ismenin | A Regency Tale 4

Hello again! I have been asleep all afternoon or you'd have had this earlier! BAAAD me!

Here is

Thank you LSR - who beta-ed this today and she is far from well. Hugses

There is a very short Glossary at the end

Regency Four - A Turn for the Worse

Elijah tried not to wince as Dom's hand moved slightly on his back. Dom had moved closer, and was now pressing against Elijah, and, although Elijah could see that Dom was asleep, he felt very uncomfortable indeed.

He was very conscious of Billy who was standing by the side of the bed looking at them. Elijah was afraid that his demeanour might give away the fact that he and Dominic Monaghan - Tom Marlow - were not friends at all. Elijah could not be comfortable lying next to this naked man, and, as the room was warm and the log fire blazing in the hearth, Elijah started sweating as well.

"I think I'll leave you for an hour or so," Billy said, looking at him, smiling. At that point Jack came in with a basketful of logs, and offered Elijah a cheeky grin, but said nothing as he went about his tasks.

"I'll come back later, Eli. We'll sponge him down again when he's quieter. He seems quite happy now - let's hope it will last."

"Thank you, Bill. If you could contrive to bring me a mug of beer when you return I would be very grateful for it."

Soon Elijah was left alone with only the sleeping man for company. Elijah could hear the wheezes in the sick man's chest, indeed he was so close to him that he could feel them as well. He wondered who Arthur was, or rather, who he had been. It had been obvious to him as soon as Dom had settled beside him and put his arm around him that this had been no ordinary friendship. Arthur had been his lover, of this Elijah was sure.

In proof of this Dom's face moved against his neck, kissing it gently, and muttering something incoherent under his breath. Elijah froze. This would not do. What if someone came into the room and saw Monaghan acting in such a way? Of course Billy would tell Ned what had occurred, but if that worthy man came into the room and saw Elijah being embraced by Dom - Elijah shivered. It would not do. It could not be borne.

He attempted to rise from the bed, to disentangle himself from Lord Monaghan's embracing limbs, for now a naked leg was being placed over his, trapping him even further. But Dom held him as close as a limpet, and would not let him go.

"Arthur!" he murmured into Elijah's shoulder. "Are you going to leave me again? Don't leave me."

Elijah settled down with a sigh. He would have to stay here, at least for a while. He put his one free arm inside the bedclothes as his breeches had got twisted and were causing him some discomfort. His hand stilled immediately, for it had pressed against Dom's body, and he had found it resting upon an erection that belied the weakened state of his bed partner.

When Elijah moved, Dom made a sound in his throat that sounded very much like the sound of desire. Elijah knew he could not remain there one minute longer, and struggled to free himself, eventually managing to get out of the bed despite Monaghan's protests.

Elijah thought quickly. "Dom, it is Arthur. I am going to fetch you a cup of tea. I will be back soon, my love!" he whispered into Dom's ear. Dom smiled despite his stupor, and nodded. "I would like that," he managed.

Elijah, shaking like a jelly, sat in the chair by the side of the fire until he should stop trembling. It gave him no satisfaction to realise he had not lied to Lord Monaghan about his name as one of his forenames was indeed Arthur. The man was sick, and he believed his dead lover had returned to him. When he woke to find this was not so, what would he think?

But it could not be helped. Elijah knew nothing of love - he had nothing by which to measure the feeling. The closest people to him were his sister and his friends, particularly Barney - but these feelings were not romantic love. That Love was some mysterious thing that made people attempt dangerous deeds, and make extravagant gestures, and promise unpromisable things. Of this love he had no knowledge.

He decided to go downstairs and ask Jack for tea, as Monaghan had seemed pleased at the thought of a cup. He found the slippers, and put on the dressing gown, and after glancing at his patient, and seeing him quietly resting, left the room.

He had not noticed the house when he had come up the stairs since his mind was too occupied with the injured man, but as he descended, he saw that the house had been a very fine one. There were several well executed pictures on the walls, and a faded Turkey carpet on the floor in the hallway and down the stairs. He had scarcely noticed the bedroom, but when he saw the rest of the house, he realised that the bedroom, too, had been furnished with a sort of worn elegance, and the furniture had been of an excellent quality, if somewhat outdated.

He located the kitchen by the sound of voices. Walking down the passage towards the room he heard the conversation cease. He walked into the room with a cheerful word for its occupants, but it was obvious to him that the subject of their converse had been himself, and the man lying upstairs in the bed.

