Chapter 57
The time kept moving on naturally, but terribly slow for Orland.
He stayed fixed to his place next to Marianne, without a hint of intentions to move.
At some point, Paige entered the room and found him seating on the edge of the bed right next to the sleeping Marianne.
She was bewildered by the situation. The lady she has served for years was acting what could be considered "lively" until she left to see the Duke merely an hour ago. Yet, when she came back, the young lady seemed to be fainting as she was being carried by her father, who rushed with a long and alarming pace towards her chambers.
All that previous vitality was unmistakably gone from her now weak body.
Paige felt scared to see the lady fall ill so often in such a short time. She kept thinking that this has never happened before, and that, even though she looked frail, it was in the delicate sense of the word, not in the healthy sense. What bothered her even more, was the fact that, although it was obvious she was ailing... her expression concealed all that suffering under a dead visage. It made her uncertain of the extent of her pain and got her even more worried after seeing how no sign of regaining her consciousness was apparent.
’Is she... hurting?... She’s not moving..... my lady... is– Is Miss Marianne going to be alright?...’
Once the Duke noticed her presence, as she announced it while arranging the water she had been asked for, Orland asked for a favour in a lifeless tone.
"..... Paige, could you bring a chair?"
"... Yes, Sir."
She quickly glanced at him before answering. In that split second her eyes fell in his direction, the one thing that explained his current request and his whereabouts, immediately came through.
In between his hands, the hand of the young Lady rested.