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‘None now,’ Westleigh answered. ‘Not even if I walk. I am quite steady on my feet.’
‘Any pain?’ the man asked.
Westleigh shrugged. ‘My throat feels a bit rough. My head aches still, but not excessively. It is my eyes—my eyes concern me the most. They ache with a dull sort of pain. Again, not excessive. If I try to move my eyelids, however, the pain sharpens a great deal.’
‘Best you not move your eyelids.’ Wynne chuckled.
Westleigh frowned.
This was not a joking matter to him, Daphne wanted to say.
Wynne leaned forwards. ‘Let me have a look at you.’
He placed his fingers on Hugh’s head. His fingers looked stubby, but his touch seemed sure.
‘It is most remarkable you were not more burned.’ Wynne moved his fingers around his head and looked closely at the exposed parts of his face. ‘The eyes can get the worst of it even if your skin’s damage is superficial. Your hair is singed in places and I cannot see under the bandage, but I suspect you are fairly unscathed.’
Daphne had seen his eyes, though. His eyes had been alarmingly cloudy.
Wynne leaned back. ‘I would like to examine under your bandages, but you must promise me something.’
‘What is that?’ Westleigh asked.
‘Keep your eyes closed.’ Wynne emphasised each word. ‘If you do not keep your eyes closed, you risk further injury and blindness. Do you understand me?’
‘I understand.’ Westleigh answered in a low voice.
Wynne turned to Daphne. ‘Mrs Asher, may we close the window and draw the curtains?’
‘Certainly.’ She hurried to do as he asked.
Westleigh remained still as Mr Wynne unwound his bandages. He was like a taut string vibrating with tension. The bandages seemed endless, but finally Wynne came down to the two round pieces of cloth that were pressed against Westleigh’s eyelids.
‘Remember, keep your eyes closed,’ he warned.
He removed the last and moved even closer to peer at Westleigh’s eyelids. He touched one very gently with his thumb.
Westleigh winced.
‘Does that pain you?’ Wynne asked.
‘Some,’ Westleigh responded tightly.
Wynne held the lids closed, but turned to Daphne. ‘Will you bring me a lighted candle?’
She took the candlestick from the bedside table and lit it with a taper from the fireplace.
Wynne brought the candle close to Westleigh’s face.
Westleigh’s eyelids were still red and a yellowish crust clung to his eyelashes. If he did open his eyes now and could see, he’d know instantly who she was, but Daphne thrust that thought aside. He was more important this moment than her pride...and shame.
Westleigh remained like a statue.
‘Are you able to see the light?’ Wynne asked.
‘Yes!’ His voice filled with excitement. His eyelids twitched.
‘Keep them closed,’ Wynne warned again.
‘Does that mean I will be able to see?’ Westleigh asked.
‘I wish I could make that promise.’ Wynne leaned back and pulled out more bandages from his leather bag. ‘Your eyes need more time for us to be certain. Two weeks, like the other surgeon said. If you want a chance to heal completely, wait the two weeks. There is no infection now, but to open your eyes now—well, I cannot stress how urgent it is that you wait the two weeks. It is your only chance.’
Westleigh’s chin set and his head remained erect.
For some silly reason, Daphne felt proud of him for not giving in to emotion.
He might yet be blind.
Chapter Four
Hugh was through with confinement. He was through giving in to his fears. He would see again. He must. He would not sit in one room for two weeks waiting. He’d move around, act as if he could see, no matter how many pieces of furniture he bumped into, no matter what came crashing to the floor. He’d pay for the damages.
But he would not be confined.
Mr Wynne did not require him to remain in bed. The only admonition the surgeon had made was that he was not to remove the bandages over his eyes. Wynne said he’d return in a few days to check him and change the bandages, if necessary. In the meantime, Hugh intended to leave this room.
Wynne also said he could travel, if he wished. He could be in London in one day’s coach ride and straight into the suffocating confines of his mother’s care.
He’d rather impose on Mrs Asher. Was that ungentlemanly of him? He suspected so, but an unwanted invalid would receive the least fussing and he had no wish to be fussed over. It might cause the lady some annoyance if he did not remain in his room, but he’d go mad otherwise.
Carter knocked and entered the room. ‘Do you require anything, sir?’
‘Nothing at the moment,’ Hugh replied.
‘Very good, sir.’
The door sounded as if it was closing and Hugh raised his voice. ‘Carter?’
It opened again. ‘Yes, sir?’
‘What time is dinner to be served?’
‘Whenever you desire, sir,’ Carter responded.
‘I do not wish to cause undue inconvenience,’ Hugh countered. ‘When is Mrs Asher served dinner? I can wait until she is served, certainly.’
‘M’l—’ Carter faltered. ‘Mrs Asher dines at eight o’clock.’
‘Eight o’clock. Splendid. I can be served after she dines.’
‘Very good, sir,’ Carter said again. The door closed.
