A Pledge of Survival

IX

"Thomas, for the love of God, please let me leave the house. I'm perfectly fine. If you don't, I might resort to nudging you along," Eleanor's voice carried an undertone of irritation as she struggled to maneuver around her brother and open the door. However, her attempts to pass were in vain.

"You don't look your best, Elle. I can't recall the last time I saw you in such a state," Thomas responded in a lighthearted tone, masking his genuine concern for his sister's well-being. "You've got a fever and you appear quite pale. Let's not revisit the memory of how you tend to act when you're sick. I almost thought you were possessed the last time you were delirious."

Eleanor brushed off his dramatic remarks, flashing a wide smile. "You're being overly theatrical. I'm just a bit warm. Spare me the lecture on my 'sick craziness,' or else I might just leave you in the capable hands of the girls next time." 

She was eager to convince Thomas that she was well enough to head to work, especially since she hadn't notified Miss White about her absence.

With her persistence, Thomas relented and cleared the way. "Promise me you'll head back if you reach your limit," he sighed, his resistance fading.

"Promise, Tommy. And please remember to get the girls to school on time. Love you!" Eleanor chimed, making her exit from the house.

Eleanor couldn't help but think this was a rather unwise decision. Yet, decision-making had never been her strong suit, particularly when it involved her own well-being.

Upon finally reaching the estate, Eleanor felt as though she might collapse right then and there. She leaned against the entrance column for support "A little water will do the trick." She muttered.

Visiting the Hayward mansion had become a bit of a burden after the recent events involving Noah. She had deliberately avoided crossing paths with him over the past two weeks, even if it meant appearing slightly erratic in the servants' quarters.

********

The Hayward family was hosting guests for the weekend, infusing the house with a buzz of activity as preparations for dinner and room refreshments were in full swing. Noah's sister, Paige, along with her husband Adam and their children, were set to join the gathering, joined by some of the family's closest friends.

Eleanor's nerves were heightened by the prospect of meeting the guests, especially Paige Hayward. "No time to rest, Elle. Come on, you can handle this. You've faced tougher situations," she encouraged herself, determinedly.

After meticulously cleaning the main rooms and dusting the furniture, Eleanor was tasked with rearranging the rooms before heading to the kitchen for dinner service.

"Have you heard the news? It seems many gentlemen will be attending tonight," Hailey, one of the servants, whispered with excitement.

"Quit being foolish. They won't even spare you a glance," her friend retorted sharply. Eleanor sympathized with Hailey; it was unjust to measure her worth based on the attention of a few gentlemen. Approaching her, Eleanor offered a kind response, "Hey, don't worry. You don't need their approval." Hailey left with a smile, and Eleanor felt a sense of achievement.

"Eleanor," Miss White's voice called from the kitchen, "you'll be taking over Clara's role in serving dinner." The instructions were concise, lacking any further explanation. Eleanor was overwhelmed by a deep desperation she couldn't fully express, for obvious reasons.

"Miss White, could Hailey take my place? I'd be more effective in the kitchen than tending to the guests."

Eleanor couldn't bear the thought of facing Noah, for heaven's sake. What's more, she was incredibly fatigued and quite certain she was running a fever. Having spent the day rushing about, she knew that Thomas would be furious if he caught a glimpse of her condition.