Page 46 of Tutoring a Lady into Sin
Christianna wished to say something, to speak on the matter, but she was unsure if this was the time or the place to broach such a topic. It felt infinitely more private a matter than ought to be trotted out here and now, so she held her tongue. Using her forefinger and thumb as forceps, she plucked the cork from the bottle and handed the concoction back to Phineas.
“Thank you,” he murmured as he swivelled in his seat, so he could add a bit of this liquid to the tea. Christianna could smell anise or at least something that had the same syrupy sweet aroma, almost sickeningly so.
“How is that going to help Lord Linfield?” she asked as she nodded to the teacup, which was now nearly brimming with fluids.
“I am but trying to make him comfortable,” Phineas replied softly. “Had he come to me earlier and spoken of his condition, I might have been able to do something, but now….” His words trailed away, and his hand shook. He nearly spilt the contents of the teacup on the floor, and Christianna lurched forward, trying not so much to steady his hand, but to take the mixture and return it to the safety of the table.
She succeeded in laying her hand over the top of his and helping him place the teacup back on the table. But she kept her fingertips resting lightly on top of his, feeling his anxiety and melancholy, as with every quake of his hand, his sadness seemed to multiply. “Are you saying…do you mean to say it is a hopeless case?”
Phineas pulled his hand away from hers and dropped his chin to his chest. “I am never without hope, Christianna. A good physician must always aim to be optimistic. But I fear that in attempting to keep his illness under lock and key, my uncle has done himself a grave disservice.”
Christianna took a long look at Lord Linfield’s pale face. She did not know the man well; she had only truly encountered him when she came to Bixby Hall. But over these last few weeks, she had come to think of him as someone who carried himself well and was always light of spirit. His cheeks were normally quite rosy, and often she would overhear him chuckling at the quips of others.
A pleasing fellow…the sort who would put the happiness of others above his own welfare.
“Have you tried bloodletting?” Christianna asked. She despised the practice herself but knew of its many benefits.
“I have,” Phineas said quietly.
“And what of…?”
“Christianna,” Phineas whispered, “I have done all I can. I do appreciate you being here, but all we have left to do is wait and see. If Felton should awaken and regain his strength, I will take heart. But it is also equally as likely that he will continue to doze until…until….”
“Oh, Phineas,” Christianna said as tears pricked her eyes. “I am so very sorry.”
He swallowed loudly, then reached for her hand. “I know that you and I ought to spend time together. We should talk and…”
“Yes, of course, but not now,” Christianna said in a soothing tone.
“Since Felton fell asleep, I have spent some time thinking over our situation, Christianna. It is necessary for you and me to discuss what happens next.”
“We should,” she agreed wholeheartedly.
“But I cannot leave Felton’s side. Surely, you un…”
“I understand,” Christianna said hurriedly. “Yes, you must stay on with Lord Linfield. I will just—”
“Please, Christianna,” Phineas pleaded as his green eyes sparkled with unshed tears, “I know there are a great many things happening around here at once and—”
Suddenly, Lord Linfield stirred. His entire body jolted as he coughed mightily.
Phineas dropped Christianna’s hand and lunged forward, so he was nearer to his uncle. “Felton,” he said in a tremulous voice, “are you awake?”
Lord Linfield did not reply, but his eyelids fluttered.
“What is happening?” Christianna questioned. She thought it looked as though Lord Linfield was on the brink of coming to, and yet, just as that notion flitted through her mind, his eyelids shuttered once more.
“Christianna, I know that I owe you a private conversation, but now, I must ask that you run and seek out my mother. Should Felton awake, she will want to be here to…to….”
“I will find her at once.” Christianna stood quickly. She was not going to make Phineas expound on his thoughts when she could see how it pained him to even entertain them. As she hustled from the room, she paused in the doorway to take one last look at Phineas and Lord Linfield.
He did say he wished to discuss our future, but…
There was something about his tone…his demeanour…that did not settle well in her soul.
I know he is perplexed, and yet…
The outpouring of love he had bestowed upon her the night before seemed like a distant memory. When he looked at her just now, there was only pain and anguish on his face. He did not even seem to take comfort in having her by his side but almost immediately sent her in search of someone else.
