The operation a week ago had gone well, but surgery took it out of a body,anybody. An old man who had been ill for a long time was hardly going to bounce back in seven days. They should stay longer, but the wedding was in a few days and Adam would do his best to keep the old man resting until the big day.
“Would you like the radio on?” he asked.
“Would you read out loud?” Du Montford tipped his head towards the book Millie had left next to his bed. “Or do you all speak internet emojis nowadays?”
Laughing, Adam reached for the volume. It was an anthology of English poetry.
“Anything in particular?”
Du Montfort gave him a knowing smile. “How about a random page?”
Adam opened the volume without looking and turned the next page.
It wasIF—by Rudyard Kipling.
He started to read, slowly, keeping his voice even and soothing. Soon Du Montfort relaxed, and his eyes closed. He wasn’t asleep; his hand in his lap still twitched now and again. Rain pattered against the windows as Adam read.
IF—was a familiar poem, every schoolboy in England must have studied this at some point.
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
Adam didn’t pay attention to the familiar words but concentrated on keeping his voice low and soothing to help the old man to sleep. When he came to the end of the long poem, Du Montfort opened his eyes.
“Again, please. But more slowly this time. You’re reading it like a shopping list.”
So, Adam tried again, allowing the words and images space to speak to him.
…if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you…
…If you can bear to watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools…
A lump had risen to his throat and thickened his voice. He coughed twice to clear it.
If you can make one heap of all your winnings…
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
He cast a quick glance at Lord M. Something told Adam the old man had made him repeat the poem for a reason. And he suspected it had a lot to do with George’s offer to stay here.
He suppressed a smile. The old man was as transparent as he was wily.
He went on reading a few more poems. But his mind kept going back to Kipling.
Making a heap of everything and risk it all?
Long after Du Montfort had fallen asleep, Adam sat thinking and thinking until he found himself going outside. The hospital had a small terrace café, and he bought himself a coffee. He found his new phone in his back pocket and dialed.
Laura answered on the first ring.
“What are you planning to do after the wedding?” he asked without preamble.
“Hello to you too.” She laughed.
He wanted to tell her how much he missed holding her in his arms but since he was sitting in a public place, perhaps better not get into such intimacies.
