*
Finn woke when Mr. Fuller entered his room, followed by Dr. Peteson. Normally he woke as soon as the sun rose, even before, but today he had slept longer. It had to be the trial of having guests that caused him to sleep more than normal.
“It’s arrived,” the doctor said, holding up a contraption of brass and straps. “It’s the brace.”
“Right,” Finn said, feeling skeptical about it.
“Shall we try it on, then?”
This time, the doctor carried more than his typical black bag, and lay a cloth bundle on the table and rolled it out. “It will need some adjustment to ensure it fits properly. Ideally, you would sleep with it too, if it’s comfortable enough.”
Finn couldn’t imagine that being at all comfortable. The metal was cold as Dr. Peteson brought it to his body. It was partially a corset with brass extensions that stretched up his back and front. Carefully, he had to roll to his side to get it in place, and then roll back, each time worried he would feel that twinge of pain in his back that said his healing just undid itself. Slowly they moved him around, and his back felt as though it strained in places, but not the sharp pain he feared. It did up along his sides with ties, and Finn felt exhausted once it was finally in place.
The doctor tweaked, bringing over various tools from the table, making the contraption even tighter. He felt he could barely breathe within it.
“Alright, shall we try to sit up?” he said. It was curious how people said ‘we’ when they actually meant him. He tried, but his muscles felt weak and the contraption didn’t allow him to get leverage.
“How can I sit up with a straight back?”
“You might have to roll to the side. It’s awkward, I admit.”
Even rolling was hard. The contraption had no give whatsoever. He was like a plank trying to roll. Both the doctor and Mr. Fuller had to help maneuver him until he awkwardly sat, leaning back against the pillows. It was certainly not comfortable, the brace keeping him locked ramrod straight. But if it saved his back, it was worth it.
“Perhaps we should try to rise,” the doctor suggested, and they grabbed him around the arms and pulled him to sitting at the edge of the bed. His leg muscles were weak as he stood, but he did stand. It felt nice to be upright. Unfortunately, getting there had exhausted him.
“Good,” he said, remaining standing, partially afraid he would collapse if he moved. “I might sit down again.” It felt a little like defeat, but this was a good step in the right direction. His back was immobilized, but the exhaustion from the injury was something else entirely. Luckily, the concussion was healing somewhat, so he didn’t feel like throwing up every time he moved. “But this is good.”
Carefully, he lay down again, just as awkwardly as he’d sat up. He was even too tired to worry about the discomfort of the contraption.
“It has been suggested,” Mr. Fuller said, “that his lordship’s bedchamber be temporarily relocated to the music room downstairs.” Finn wondered whose suggestion that was—he felt he had some idea.
“Well, that is something to consider. Do you feel up to tackling the stairs?” the doctor asked. “Obviously, if you go down, you will have to make your way up again. Moving downstairs may be a good idea while you recover. It’s quite a distance, and the stairs will be hard to tackle at first.”
Finn didn’t say anything. The last thing he wanted was to move downstairs like an invalid, but the truth was that he was exactly that. His body was weak, and these injuries would take longer to get over than he’d like. It was the simple truth of it. So either he hide up here in his bedroom, or he move downstairs. “I will rest now.”
“Are the guests up?” Finn asked.
“Not as of yet, my lord. Mr. Torville made an effort to drain some of your wine reserves last night.”
“I’m sure he did.”
“You have guests?” Dr. Peteson asked. “That is marvelous.” It wasn’t the reaction Finn had expected.
“Why don’t you stay for lunch, Dr. Peteson?”
“Well, I...,” he said, checking his watch. “I really do have some visits I must conduct.”
“Then come visit for supper. I...” He was about to say he would try to make it downstairs, but he wasn’t sure he could guarantee that. “If nothing else, you would have my gratitude for entertaining my guests for me.”
“It would be an honor,” the doctor said brightly. Normally, it wouldn’t occur to Finn to invite people for supper. Such social activities hadn’t been of interest to him. It had always been his father’s domain to deal with the local dignitaries. But he should perhaps include the doctor after everything the man had done.
Chapter 21
SURPRISINGLY, OCTAVIA FOUND Lord Fortescue sitting by the window when she sought him at midday. His bed had been empty, so she’d been confused for a moment, before noticing the chair facing the window. “You’re up and about,” she said, walking closer.
It struck her how pale he was. “Barely,” he said. “But it is nice to see something other than the ceiling.”
“I can imagine.”
No one else was in the room, which wasn’t strictly appropriate, but he was essentially an invalid, so no one could complain too loudly. Grabbing one of the chairs, she pulled it over and joined him. “Would you like some tea?”
“No,” he said.
Crossing her arms, she sat quietly and the awkwardness grew. They had so little to talk about, especially as Octavia could carry a conversation with just about everyone. With him, though, it seemed as if everything was awkward and uncomfortable. But the
