Sybrina found a firm friend in Cook, so much so that every morning she prepared tasty treats for Sybrina’s breakfast. She fussed over Sybrina like a mother hen. She was even taking Sybrina tea and pastries in the afternoons, if Sybrina decided to spend some time of relaxation in Alexander's library.

The butler on the other hand remained reserved, but Sybrina was now enjoying his unreserved subordination, thanks to her husband’s intervention. It irked Sybrina that the butler would be so cold distant and disrespectful, when she had given him no cause to be so prejudiced against her. Well as long has the Earl continued to give her his support, she would not waste any energy on the butler.

Sybrina received a requested from the dowager to have tea the one afternoon and wondered curiously what the agenda was. They lived in the same house, but Sybrina kept herself busy, ensuring she did not have time for idle chats with the dowager.

‘Countess, thank you for joining me,’ the dowager summoned a smile.

Sybrina nodded her head, not wanting to lie to her and tell her it was a pleasure to take tea with her.

‘Lovely day isn’t it?’ the dowager offered an unrequired weather report.

Sybrina looked out the window, acknowledging the warm effects of the dripping sun and again nodded at the dowager as she sipped on her tea.

‘I was wondering if you’re with child.’

Sybrina choked on her tea and coughed ceaselessly, even her eyes began to water.

Impossible, since the marriage has not yet been consummated!

‘We have hardly been married six months,’ Sybrina spoke through choking breaths.

‘Well I am sure my Alexander is keen to have his heir sooner rather than later, and I would like to see my grandchild before I’m buried in my grave.’

‘Dowager Countess, when I am good and ready it shall happen. My husband has not informed me that he is in any haste for an heir.’

‘He is too much of a gentleman that is Alexander’s problem,’ she whined. ‘I dare say that is why you take advantage of his good nature.’

‘I have tried to be patient with you Dowager Countess. I will take instructions from my husband, but not you. Now, I would like you to mind your own business. Please stay out of marriage. Good afternoon.’ Sybrina stormed out of the sun parlour.

‘What are you doing Countess?’ Spencer enquired.

We are planting beans. They are very nutritious and delicious too.’

‘Yak! Vegetables are not tasty.’

‘They are,’ Sybrina laughed, ‘and they help you grow too.’

‘Big like the earl?’

‘And dashing like me too,’ Alexander picked up little Spencer and lifted him above his head.

Yes you are dashing. And you are so good to Spencer.

‘My lord what are you doing home so early?’

Alexander smiled and placed his arm around her waist, ‘I want to take you riding.’

‘But it is afternoon.’

‘When the sun is setting it is beautiful too. Come with me,’ he urged.

Sybrina gazed into his eyes, unable to tear herself away, ‘let me get my hat,’ she murmured.

‘Spencer, tomorrow we will pluck the apricots. They are ready for making jam,’ Sybrina spoke over her shoulder.

‘Yes countess,’ he agreed.

‘I did not know it can be so beautiful my lord,’ Sybrina leaned against the tree trunk as they watched the sun setting.

‘I used to come here often when I was younger,’ he smiled reminiscently. ‘I used to swim in the lake too without any clothes,’ he whispered in her ear.

‘You should not speak such things Alexander,’ she blushed.

‘Why not?’ he laughed, taking her hands in his. ‘You are not a babe.’

‘I know,’ her eyes met his. She reached out and cupped his cheek. Alexander caught her hand and pressed his lips to the inside of her palm.

‘Alexander__.’

Alexander reached over and pressed his lips to hers. Her arms went around his neck. He lowered her on to the grass, his mouth capturing hers hungrily. His fingers touched her face, caressed her cheeks, and her throat. Sybrina kissed him back, pressing his head against her throat. His fingers trailed over her bosom, and closed over one breast. He heard her sigh and murmur his name softly. Alexander’s lips kissed a path down her neck. His mouth worried at her bosom, until his lips were able to press wet kisses on her cleavage.

I want you Sybrina. Relive me off the promise I made to you.

His heart was beating wildly, so wildly it sounded like the thudding hooves of a race horse in his ear. It was only when Alexander heard the sudden cry of a horse, did he realise it really was a horse braking sharply in front of them. He cursed softly, causing Sybrina to come to her senses. She quickly righted her clothes as best she could as she looked up into the footman's weary eyes, before he hurriedly moved it to the earl.

‘My lord come quick. It’s the lad.’

While Sybrina was still trying to get her emotions and body to normalcy, Alexander was on his feet and totally composed. He extended his hand to assist her up, guiding her back to their horses.

‘What lad are you talking about?’ Alexander hoisted Sybrina onto her horse, and hurriedly slid onto his own.

‘The lad Spencer. He’s taken ill__frothing at the mouth!’

‘Sybrina wait!’ Alexander yelled, but she waited not a second as she sprinted her horse back as fast as she could.

‘Hurry, oh hurry!,’ Sybrina kicked at her mare’s thigh. She sensed Sybrina’s urgency and sped like lightening back to the estate.

The mare had barely stopped and Sybrina was jumping off, and almost fell, but she sprinted as fast as she could to Spencer.

‘Barkis, what happened?’ Sybrina cried out.

‘I do not know countess. He said his tummy was sore, and that he was feeling hot,’ and then he collapsed in my arms.

‘Hurry bring him into the house,’ Sybrina instructed.

‘But countess ... I should not.’

Sybrina took little Spencer from Barkis and ran with him into the castle. Cook and Harriet followed her anxiously.

‘Harriet hurry open up one of the guest rooms. Cook bring me a dish of cool water, a cloth, and some laudanum.

‘Sybrina?’ Alexander rushed in. ‘Is he okay?’

