Van Deloney: To My Dearest Emma [[BOOK ONE]]

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑽

VAST OF HESTONIA'S ETERNAL CALENDULA

November 4, 1879

        SEVEN DAYS had passed since the maid of the House Grimoard made a horrifying discovery in the study room; Lucien, the intriguing Lord of the House, lay unconscious at his desk, his palm, mouth, and shirt stained with his own blood.
Until now, he still remained unconscious, which surprised even Madame Dorothea when she learned about his condition. Having only recently returned from Normaine, she was baffled and concerned about Lucien's predicament.

"What is actually happening? Why is he covered with his own blood?" Charlotte inquired of Miranda, her tone and expression reflecting her confusion and concern. "Well, M'Lord had not been feeling well since he departed to Normaine," Miranda explained, her visage filled with concern. "We attempted to discourage him from travelling, but he did not heed our advice. Now look at what had happened," she continued, her tone heavy with worry.

Charlotte felt troubled and unable to understand the situation, her cup of tea untouched as she sat in the living room with Miranda. Suddenly, a middle-aged man entered the room with grayish hair and a mustache accompanied by spectacles, generating an air of authority and expertise. "Doctor McCarthy, how is My Lord doing now?" the doctor was addressed, but sadly, he shook his head.

"He hasn't gain consciousness," the doctor informed Miranda, his manner, professional and forthright. "I have instructed Her Grace to monitor him closely. Hopefully on my 10th visit, he shall have recovered. However, I do have a new prescription that I am hopeful will assist his recovery," he informed her, a tinge of hope pervading his tone. Miranda, meanwhile, uttered a query of her own, eager to learn more. "Is there a new prescription, doctor?" her question was clear and crisp, a reflection of her concern.

Charlotte listened intently to the exchange between the doctor and Miranda, her teacup lifted gently to her lips as she sipped her tea. "The prescription remains unchanged from before; however, I have added a new herb to enhance the healing of his wound," the doctor elaborated after a pause. "Which herb is that?" Charlotte inquired, her curiosity piqued, and her face lit up with anticipation as she leaned in to hear his response. Miranda, however, remained silent and observed the conversation with a thoughtful expression, her eyebrows raised slightly as she awaited the doctor's answer.

The doctor turned to Charlotte, his gaze meeting hers directly. "The herb is known as Calendula, if you are familiar with it," he stated, his tone matter of fact and calm. Charlotte nodded her head, her expression betraying a hint of understanding and recognition at the mention of the herb. Miranda, meanwhile, ventured a comment of her own, her input adding a personal touch to the dialogue. "We have Calendula in the garden, but they have not yet sprouted," she informed the doctor.

Charlotte placed her teacup down with a slight thud and then raised her eyebrows as a thoughtful idea dawned in her mind. "Perhaps I may know of a spot close by where we could find some Calendula," she declared, her voice calm and determined. Miranda, who was listening intently to her remarks, responded with curiosity and interest. "Do you know where we may obtain M'Lady?" she inquired, her face bearing an expression of anticipation at the prospect of finding a potential solution to Lucien's baffling condition.

Charlotte, still in a state of thoughtfulness, expressed her knowledge of a distant destination that could offer a potentially useful solution to their dilemma. "If my readings are correct, in the village of Hestonia, located within the land of Albiana, there are plenty of Calendula blooming in that vast. However, I'm not sure when do they bloom." She divulged, her words tinged with a sense of urgency and purpose. She was unsure, however, if the flowering plants would be present at that precise moment in time, leaving her with an uncertainly that only further fueled the suspense and anticipation surrounding Lucien's condition.