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Radnor was sitting propped up in bed. He looked tired and ill, and he made no effort to hide it until he saw Hester behind Adrienne. Then he pushed his hair back off his brow. It was still thick, although there was little colour left in it.
‘Papa, we have brought you some soup,’ Adrienne told him gently. ‘I’ve made it the best I can and it should do you some good.’
Radnor regarded her with a strange mixture of emotion in his face. There was pride quite openly, but a flash of anger as well, and a fierce regret that was almost as visible as the ravages of his illness.
Seeing it, Hester felt very much an intruder who was not meant to witness such an intimate relationship. She thought of excusing herself, but it was part of her duty to make certain Radnor ate as much as he could, and to help if it should cause him any distress. Her discomfort was irrelevant.
She merely asked Radnor if she could help him to sit more comfortably in order to eat, then realised with anger at herself that that would make her sound like a servant. She was a nurse, not his parlour-maid. And she was here under duress! Briefly, as she helped him lean forward while she restacked the pillows behind him, she wondered what he knew of the circumstances of her being here. Did he realise she had been rendered unconscious by ether, and brought here against her will? That she was now actually a prisoner, with the children as surety for her good behaviour?
Would he care if he did?
She met his cold, clear eyes for an instant as she laid him back again, and it was she who looked away. There was something far too perceptive in him, too probing into her thoughts.
Adrienne insisted in feeding him herself. He was too unsteady to hold the spoon without spilling the soup, which angered him. Hester could see it in the lines of his face and hear it in his grunts as he swallowed. If Adrienne noticed, she affected not to.
He was also getting breathless. The effort it cost him was apparent to all of them and it humiliated him.
‘Perhaps we should stop for a few moments,’ Hester suggested. ‘It won’t get cold.’
Adrienne hesitated.
‘Do as you’re told!’ Radnor snapped at her, and then choked as he caught his breath.
‘Papa, I’m sorry!’ she said quickly. She looked at Hester desperately. ‘Do something! He’s choking!’
Hester had a strong suspicion that it was largely affected. She had seen him manipulate his daughter’s feelings before; this time she was even more suspicious.
‘Help him!’ Adrienne commanded.
Radnor looked at her, and coughed again.
This time Hester was quite certain. ‘Perhaps we had better not give him any more,’ she said coolly. ‘He is not as well as I thought. It’s a pity. But it won’t be wasted.’
Radnor glared at her with chilling malevolence. ‘If you want soup, woman, make your own. This is mine. My daughter made it for me.’
Hester smiled sweetly at him. ‘Indeed she did. I am glad you are well enough to appreciate that.’ She turned to Adrienne. ‘I think after all he is perfectly well enough to finish it.’ She turned and walked out of the room, before Radnor should see the disgust in her face.
Radnor seemed stronger when he had eaten. Even an hour or two after the soup he rallied, and insisted Adrienne should remain with him during the night. She would only call Hester, or Rand, if he seemed to be in distress.
Hester watched Adrienne try to settle him. She must have done it countless times before in the long months of his illness and deterioration, but she still seemed nervous. He was helpless to do the most ordinary things for himself, and, like many people she had seen before, he resented it. He felt robbed of dignity, which was easily understandable. But it was in no way Adrienne’s fault.
Hester watched with embarrassment for them both as Adrienne tried to assist him to the bathroom so he could relieve himself. She held his arm to help him keep balance on his enfeebled legs, without appearing actually to support his weight. He was bent over, and his nightshirt was thus made too long at the front. He was in danger of tripping on it and falling.
‘For God’s sake, stand up straight, girl! I’m ill, not an idiot!’ he snarled.
It was totally unfair. She was obviously doing her best, but she did not complain, nor even try to defend herself.
He swayed, and Adrienne panicked. She swung around to Hester, her eyes wide.
‘Pull yourself together!’ Radnor said to her furiously. ‘Don’t let me fall, damn you! Can’t you do anything right?’
‘I’m sorry, Papa. Lean on me more. I won’t leave you!’
Hester could see Adrienne was frightened and losing control. She moved forward quickly and took hold of Radnor by the other side, steadying him firmly. She felt his muscles tighten as he pulled away from her. Was it deliberate?
‘Mr Radnor!’ she said curtly. ‘Lean on me, and let Adrienne open the bathroom door for us.’
He half turned to glare at her. He had more strength left than she had expected. ‘Think you’re coming in here to watch me relieve myself, woman?’
