Adella stood and stared back at him. That face she knew so well, hated for so long. But not now. Everything Frederick said was true. She was suddenly afraid. Her initial relief that he was alive had been washed away by fear at the sight before her. He looked deathly pale, there was a grey pallor to his skin. She had seen it before in those who were soon to pass on. Frederick prompted her forward, and with a few steps she found herself by the side of the bed. He still stared up at her, unable to speak. His eyes were bloodshot, but there was a clarity about them. His hair was damp on his forehead. He wore a large night shirt that reached his whole length, but it clinged to his skin, damp with sweat. The bedsheets were crumpled at the end of the bed.
“Hello Joel,” she said in a soft voice.
His eyes never left her as he spoke. “My name is Joseph, my name is Joseph, Joseph, Joel. No, no, no, no, Joseph. Must not let her know. Joseph Joseph Joseph.”
“Hello Joseph. Joseph West,” she said.
His tense body relaxed a little.
The doctor came forward. “As you can see, he is still very delusional.”
'Hush Joseph,” Adella said instinctively and sat on the bed beside him. She took hold of his hand and kissed it.
“Must not tell her, must not! She must not know the truth,” he continued on.
“Could you get him to sleep?” The doctor prompted.
She nodded, “Hush Joseph. You must rest. You must sleep. I will stay here with you. But you must sleep. Close your eyes.”
She heard a sob behind her and looked round to see a middle-aged woman dressed in black, she presumed was his mother. Her eyes were just like Joel's.
“Sleep,” he repeated.
“Yes,” she was handed a cool damp cloth and pressed it on his brow. He relaxed and sank down the bed.
“And when you are awake after your sleep we will take the coastal walk to Branscombe once more.”
“Branscombe,” he said and smiled, as his eyes closed. Adella pulled the bed sheets over him and leaned forward and whispered into his ear, “But first you must rest.”
He opened his eyes again, “You will stay with me?”
“Yes. Close your eyes, and when you awake I will still be here.”
“Branscombe. My name is Joseph West,” he mumbled.
“Yes, Joseph West. Sleep now.” She stroked his damp hair until a few minutes later he was asleep.
The doctor looked relieved. “If he can sleep like this for a few days then I believe he will pull through. But we must keep his strength up. He must have food and water, but not until the morning.”
“I understand,” she said.
“My poor boy,” the woman said coming over to the bed.
Adella looked up at her. But she kept her eyes on her son.
All the time Frederick had watched from the back of the room. When Mrs Polwarth started to fret over Joel, he stepped forward and drew her away saying, “Better leave Miss Maxwell to tend him. Sarah will be arriving home tomorrow and you'll need all your strength for her.” She nodded and withdrew at Frederick's prompt, taking one long last look at her son.
The doctor tended to Joel for a short while, and then, satisfied with everything, he left saying he would be back in the morning.
Finally, Adella found herself alone with Joel.
She stood at the end of the bed and watched his face, then the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. She could not help thinking of the time they were alone in Bath, when he kissed her. His touch was unwelcome then, but now......now she was transfixed. She wanted nothing more than to feel his lips against hers. She moved back to sit on the bed beside him and lowered her head over his. One soft gentle kiss to reignite the passion she felt for him years ago. He was a stranger, yet she knew him so well.
“I will not leave you Joseph West,” she whispered into his ear.
It had been such a long day, and she was exhausted from the revelations. At least his sleep was deep and peaceful, and she wondered how she might wake him in the morning to give him food. She pulled a chair up to the bed, and took hold of his hand again, and held it against her cheek.
“We shall walk again to Branscombe, I promise,” she whispered and let her mind drift back to that precious day when they first discovered their feelings for each other. Her heart was now fully opening up to allow her love to return completely.
It was some time before she noticed someone else in the room. Frederick stood tentatively by the door. He turned to leave, but she looked up.
“Please, do not go,” she said and stood up.
“We both want him to live,” he said.
“Yes, but at least you seem to be able to hold yourself together.”
“It may appear that way, but inside it is a different matter. Maybe after you have slept you will feel better?” he said.
“Yes. I will sleep in the chair.”
“The chair! You cannot sleep there. There is a bedroom next door.”
“I promised Joel I would not leave him,” she said with entreating eyes, “I cannot break that promise. I know he is unlikely to wake, but if he does. . .”
Frederick ran his hand through his hair, “Then I do not know what to suggest.”
“Perhaps, a chaise-longue and blankets?”
He nodded and within minutes the servants brought an exquisite French Mahogany chaise, decorated in the finest gold brocade. It was big enough to be more than comfortable, and together with the pillows and blankets, Adella was sure it would be sufficient.
Adella slept fitfully that night. She was not used to sleeping fully clothed, and her makeshift bed was a little hard. She could see Joel from where she lay, thankfully he did not stir much.
She was woken in the morning by the distant sound of voices coming from the hallway. She wasn't sure what time it was, though sunlight seeped out from behind the curtains. Scrambling up, she quickly checked on Joel; he was still sleeping, then made her way to the door. But before she could go outside, the door was flung open and a police constable walked in. He stopped after a few paces, his eyes met Adella's. She equalled his stare with fortitude. He was a large-framed man, young, and obviously was used to having his own way by using his weight and size.