Hugh listened for the next chiming of the clock.
Six chimes. Plenty of time for him to prepare.
He groped his way to the corner of the room where he’d discovered his trunk. Opening it, he dug through until he felt smooth, thick fabric, a lapel and buttons.
As he’d hoped. One of his coats, and beneath it, a waistcoat.
He felt around more until his fingers touched the starched linen of a neckcloth. He could tie it blindfolded, could he not? How many neckcloths had he tied himself over the years?
He wrapped the cloth around his neck and created a simple mail-coach knot. Or hoped he had. Next he donned his waistcoat and coat and carried his boots over to the rocking chair. Seated on the chair, he pulled on his boots.
For the first time since the fire, Hugh was fully dressed. Already he felt more like a man.
He made his way confidently to the door.
But missed, touching the wall instead. He ran his hand along the wall until it touched the door. Excitement rushed through him. Would a man released from prison feel this way? Free, but wary, because he did not know what was on the other side.
He took a step out into the hallway and paused again, trying to listen for sounds, searching for the staircase.
This time he could hear sounds coming from below. He must be near the stairs. He stepped forwards carefully and reached the wall. Good. The wall could be his guide. He inched his way along it until he found the banister. His excitement soared.
Hugh laughed. You’d think he’d discovered a breach in the enemy’s defences.
He carefully descended the stairs, holding on to the banister. Amazing how uncertain he felt. He’d crept around buildings and other terrains in the dark before without this much apprehension.
Although he could at least see shadows then. Now he could see nothing.
He reached the last step and still kept one hand on the banister. Chances were that the front door to the house was ahead of him, facing the stairway, which meant that the rooms would be to the right, left or behind. Which would be the dining room?
It would have helped if he’d once seen this house, even from the outside.
He took a breath and began walking straight ahead until he, indeed, found the front door. Then, following his strategy for the bedroom, he started to feel himself along the wall.
‘What are you doing, sir?’ A woman’s voice. A village accent. The housekeeper of whom Mrs Asher spoke?
‘Are you Mrs Pitts?’ he asked.
‘Goodness, no, sir,’ the voice replied. ‘I am Mary, one of the housemaids, sir.’
Mrs Asher had not mentioned housemaids.
‘But what are you doing here, sir?’ she went on. ‘You should be upstairs, should you not? You are recuperating, is that not the way it is?’
‘I came downstairs for dinner.’ He spoke with a confidence a maid would not question. ‘I realise I am early, but if you direct me to the dining room, I would be grateful.’
‘It is early for dinner, sir,’ she said. ‘Would you like to wait in the drawing room? Mrs Asher said we are to announce dinner to her in the drawing room.’
‘The drawing room it is, then.’ Hugh smiled. ‘Can you show me where it is?’
‘Oh!’ The maid sounded as if she’d just figured out a big puzzle. ‘You cannot see and you haven’t been there yet! I remember Mrs Asher saying you were taken directly upstairs.’
He heard her approach him.
She touched his arm. ‘Come with me.’ She led him to the right and through the threshold of the drawing room. ‘I think Mrs Asher will be here soon. She and Monette are talking about our new dresses, you see, so I expect she will come here after that.’
‘I expect so,’ he replied.
‘Begging your pardon, sir, I should be about my duties.’ She said this with a surprising sense of pride.
‘Thank you for your help, Mary.’ He did not wish her to leave quite yet. ‘I have just one question.’
‘Yes, sir?’ She sounded very young. And inexperienced. Otherwise she would not talk so much.
‘How long have you worked for Mrs Asher?’ Because the lady had not informed him of the presence of a housemaid.
‘Oh, this is my first day, sir. For me and my sister, Ann. So I must not dawdle.’ She paused. ‘May I go, sir?’
‘By all means.’ Were the extra maids hired because of him? ‘Thank you again, Mary.’
She gave a nervous little laugh and he heard the door close.
Once again he was in a strange room with no sense of his bearings.
But he was getting used to it. He turned around and listened carefully for the hiss of the fire and the heat of it on his skin. He memorised the location of the fireplace and the location of the doorway. Somewhere in between there would be chairs and other seating. He trod carefully until he found one. When he was still, he also heard the ticking of a clock. Good. He’d keep track of time that way.
The half-hour, then three-quarters chimes sounded.
Shortly after, the door opened and Hugh smelled roses.
‘My goodness.’ It was Mrs Asher. ‘Mr Westleigh, you gave me a start!’
He stood. ‘My apologies.’
‘What are you doing here?’ She did not sound very pleased.
‘Carter said dinner was at eight. Since I am not confined to bed, I saw no reason to trouble your servants to wait on me.’
She came closer. ‘But Carter did not tell me—’
‘I did not consult with him.’
She sounded confused. ‘Then how did you get here? From upstairs, I mean.’
He straightened. ‘The way of all men, I suppose. I walked.’
