“Ye gods! Draw back the flaming drapes at once!” Sir Edward bellowed at his loudest as a ray of sunlight hit him fully in the face and caused him exquisite pain. “What in thunder are you doing?”
The young serving boy made haste to correct his error, mumbled an apology and set things in order for his employer’s guest. He bowed himself out of the room and hurried off.
Sir Edward pulled himself into a sitting position in the darkened room and ran his hands through his ginger colored locks. He made a valiant effort to remember who he was. As dawning came to him, he sighed and now armed with who he was, he set himself the task of discovering where he was.
His location was totally foreign and after this proved impossible to recall, he gave it up and sank back against his pillows and groaned.
He was not allowed more than a short respite.
A man’s heavy thumping strides on the oak flooring outside his door reverberated in his head. This no sooner stopped and gave him relief when the loud damning thud of knocking began, accompanied by the gleeful sound of a man much pleased with himself. “Edward! Ed…I say, Ed! Are you awake ‘ole boy?”
The door opened and a stream of daylight poured through as the corridor outside his room opened onto a large balcony overlooking the central hall and central staircase where floor to ceiling windows allowed in the light.
Jules walked in and said, “What? Still in bed? It is nearly noon.” He strode across the Oriental rug and drew back the drapes with gusto.
“Bloody hell. If I don’t die in the next few moments, I shall rise up and murder you!” Sir Edward advised his friend.
Jules laughed and Edward winced.
“Got a headache, eh? Well, no wonder. You would drink that brandy after all that ale you guzzled down. I warned you. Look at me, fit and ready.”
“Fiend! Devil’s minion. If I look at you, it will be to get my hands around your throat. Now, have pity on a dying man and allow him to do that one thing in peace.” Edward returned hoarsely.
For an answer to this, Jules flung back the quilt with merry abandon and commanded, “Up I say! Want you to bear me company to the Grange.” Then because Edward attempted to escape once more with whatever cover he could find, he grappled with him and yelled dramatically, “Edward…if ever I needed you, it is now!”
Sir Edward heard this and collapsed on his back and groaned, “Zounds! He needs me.”
Jules chuckled, “Come on, some toast and coffee is what will set you to rights. The ride, the fresh air, all of it will do you good.”
“Ride? Fresh air? You aren’t worried about anything doing me any good. You said you need me and before I budge, you will explain.” Sir Edward said holding his head. He did sit up a bit and made a valiant attempt to focus on his friends’ face.
A knock sounded at the open door and Jules said, “Ah…here it is. Come in lad.”
The same servant Edward had just banished appeared and haltingly entered the room.
“Come on, no one shall bite you,” Jules said on a chuckle.
A tray was presented to Jules. He reached for it and took a glass and nodded for his servant to leave. Turning toward Edward who regarded him warily he shoved the glass at him and said, “Here, drink this.”
Edward eyed the glass of red liquid with great misgiving. “What in thunder is that?”
“Tomato juice and soda water. Do you good.”
“You seem determined to do me good this morning,” Sir Edward returned dryly. He did indeed take the glass from him and drank it down. It wasn’t the first time he had had a similar concoction. This done, he made an inaudible sound and sighed.
“Edward ‘ole boy. Last night you talked about Lethe’s Stream. Said you needed a bumper of it to make you forget the Lady Babs. Said you couldn’t bear to think how easily you had fooled yourself into thinking she might care for you.” Jules paused a moment and his eyebrow went up. “Well, Lethe’s Stream is only a fable and brandy didn’t really do the trick, did it?”
Sir Edward eyed his friend ruefully. “Point? Get to the point.”
“Well, couldn’t help but notice ‘ole boy, it wasn’t the girl you talked about so much, but the losing her to someone else. Hurt your monumental pride.” Jules grinned, but took a step back as Sir Edward glared at him. “Sorry my friend, but it just seems to me you weren’t as taken with her as you say you were.”
“Really?”
Jules laughed, “Don’t glint those hazel eyes at me! You look like a tiger about to pounce.”
“Do I? Perhaps I shall,” Edward returned on a low note.
“Now, don’t get your back up Edward,” Jules’s hands went up. “The thing is, put it behind you, as I have done.” Jules’ tone took on a slightly superior note.