Elmore couldn't understand why the Duke wasn't more impressed. The angel's trumpet was a beautiful specimen with its natural pink coloring and soft, velvety-looking petals. This specific one was only a few years old, but it was already almost waist high. Once fully grown, it would resemble a tree more than a flowering plant, its size rivalling a tall man. Some kinds grew even bigger, rarely — but possibly — the height of a small building.
Yet Elmore forgot about his frustrations regarding the Duke when he heard Aurora whisper to her father. He turned to see her expression furrowed in discomfort, her cheeks pinker than ever.
"I'm feeling a touch unwell," she muttered, "I'm not doing much anyway. Can you carry on without me?"
Mr. Washam assured her that yes, he could, and urged Aurora to take herself inside.
She nodded and turned to the rest of them with an apologetic smile. "I do apologize," she said softly, "but I appear to be...lightheaded. If you don't mind, Your Graces, I think I should lie down for a spell."
She stepped back as if to make her leave — but Aurora's legs wobbled suddenly, and Elmore knew even before she fell, what was about to happen.
Aurora was about to pass out.
Chapter 31
Elmore Winters
Elmore caught Aurora around the waist before she could fall, gently lowering her onto the ground. She weighed hardly a thing, as petite and slender as she was, and he laid her carefully in the grass.
Her blonde hair splayed across the grass like a halo, and her eyes fluttered as Aurora slowly came back to consciousness. Her entire face twisted in discomfort, but it was a relief to see her awake again.
Yet before Elmore or Mr. Washam could offer a word of comfort, the Duke let out an angry huff. All eyes turned to him as he snapped, "nobody told us this plant was so harmful! The girl was barely beside it for five minutes, and look at her!"
The Duchess scampered away from the angel's trumpet, her expression twisted into one of disgust. Although she had been no closer than the Duke, she seemed to think it would hurt her, too.
The Duke put a protective arm around his wife as he continued. "This is utterly unacceptable. You could have caused us serious harm. Did you not stop to think once about what a plant like this could have done to us? Mr. Washam, I expected better of you especially. You must remove this plant and dispose of it safely atonce."
In Elmore's arms, Aurora stiffened. "We can't get rid of it. Our project—"
"Don't waste your breath," Elmore murmured, "you've had a scare. Please, take a moment to rest."
Usually, Aurora would have fought him, stating her ability to make her own decisions. Yet this time, she simply nodded and pressed a hand to her temple. Her cheeks were still flushed, and it seemed to take conscious effort to breathe.
Except, a reddened face was no symptom of angel's trumpet poisoning, and Aurora had been as careful as the rest of them. Which meant...
"Your Grace," Elmore said, sending a pointed look towards the Duke. "The angel's trumpet it not the reason for Aurora's sickness. We have all been close to it, and yet none of us are ill — it is not so toxic that simply beingaroundit would cause issues."
The Duke's eyes narrowed. "And how do you know this?"
"Because I know this plant, and I know Aurora."
"She was coughing before," Mr. Washam pointed out, with a gentle look towards his daughter. "Perhaps that is the cause of this sudden faint spell?"
Aurora sat quietly, neither arguing nor agreeing. At least she was upright now, and some of the redness was fading from her cheeks.
"This happened when Miss Aurora was a child, did it not?" the Duke asked, "I assumed that she had grown out of it over the years, but I remember on occasion that her face grew red just like that."
That was interesting. Elmore's attention snapped to the Duke, an idea already forming in his mind. "Mr. Washam, could you perhaps describe Aurora's symptoms to me?"
His thick brow furrowed in thought. Then he turned to Aurora, his expression softening. "Perhaps we should discuss more inside, where it's comfortable. Aurora dear, do you feel up to moving?"
Her nose wrinkled in distaste, and yet she nodded anyway. Bless her, Aurora had never been the kind of woman to give up, even when it would have benefitted her health to do so.
It was one of the many things that Elmore admired about Aurora, and he couldn't help but smile fondly as he helped her to stand. With one arm around her waist, Elmore assisted Aurora upright by allowing her to lean her weight against his side.
Together, everybody trudged back towards the Washam's house, the mood somber. Elmore didn't know what to say, so he chose to say nothing as everyone settled into the modest living room.
The Duke and Duchess appeared so out of place in this small house, which was far plainer than anything they must have been used to. Although, Elmore mused, perhaps the same could have been said abouthimbefore this became something of a second home.