Billy looked at him carefully. "Has he settled then, Eli? He must have done so otherwise you wouldn't be here."

Ned nodded a welcome, and offered Elijah a glass of beer, which he took gratefully. It had been very hot in the bed. He sat down at the table with the other men.

"I came down to ask if Jack would make some tea. Do... Tom has asked for some, and I think it would be good if he had it."

"Jack's out feeding the hens and pigs - but I think I can manage a pot of tea," Ned said with a grin, putting down a handful of peas he had just shelled into the bowl. Elijah had never before seen a pea in its pod, and picking one up, he rather inexpertly split it and deposited the contents into the bowl with a satisfied smile. He picked up another one.

Billy sat there and watched Elijah shelling the peas. He thought he had never seen someone gain so much pleasure out of a commonplace task.

Ned returned with a tray. "I put a cup of strained broth on it for him to take. It's all very well coddling his insides with tea, but he'll need a bit more than that to strengthen him. It's not too hot either, sir."

"Eli," Elijah said, taking the tray with a smile. "I wish you will call me Eli. After all, we're all in the same boat together, are we not?"

Before anyone could answer, Jack came in, stamping his feet on the stone flagged floor, and saying that it had begun to snow heavily.

This was obviously unwelcome news to Billy. "That'll mean the Gentlemen won't be able to get up the river unless they've started out already. You know how it freezes over at the first sign of frost. Damn it! I wanted to get away!"

Elijah's heart sank at this statement. Jack had taken the tray off him and carried it out of the room, so Elijah turned to the disturbed man still sitting at the table, his hands clenched on the scrubbed board.

"I was hoping that you would stay here to help me, Billy. I need help with Tom. I would pay you generously - I could send an amount to any address you would name ..."

He stopped as he realised how artless this would seem. They would never reveal their address to anyone - none of them. It was far too dangerous. Then he remembered the five hundred pounds upstairs in his pocket. His heart went cold as he remembered that because he had tried to protect this money, Lord Monaghan had become seriously injured. It must have shown on his face, because Billy spoke.

"I know you had money in your riding coat, Eli. I knew you was trying to protect something out there in that lane, and I felt the packet when I turned your coat last night so that it would dry more easily. You was asleep so I puts the packet on the mantelpiece to dry out. It was soaked, too. It's all still there - the money I mean."

Elijah looked at him, an arrested expression on his face. "You're more than welcome to share it between you. Tom and I would think it was fair payment for our shelter here."

Ned frowned. "If it be not held an impertinence to ask, how much is there?"

"Five hundred pounds in twenty pound notes," Elijah revealed rather reluctantly. Ned whistled through his teeth and glanced at Billy.

"That would be enough and to spare to start you in your little business, Bill. If Eli is willing to give it to you, we'll take your share of the Gentlemen's money when they come, and you can be off as soon as Eli's friend is feeling better. How does that suit you?"

Billy shook his head. "It's too much - I'm not worth that much."

Elijah came and sat down beside him again, and put his hand on top of the clenched fist upon the table. "You are to me, at this time, worth considerably more than that - and I'm sure Tom, were he awake, would agree. I do not scruple to tell you that I have not the least notion of how to nurse a sick person. Please stay and help me."

Billy sighed. "Very well, but I’ll only take half the money - and that is far too much. Give the rest to Ned here, it is he who is bearing the cost of you staying on after all."

"Then it is all settled! Thank you, Bill. I will go up to Tom now, I hope he will take the broth - as you say, Ned, he needs to build up his strength."

Elijah had some difficulty getting Dom to swallow the broth, but he spoke softly in his ear, and muttered a few endearments, and soon the drowsy man murmured, "Arthur!" and opened his mouth and drank.

He swallowed the tea more eagerly, and when Billy came into the room a few minutes later, Elijah was able to say with pride that both cups were empty.

They looked at the sick man for a few moments. Billy rubbed his chin. "I think he needs propping up a bit more, Eli. He'll breathe easier for it."

Billy took the pillow from Elijah's side of the bed, and as Elijah held up the sick man disposed it carefully under his head. Elijah noticed, as he had not before, the delicate nature of the bedclothes. The pillow cases were edged with lace, and were monogrammed in one corner. This struck him as peculiar, but he had no time to wonder at it, as Dom began to cough, and the coughing caused his wound to bleed.

