Darius looked to his wife as she entered, a soft smile on her lips even though Peter started wailing again.
In that second, it struck him. He loved her.
Or did he? He’d never been in love. But as she knelt at Peter’s feet, Darius felt it in his heart. He loved his wife.
“Now, Peter, you must stop crying and tell me what has happened, so I know what to do.”
Peter’s wailing stopped immediately, and he sniffed as he pointed to a chair that was tipped over. “I was showing Maggie how a falcon flies and the chair tipped. I tried to jump, but something happened.”
The nursemaid, who’d been cowering not far away, stepped up. “My lady, his foot caught on the leg, and he screamed when he fell. I didn’t know what to do, so I brought him a soft pillow. He wouldn’t let me do anything else. He just cried for you.”
Ellie set her hand on the nursemaid’s shoulder. “You did well, Anna. That’s what I would have done. Now, if you could please have some chips of ice sent up, that will be a great help.”
The nursemaid nodded and quickly ran to do Ellie’s bidding. What was it about his wife that made everyone feel better, even him?
“Now, Peter, I’m going to have to take off your shoe, so I can have a good look and treat your foot. I want you to think about being that great falcon and soaring high above the trees, looking for a rodent to eat.”
As Ellie continued painting a picture for Peter with her words, she gently untied the shoe and slipped it off, never stopping in her narration. She had Peter’s stocking off before he even noticed.
“Darius, could you hold Peter’s hand while I examine his foot? Peter, I want you to squeeze your father’s finger when it hurts. It will make it less painful.”
Darius had never heard of such a thing, but didn’t argue the point, and gave his little son his index finger.
“Now, Peter, you tell me when it hurts.”
Darius watched as Ellie pressed her fingers in different places. His son squeezed his hand multiple times, making him wish he could take all the pain for him. Finally, she’d completed her examination.
“Well, Peter, you have sprained your ankle.”
The boy’s eyes widened. “Will it get better?”
The fear in Peter’s expression was too much for Darius. “Yes, son. It will get better, but you have to listen to…your mother. Will you do that?”
Peter nodded. “Will I be able to walk again, or will I have to use a crutch like the boy in the village?”
Ellie answered before Darius could. “If you do everything I say, you will be able to walk and run with no crutch. But youhaveto do as I say. At first it will be easy, as it hurts, but as you feel better you will want to walk on it, and you can’t or it will twist again and weaken. You don’t want a weak ankle.”
Peter shook his head.
Ellie took his other hand. “I knew you were a smart boy. Now, as soon as Anna comes back with the ice, we will set it on the swelling to bring it down. Then we will wrap your ankle and put you in bed with a bigger pillow under your foot. But no walking for at least a fortnight.”
Peter’s eyes rounded before he nodded, understanding the importance of the requirements.
The nursery door opened and Anna strode in. “I’ve got it, my lady.” The nursemaid was out of breath but continued forward. “It took some time for Cook to chop it off.” She handed over the bowl of ice.
“This is just the right amount, Anna. Very well done.” Ellie smiled at the nursemaid, receiving a relieved smile in return.
Darius watched as his wife tended to his son, her actions sure and efficient. He found it odd that she moved so assuredly now, yet knocked items over or bumped into objects at other times. She was definitely a complex person, and one he planned to learn about for the rest of his life.
His breath hitched at the thought.The rest of his life.He wanted that to be a very long time, but what about when his next black mood took him? Or the one after that? Or the one next year? Or the final one? A cold chill swept through him, and he purposefully returned his attention to Ellie.
“There you go. Now, I need to leave the ice on for twenty minutes. That should be just the right amount of time, but if it starts to sting, call for me.”
“You’re leaving?” Peter grabbed her arm.
“Of course not. But I wish to talk to your father in private.” She turned to Maggie. “Can you bring over some of Peter’s toys and play with him?”
Maggie nodded and immediately went to the cabinet to get the toys.
