The Wards' Mystery

Chapter 6

Next morning was a quiet one. The reason for this welcomed peace was a gnawing pain in Mr. Ward's stomach. After finishing her breakfast, Mrs. Ward told Madam Brown to cancel all her activities, as she will spend the whole day by her husband's side. That promised an easy day for the Wards' household. Daina however, could not enjoy the news as her morning started with a big problem. She could not wake Jay up.

Daina tried shouting, shaking and pinching. She could not possibly throw water on a lady. Musing over the alternatives, she saw a feather sticking out of Jay's pillow. Without much thought she pulled it out. For Daina's amusement and Jay's distress, the blanket barely covered Jay's body, leaving her feet conveniently exposed, asking to be tickled. Jay's loud and contentious laugh filled the room joined by Diana's own giggle.

"End it! I want to sleep," Jay cried out, pulling her legs to the chest.

"You need to wake up, m'lady. We are already late," said Daina.

"My feet hurt. I shall not go anywhere." Jay turned to the other side, refusing to acknowledge Daina's presence. Daina waited a bit, then walked to the head of the bed and tickled Jay's nose. Jay tried to cover her face with her hands, but Daina knew no mercy, and Jay had to switch to the offensive. She tried to grasp the feather from Daina's hands. Daina in turn ran to the other side of the bed. Jay dashed after her.

"Your feet look perfectly fine, m'lady," Daina noted with a grin. She knew that she would probably regret it. However, she also knew that Jay's irritation paled in comparison to Madam Brown's fury.

"You little rampallion!" Jay cried, and both girls raced toward the doorway as Madam Brown entered the room. The collision was inevitable.

"What's the meaning of this? Why are you not upstairs? Jane, why are you still in your night garments?" Madam Brown asked angrily.

Daina's gaze was glued to her feet. Jay replied without hesitation, "I am so sorry, Madam Brown, I was feeling a bit ill. I think my trip from London took quite a toll on me. Daina had noticed my absence and came here to check on me."

"I see." Madam Brown pursed her mouth. "How do you feel noo?"

"Still under the weather, but I shall manage, thank you, Madam Brown," Jay said.

Madam Brown looked at Daina, who did not dare to lift her gaze, then at Jay and replied: "You can stay in bed till lunch. Don't make me regret me kindness."

"Thank you, Madam Brown. I..." Madame Brown did not let her finish and addressed Daina instead, "Daina, you are in the kitchens again today. John got himself a nasty burn indeed. Remind him to apply the salve I'd given him."

"Yes, Madam Brown."

Madam Brown let Daina slip into the corridor and after giving Jay one last appraising look, closed the door.

Jay dropped herself on the bed and stared at the ceiling. She hoped her maids enjoyed their little vacation, while she suffered the struggles of poverty. Her hurt back and legs were telling her to keep resting, but her mind was eager to explore the garden for clues. Being a maid was not fun. She needed to solve this mystery fast. Jay closed her eyes. She could drop the case, return to her boring evenings with books and a whining aunt as her only company. Not that she had any friends back in London, but there was always something to do there. Something that could distract her from her loneliness.

The sunrays filled the whole room with bizarre patterns. Jay slowly slid from the bed. The dressing almost made Jay reconsider her decision, but she was nothing but persistent. With a great effort and many unladylike words she put on her plain dress and braided her hair.