"Damn it! I did not think to have to change this bandage until tomorrow. I am convinced the less we disturb the wound the better," Elijah said, gazing at the fresh damp spot on Lord Monaghan's bandages.

"I don't know, Eli. I'm not sure whether it's better to leave him in dirty bandages to let it rest, or to put clean on, and disturb him."

Elijah desperately tried to think what his cousin Harry had said about being wounded in the Peninsular Wars. He could not remember that he said anything to the point. His most frequent complaints concerned the poor quality of the wine that was being brought him whilst he was recovering from his wound in bed. Elijah could not remember that he had said anything at all about his treatment apart from the fact that the surgeon was a regular saw bones and he wouldn't trust him to carve a chicken.

"I think we shall leave it for an hour or two, Bill. It is fresh blood after all, and can hardly be tainted yet. He will be better for the rest - except that he is not resting. I wonder if a drop of brandy would calm him? Or would it make it worse?"

Billy moved to the table and poured out a glass. "It might stop him coughing, Eli. It cannot be doing him any good to be coughing like that. Look, it's causing more bleeding. Here," he said thrusting the glass into Elijah's hand, "give him this."

Elijah was not at all sure that it would do any good, but as he did not know what else to do, propped Dom up again within his arm, and by dint of persuasion, got it down his throat.

He went over to the window, then, and looked out on the snow which was falling thick and fast. He marvelled at it, thinking that last week he was abroad in the streets of Bath without a top coat. Billy came and stood beside him, looking at the yard and the trees which were rapidly turning white. "It looks very pretty, I'm sure, but it's a good job Ned has a full store room, and a yard full of animals, because it looks as if we will be stuck here until it melts."

Elijah thought with horror of being trapped in this room for weeks, and longed to taste the fresh air.

"Do you think Ned will let me go out into the yard, Bill? I need some fresh air. Perhaps he will let me go if you come with me."

Billy grinned. "Let's go and ask him."

Thus it was that Elijah found himself, if only for a few minutes, in a farmyard surrounded by animals. He had never seen any living creature except domestic animals, and horses of course, at such close quarters. And he had never seen a pig at all. He leaned over the corner of their sty and stared at them in amazement.

"They are so big! I had never realised... even the smaller ones are... big."

Billy laughed at this inanity. "I daresay they are, if you ain't used to seeing them."

The snow was falling thicker now, so Billy, after checking on the horses, suggested they return to the house.

They met Ned at the door. "I was just coming to get you, sir," he said, casting a worried look at Elijah. "Jack has just come downstairs and told me that he's much worse than he was. He's on a high fever, and is throwing the bed clothes about and calling for someone called Arthur."

Elijah and Billy ran up the stairs. Jack was by the bed trying to hold Dom down, but it was a futile attempt. Dom pushed the boy away and got out of the bed, swaying dangerously as he tried to walk across the carpet.

His eyes were bright with fever, but Elijah saw the look in them as Dom saw him. "So I was right," Dom snarled, "it was you, you little upstart! What have you done to me? Come, I will have the truth now..."

He advanced on Elijah his fists curled, and took a swing at his so-called friend. But the effort had been too much, and Elijah saw Dom's eyes close as he struggled for breath.

He held Dom to his chest as Billy took his feet, and they carried him to the bed, and put him down.

"I'd tie him to the bed if I thought it would do any good," Elijah panted angrily, as he rose, aiming a look of dislike at the recumbent man.

Billy laughed. "It almost seemed for a moment that you hated the man. It's a good job he's your friend." He stopped laughing. "I'm sure you'll be much relieved when he comes to his senses again, for there is no doubt he would've hit you had he been within reach. I'm sure if he remembers, he will be sorry for it."

Elijah refrained from telling Billy that for those few moments the Insufferable Lord Monaghan had been in full possession of his faculties, and had recognised his company. Elijah fervently hoped that when the man came to his senses again, they would be alone in the room, for there was a lot to explain to him when he woke.

The two men sponged Dom down and changed his bandages before he woke again. Elijah, sitting in the armchair by the fire, and attempting to read a book, looked up when he heard a cough from the bed. It was Monaghan trying to rise on the pillows, leaning heavily on his good arm.

