Oscar's condition did not improve, but after dark he became even more severe, burning all over and speaking incoherently.
I half hugged him, letting him lie in my arms, picked up some cold food, and fed it to his mouth.
"Eat something, my Lord."
"I'm not eating. I want to throw up." 'he said.
"Drink some water then."
"I won't drink it. Take it away."
"Drink, just a little." I put the spoon into his mouth, and then put the food in his mouth: "Eat something, eat and spit out is better than not to eat."
"Take it away, don't you understand?"
I had to put down all the food and water and help him to lie down.
For a long time he looked me in the eye and said, "I'm going to die here."
I said, "You're thinking too much. It'll be all right, trust me."
"If I die, the family will inherit all my property. It's funny, I came to talk to them about the succession, and they must be happy that it's the other way around." "He said sarcastically.
I froze for a moment and did not answer.
Then Oscar said, "Where are my servants? Are they sick or won't they come?"
"One of them is sick." I replied.
"Is it? Meh!" He looked like a cynical protester, his face slightly twisted, then he stared at me and asked, "Why are you here when even they won't come here?" Aren't you afraid to die?"
"We're not going to die." I said.
"Where does this confidence come from? It's ridiculous, you humble servant... Ahem..." This time he coughed so long that his face turned red.
"Rest well, and you'll soon be all right."
Clutching the sheet, trembling, his face and lips white as paper, he said: "I have no strength, I am very cold, the chief has summoned me, I will go to my father."
Shaking with the sheets, his face and lips were white as paper, he said: "I have no strength, I am cold, I will go to my father."
I touched his forehead and it was still warm, no wonder he felt cold. He looked at me, feeling weak and hopeless. I feel a bit amused, it's hard to imagine that this cowardly man would be the calm and decisive Baron Bruce. It seems that even the strongest man can feel fear when facing death.
I sighed, sat by the bed, took off my shoes, and then crawled into his bed.
"What are you doing?" He asked me, frowning, as if he were offended.
I shook my head, gesturing for him not to speak, and then wrapped my hands around his body.
Is it still cold? Go to sleep, and I'll stay with you."
As if to feel my body temperature, he just hesitated and obediently lay down in my arms.
Soon, he fell asleep.
Looking at his sleeping face, I let out a long breath.
I regret everything I ever did to him. If I can make it up to him...
Unlike the last time when I had been forced by the housekeeper to take care of him, this time I was willing to come. Last time, I was scared that I might be infected with smallpox, and I didn't take good care of him, and I just wanted to get out as soon as possible. This time, although we were only in contact for the first time, we talked a lot to each other.
Outside the window, it seemed to be snowing again, and the howling wind was rattling the edges of the Windows.
In this quiet night, I can't sleep all night. Everything that happened in my past life has swept through my mind, and I can only hug the man in my arms hard, trying to forget everything.
...
I work hard every day, looking forward to one day can sleep to wake up naturally.
This day I really slept and woke up naturally. The morning sun was directly on my eyelids, and I felt a slight breath sweeping over my earlobes. When I opened my eyes, I saw a pair of dark brown eyes, we were in the same position as last night, my hands still tightly wrapped around him.
It was very strange for two men to sleep in such an embrace, and an awkward look came over the Baron's face as he said, "Will you please leave my bed?"
I was even more embarrassed and quickly got out of bed and arranged my clothes.
"I feel better and a little hungry. I don't think it's smallpox. Smallpox is much more serious than mine. You tell the Viscount that my fever is gone, and tell him to call a doctor for me." He said to me coldly.
"Yes, my Lord, I will go now." I bow and turn to go out.
"Wait a minute." 'he said.
I turned around and said, 'Do you have any further instructions?'
"Your wig, it's crooked."
I hurried to touch it, the wig was hanging on my ear, you can imagine how embarrassed I was just now.
"Just a moment, then."
I walked into the hall to the housekeeper's room.
The butler looked at me in surprise, as if afraid of my approach: "You, how did you come out?" What's going on? Is he unwell, Lord Baron?"
"Actually, my Lord Baron, he's much better. It's probably not smallpox. He wants to see a doctor."
"Are you sure it wasn't smallpox? How do you know he's better?"
"When he woke up this morning, his temperature was back to normal and it looked more like he had a rash." I said.
Have a rash? Nonsense! The Baron is twenty-six years old, how can he have a rash like a child?"
"But his fever has certainly gone down."
The butler hesitated and said, "Well, I will inform my Lord the Viscount, and send for the doctor." you You are very brave, my boy, and you deserve to be praised. I will tell my Lord Viscount about you. '
The doctor came, and after he confirmed the diagnosis, he said, "It is not smallpox, it is a rash, and it is somewhat infectious, but it is not dangerous." Probably because of the high fever, the rash is congested, looks like smallpox herpes. Don't see the wind. It'll be all right in a few days."
His personal servants, who had initially refused to attend to the baron, resigned in shame and left.
The butler asked me to serve the baron until his other servants arrived.
The Baron was visited by all the masters of Momong Manor, especially Catherine, the third lady, who came every day and did not care at all about the possibility of infection.
The Baron had reverted to his taciturn manner, he was steady and dignified, and told me to do things without a trace, and I hardly dared to imagine that this was the frail man of a few days before. We had no conversation, he simply told me which book to fetch, what to eat tonight, to make the light brighter, to make the fireplace brighter, and so on.
...
Annie excitedly said to me, "Congratulations, Owen. You have now become the Baron's personal servant."
Simon said coolly, "Come on, it's only temporary. Haven't you heard that Lord Baron's new servant is coming?"
"You're jealous of Owen." 'said Anne.
"Ah, jealous of him? Don't be joking. I was just trying to warn him not to get carried away with his joy."
"But will Owen be promoted to a superior servant? "Anne looked at me eagerly.
I nodded and said, "I'm not sure, but the butler praised me. I think so."
"That's really nice." 'said Anne.
In my previous life, I was promoted to a top male servant after taking care of a Baron who was mistaken for suffering from smallpox. I don't think there will be any changes this time.
At this moment, the bell on the wall rang.
"Oh, the Baron is calling you." Anne said, "You've been in your room with him all day, and then you come out for a little while and he calls you again."
"His lordship is afraid of the cold, and needs firewood for his fireplace from time to time." I said, picking up a tray and heading to the guest room.
There was a glass bottle in the tray, and the bottle was full of wine. I knocked twice on the door and entered the room. He placed the tray on the coffee table, poured a small glass of wine, and brought it to the baron:"Your wine, my Lord, but the doctor advised you not to drink."
I felt myself stared at for a long time, and the Baron did not touch the wine on the tray, but said, "You have been down too long, I have finished my book, go and get me a new one." Why didn't today's paper come?"
"I'm sorry, my Lord, but the paper may be late today because of the snow. What book would you like to read? I'll look for it now."
What books can be found in this old house? "The Baron's voice was hoarse as he said:" Go find two travelogues and come over."
I hurried down to the study in the hall and picked out two books of travel notes at random.
The Baron turned two pages, frowned, and threw the book aside, as if not satisfied with my choice.