Chapter Fourteen #2
The nursemaid nodded and quickly ran to do Ellie’s bidding. What was it about his wife that made everyone feel better, even him?
“Now, Peter, I’m going to have to take off your shoe, so I can have a good look and treat your foot. I want you to think about being that great falcon and soaring high above the trees, looking for a rodent to eat.”
As Ellie continued painting a picture for Peter with her words, she gently untied the shoe and slipped it off, never stopping in her narration. She had Peter’s stocking off before he even noticed.
“Darius, could you hold Peter’s hand while I examine his foot? Peter, I want you to squeeze your father’s finger when it hurts. It will make it less painful.”
Darius had never heard of such a thing, but didn’t argue the point, and gave his little son his index finger.
“Now, Peter, you tell me when it hurts.”
Darius watched as Ellie pressed her fingers in different places. His son squeezed his hand multiple times, making him wish he could take all the pain for him. Finally, she’d completed her examination.
“Well, Peter, you have sprained your ankle.”
The boy’s eyes widened. “Will it get better?”
The fear in Peter’s expression was too much for Darius. “Yes, son. It will get better, but you have to listen to…your mother. Will you do that?”
Peter nodded. “Will I be able to walk again, or will I have to use a crutch like the boy in the village?”
Ellie answered before Darius could. “If you do everything I say, you will be able to walk and run with no crutch. But you have to do as I say. At first it will be easy, as it hurts, but as you feel better you will want to walk on it, and you can’t or it will twist again and weaken. You don’t want a weak ankle.”
Peter shook his head.
Ellie took his other hand. “I knew you were a smart boy. Now, as soon as Anna comes back with the ice, we will set it on the swelling to bring it down. Then we will wrap your ankle and put you in bed with a bigger pillow under your foot. But no walking for at least a fortnight.”
Peter’s eyes rounded before he nodded, understanding the importance of the requirements.
The nursery door opened and Anna strode in. “I’ve got it, my lady.” The nursemaid was out of breath but continued forward. “It took some time for Cook to chop it off.” She handed over the bowl of ice.
“This is just the right amount, Anna. Very well done.” Ellie smiled at the nursemaid, receiving a relieved smile in return.
Darius watched as his wife tended to his son, her actions sure and efficient. He found it odd that she moved so assuredly now, yet knocked items over or bumped into objects at other times. She was definitely a complex person, and one he planned to learn about for the rest of his life.
His breath hitched at the thought. The rest of his life. He wanted that to be a very long time, but what about when his next black mood took him? Or the one after that? Or the one next year? Or the final one? A cold chill swept through him, and he purposefully returned his attention to Ellie.
“There you go. Now, I need to leave the ice on for twenty minutes. That should be just the right amount of time, but if it starts to sting, call for me.”
“You’re leaving?” Peter grabbed her arm.
“Of course not. But I wish to talk to your father in private.” She turned to Maggie. “Can you bring over some of Peter’s toys and play with him?”
Maggie nodded and immediately went to the cabinet to get the toys.
“Darius, can you move that chest over behind Peter so he can sit up to play?”
Darius nodded before sliding the chest across the floor. Ellie took Peter’s hands and pulled him into a sitting position, and Darius set the chest behind his back.
“That’s capital.”
Peter’s unusual expression had Ellie shaking her head. Now where had he heard that from?
Ellie rose. “Twenty minutes.” She nodded toward the corner.
Darius turned and walked with her until she stopped before the writing desk where Dinah had sat.
Understanding dawned as he looked at it, and then the settee arranged next to the window to get the best light.
Fury started in his gut and rose into his jaw as he gritted his teeth to keep from releasing his anger, his breathing turning shallow.
For over seven years, Dinah had made him believe she loved their children so much that she wished to be with them daily, when she’d simply used them as an excuse to avoid him.
Or did she do it to make him suffer as she thought she’d suffered by being married to a madman?
Whatever her motivation, she had kept him from showing his children how much he loved them, and had denied them her love as well.
He curled his fingers into his palms as he tried to stem the hurt and rage at her perfidy.
Ellie’s hands enveloped one of his fists. “I believe this writing desk would look lovely in my solar. It would be the perfect place to take notes on the heavens. The telescope you gave me allows me to see so much more than I’ve seen before. I want to be sure I can record it all.”
Her voice, usually loud and clear, was soft, breaking through the pain. He uncurled his hand and grasped hers.
“And this settee would be perfect in the music recital room. Unfortunately, that room won’t get much attention until, and if, Maggie takes up an instrument or singing.
I can assure you, I will be doing neither, as I’m rather poorly skilled at both and wish to keep my family, friends, and staff. ” She chuckled.
He understood her purpose. She wanted the furniture out of the room to take away the memories Dinah had left behind. Her kindness and understanding soothed the edges of his anger just enough to allow him to speak. “You are the lady of the house, and I concur with your wishes on this matter.”
“Oh, how stuffy you do sound.” Her voice was back to normal levels. “Then you wouldn’t mind if I had some footman bring up a couple of the sideboards from the gallery and set them there and there? I do believe they would make wonderful anchors for an Indian market tent.”
“Please, Father!” Peter yelled from behind them, and Darius looked over his shoulder. Though Peter faced away from them, Maggie was nodding her head.
He looked back at Ellie, truly understanding how important she was to all of them. By asking him, she was making him the benefactor, even though it was her idea. “As Peter would say, I think that’s a capital idea.”
Ellie laughed. “It’s settled, then. We shall have an Indian marketplace for Peter to spend time in while not in bed.” She turned back to the children, her hand still holding his, forcing him to walk with her. “We will need sheets for the roof and many blankets and pillows to lie upon.”
“And they must be brightly colored. You did say they were so, right?” Maggie looked to Peter for confirmation.
Peter nodded. “She did.”
Darius looked at his wife. “And why did we all learn about Indian marketplaces?”
Ellie opened her mouth, but Maggie spoke first. “Father, it’s all a part of geography. Certainly you know that.”
He raised his brows at his daughter’s condescending tone.
Ellie nudged him with her shoulder. “She does so take after you in mannerisms.”
“Me?”
“Well, she certainly doesn’t have mine.” She let go of his hand and knelt down at Peter’s feet. “Let’s see how the ankle is. Ah, perfect. I believe we can move Peter now. Darius, if you would, please carry Peter to his bed.”
Darius crouched down. “Put your arms around my neck, son.”
Ellie cradled the hurt foot as he lifted his son and brought him to his bed. The simple act had strong emotions clogging his throat. Gently, he laid his son down.
“Hold his back up. Maggie, fetch those pillows from the settee so he can sit. No need to sleep away the afternoon. Anna, have Cook send up a tray. This way Peter can still do his lessons.”
“Lessons?” Peter whined.
“Yes, lessons. You hurt your foot, not your brain or your hands. You can draw a picture of an Indian marketplace.”
Maggie brought the cushions and Ellie set them up. Darius let his son rest back against them.
Ellie gave a single clap of her hands. “Perfect. Now, as soon as Anna is back with the tray, Peter can draw, and Maggie, you can work on your numbers.” She stepped up to Maggie and hugged her. “I’m very proud of you. You did everything right.”
As Ellie let go, she looked to Darius.
Quickly, he stepped over to Maggie and set his hand on her shoulder. “You’re a good sister.”
Maggie threw her arms around his waist, and he held her close, his heart filling. He now had the family that he’d always wanted, and all because of Ellie…his wife…the woman he loved.