“Are you sure?” Christiana asked uncertainly.

“Positive,” Robert said firmly, beginning to rub Lisa’s back as Christiana had been doing. It wasn’t nearly as soothing when he did it however, Lisa noted as he said, “Go ahead. I will send a message if she gets worse or doesn’t improve.”

“Very well then,” Christiana said with a sigh. “But do send word if she worsens, and try to get some liquids down her throat if you can. Well, once she seems capable of keeping them down,” Christiana added dryly as Lisa began to heave again at the very suggestion.

Despite her distraction, Lisa heard a heavy sigh from her sister and then her footsteps left the room and faded as she walked away up the hall.

“Go away,” Lisa mumbled the moment she was sure Christiana was gone.

“No,” Robert said simply, and held her forehead as she heaved again. Once her stomach eased in its violent rebellion, he asked, “So Pembroke’s pastries are the only thing you’ve eaten?”

“Heard that, did you?” she asked irritably.

“Yes,” he said, brushing her hair back from her cheeks and turning her face so he could look at her. Lisa just sighed. She knew she must look horrid, but was too exhausted and feeling too weak to care. However, whatever he saw made Robert frown and it was something to do with her eyes. She was too exhausted to even ask what it was.

“Was Pembroke going to the ball tonight?” Robert asked quietly.

Lisa frowned, but then shook her head. “No. All the other men were asking me to save them a dance, but when I glanced to him to see if he wanted me to as well, he said he wished he would be there, but had a previous engagement.”

“A previous engagement, huh?” Robert asked grimly.

“Hmm,” she said wearily and found herself leaning against his shoulder, her eyes closing. All she wanted to do was sleep, but she was afraid that shifting back into bed would bring on another bout of heaving and she was desperate to avoid that. Her stomach and ribs were already screaming in pain from the activity so far.

“Poor little Lisa,” Robert murmured, running his hands over her hair gently. “You feel like hell, don’t you?”

She nodded, not bothering to open her eyes and felt him press a kiss to the top of her head, but couldn’t even find the energy to be pleased at the affectionate gesture. Who cared anyway? It was an innocent caress, brotherly even, she supposed wearily as consciousness began to slip away. She stirred and murmured sleepily when he gathered her in his arms, but when she felt the soft bed beneath her, Lisa let herself drift off again. Sleep was definitely preferable to heaving anymore and she was desperate to avoid more heaving.