“Thank you, Dr. Smith.”
Willa returned to the room and relayed the message. Mrs. Davies brought up the tray and her husband removed the tub from last evening. Willa blushed as he hauled it away, and Mrs. Davies met her gaze, eyeing the two damp towels.
“Well, I hope you slept well,” she said with a sly smile.
Willa grinned as Mrs. Davies left. They sat down and ate their food and set the tray outside the door. It was only a moment more before Dr. Smith knocked and announced his arrival. Willa let him in, excited to see what his examination would reveal today.
He had his apprentice with him and a satchel full of tools. This time he had Knightly sit in the chair and he pulled the table close. He went over his usual examination, feeling his neck, listening to his chest, and asking him questions.
“I agree the fever is gone, and I’ll see how the swelling has responded.” He took out his probe, wrapping the cloth tightly around the tip.
Willa wished she could hold his hand, but she would only be in the way. She was not as skilled in matters of medicine like her sister Luna. The doctor began to probe under the helmet. Knightly grunted in pain.
Willa fisted her hands together over her chest and gritted her teeth.
“Excellent. Excellent,” Dr. Smith said. “I think…” His voice drifted off as he stared at Knightly. “I think we ought to try to remove it.”
“What?” Willa and Knightly said in unison.
“It will hurt like the devil. The wound is still so tender, but it softened enough and drained enough that I think we can do it. I think it's worth the risk.”
“What are the risks?” Willa asked in alarm.
“The risk of opening it again. The risk of pain. It would be so much better if I could see what's under there and treat it directly. This helmet is a hindrance.”
Willa's stomach turned over. “But it’s going to hurt him.”
“I'm afraid so. But pain now will be worth the ability to treat the wound properly. I promise you that. I'm going to summon the smithy. I think with his brute strength he can pull it off as swiftly as possible. We can lessen the trauma.”
“Oh, God.” Willa covered her face. This sounded like a nightmare.
“I’ll need the leather strap,” Knightly said.
“Go find the smithy,” Dr. Smith said to his apprentice, and the man ran off.
Willa’s heart pounded out the seconds until the apprentice would return. Dr. Smith mixed up a tonic for Knightly.
“I'm afraid this isn't strong enough to help during the removal. We will rely on the smithy’s strength to make the worst of the pain as short as possible, but this will help afterward as I examine the wound properly, clean it, and bandage it.”
Knightly nodded. “I understand.”
Willa was only standing a few feet away, but their voices sounded far off. She'd never fainted before, but these strange sensations in her body, her watery knees, the lightness in her head—like it was a bubble about to pop, drove her to the foot of the bed. She promptly sat.
“Are you all right, my lady?” Dr. Smith asked.
Willa put a hand to her head. “I'm nervous,” she admitted.
“That is understandable. You may wish to leave the room,” Dr. Smith suggested.
“No. I'm not leaving him.” Willa met the doctor’s gaze, and he must have recognized her stubbornness because he didn't push her further. All three sat in silence until the apprentice returned, followed by a stout blacksmith. The doctor made the introductions to Mr. Hammond.
Willa pressed her hands together on her lap to stop them from shaking, watching Knightly flex and curl his hands on the arms of the chair. A bead of sweat rolled down his neck.
He'd already taken the tonic, but she could see the tension throughout his body. It hadn't yet taken effect, which meant he would feel everything with his full faculties.
“Let's have this over with as soon as possible,” Dr. Smith said.
He issued instructions to Mr. Hammond. The poor man did not look eager to play his part. Dr. Smith readied his supplies, cloths, bandage materials. Hot water was summoned from the kitchen below, and they even requested the help of the innkeeper to restrain Knightly. Mrs. Davies came as well and went to Willa’s side, offering a hand in support.
