Page 14 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

“Why focus on frippery James? Help me to my father’s chambers,” William said.

Lord James stood up and grabbed his friend around his waist on the good side. The steward left the room, giving them space to walk through.

“I wasn’t sure he would ever open them again,” William said after a short silence.

“He has now, so your thoughts aren’t worth much,” Lord James answered him.

“Typical of you to twist my words in an attempt to insult me; I wish I had two good hands, you would have gotten the fury the Duke was meant to get,” William answered.

“Then it is good fortune one arm is incapacitated. It happened to allow me freedom of speech,” Lord James said.

William laughed hard at that. The laughter erupting from deep inside him and making him shake. His arm sent shots of pain through him, reminding William of his state and causing him to stem his quaking. He ended the laughter with a groan. Lord James understanding what caused William to groan laughed even more.

“I love this state you are in,” Lord James commented with a playful sneer.

They walked down the corridor and turned to the left. The Duke’s chambers were in a different section of the house. After going up a flight of stairs, they went through a large oak door with spiraling carving designs on it. William nudged his friend after going through the door, telling him to let him walk to his father’s room on his own.

They went through the last door on the right and were welcomed with a stale odour. William looked to the windows to see if they were open, they were. He looked to his father’s bed. His father still looked unconscious, his eyes were closed. Around him were the Duchess, the old doctor and William’s sister, Regina. The mood was sombre, William waddled to the bed and looked at his father’s face.

“You sent a steward to call me. I thought he was now awake,” William asked.

“He was. He fell back asleep. The doctor says we should leave him be; he needs rest,” Regina said.

“But how is he? Are there any things we should be worried about?” William asked, directing his questions to the doctor.

The man seemed to think about it, raising his gaze to the wood ceiling.

“He’ll be tired and thirsty when he wakes. No matter how hungry he is, first give him water, only water for the first hour. After that you give him liquid food, he has been unconscious for a long time. Do not give him solid food,” the doctor said, picking up his bag as he said that.

The Duchess followed the physician out, asking him questions as they went. William walked to his sister.

“What did he say when he woke? Who saw him first?” he asked.

“Mother of course, she’s always here,” Regina replied.

“Of course,” William replied.

Regina stood up and dusted her gown. She had the Marlow mouth, small and top heavy. They got it from their father who used to say he was happy his wife did not turn every English trait his children had French. Regina smiled when she saw William was still waiting for her to speak.

“Who knew you would be so eager to see your father?” she said.

“Just answer my question,” William replied.

She smiled wider now, revealing her perfect set of teeth. All her teeth were white, small and shiny. William still asked her how she managed to do it, Regina kept saying she didn’t do anything. William did not believe her.

“He asked for you,” Regina said.

“What did you tell him?”

“Mother answered him, she said you were fine and had been called for. He looked like he wanted to say something else then he slept off,” Regina said.

William nodded, satisfied with her answers. He walked to his father and looked at his sleeping face. There were bristles of last night’s stubble on his chin; the steward would soon be here to remove those.

“He asked of you.”

William turned to see his mother behind him. He hadn’t heard her come into the room.

“Regina just told me,” he answered her.