctor Garin will give you a quick check-up and then you'll join Mr. Lambert for breakfast and sunshine. And I won't see you till afternoon tea. That is final. Doctor?"

Miss Brightley hesitated until the doctor, with a reassuring smile, beckoned her to a chair across the room while Wade quietly engaged in conversation with the invalid. Doctor Garin took out his stethoscope once more and said under his breath,

"Let us humour her this once. I'm certain it is nothing serious."

With an intense seriousness, he took her temperature and made a show of 'checking her health', oblivious to Idrielle Brightley's quiet amusement at his concentration as she followed his every move and gesture. The basic questions one receives when visiting the doctor came and she responded in a well-rehearsed fashion, thought the doctor later. Satisfied with his findings, he nodded to himself before fixing her with an intense gaze.

"Is she terribly ill?" inquired Elisabeth after a drawn out pause.

Garin smiled.

"I assure you it is nothing serious, Miss Brightley. Nothing a hearty meal and restful sleep can't cure. Promise me you'll have some much needed rest?"

She acquiesced with a nod.

"Wonderful!"

Turning away, he closed his bag with a snap and smiled at Lisabeth Brightley.

"I've assigned Anne to provide you with your daily tonic every three hours and will check in on you later this evening."

He wagged an impatient finger, his brilliant eyes shining.

"Now rest well, young lady."

And with a slight bow, he swept out of the room like a cheerful breeze.

"He's a refreshing man, your doctor," said a thoughtful Lisabeth.

"My doctor?!"

Lisabeth gave her a patient smile. "I meant Mr. Lambert, dearest."

Wade laughed.

"That's Garin, for you. A better man never lived than that one. He can be a tad odd at times—that's the Russian in him, I suppose—but besides that, he's an interesting old bloke. Now, Miss Brightley and I will leave for a bit, if that's all right with you."

Lisabeth yawned, sinking into the pillows.

"It is, Mr. Lambert. Thank you. I'm feeling numb all over and my mind seems a bit foggy... I'll just... close my eyes for a minute. I wonder... what the doctor... put in... that...tea..."

With a soft kiss that said a million words, the elder Miss Brightley crept towards the door, looking over her shoulders to find her sister snoring softly. Outside the room, Wade hesitantly offered his arm.

"May I walk you to breakfast?"

He couldn't explain the emotions that passed over her sad, grey eyes, but at last she turned to face him straight.

"Thank you, Wade. If it wasn't for you, Lisabeth might've been worse off than she is. I am eternally indebted to you and will never forget your many kindnesses and thoughtful bravery."

Quite surprised by the sudden praise, Wade couldn't help the reddening of his face and combatted it with a modest grin and bow.

"You'd have done the same if you were in my place, Miss Brightley —"

She took his arm.

"Thank you. And yes, you may walk me to breakfast."

She suddenly laughed, a relieved sort of sound, Wade thought.

"I find that I'm actually quite famished."

"Ah, yes, emotions do that, you know," said Wade as they slowly wandered down the hall. "They grant one an appetite that hadn't existed before them."

"And why is that?" she inquired with feigned interest.

He gave her a surprised look.

"Why? Because they work so hard! It takes a lot of energy to process those heavy and busy sets of emotions, you know. Excitement, fear, disappointment—oh, that one's the worst, I expect. Anger—I find I develop a thirst for tea when I'm upset..."

And it was a pleasant sound as the two went arm-in-arm with laughter ringing the air that Rose, who passed with a bundle of laundry, later told her fellow staff with the importance of a rooster at dawn,

"T'was the sound of a pair of lovers, fer sure. Reckon the master's sweet on Miss Brightley and she be on him as well fer sure-sure."

And none present acknowledged the auburn-headed Anne's remark that Rose seldom delivered any news of accuracy. Their dismissal of Anne's remark was understandable; entertaining even the possibility of Wade Lambert's involvement in a serious budding romance was far too important to not stir up curious speculations.

_______________________________________________

Would you look at that! Oh, snooping about Idleworth with ink and parchment couldn't be more thrilling, to say the least! But I must confess there is something tickling my brain about recent events and I can't quite put my finger on what it is...

Never mind that! I must get a move on. It's rather stuffy in this closet though the woodwork truly is breathtaking... 

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