Page 32 of The Ones Left Behind
He looked up and appeared surprised to see her again.
She stepped into the room, leaving the door wide open. “Mr. Bailey has delivered your other crutch.” She held it out as if it were a peace offering.
“Another torture device,” he remarked in a short tone.
“Or a means by which to walk again,” she retorted.
“If the bone ever heals.” He snarled the words.
She tossed it on the bed at him. “I thought you were the one who requested it? If you prefer to stay bedridden for the rest of your days, it is nothing to me!” Falser words were never spoken, but her tongue sometimes ran ahead of her and she had lashed out in anger.
“I may not have a choice,” he snapped.
“You certainly will not if you are in your cups all the time!”
“Recall that the doctor said I should rest! And if your remedies worked, I should not need to drink!”
She put her hands on her hips “It is not the same thing, and you know it. Besides, you need not beflooredto have some relief from the pain!”
He snorted. “None of us ever put any faith in the sawbones, so why do you believe your potions will work?” he asked, his manner accusatory and condescending. Who was this man who lay hurling insults at her?
“Irrespective of the fact that herbs have been used for centuries, because I trust Mr. Satterlee and your mother more than any army doctor! If you could see your mother’s notes, you would understand she had a great deal of knowledge, and I have heard tell of some of the Indian remedies being quite powerful.”
“From the British apothecary,” he noted dryly.
“If you must know, yes! Mr. Satterlee has studied them at great length. It was through good medicine that your leg has been saved thus far, and it cannot hurt to try.” She threw up her hands and walked to the window.
“It most certainly can! I wonder how many people die every year because of quacks? I am sure Waterloo has nothing on them!” he barked bitterly.
Why was he being so stubborn? “I know accepting this injury is difficult, but it is early days yet.” It was hard for her to watch Matthias trying to accept his new condition. He looked defeated, a mere shadow of his former self. He had been so full of life and vitality. Was that gone forever?
“I am well aware of every passing moment. I am also not naïve enough to believe I will walk and ride again as before. I may never do either, and both of us will have to accept that! If you are only here to pity me, then you can save your breath!”
“I am trying to help you,my lord. If it is unwelcome, then I will see to my duties and leave you to your brandy.” Kitty turned and walked briskly from the bedchamber, closing the door behind her.
“Kitty!” She heard him call after her, a note of alarm in his voice, but she could not face him any longer just now. She also needed to accept that neither of them were the same people they were before, and some of their injuries were not visible.
CHAPTER10
Matthias’s head was pounding like the devil. Why had he drunk so much? Partly for pain, partly to forget, if truth be known. But it had not worked. He could still remember. He had been an absolute wretch to Kitty.
He did not think they had ever argued like that before. Neither could he account for his beastly behaviour, other than he was trying to accept that he might never walk again... never mind the fact that he had to see her every day and not have her. It was still no excuse and while he knew the drink was partially to blame, he was nevertheless a gentleman and she deserved better.
Somehow he would have to learn to deal with her presence; he could not hide in his chamber for the rest of his days. Indeed, he must needs learn how to get about again. It was too much to bear, to think he would be like this forever.
He reached for the crutches, knowing he should make an attempt. Soldiers with worse injuries than his were able to use them, if they could get them.
Having fingered the smooth wood for a moment or two, he made a decision and rang for Hornsby, who arrived a few minutes later with an ewer of warm water.
“Good morning, Major,” the batman said, eyeing his condition thoughtfully.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You have that look in your eye I haven’t seen in some time. I was not sure what I would find, having ’eard you and Mrs. Gordon arguing when I came to wait on you last evening. Then, when you did not ring for me…” His voice trailed away.
Never one to mince his words, was Hornsby. Matthias did not answer the batman’s accusatory tone.
“My second crutch has arrived. I would like to go to the hunting lodge for a few days and I wish my destination to be kept quiet. Ask Cook to send enough food for a sennight.”