Elijah rushed over to the bed, and casting a glance at the door, spoke quickly and to the point. "Are you in your right mind? Because if you are, listen carefully. We could be in great danger here, although we are safe for the moment. Your name is Tom Marlow, and I am Eli...Retford," said Elijah, only barely remembering the name he had chosen for himself out of his many titles.

"I will explain it all to you tonight when there is no danger of us being interrupted. Until then please be patient, and accept everything that I say. I do not say this lightly - we have fallen into a den of thieves. I do not scruple to say that our very lives depend upon your compliance. Do you understand?"

Dom, still in the throes of a spasm of coughing, nodded his head. "I am not stupid, my Lord Duke," he said in a low but angry voice. "I could not but notice that the man who entered the room with you earlier looked and sounded very much like the highway man who shot me."

Elijah heard steps along the corridor. "Quiet, now. Tom Marlow - Eli Retford. Remember!"

Billy entered the room with a satisfied smile when he saw that Dom was awake. "Aye, that's the barber!" he exclaimed. "I must say, sir, you look far better than you did earlier."

Dom, in answer to Elijah's warning glance, thanked Billy for his concern and his help, and lay back on the pillow exhausted after his exertions.

Billy blushed. "It were nothing, sir. It was Eli here that saved your life, for none of the rest of us knew what to do for you, it's true."

Dom cast an incredulous glance at Elijah, which much angered his Grace. "Then I am grateful to Mr Rufford - Retford - for his care."

Elijah was aware that Billy was staring at Dom with a quizzical expression on his face. "Mr Retford? I thought you two was bosom bows. Don't stand on ceremony on my behalf, sir. And before we go any further, I wish to apologise to you for your injuries. Indeed I did not mean it. I am sorry."

Elijah cast another warning glance in Dom's direction, but it was hardly needed. If this was the man that indeed had shot him, Dom knew to tread warily.

"I am certain it was an accident, for you do not look to me like a vicious criminal. Now, if you gentlemen would be so kind, I wish to relieve myself."

Billy hurried forward and handed Dom the cider bottle, and he and Elijah thoughtfully turned their backs on him and walked away from the bed, discussing what would be best to give Tom to eat now he was awake and could take refreshment.

" I am very thirsty," Dom remarked, leaning over and putting the stone bottle on the floor, cursing as he did so, for it pulled on his injured shoulder.

"What would you like, sir?" Billy said, turning towards him. "We have beer and ale..."

Dom shook his head. "Am I imagining it, or did I drink tea earlier? I thought..." He pulled himself up short, remembering Arthur in his arms, and that he had so lovingly given it to him. "Was I mistaken?" he said, his voice less certain. "I remember..."

"Yes there was tea, and it was Eli here that helped you drink it. I'll go and get Jack to brew a pot," and with that he was gone.

"What in God's name is happening here, Duke? I don't understand it at all. Tell me now, for I will not wait until tonight. The world has gone mad," Dom hissed through clenched teeth.

Elijah went over to the bed and glared at the angry man. "Will you be silent?" he whispered, trying to contain his temper. "You will have to wait until tonight, for I am telling you nothing now, when there are people to overhear it. Tonight we may close the door - but not now. Be patient I beg you; there is no need for all this... drama."

Dom stared at Elijah in incomprehension. "Drama? Drama? You insufferable little man!
Here I lie, helpless and alone, and down stairs the man who shot me nearly to death is making me tea?"

Dom's voice had risen in his anger, and Elijah leaned over the bed, and hissed at him. "Will you be quiet? I did not take you for a stupid nodcock, for I thought you a man of superior understanding. Now I see I was mistaken - you are not merely stupid, you are an idiot."

Just then Jack entered the room with a tray. Dom, incensed beyond reason by Elijah's inflammatory comments and animadversions upon his character, grabbed the Duke around the throat and tried to throttle him.

Jack all but threw the tray onto the table and came to Elijah's assistance, pulling Dom off him, with cries of remonstrance.

"Don't you go hurting him what saved your life, your honour! Shame on you, even if you is wounded, and in a high fever. There is no call to do that!"

Dom realised he had gone too far and besides that he was as weak as a kitten. He fell back against the pillows gasping for breath.

"It's all right, Jack, Mr Tom has gone back into the fever again and doesn't know what he is doing. I think it will be best if you close the door behind you when you leave so that he may have some peace. Ask Billy and Ned, if you would, to leave us alone until I call. It may be a period of quiet reflection will benefit us both."