Frederick was directly behind him. “Look,” he said, “He is still too ill to go anywhere. I do not understand why you insist on checking he is still here.”
The constable didn't seem to hear Frederick, took off his hat, and made a small bow to Adella, “Sorry to interrupt Miss, but I have my orders.”
The constable moved to the side of the bed to check if Frederick spoke the truth. Adella gave Frederick a questioning look.
“I – I should have told you yesterday,” he said to her, “There was an inquiry into his father's death, and they may. . .they may charge Joel with murder.”
Adella grabbed at his arm, and looked across at Joel sleeping peacefully. “No! They cannot do that. He did it to save his mother! They cannot let him hang for saving his mother!”
Chapter 19
Adella kept her eyes on the Police Constable as he stood over Joel. He was eyeing him suspiciously, but after a moment seemed satisfied. He turned back and approached Adella.
“Are you his nurse Miss?” he said as he looked her up and down.
Adella shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “Yes.”
“She's nothing to do with what happened, so leave her out of this,” Frederick snapped.
The constable opened his mouth as though he was going to to protest, but relented, “Well, you look harmless enough.” He went to the door, and paused on the threshold, “I'll be back tomorrow to check again.”
“We are counting on it,” Frederick said in a dry tone, and the constable was gone.
Adella collapsed on the chair. “They cannot hang him for saving his own mother's life! We must hide him, they must not be allowed to do this.”
“Don't worry, if it comes to it, I will see he is taken out of the country. Don't trouble yourself, it probably w
on't come to that.”
“Oh?” Adella said with hope in her voice.
Frederick seated himself in the chair opposite. “They have taken statements from all who were there; except Joel and Michael. Michael ran off a few hours after it all happened, but luckily before we found out where Sarah was first, he told us that at least. They need his statement, and I have men looking for him. When they find him, and he tells them the same as the rest of us - that Joel did it to save his mother from being murdered, then its a clear case of defence of another. It's unlikely they'll charge him with anything.”
“Unlikely? What do you mean unlikely?” she asked.
Frederick shrugged, “If they did press charges, there would be no punishment. Besides, they saw the strangle marks around his mothers throat.” He reached across and patted Adella's hand. “Do not worry yourself, I have the best lawyers, they will see that he is not charged.”
Adella tried to smile, but she found it difficult. She looked across at Joel sleeping peacefully. “After all he has been through, now this! It would have been better that he let his mother be strangled.” Her eyes glistened with the passion of her words.
Frederick looked a little shocked, then his face softened. “You do not mean that. If his father was still alive, Joel would be dead.”
Adella sighed deeply, “You are right. I don't mean it.”
“Concentrate on getting Joel better, and I will look after the law.”
Adella nodded, “I will send for a bowl of broth. Joel must gain strength.” She stood up and walked over to him, pulled up the blanket, and then wiped his head with a cool damp cloth.
“I'll send for it,” Frederick said, “and have the servants send up breakfast for you.”
The next day, Adella cared for Joel as well as she could, though she felt several times a little dizzy and weak, it had been cold travelling in the carriage and she wondered whether she might have caught a chill. Joel opened his eyes several times, and though his look was fixed on her, he never acknowledged or tried to speak to her.
Still Dr Chapman was not worried, and maintained that Joel was progressing well each time he visited.
“His fever has abated, he is gaining strength, I see no reason why he will not regain consciousness soon,” he said that evening.
Adella's face lit up, “How soon?”
“In a few days. You must be patient, the human body can repair itself, but it needs time. His wound is clean and healing well too. But, Miss Maxwell, you look tired and drawn. I am more worried about you than Mr Polwarth at this present time.”
He glanced at her over his glasses, and Adella turned away. “I am alright. I am worried about Joel, that is all.”
“Then stop worrying, I am confident that he will fully recover in time.”
Frederick arrived not long after, out of breath, and still in his riding boots.
“How is he?” he asked them both, though it was Dr Chapman who answered.
Adella waited patiently by the window as the doctor gave his prognosis on Joel, their voices a low murmur. She let her mind drift as she looked out of the window across the lawns. Their voices dropped to a whisper, and she was unaware of the frequent glances in her direction. A few minutes later, she was roused from her reverie by Frederick, who came over to see her. She noticed the doctor gone.
“So, Joel is much improved,” he said with a smile.
“Yes,” she said. “But what news of Michael?”
He paused, as though contemplating a white lie to alleviate her fretting, “none yet.”
“Nothing at all? Surely the men searching must have an idea. He could not have gone far?”
“Not yet, but they have several lines of enquiry. We will find him. He has little money, so he'll show up soon enough,” he said. “Have you eaten breakfast?”
“Yes.”
He gave a quick nod of assent.
“You should take some fresh air? It will make you feel better, You've been shut up in this room for too long.”
