I waited until Candace and the maid had left the room and then pushed back the covers and ran to the table. I had to hold the table with both hands to steady my legs, I felt that dizzy, but it soon passed. I found a small envelope hidden in the flowers - the fattest, reddest roses I'd ever seen - and tore it open, taking out the card with trembling fingers. It read: _Miss Delacourt,_ _Please forgive me for leaving the ball so early last night. I pray you will allow me to call on you today at 4 o'clock to apologise in person. Until then, please accept these roses as a token of our new friendship. If the weather is fine and Lady H. permits, we may even go driving in my phaeton. Until then, I am ever..._ _Your friend, Geoffrey Windham_ I had barely finished reading it before I heard Candace's unmistakable step in the hall, so I dashed back to bed with the card, tucking it under my pillow. Soon the doctor arrived and announced that I had a head cold. He prescribed no less than seven days of bed rest. 2008-05-05T14:52:23Z http://ficlets.com/feed/story/29415 <p>Wait, do I get internet access while I&#8217;m in bed for 7 days? I like where you&#8217;re going, the Rx vs. the rendez-vous.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/29415?basename=60429 2008-05-05T14:52:23Z THX 0477 http://ficlets.com/authors/thx_0477 <p>I think I could handle that kind of torture too (but only if it gets me out of work).</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/29415?basename=60423 2008-05-05T12:27:03Z thebetweenspace http://ficlets.com/authors/thebetweenspace <p>Actually, I&#8217;d given anything for that &#8220;torture&#8221; right now&#8230; ;-)</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/29415?basename=60422 2008-05-05T12:14:30Z Ana Cristina http://ficlets.com/authors/asimon78 <p>Seven days of bed rest? How torturous.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/29415?basename=60391 2008-05-05T01:23:31Z thebetweenspace http://ficlets.com/authors/thebetweenspace