Death's Messenger
an excerpt

It was mid morning and Elizabeth Mayes, was worried for her only daughter, a nasty illness was spreading rapidly across the country. The young woman in question, Katherine Mayes, had not gotten up that morning, like the rest of the family. James, Elizabeth's Twenty-Three year old son, and oldest child had already gone out to the Village of Mayes, where he would be helping out the villagers with their daily routine. Her husband Charles was down at the Mill making sure that things were running smoothly for the wheat.

She climbed up the stairs and headed for her daughter's room, she had asked one of the maids to come with her, so they could both help her get dressed for the day, as Elizabeth wanted to go into the Village and help out, as she did every day since she married Charles. She reached her daughter's bedroom door and knocked loudly on the heavy oak door.

"Katherine, dear, it is time to get up, you can not sleep through the day." She called through the door. She and Alice waited for a few moments, hearing nothing going on inside, not even a slight murmur.

"Maybe she Ill's M'Lady." Alice wondered.

Elizabeth paled and opened the door, "Katherine?" she said as she rushed into the room, the words of the maid running through her mind.

The two reached the bed. Where Katherine lay still and quiet, a reddish blush over her face. Her head lolled to the right, giving a clear view of several red colored buboes on her neck. Both Alice and Elizabeth gasped at the unsightly sight. Elizabeth went closer and touched a cool hand to a fevered forehead.

She turned to the young maid and ordered, "Get someone to go into the Village and tell my Husband and Son to get here quickly. Bring some cool water to bath her, lets get her temperature down."

"Yes M'Lady, do you want me to ask the Cook if she knows anything that can help?" Alice asked, her worry for the young mistress clearly evident on her face.

Elizabeth looked up from her daughters flushed face and spoke softly, "Yes, anything that can help."

"Yes M'Lady." Alice curtsied as she then rushed out of the room.

"Oh my poor child." the Lady of the Manor cried as she brushed sweat soaked blond hair away from her precious child’s face.