Free Finagled by Rachel Kelso

would never speak to him again. She had been guaranteed one thing the day before, she would have some tie to this man for the rest of their lives. She would be in some form his companion. She had not imagined that this life together could be so short or that she would be his nursemaid in mere hours.
     
    She washed his wound, applied cool, wet  flannels to  his forehead, and waited. She felt so  tired and dishevelled. After spending most of the day with him, she had become moist with sweaty agitation, though she washed her hands in scalding water once an hour, she felt the smell of the sickroom permeating her clothing. She could hardly stand it anymore, her appetite had been severely weakened by the sight of George's injury, and she had merely nibbled on bits of bread. When a soft knock on the door alerted her to the presence of visitors she did not have a single thought for her own appearance. She simply opened the door like an automaton.
     
    Her parents. They had heard about the accident in the evening paper, why had she not called for them?
     
    "Poor child, you were so distraught, it did not occur to you that we could come and alleviate this burden for you!" Lady Havishamble said, "What are you doing here in the sickroom? Oh he looks ghastly, my dear. I do hope you have gotten pregnant before this, in case he does not make it."
     
    "Mother!" Ramona felt the bile rising. "What a terrible thing to say. He will be fine. Don’t say otherwise."
     
    "Well yes, yes of course he will be fine dear." Her mother gave her a pat. "But let us get out of this room. It smells atrocious, and oh, you look horrible darling." Lady Havishamble grimaced.
     
    "I will be staying here." Ramona said, "I have been sitting with him, and attending to his bandages."
     
    "You poor thing! We will find someone to do that for you. You will not change another bandage! Daddy," she addressed Lord Havishamble, "Daddy, do have someone called in. Aren't there... agencies or something, for nurses? Send for someone, at once!"
     
    "No, mother. I have chosen to do this." Ramona said meekly.
     
    "Well you look and smell disgusting and I will not have it, dearest." Her mother said. "I can't stand it another moment!" she left the room, trying to incite Ramona to follow.
     
    She did not follow. She went back to her chair by George's bedside and sat straight up. She felt a renewed strength.
     
    Her father stood between her and the door, in the hallway her mother looked at him archly. "I am sorry, dear," he said to Ramona, as he left the room. She heard her mother's voice in the hall, slightly raised, a word here and there.
     
    "Do something!" her mother said shrilly. There was a softly mumbled reply.
     
    Her father returned. "When do his bandages need attention?" he asked.
     
    "Not for another hour or two," Ramona admitted.
     
    "I can stay with him for that time. Your mother just wants you to take care of yourself. Take a bath, put on fresh clothes. Have you eaten anything today?" he asked.
     
    "Not much," she said, "Fine. My room is next door. The concierge will call for the doctor if anything goes wrong, go to him first, and then come for me."
     
    She paused by her father, said "Thank you," and smiled weakly, trying to find that renewed strength again, to face her mother.
     
    She passed her in the hall. She did not address her with eye contact, "I am going to my room," she said. Her mother followed closely, of course, making little cooing noises and fluttering the feathers in her hat.
     
    "Now dear, do tell me what happened!" Lady Havishamble pressed.
     
    "He was pickpocketed this morning, they stabbed him. Took his pocket watch, perhaps his wallet. That is all there is to tell."
     
    "Well! I will be speaking to my MP, that’s for certain, a Duke accosted on his wedding night, in the very heart of the city!" she exclaimed, "it should be illegal!"
     
    "I rather think that it is," Ramona said, raising an eyebrow.
     
    "Can you help me with my