Chapter 5 #2
She shook her head. “I cannot imagine living all that time thinking that you knew someone so close to you, someone you believed that you could trust. At least I knew from an early age that I could not trust my mother.”
“It was a shock to discover how deep his depravity went.” A frown formed between his brows. “But with any chance of capturing this latest threat, I hope to soon have some much-needed clarity regarding his actions.”
“What do you plan to do with the killer once you have him in your custody?”
His focus was steady. “Do you really want to know the answer to that?”
She considered that for a moment. “Yes, I do.”
“I plan to hand him over to the doctors at Bedlam where they can run whatever tests they deem necessary to break into his mind. Once they have exhausted all of their efforts, then he shall be relieved of his desire to commit any further crimes. It’s a procedure referred to as trepanation.”
“I have never heard of it, but it does not sound very welcoming.”
“If you want the disturbing truth, a hole is drilled into the skull and a piece of bone is removed to assist in the removal of any damaging properties to the individual.”
Aislynn gasped, her eyes widening. “How awful. It must be a very lethal procedure.”
“It can be, yes,” he concurred. “Believe it or not, research has shown that the survival rate can be quite successful with a skilled physician’s hand and recovery without infection.”
“How fantastical to think we have advanced so far in our medical abilities that we can perform surgery on a human’s skull and brain without causing life threatening injury.”
“It is quite fascinating.”
She blinked. “Have you witnessed this being performed?”
He hesitated. “On my father. He did not survive the operation.”
Aislynn’s heart went out to him. “That must have been painful for you to witness.”
He gave a shrug. “I honestly felt numb over it all. To this day I am still uncertain how I feel about it.”
“I am still sorry that you had to endure it.”
“And I am sorry you had to endure the trials that you did.”
She couldn’t help but smile. It was better than the tears, of which she had certainly shed entirely too many over the years. “It seems we are quite a pair, you and I, Mr. Steele.”
The corners of his mouth twitched. “It would seem so, Miss Sims. Sleep well.”
Aislynn didn’t stop him when he took his leave, but something about their candid conversation made her feel a bit more relaxed when it came to sharing his townhouse.
Granted, knowing that she was not the first refugee that sought asylum there was of some consolation but knowing that he had suffered in a similar manner by the ghosts of his past made her appreciate the efforts he took to see that others had a safe haven in which to escape.
She got up and removed her town dress, thinking that when she returned to her flat, she would retrieve the supplies she needed to repair the ruined sleeve.
Removing her front-lacing stays, she climbed beneath the covers in her shift and closed her eyes, determined to settle down for a restful night.
* * *
Darkness lingered outside her window, the fire in the grate still burning with a slight vigor, when she awoke to the sound of slamming doors and raised voices.
She immediately sat up and threw the covers off, intent on investigating the source of the disturbance.
However, it wasn’t a moment later when her door burst open and Mr. Steele stood silhouetted in the frame, his virile outline enhanced by the lamp he held in his hand.
He was wearing a shirt that looked as though it had been thrown on haphazardly, the top half of his chest clearly visible.
It took a moment for her to realize that he was speaking and threw something in her direction.
She caught the robe at the last moment. “Put that on and follow me. I could use your assistance so long as you do not have a weak constitution.”
She wanted to scoff at the idea she couldn’t handle anything and shoved her arms in the sleeves of the banyan. “Lead the way, Mr. Steele.”
He said nothing but turned and led the way down the hall.
She had to take two steps to his every one, lengthy stride, but it was obvious that time was not on their side for whatever reason.
They headed down to the first floor and when they entered the dining room with its large table, Aislynn quickly discovered the reason for his haste.
A man was being held down on the table by two other men, his struggles making it difficult for them to keep him steady. The metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air and as she drew closer, she saw the massive red stain to the right of his chest.
“What happened?”
“He was shot.” The reply was clipped, impatient, so Aislynn decided to let Mr. Steele take the reins on this situation. He seemed to know what he was doing as he set the lamp down and glanced up as another man came rushing in from the servant’s entrance of the dining room.
“Did you get what I asked for?” he demanded curtly.
Several white linens were tossed down, as well as various other supplies, as the new arrival said somewhat breathlessly, “The water is on to boil as we speak.”
Nothing further was said as Mr. Steele grabbed the knife and prepared to remove the soiled outer clothes from around the man’s wound. Once his chest was completely stripped bare, the jagged, bloody hole where he’d been shot was clearly visible.
Aislynn put a hand to her mouth with a soft gasp. “Oh, my God.”
