“We just healed a toff!” Sliger’s excitement was bubbling over. “What do you suppose he’s lord of, anyway?”
With a shrug and a smirk, Alwyn asked, “Who cares?”
“Ha! Indeed!”
The two started on their way again, grinning like fools, all previous discussion forgotten as they eagerly recounted to one another the finer details of what they had just accomplished.
Wounded as Her True Self
THE NEXT MORNING, Belinda tapped faintly on her aunt’s bedroom door. It was opened to her by the footman, revealing the sight of Rose, next to her sleeping husband on the bed, her legs tucked up underneath her.
“There’s some gingerbread in the breakfast room,” Lindy said, quietly. She had asked Cook to make Rose’s favourite, as she knew her aunt had hardly eaten a thing in two days. “I will sit with my uncle while you go and have a slice.”
She felt brave making this offer as she knew Mr Alwyn might arrive at any moment.Meeting Lady Raffles, had caused her to reevaluate how she ought to encounter the man.
If she is brave enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with a group of gentlemen as their fellow, then certainly I can sit embroidering in the corner while a doctor’s apprentice tends to my uncle.
“Thank you, darling.” Rose climbed off of the bed, careful not to disturb her husband. “It will be nice to stretch my legs.”
Reaching for Belinda’s hand, her eyes glowed.
“I’m pleased to tell you that George and I had a real conversation this morning — the first since his fit,” she whispered. “It seems he’s coming back to us.”
Just as Mr Alwyn said he would.Lindy smiled.
With Rose gone, she opened the window to air out the room, then sat down with her tambour. As her uncle’s stentoriansnoring filled her ears, she stitched away, awaiting the moment that her newfound courage would be put to the test. By the time a collection of nubby French knots dotted the cloth, there was a light rapping upon the door. Lee opened it, and there stood Mr Alwyn, satchel in hand.
His eyes lit up upon seeing her.
“Ah, Miss Everson — what a delightful surprise!” he said softly. “I thought you might be out again today.”
He shot her a grin that warmed her down to her toes.
La! I oughtn’t even look at the man! Couldn’t Dr Felix have chosen an ugly apprentice?
“Mr Alwyn.” She nodded.
Their exchange roused George, who, lifting his head off of his pillow, frowned around the room in bewilderment.
“Good morning, Mr Caspar. I hope you are well rested. Do you remember our games of chess yesterday?”
The confusion cleared and George grinned lopsidedly. “I bested you…twice!”
“That you did, sir, and I mean to avenge myself, perhaps tomorrow. As for now, we have other matters to attend to. Might I help you sit up?”
As the younger man assisted the older in getting resituated upon the bed, Belinda realized that having a front row seat to such beneficence would not serve her well. Witnessing Mr Alwyn’s gentle, thoughtful manner, overhearing his clever comments, –and blast it all!– possibly seeing his bare, thick forearms, was nothing more than a recipe for her own current and future wretchedness.
My heart must remain untouched,she resolved as the vulnerable part thumped within her chest.Perhaps if I don’t watch so closely…
She trained her eyes on her needlework.
“Mr Caspar, please lift your right arm straight out in front of you, as high as you can,” Mr Alwyn directed. “Very good. Now, out to the side.”
She heard him scratching notes in his booklet.
Of course, if he addresses me, I’ll be polite, but maybe if I am quiet and still, he will forget I am here, and not another word will pass between us.
Over the next quarter of an hour, George was put to many tasks, challenging his mobility and strength. A few times, he asked odd questions, yet never once did Mr Alwyn grow impatient or unfriendly, and Belinda despaired that her admiration of him would never stop growing.