“I promised Joel I would not leave him.”
“Yes I know, but he would not be happy that you are not looking after yourself properly.”
“What makes you think I am neglecting myself?”
“You look tired and you are hardly eating.”
Adella ignored his words and walked past him, she occupied herself by checking Joel. But he would not relent and followed her to the bedside.
“Take some fresh air, I insist. I will stay with him and call for you if he so much as stirs. All you need do is go out for a few minutes. Believe me, it will do him more good if you feel refreshed.”
Adella looked down at Joel. “You promise to get me?”
“I swear it.”
“Then you better send for a servant to show me the way out.”
The warm sun on her face was reviving, but it was marred by threat of the law over Joel. This fact overtook any worries she had about his recovery. It was all such a tangled mess and she dared not think of anything further than one day to the next. If only Michael could be found. He was such a coward, and did not deserve a brother such as Joel.
She walked, but didn't stray far from the building, and wandered down the nearest gravel path, and admired the gardens. Though she noticed the beauty in front of her, her mind was too occupied to take in the smaller details of the gardens. She decided that she would write to her mother, and to Leonard. The latter was well overdue, she wanted to heal the rift between them.
Every step she took, she was acutely aware that she was treading on his ground, in his estate. He was heir to all this when she thought him a humble tutor. How he must have missed it when he was in Sidmouth. Such a beautiful place to grow up. But the thought was quickly quashed. His father had been a tyrant, and he turned his back on it all.
She walked for twenty minutes, then unable to stay away from Joel any longer, retraced her steps back into the house. She allowed herself more time to look at the interior decoration. It was all so finely furnished, she dared not surmise how much the house alone was worth. It made her own upbringing feel so humble.
After taking a few wrong turns, she finally found herself back in the room with Joel and Frederick.
“He has not stirred, he snored a bit, but that is all.” Frederick said with a small smirk.
Adella could not help but smile in return.
“Do you feel refreshed?” he asked.
“A little, though I am glad to be back,” she said as she gently stroked Joel's hair.
The next day passed in the same way as the day before, with Frederick still unable to alleviate Adella's fears over Joel's arrest. Michael, it seemed, had hidden himself well.
At night, Adella slept well, and without waking at all as she was used to doing. She only woke in the morning, much later than her usual hour by the maid. Her head pounded and she felt hot. But as soon as the blanket was removed she began to shiver. Then, trying to get up, she found her legs were unable to take her weight, and slumped back.
“I'll fetch the doctor,” the maid said looking at her. Adella was in no state to argue. As soon as she was alone, she tried several more times to get up, but it was useless. She was too weak.
When Dr Chapman arrived, he examined her. And, just as he was about to give his diagnosis, Frederick arrived and heard the news.
“You have a high fever, and must be removed from Joel's presence immediately,” he said sternly. “I am uncertain if it is a contagious fever, but we cannot risk Joel catching what you have.”
She fought back the urge to cry, “I promised him I would not leave,” she replied her voice distraught.
“If you stay and he catches what you have, it may kill him.” Dr Chapman said.
“Then get me out of here. Quickly,” she said trying to scramble up one last time.
The Doctor looked at Frederick. “Can I suggest she is removed to your house? It is an imposition, but I would like her as far away as possible to lessen the risk.”
“It
is not an imposition. We will leave immediately.”
“Who will look after Joel?” Adella asked, as she was carried out of the room by the two of them.
“Myself and his mother, she has been wanting to attend to Joel,” Frederick replied.
Adella did not answer. His own mother would have to suffice.
***
In Bath, Leonard quietly ate his breakfast before his morning appointments when the post arrived. He recognised Adella's handwriting straight away, and tore the envelope open. He had a great amount of eager anticipation that it contained a reconciliation. He was not disappointed. As he read her forgiveness, then news of Joel and all that had happened in the last few weeks, Leonard was moved by their plight. He had been right to keep Joel's secret. Joel's father was a man of no morals. He was shocked at what happened and a little surprised that Adella clearly forgave her former love so quickly, especially after suffering for so many years. But when he thought about it, he understood why she forgave him. Upon reading her diagnosis of Joel's condition he knew that if he survived, he would have a long recovery. But, he knew Adella to be an excellent nurse.
As he sat and contemplated the letter, his mind inevitably turned to his own situation. He had been dithering for days. But now, as he saw what harm there was in the world, he decided once and for all. He must take action now. There was no time to lose.
He ran to the Alther's. On foot, it usually took ten minutes, yet this time seemed to take forever. It wasn't helped by a number of patients and acquaintances who delayed him by their polite enquiries after his health. Finally, he rang the private bell, he waited an impatient few moments until the door was opened by Mrs Alther.
“Dr Preston, I didn't expect to see you so early. Is there an emergency? You're very out of breath,” she said.
“Yes, yes there is,” he said through gasps.
“Come right in, I'll get Mr Alther to open the shop for you.”
He followed her through to the back, “I do not need the shop, I must to speak to Flora.”
“Flora? Very well, an unexpected errand no doubt. I'll run up and get her.”
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