‘No, he is gaining a temperature,’ Sybrina fed the unconscious boy a few drops of laudanum.

‘How can I help?’ Alexander asked.

‘Just wipe him down. I am going to the garden to pick some medicinal herbs,’ Sybrina looked at Alexander as if to speak to him, but hurried out.

Oh God please let him be okay, please!

Sybrina was picking the herbs when Alexander came to her.

‘Sybrina,’ he noted the tears in her eyes.

‘Alexander,’ she flung her arms around him, ‘he has eaten something poisonous,’ she sobbed. ‘It is my fault I told him he could eat the strawberries__.’

‘How could it be your fault?’ Alexander wiped at her tears.

‘He would have thought everything is edible in the field. I saw some of those wild berries, but I did not think Spencer would wander that far out,’ she cried.

‘Hush my sweet,’ he wrapped his arms around her. ‘Will the laudanum not help?’

‘It is only a pain killer. Barkis said he complained of a sore tummy. These herbs are known to neutralise any aggravation in the stomach lining, and reverse any effects of foreign substances. If his body does not respond to this__.’

‘Do not think it,’ Alexander tugged her arm. ‘We have to try it, come.’

Sybrina rushed into the kitchen, washed the herbs, and prepared the concoction to feed to Spencer. When she entered the room to attend to Spencer, Barkis, Harriet, Cook and Mr Charles were hovering next to Alexander who was wiping down Spencer, trying to reduce his temperature.

‘How is the lad doing my lady?’ Barkis asked hopelessly.

Sybrina’s eyes sought Alexander ’s for support. ‘The countess has prepared some medicinal herbs to help his stomach. Let us leave her to it shall we?’ Alexander diplomatically ushered everybody out.

Sybrina cradled Spencer in her arms, using a spoon, she fed a little into his mouth. The boy’s face creased from the distaste. He was continuing to burn up. Using the cloth she wipe him down again. She laid him back on the bed. Holding him would not help his sky high temperature.

‘Spencer, I know you can hear me darling,’ she gripped his palms between her hands. ‘Please you have to respond to the medication. Do it for me, please Spencer.’

Sybrina fed a little more of the concoction into his mouth. She loosened his shirt, and two of the poisonous berries fell out the pocket. ‘Oh God Spencer!’ Sybrina cried softly. ‘You have to fight this thing do you hear me Spencer? ‘You have to get better because I need to smack your bottom for wandering into the field.’

Sybrina removed all the heavy bedcovers. She left him in his under wear, and had just the single sheet covering him. She wiped him down again. Spencer was muttering incoherently. The fever would do that. She continued to speak to the boy, urging him to fight the poison. She sang softly to him. An hour later, Alexander walked in with a tea tray for Sybrina.

‘I do not want anything,’ she shook her head forcefully.

‘Sybrina take a break. Allow the medication to work__’

‘No, he needs to be constantly wiped down. The fever__.

‘I will wipe him. Take some tea.’

‘Alexander, I don’t__.’

‘You will.’ He added extra sugar into the cup and forced Sybrina to drink.’

‘Look,’ Sybrina pointed to the berries.

‘Is that what he ate?’ Alexander asked with concern?

‘Yes,’ she whispered.

‘He is going to make it,’ Alexander prophesied.

Sybrina looked at him hopefully, wanting that to be true.

‘Why don’t you go and chat to Barkis. He will want word on Spencer.’

‘He has not improved. What should I say?’

‘Just let him know you are doing everything, my sweet. Go,’ Alexander urged.

She nodded and walked out, as Alexander continued the wiping down duty.

‘Countess, how is the boy?’ Harriet demanded the second Sybrina opened the door.

She smiled at everybody, and looked at Barkis. ‘I fed him some of the herbal mixture,’ she nodded. His temperature is still high. We just need to keep him cool,’ Sybrina murmured. ‘You can see him for a little while.’

It was late evening when Harriet came to relieve Sybrina, but she would not move from the boy’s bedside. She refused supper, insisting she needed to keep the boy's temperature down by continuously wiping him down. It was after midnight, when Alexander tiptoed into the room. He looked adoringly at his wife. She was tired, the dark marks under her eyes were testament to that. But she soldiered on, continuing to keep vigil at the boy’s side. He knew she was feeling personally responsible and was punishing herself. Wisps of hair had become loose from the ribbons that held her hair together. She had dozed off with the wash cloth in her hand.

‘Sybrina?’ Alexander tapped her softly.

She jumped up, observing Alexander and the butler in the room. She touched the boy’s forehead, dipped the cloth in the cool water and dabbed at his face.’

‘It’s still too high,’ she spoke in alarm, brushing her arm across her own forehead.

‘My lady I would like you to go and rest for a little while.’

‘No. I can’t. I have to stay.’

‘We can take turns,’ he suggested.

‘No I can’t leave__.’

‘Sybrina you have not even taken supper,’ he raised his voice.

‘My lord please, I need to try and break his temperature.’

‘Mr Charles and I are more than adequate to wipe down the boy.’

‘The both of you go to bed__.’

‘You are not going to be any good to Spencer if you’re dead on your feet. I am taking you to bed.’ Without warning Alexander lifted her into his arms.

‘Alexander please, Spencer needs me,’ she begged. ‘Put me down please,’ she cried out.

‘Rest for just four hours. I will wake you up.’

‘Promise?’ She held onto the door as Alexander wanted to walk out. ‘You have to wipe him down every fifteen minutes,’ she instructed.

‘I promise,’ Alexander replied. ‘If Spencer gets worse I will wake you immediately.’

‘She tucked her arms around his neck. She could close her eyes for just half an hour. Before Alexander could walk upstairs and lay her on her bed, Sybrina was lights out.