Dora nodded her understanding and pulled the cord for Mrs. Chester. “There are clean wash cloths in the adjoining rooms. I shall fetch them and send someone for hot water. I asked for water from one of the maids just a few moments prior, but she is new and likely will not understand that it should be boiled first.” As she started for the door, she warned, “You are not sending me away today, Mr. Rheem. There will be no arguing that point.”
Within a minute, Dora returned to the room with her arms full of folded-over washcloths and towels. Mrs. Chester arrived in time to remove part of the stack to set them on a nearby table.
Meanwhile, the surgeon had removed the old bandages. Mr. Rheem said, “We will require more than hot water, ma’am. Lady Theodora is correct. There is a small festering in that area on Marksman’s backside, likely the area was rubbed raw by a nail on the wagon or a knob on the door upon which he was placed. We must be assured there is not a bone broken in the area, which I doubt, or if we missed another chip of the bullet. I believe it is only a festered area we missed previously.”
“Yes, sir. Immediately, sir.” The housekeeper rushed away to present several servants her orders.
Dora said, “I ordered the windows open for fresh air. I pray such is acceptable.”
“I am not a fan of putrid air either, my lady,” Rheem said with a slight smile. “Now, if you will fetch your brother Thompson, he and I may begin.”
She said, “As I said a few moments earlier, I am not leaving the room this time, sir,” she warned the man.
“I know you mean well, my lady, and I admire your wish to be near the man you love, but you and I both know neither your father nor I will expose you to such things. It is simply not done in society, and there are enough rumors and innuendos surrounding the arrest of Honfleur and Marksman’s sister’s role in the story to entertain society until they leave for their country estates. Do not give them more fodder to attack your family. Wait outside as you did previously. I will keep you apprised of my actions.”
“I am here,” Benjamin Thompson said as he came through the door. “Where do you require me?”
Mrs. Chester returned with the first pot of hot water. “I am prepared, Mr. Rheem,” the woman announced.
“My lady,” Rheem said with emphasis. “Do not force my hand.”
“Very well,” she said with a huff, “but I will be outside, as usual.”
She could hear Benjamin and Rheem talking, but she did not hear their words clearly. Frustrated, Theodora moved to loosen the door latch to leave it cracked so she could hear them.
“Then let us begin,” Rheem declared. “Mrs. Chester, you and Thompson roll Marksman to his side and support him there so I can expose the festered over area. We may be required to cut away more skin and tissue, but this is nothing we have not seen previously.”
“He cannot die,” Dora murmured as she held her hands in supplication.
“Mrs. Chester, please wash the area so we might view whether there is another infection along the stitches. Thompson, can you balance him?”
“I have him,” her brother declared.
“Small bubbles here,” Rheem murmured. “Not deep, thankfully. Could be the bandage has rubbed him. Perhaps oncewe clean this area another time, we should wrap the area across his chest and around his back to hold it in place. A large absorption pad for this area, Mrs. Chester.”
“It shall be done as you instruct, sir.” Mrs. Chester called out, “Lady Theodora!”
Dora was ashamed that they knew she had left the door ajar, but she stuck her head in the inside the room to say, “Yes, ma’am.”
However, before Mrs. Chester could provide Dora instructions, Rheem suggested, “If we make the strips long enough, we could tie and untie them to save on cloth, as well as manhandling his lordship,” Rheem suggested. “Just change out a series of pads.”
“We shall see that it is done, sir. If necessary, both Lady Theodora and I will tear up our best chemises if they are required.”
Rheem chuckled. “I have no doubt.”
“Go find Mr. Fields, my girl,” the housekeeper instructed. “Tell him to have several of the footmen standing by to assist in wrapping Lord Marksman. We three shall not be strong enough to lift his lordship properly while wrapping him.”
Though she wanted to protest and send another, there was no one else about. Therefore, she rushed to do the housekeeper’s bidding.
Later, Rheem permitted Theodora to wipe Alexander’s face with a cool cloth dipped in the lavender water. She stood on Xander’s left side, so as to be out of Mr. Rheem’s way, but still able to assist if required. Alexander lay so perfectly still, she had to study his chest to know whether he was still breathing or not. She deeply regretted her attempts to make him jealous. It had been an impulsive action, which had nearly cost both of them their lives.
She also regretted asking for Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s assistance, for her doing so had brought embarrassment to his door, and, she supposed, indirectly to her father’s.
She stroked the hair from his forehead. “No more, Alexander,” she said. “We are to marry and to have a half dozen children that will make my father a happy man in his old age. You are to fight this. Stubbornly fight it.” Surprisingly, he turned his head sharply to the right. Dora tilted his chin again to where she might continue her words. “I said you should fight the fever, Alexander. Not me.”
His eyes flickered open then, though Theodora knew he did not truly see her. Yet, the moment held her hopes in place. Even if he did not see her, it was as if she could view the depths of his soul where he was in a battle with Death itself. “You are the stronger one, Xander,” she said as she studied his blank stare and its new meaning. “Strong enough to come back to me. To our future. To your sister and her future. Do not surrender now that happiness is finally within your reach. I love you dearly.”
Before she could expel the breath she had held, with a double blink of his eyes, they were closed again. She was panting in exhaustion, just as if she, too, had battled Death at Alexander’s side.
