A/N: This chapter came about whilst I was having fever today. Also, a viscount is of a lower rank than an earl.

For days, Juliet couldn't forget the embarrassment she felt at the theatre. What a horror to be rejected so directly! Indeed, she must blame herself for harboring foolish notions about Edmund Aughust. Why would he fall in love with her?

Mrs Rosewood had repeatedly asked her about Edmund Aughust's sudden interest and with reluctance, she could only inform her that it was mere pity.

One day, Juliet woke up early in the morning and a sudden wave of dizziness overwhelmed her. Bile rose in her throat and she swallowed it back down. 

Suddenly, Mrs Rosewood entered the room and she clucked her tongue. "What are you doing in bed so late in the day? 'Tis not proper behavior for a lady."

For once, Juliet cared nothing about her step-mother. She felt slightly light-headed and her throat was parched. She tried to open her mouth to talk but at last, nothing came out.

"I was just about to inform you," Mrs Rosewood continued obliviously. "Sir Bernard has been kind enough to invite Titania and me to his countryside manor."

Juliet continued to stare mutely at her step-mother. Everything seemed fuzzy all of a sudden and Mrs Rosewood's voice was buzzing aimlessly in the air.

"Of course, we should give more time for the two lovebirds to be alone," Mrs Rosewood laughed. "'Tis why I decided that you can remain here for the next week days. I will bring Sophie with me. I assume you don't need a chaperone?"

Seeing no response from Juliet, Mrs Rosewood shrugged and breezed out of the room with her maroon dress sweeping the floor.

Juliet leant back against her bed. "Mo-" she began to call out before  coughing violently and was shocked to see blood on her handkerchief. Was she ill? Perhaps someone had passed the disease to her.

From her bed, she could hear the door slamming and Titania shouting, "I don't want to go see Sir Bernard! That foul, disgusting man!"

She heard Mrs Rosewood slap her sister and the clackering of the carriages as it moved off. For a moment, she relished the heavy silence. It was rare for her to be alone in the house. She could practically taste the freedom. Except that she was confined to the bed.

Her limbs were leaden and she closed her eyes. Maybe it was a passing ailment.

She soon drifted off to consciousness.

********

Her throat was on fire. Her head was throbbing.

For a moment, Juliet tried to open her eyes but she couldn't. "Someone, help me," she croaked out pitifully but no one replied. Silence reigned and she wondered if Mrs Rosewood and her sister had purposely left her to die.

She suddenly remembered that they had made a trip to the countryside house. Damn that wretched Sir Bernard for taking them away.

Suddenly, there was a hammering on the front door. She could hear it all the way from the room. "Viscount Jasper is here to pay a visit!" A rough voice called out.

"Jas....Jas..." she murmured softly. But of course, the person couldn't hear her.

Silence descended and for a moment, she feared that Jasper had left when all of a sudden, the door slammed open and Jasper walked in, followed by a male servant.

"Juliet!" He went to her side and put his hand on her forehead. "Why did that evil witch leave you all alone with a fever?"

"Jas..." Juliet said softly. "How...how did you get in?" She coughed and her entire body heaved up and down with some effort.

"You told me once before that there was a spare key under the stone monument outside your house," Jasper whispered softly.

At this moment, his eyes zeroed in on the blood on her shirt and he gasped, "You're coughing out blood! 'Tis not a normal illness."

"Don't make such a big fuss of it."

"Henry," Jasper snapped to his attendant. "Go fetch the physician immediately."

As the servant departed in a hurry, Jasper frowned. "I need to get you out of this blood-sodden dress." He made a move towards the buttons at the back of her nightdress and Juliet shrank back.

"'Tis improper," she protested weakly.

"You're on the verge of life and death and yet, you care about impropriety." Jasper sounded astounded before lowering his voice. "I promise I won't take advantage of you. You can trust me on this, Juliet."

Jasper then rose and went to her wardrobe before coming back with a pink nightdress.

Of course she trusted her best friend. It was just the sheer fact that Jasper was going to see her near-naked that made her nervous. But she had no choice. Juliet fearfully nodded.

To his credit, Jasper didn't flinch or leer. He slowly peeled away the dress before carefully helping her to put on the new one.

"Thanks, Jas," she whispered and closed her eyes.

******

She woke up again when Jasper's servant barged noisily into the room.

"Sir," he gasped, as if he had ran the whole way. "None of the physicians are in attending right now. They have been all called away to a meeting by the Royal Physician Association."

"Damn them," Jasper growled. His eyes flickered to her uncertainly.

"Perhaps this is fate, Master," the servant whispered.

"No." Jasper shook his head and stared at Juliet with a furious look. "I will not allow Death to take her. I won't."

Suddenly, Juliet heard the thumping of heavy boots as someone climbed the stairs quickly from outside. "Did you tell Mother or Titania?" she whispered fearfully.

"No, I didn't call that wretched step-mother of yours." Jasper frowned.

The door creaked open and Juliet watched in amazement as Edmund Aughust sauntered in confidently. "Juliet." He bowed before noticing that she was pale.

"What has happened to you?" he demanded.

Juliet tried moving her cracked lips but they were sealed together. She pointed to her throat weakly and Edmund Aughust turned his attention to Jasper.

"Viscount Jasper, may I ask why are you in Lady Juliet's room?" he snapped a little too forcibly.

"What are you doing here, Lord Aughust, if I may be bold enought o ask?" Jasper stood up. "I wasn't aware that you had dealings with Juliet."

Edmund Aughust paused. "She's a friend of mine."

Jasper surveyed the earl silently for a few moments before replying, "I fear that she's sick. She has been coughing out blood for a few hours now."

Edmund Aughust snapped his fingers and a servant appeared. "Go to Gisors' Apothecary and bring Gisors here right now."

"Yes sir." The servant disappeared promptly.

"An apothecary?" Jasper asked incredulously. "With their bad reputation, do you think they are capable of saving Juliet?"

"You, Viscount Jasper, are like all the other nobles, a complete snob," Edmund Aughust snapped. "I can trust Gisors with my life."

"Why exactly were you here?"

"To see Juliet."

"For what?"

"Viscount Jasper, I assure you that 'tis none of your business."

Juliet's eyes shifted hazily between both men. They were practically baring their teeth at each other.

"Stop...stop..." she whispered faintly.

Both men's eyes flickered to her and at the same time, both faces softened.

Mercy. Juliet thought fuzzily. Was she perhaps dreaming? Why were both men fussing over her?

The awkward moment ended as a bespectacled man wearing frumpy clothing and holding a large bag entered. "Lord Aughust." He bowed. "You called for my services?"

"Gisors," Edmund Aughust said curtly. "There's something wrong with Lady Juliet and when I heard of her condition, I instantly thought of you."

"May I ask what are the symptoms she has displayed?" Gisors asked quietly.

Edmund Aughust darted a look at Jasper who reluctantly answered, "She had a fever and has been coughing out blood for a few hours."

Gisors' eyes widened. He shuffled to Juliet's side quickly and took her pulse. Frowning, he then checked her tongue and turned to Edmund Aughust with a grave expression.

"'Tis serious, m'lord," Gisors said softly. "Lady Juliet has contracted the Winona's disease."

"Speak, what is this disease?" Jasper said, casting Gisors with a distasteful frown.

"I'm afraid, m'lord, 'tis disease is incurable," the apothecary said softly.