Karissa sat in the warm, bubbly bath water, raking her comb over and over through her wet auburn hair. The fragrances from the two bottles she had opened mixed together in a flowery haze. It helped to lull her into an almost complete state of contentment. Her gaze wasn’t focused on anything in particular, but her mind flitted about like a caged canary. 

Why did he run off like that… I still need to get some new underskirts…  I’ll have to speak to the Duke in the morning… I also need to find the infirmary… where should I look for him though…

Lilian had already gotten dressed in a nightgown and had dismissed the three maids for the night, leaving them alone at last. A bed had been prepared for Lilian in the servant’s quarters, but Karissa thought it would be better to have Lilian stay in her room, at least until her companion was able to walk properly. And, she didn’t like the thought of being completely alone her first night in the keep.

Rich food on literal silver platters had been delivered not long ago, and Karissa had told Lilian to go ahead and eat while she finished up her bath. The lady’s maid obeyed. She sat at a small table beside the bed with her still damp hair, her injured foot propped up on a stool as she ate. Without the stocking to cover it up, the bruising and swelling on her ankle was even more apparent. Karissa winced in sympathy every time she looked at it.

The food smells so good… and when is that nurse going to get here? Well, I might as well be done so she doesn’t walk in on me naked.

Karissa did three more passes of her comb, then placed it carefully on the stool beside the claw foot tub and stood up, wrapping a plush towel around herself. 

“My lady, let me help,” Lilian said, moving to get up.

“No, you stay where you are,” Karissa commanded, securing a smaller towel around her head to soak up the excess water dripping from her hair.

“But my lady…”

“I can manage! I’ve taken a bath by myself before, you know,” Karissa replied. She stepped out of the tub and onto Lilian’s damp towel, partially drying her feet on it. 

Karissa looked over her shoulder out the small window in the washroom, amazed at how dark it had become in such a short amount of time. Perhaps tomorrow I can see the full sunset for myself.

Quickly patting herself dry, she slipped on a nightgown almost identical to Lilian’s and then seated herself at the small table opposite her lady’s maid, eager to start eating. Golden chunks of potato sat next to a healthy portion of ham, and on a smaller plate was a slice of cherry pie. Karissa’s mouth salivated intensely, and she picked up her fork and knife.

“Your hair won’t dry all the way before we go to sleep,” Lilian commented as Karissa put a big forkful of food into her mouth. “I could put it in ribbon curls, or I could braid it and then take it out in the morning? I always like your hair having a bit of a wave.” Karissa nodded, swallowing the well-seasoned food.

“Whatever you want to do is fine with me, Lilian.”

“Hmm…I wonder which style the Duke would like more…” the lady’s maid mused.

“I’m sure the Duke doesn’t care how I wear my hair.” He has much more important things to think about…

The sharp rap of knuckles sounded against the door in three distinct taps. 

“That must be the nurse!” Karissa said, grateful for the distraction from talk of the Duke. She stood and opened the door quickly. In rushed a woman with wildly curly black hair and a stern expression. She had on a brown smock that was littered in what Karissa could only imagine were blood stains, and she carried a tanned leather bag with her. The nurse immediately went to Lilian and knelt down by her injured foot.

“Sorry I am late, we have our hands quite full at the infirmary,” the woman said shortly, not looking up at either of them. She placed a couple of fingers against the swelled skin surrounding Lilian’s injured ankle, and the lady’s maid let out a small grunt of pain.

“We understand, thank you for coming,” Karissa said, closing the door firmly and going back to sit at the small table. She offered a hand to Lilian, who took it and squeezed tightly as the nurse continued to prod and manipulate her ankle. Karissa studied the woman’s serious face for a moment, and finally recognized her from earlier that day. She had been driving the wagon that came to pick up the more seriously wounded men. 

Perhaps she could show me the way to the infirmary tomorrow…

“Hmm… alright,” the woman said. She then opened her bag and took out a roll of white bandages. “It’s not broken, luckily,” she said in a low voice, beginning to wind the bandage firmly around and around the affected area. 

Lilian’s grip tightened and Karissa could see that she was trying very hard not to cry. 

“Need to check up on this… oh, I’d say in three days time. Then if it’s not worse, another week before taking off the wrap.” The woman suddenly looked up at Lilian, her dark eyebrows knit tightly together. “Very painful, yes?” the woman asked. Lilian nodded quickly. “I’ll give you something for that. You’ll sleep like a babe, I can promise you that.” 

The nurse returned her attention to Lilian’s ankle and finished bandaging it, tying off the ends with obviously practiced fingers. She then reached into her bag again and brought out a small corked bottle. The glass was a musty brown and Karissa could make out a liquid sloshing around inside.

“A mouthful now and a mouthful right as you’re laying down to sleep,” the woman instructed, handing the bottle to Lilian. “And only a little during the day as needed.” The lady’s maid nodded, then took out the cork and took a swig of the bottle’s contents. Her face lit up in surprise as she swallowed. 

“I was expecting it to taste awful,” Lilian admitted, putting the cork back in and setting the bottle on the table next to the food platters.

“I brew it myself. It helps to add a bit of fruit juice for flavor,” the nurse replied. Then she stood up and bowed her head shortly to Karissa. “If that’ll be all?” she said, then without waiting for an answer she turned around and crossed to the door.

Karissa jumped up and followed her across the room. “Thank you very much, nurse…?”

The woman stopped with a hand on the doorknob, then turned back and fixed Karissa with a stare that made her want to sink into the floor. “Julianna. I’m actually the infirmary matron. All of the nurses were busy patching up the wounded men.”

“Oh, my apologies for assuming,” Karissa said, plastering a smile on her face and clasping her hands neatly in front of her. Too late she realized that clasped hands do not make a woman in a nightgown with a towel on her head look dignified. “Thank you very much for coming all the way here to help my lady’s maid, Julianna.”

Julianna looked down. “Just doing my duty. Good night.” Julianna then opened the door and left, her quick footsteps echoing down the passageway. Karissa allowed the smile to fall from her face as she went to close the door.

Oh Dear... what did I do to make her angry?