“Yes, well, you always had a knack for getting him into trouble. Or rather, you had a knack for getting him to take the blame for trouble you caused.”
“Don’t be bitter, brother.”
“I’m not bitter. Simply voicing admiration for your tenacity.”
“Why did you come back again?” she asked tartly with her arms crossed. While the exchange might seem contentious, it really wasn’t. Bickering was a mainstay in their family. In a way, it suggested all was well.
“Please don’t argue,” Eliza said, sounding distressed. Clearly, she didn’t fully understand this family dynamic.
“I will go send a message to Melville to attend to me,” Octavia said. Then put on her most tart voice. “Your wife needs a grate.”
“What?” Caius said, the picture of confusion.
Octavia didn’t stay to explain and left them to it. But really, if he took care of some of her needs, perhaps Lord Fortescue wouldn’t come running every time Eliza needed something. Teresa had even said as much.
How and why had she agreed to do this, she wondered as she sat down at her desk and wrote to Melville. The response would be quick, so they may even leave that afternoon. If Eliza wouldn’t keep distressing about it, she wouldn't be doing this at all, but Eliza was not going to stop, which meant that it would keep coming up. It was better for all if she just went and saw that the man was cared for. It would bring peace to this house from the disturbance that Lord Fortescue always seemed to cause.
It was a mere trip. It might be nice to see some of the countryside this time of year. Or likely it would be muddy and rainy, and the travel would be cumbersome. Already she was cursing Fortescue for making her do this. The man was nothing but a thorn in the family’s side. And Julius, the traitor, was taking him to heart like a bosom friend.
Chapter 18
AS DAYS WENT PAST, the sleepiness receded somewhat. Finn didn’t need to be encouraged to not move. His head flared in pain and distress whenever he did, but the doctor did allow him to be propped up on the pillows slightly, which helped him feel a little more normal.
There were random pains in his feet that seemed to shoot through for no reason at all, and Dr. Peteson was delighted with that eventuality. It was a good sign, he said, that the nerves were still intact. Pain was a good omen, it seemed.
Mr. Fuller kept the room inordinately warm, constantly having the fire fed. There was no chance of catching a chill with such attention. In fact, Finn was hot most of the time. Perhaps he had a fever. The doctor checked and grumbled, but he didn’t really say.
Holding a book put too much pressure on his back, the doctor had told him, so he was stuck with doing nothing but lying propped up on pillows. Taking less laudanum was making him feel a bit sharper too. Some was still needed, unfortunately. His back was still aching severely, but he had broken it, so it wasn’t surprising. Pain was good, he told himself, and wondered if he didn’t prefer stopping the laudanum altogether.
“I will go for now. Things are going very well. When the brace comes, you can move a little more, but we must wait until then.” With an efficient smile, he packed his bag and left. Finn had no idea where he came from, but he was here often enough to suggest he came from nearby.
With him gone, the house was in utter silence. The only thing he heard was the standing clock down the hall, and the gentle patter of rain on the stone outside his windows. Sighing hurt, but he didn’t remember until after as the pain flared through him. It wasn’t just his back, there was pain around his chest as well. Probably broken ribs, but nothing to worry about compared to his back.
There was hope. There was nothing to suggest he wouldn’t mend, albeit slowly, so he simply had to bear through this period without fuss. The more he complied, the faster he would heal, even if he hated being an invalid. The longer-term goals were more important than his immediate boredom.
Mr. Fuller’s footfalls were heard down the hall. They sounded different from anyone else who came because of the man’s stiff knees.
As expected, the man came in view at the door. “You have visitors, my lord,” Fuller said and Finn frowned.
“I expect you told them that I’m not receiving visitors right now.”
“They insisted,” Fuller continued. “They are aware of your misfortune and have come to see you are well.”
“I’m not well. Send them away.”
“I anticipate that the lady will not comply.”
“Lady?” Had Eliza come to see him? “Who is it?”
“A Mr. Melville Torville.”
“What a ridiculous name. I’ve never heard of him.”
“And Miss Octavia Hennington.”
Finn blinked. Octavia Hennington was here, to see that he was alright. Had the world shifted on its axis somehow? This was Eliza’s doing. He knew it immediately. And Octavia wasn’t going to leave until she got what she wanted. She was thorny that way. Relentless and stubborn.
“Well, I’m not decent.”
“I’ll inform her.” How was he not surprised that it was Octavia who insisted? And who the hell was Melville Torville?
Fuller disappeared and it was a long time until he came back. Finally he appeared. “Can you be made decent, she inquires,” he said.
“No!” Finn said, losing his temper. “If she wants to see me, she’ll have to do so as is.”
“I could perhaps drape a blanket on you,” Fuller suggested and Finn snorted. It wasn’t as if he was indecent. He simply didn’t have anything on underneath the sheets lying up to his midriff. If it wasn’t so damned hot in here with the
