After dinner, the hosts went to the flower room for tea.
The decoration of the flower room is quite luxurious, and the wall coverings on the walls are new lavender fabrics dotted with small velvet flowers.
The seats are of different sizes and shapes, and they can be placed at will. There are benches, small armchairs, round piers and small round stools, a piano with a black shell at the window, and tall bookshelves. The guests sat together in twos and threes, the women whispered while shaking their fans, and the men talked loudly, complained loudly about politics, and grumbled.
The butler nodded to me, and I left the small living room with him. The work inside did not require too many people.
"You did a good job tonight." The butler said with satisfaction.
"I am overwhelmed," I said.
"Claudy broke his leg. During this time, you will replace him. If you do well, I will tell the master to promote you to be a senior footman for your hard work." He patted my shoulder.
I was a little surprised, but I didn't expect it.
The butler complained as he walked: "I have to find another lower-level footman to take your place. I can't find a good male servant in the village, and I have to re-train them."
I followed him in the empty corridor.
"What do you think of the Lord Baron?" He suddenly asked me.
I looked at the old butler, his wrinkled face was slightly embarrassed: "No, I'm not talking about the master. It's just... you know, I'm just curious about your opinion, after all, that gentleman might become the owner of Momon Manor in future."
"Today is the first time I met, and I can't tell...but you have known him a long time ago?" I said.
"That's not true." The butler said, "Although our family has served the Bruce family for generations, it is the first time I have seen Master Oscar. You know that his late father has a bad relationship with our Lord Viscount. If he agrees, There is nothing wrong with marrying a young lady, I'm just worried that he won't."
"You shouldn't worry too much. The master looks like a decent gentleman. He will understand the difficulties of the Lord Viscount, and there will be no problem." I said.
"I hope so, don't tell others about our conversation tonight." said the butler.
"Yes, sir." I bent down and bowed to him.
"Get rest early, you'll know the result tomorrow." The butler said.
...
The next day, after serving the hosts and having breakfast, Annie told me quietly: "Her ladyship's maid, Eve, told me that the Lord Baron directly rejected the proposal to marry a young lady as his wife, and said that he would leave the manor tomorrow. Her ladyship was furious."
I was silent for a while and continued to work with my head down. After the masters had breakfast, I sat quietly in the servant's lounge, waiting for that to happen.
The fireplace was burning hot and sparks crackled. The two maids were embroidering while discussing something in a low voice.
Thick ice flowers grew on the glass windows, and the weather outside was very hazy, and it seemed that there was going to be a heavy snowfall soon.
I don't know how long it took, the housekeeper Selena hurriedly walked in and ordered the two maids: "Hurry! Get ready for the brazier!"
I immediately stood up and asked her: "What happened?"
The housekeeper was pale and looked at me tangledly as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. I walked over and asked her quietly, "What happened? You look terrible."
Seeing that the two maids had left the room, the housekeeper said to me in a panic: "Something horrible happened! what should we do!"
"What's the matter, speak slowly, don't be nervous!"
"How can I not be nervous! That man, that man, We don't know where he brought that dirty disease from! He will kill us, my God!"
"You mean the baron who just came yesterday?"
"Who else could be, he didn't get up this morning, he said he was sick, and his whole body got fever. The doctor came to check and said he had some fever. But before noon, he had so many red bumps on his face, one by one. Yes, it's disgusting, how terrible! It's smallpox!"
"Has the doctor checked again? He said it was smallpox?"
"The doctor heard that it might be smallpox, so he refused to come back. The host and guests heard about it, and they all hid in the room and did not dare to go out. His lordship told me to burn all the things he had touched yesterday and throw them away. Buried."
"It's not confirmed yet, don't panic yourself," I said.
"What's not sure, one of his two valets him has already fallen ill with fever and the same symptoms. If it wasn't for smallpox, what would it be!" Selena paced back and forth anxiously: "His lordship doesn't want to risk his reputation and want to send someone to look after him, It's terrible for me to find someone to take care of him. I should just send him away directly."
"Who is taking care of him now?"
"No one wants to go, not even his healthy valet, claiming he wants to resign."
"I will go."
"What did you say?"
"I said, I'll take care of him."
"Are you crazy! It may be smallpox, it will be contagious! There are other lower-level footmen, you are not needed, just let Simon go." The relationship between Selena and me is very good in this life. The previous life was completely the opposite, and she wanted Simon to replace me.
"It's okay, I'll be fine, it shouldn't be smallpox." I finally convinced Selena.
Dragging the tray, I walked into the baron's room alone.
The light in the room was very weak, and they covered the windows with heavy crimson curtains.
On the large bed, under the dark blue bedding, a man was lying quietly. His face was flushed, his breathing was rapid, there were many red rashes on his face, and he seemed to be sleeping very restlessly.
I put the tray on the bedside table with cold water in it.
I touched his head, it was hot and burning. My touch woke him up. He looked at me for a while, frowned, and asked, "Who are you? Why are you in my room? Where is my valet?"
His voice was hoarse and weak, and it seemed that these few words made him tired.
"My lord, your valet is sick. I will take care of you during this period." With one hand in front of me and the other behind me, I bowed to him.
The room was very quiet, the firewood in the fireplace had long ceased to burn, and it was a bit cold in the room. He took a few rough breaths, shivering and tremblingly, and said, "I feel very cold."
"I'll light a fire now." I walked to the fireplace and lit it again. I am not very proficient in this job, so it made the room a mess. When I walked back to bed he was already asleep again.
I took out a piece of cotton cloth, dampened it with cold water, folded it neatly, and then lightly covered it on the Baron's forehead.
There is a stool next to the bed. I sit down and try not to make any noise. The fireplace has gradually heated up, and the room is warming up. This afternoon, I sat next to him, replacing the cloth patch on his forehead. At dusk, the room was darkened, and the flames in the fireplace shone on his face. I looked at him, and I started the daydream.
The man on the bed woke up, he struggled to sit up, but immediately vomited painfully. He didn't eat any food at all, his stomach was empty, and he was just vomiting a lot of acid water at this time. There was vomit on the sheets and underwear.
I helped him to change the soiled clothes and then found a clean bed bunk.
After vomiting out, he looked much better, and sat in a chair and asked me, "What is wrong with me? Why is there no doctor to see me?"
"There was heavy snow outside, making it difficult for the carriage to travel." I lied to him.
"What's on my face?" He sat in the armchair dazedly, with a mirror directly opposite, and he touched his face in front of the mirror. Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide, panting heavily, and questioned me loudly: "Tell me, what is this! What's wrong with me! My servant! Where's the doctor! Call the doctor! Call the doctor!" His wide-eyed eyes were full of bloodshot, which made people feel terrified.
"It's nothing, my lord, please don't panic."
He tore his clothes and looked forward. There were also many red rashes growing on it. He couldn't believe it, and his lips trembled slightly: "What is this? Is it smallpox?"
"No, my lord."
"No? Then tell me what it is! Call the doctor! Call the doctor!" he cried, then coughed violently.
I patted him on the back to make him comfortable, and when he calmed down, I said, "The doctor will come and wait until the weather outside improves."
"The weather is getting better? You nonsense, they won't come, they want me to do the favor for them. Will I die? Will I die?" He took my hand, his face was pale white, and looked very panicked.
"My lord, you won't die, I will take care of you, and you will be fine."
He leaned weakly in the armchair, then fixedly looked at me for a while, then suddenly asked me, "What is your name?"
"Owen, Owen Eric," I said.