Page 101 of Miss Vincent’s Vow

Alexander groaned. “I’m going to be in this pain forever?”

“No, no. It should lessen, but you need to prepare yourself for the possibility that it might not leave you completely. As soon as you can, get out and about, plenty of fresh air, and use your muscles, though it hurts to do so. Push through the discomfort. It will benefit you in the long run.”

“What if there is no long run?”

“Tut, tut. You must not give up. You are in a far better way than others I’ve seen.”

Dr Cooper turned to Cassandra. “Your brother will need to take laudanum until the pain is bearable, but I have to warn you of its addictive tendencies. Be careful how you administer it, or he will crave the drug long after he needs it.”

“Nothing more for you to do here, sir,” he said to Jethro. “You can leave your capable wife to assist me to re-dress the wounds.”

“Yes, go,” said Cassandra, shooing him out of the room. “A sickroom is a woman’s province, and I’m sure you have more important things to do than getting in Dr Cooper’s way.”

Jethro didn’t think there was anything more important than supporting his wife, but the decision had been taken out of his hands.

He was not wanted here, and he had no option but to leave and return to the warehouse, where he discovered Crowley was doing very well without him.

For the next two weeks, Alexander kept to his room, where his sister nursed him, and supervised the doctor’s visits. Jethro encountered him each day at dinnertime, when he was silent and sullen, only talking when pressed.

He saw little more of his wife.

Desperate for some sign that her incarceration in the sickroom would not last forever, he cornered the doctor after one of his calls, as Cassandra was showing him out.

“How is our invalid today, Dr Cooper?”

“Improving all the time, Mr Hunt. I am cautiously optimistic he will regain full use of his leg, but that won’t happen if he remains in his room all day. Now that the superficial wounds are healed, he needs to get outside and exercise.”

“He has no inclination, Dr Cooper,” said Cassandra. “It is as if his appetite for life has withered. What can we do to help lessen the dark mood that envelopes his spirit?”

The doctor shook his head and gave her a pitying look. “Men who’ve fought in the war, on land or sea, are never the same, Mrs Hunt. The only advice I can offer is to encourage him not to shut himself away. If you’re worried about his spiritual welfare, talk to a clergyman.”

“Yes, of course. I’ll consult Mr Barnes.”

Jethro’s stomach churned as he observed her eagerness to see the curate. The sharp bite of jealousy leaped up and attacked him again, though he squashed the feelings as fast as they had come.

Why did he feel so bitter toward the man? There was nothing improper about his wife talking to Mr Barnes about her brother. It was not the curate’s fault that Cassandra wanted his advice rather than her husband’s, and Jethro acknowledged, in all fairness, that he was clueless how to help.

He had no more idea how to lift Alexander’s spirits than he did how to win his wife’s heart.

Unless… A boat ride. Maybe that would aid his brother-in-law’s recovery—to be on the water again. They could hire a pleasure boat to take them around Portland. The three of them.

Jethro tried to convince himself that his motives were altruistic, but he knew he was only pretending.

A boat trip with Cassandra might not improve her brother’s mood, but it would certainly lift his spirits to spend an afternoon with his wife.

Chapter 54

Cassandra stood next to Jethro in the bow of the boat, her arm looped within his. To their right was the Isle of Portland, whilst before them and to their left was open sea.

It felt such a relief to feel the wind on her face and taste the salt on her lips after so many days stuck inside nursing her brother. Even the squawks of the seagulls were welcome as they flew overhead.

Guilty that she had been enjoying the trip, she glanced behind her to where Xander was slumped in his seat. He stared out to sea, but nothing in his expression suggested it was lifting his spirits. He seemed as downcast as when they had left the house.

She huffed and grimaced at Jethro. “It was such a fine idea of yours, but I fear I am benefitting more than Xander.”

“If the expedition brings the colour back to your cheeks, then it is not wasted”—he gave her hand a squeeze—“and it won’t do Alexander any harm. Your brother is even paler than you are, and the fresh air helps his body, though the short voyage does nothing for his mind.”

“I worry for him, Jethro. He is too young to be giving up on life, but he had already lost his love, and now he has lost his livelihood as well. It is too much for one soul to bear.”