“If you cannot handle the sight before you, Miss Sims, then I must instruct you to leave and we will continue a bit shorthanded.”
She shook her head, drawing herself back to the importance of this moment and the hope that they could save this man’s life. “I am well. Tell me what to do.”
He handed her a small brown bottle. “Get him to drink some of this. It will ease some of his discomfort.”
Aislynn nodded but she had already been dismissed as Mr. Steele returned his focus to inspecting the wound.
She moved around the head of the table where the man was grimacing in pain and groaning a few obscenities.
Thankfully, she was not sensitive to such things because her mother used to say much worse when she’d been a child.
“Hello, Mr.…”
She looked at the other men surrounding the patient but no one seemed to pay her any mind.
“Alfred.” The clipped reply came from Mr. Steele but it was enough for her.
“Alfred. You must listen to me now and do as I say.”
His blue eyes were glazed over with pain and the threat of death was hanging in the air. “Get that shit away from me!” he snarled, nearly upsetting the bottle in her grasp. She had a firm hold, so no damage was done.
“Alfred. You must take something for the pain to ease some of your discomfort—”
“Fuck you.”
Aislynn took into account that he didn’t know her and perhaps it was a mixture of shock and delirium that was causing him to lash out at her as he was. However, that didn’t mean he had to be so nasty.
Setting her lips right next to his ear, she tried a different tactic.
Instead of getting stern with him, she said the one thing that most men of her acquaintance responded to.
“If you are a good boy and take this medicine like I asked you, then I might just reward you by sucking your cock. Now what do you have to say?”
The room abruptly grew silent as the other occupants turned to stare at her. However, the patient lifted his arm and snatched the bottle out of her grasp. “Give me the blasted thing.”
He downed a good swig of it before she retrieved it. “That should be enough. We do not need you to be more cross than you already are by consuming too much.”
She had witnessed the effects of laudanum addiction over the years. It wasn’t a pleasant sight to behold. Many of the common classes found themselves at the mercy of God’s own medicine. It could be a blessing and most assuredly a curse if abused.
As the patient began to settle down, she announced, “I will check on how the water is coming along.”
She left the dining room and headed into the kitchens where she saw a pail on the stove that was starting to steam. Deciding it was hot enough for Mr. Steele’s use, she gathered a warming pad from the counter and wrapped it around the handle where she carefully made her way back to the dining room.
When she arrived, Mr. Steele waved her over urgently. “I need to sterilize these instruments to reduce the risk of infection.”
Now that the patient had calmed, a brief incoherent mumble now and then, Mr. Steele must have felt confident in pouring some brandy onto the gaping hole in his chest. The man instantly roared in outrage and clenched his fists but he quickly settled once more.
Aislynn returned to his side and laid a gentle hand on his forehead to hopefully offer him a bit of solace.
Mr. Steele held the silver knife and tongs beneath the hot water for several moments before he withdrew them and said, “Hold him steady. I need to remove the ball.”
The other men surrounding the patient held the man’s arms and shoulders firmly to the table while Mr. Steele carefully began to prod the wound.
The man moved his legs and muttered some more foul language beneath his breath, but although his jaw was clenched tightly, he did not make as much of a fuss as he had earlier.
It seemed that the opium had finally done the trick.
Aislynn watched as Mr. Steele expertly dove into the center of the man’s chest. More blood poured out from his efforts, which one of the other men was quick to wipe away so Mr. Steele could see what he was doing.
A short time later, Mr. Steele gathered the sterilized tongs and stealthily removed the single steel ball.
He dropped it into a metal pan with a steady exhale.
Aislynn understood then the amount of focus and pressure he’d been under to perform the surgery.
“I need the needle threaded—”
Aislynn was already moving around to his opposite side. “I will take care of that.” It didn’t take long for her to have it expertly threaded and dipped into the metal pail of water before she removed it and handed it to him.
He took a moment for their eyes to meet. “Thank you.”
It was the soft words he spoke that caused her heart to flutter suddenly. Feeling as though she had accomplished something quite remarkable, she returned to her patient with a slight smile gracing her lips.
As soon as the patient had been sewn up with careful consideration, Mr. Steele told the men standing around, “Watch over him and let me know if there are any significant changes.”
One of the men inclined his head. “The pack is indebted to ye, Mr. Steele.”
He brushed off the gratitude. “Just see that this mess is cleaned up and he’s settled upstairs, but not in the last room on the left. That is currently reserved.” He turned to Aislynn. “Come with me.”