Jack's face broke out into a smile. "I'm right glad to hear he wasn't attacking you, Eli - and after you saved his life and all. I'll go and tell them what you said." and with that he left.

Elijah stared at the closed door for a few moments judging whether the sound of their voices would travel through it. He went over to it and opened it quietly. He saw that it was quite three inches thick, quite enough to keep any sound out unless somebody was stooping by the keyhole, listening. He closed it and went to the table, and poured out a cup of tea, cooled it with milk, and took it to the man lying quietly in the bed, his face pale and sweating, his eyes closed.

"Come, now, I am not angry with you. You have been very sick, you know, and are hardly in your right senses even now. Drink this, it will do you good."

Dom opened his eyes and reached for the cup, but Elijah could see that his hand was trembling so much he would never hold it. Gently he raised the man's head, and proffered the cup to his lips.

"Here!" he said, and Dom drank thirstily.

"More...please."

Elijah could not understand why the man was so thirsty, but he realised that it must have something to do with the fever and the fact that he had lost a lot of blood.

Dom drank the second cup down as quickly, and as Elijah put the cup down on the bedside table, Dom stared at him in puzzlement. This was not the stiff young man he knew to be the Duke of Stanford. This man was far more amenable, and far gentler than his Grace would have been. Dom rubbed his hand over his eyes, and looked again.

No, there was no doubt of it - it was the Duke. He would know those eyes anywhere. They were the first things he noticed when he first met the man, after all.

Dom heaved a deep sigh, and coughed as the air went into his lungs. He struggled to sit up, and Elijah was there helping him, putting another pillow behind his back, making him comfortable.

"Where are we, my Lord? Can you tell me that?" Dom said speaking quietly just in case anyone could be listening.

Elijah sat down on the bed, so that he, too, could speak quietly. "I do not know exactly, but I know we are not very far - perhaps fifteen or twenty minutes - from the place where you were shot. It is well hidden, this house, deep in the wood, and it is a smugglers den, although they prefer to be called free traders. Brandy, mostly, I collect."

Dom's eyes opened wide. "Good God! Yes, I can smell it. So this has all been happening on my land." He looked around trying to assess what sort of place it was that he was in.

"It seems it must've been the house of a gentleman at one time. Who lives here now?"

"A man called Ned and a boy named Jack. They declined to give me their other names, though I suppose I can see why. But I cannot hide from you, my Lord - Dom - that I am far from happy with the situation. The men have bent over backwards to help us but who knows what are their long-term plans? If they find out who we are, it may be they will ransom us. And if they do not find out - or even if they do - they might kill us out of hand to stop us from talking, and bury our bodies in the woods. No one would be any the wiser."

Dom thought carefully, and had to agree. "So we keep quiet until we know what is going forward?"

Elijah nodded. "I think it is best, for, indeed, I do not know what else to do. If you can think of something, my Lord, I will be very grateful."

Dom gave a half smile. "What did you say my name was - Tom? Then use it, if you please. It will seem more natural if we use these names between ourselves as well as in front of them, do you not agree, Elijah?"

Elijah shook his head. "Eli, Tom, not Elijah. Eli. How do you feel now? How is your shoulder? "

Dom put his hand to his injured shoulder and winced. "It hurts like the very devil."

Elijah smiled slightly. "I am not surprised, the bullet was in deep. I had the devil of a job getting it out."

For the second time in a short period Dom was astonished. "You dug it out?You?"

Elijah stiffened perceptibly. "Why, do you think I am incapable of performing such an operation? You must have a very low opinion of me, indeed. Certainly I did it - you would be dead else, my Lord. Now I suggest you rest, for that is what we told Jack that you were to do, after all. If someone were to come near, to hear voices would occasion comment."

Elijah retired to the chair by the fireplace, and pointedly picked up a book, and began to read it.

Dom noticed that Elijah had reverted to his formal manner. There was no doubt but he had hurt the man's feelings by his thoughtless remark - but it was uttered in deepest truth. He had no notion the little Duke had so much spirit, or physical strength. He knew, after all, how much effort it took to dig a bullet out of a man...

Arthur. Arthur had died in his arms after all he could do for him. He had had such a pleasant dream earlier, for Arthur had lain with him once more - together, in the same bed, after three years.

Dom had friends aplenty - people seem to gravitate to him, both men and women. But since Arthur there had been no man in his bed.

He closed his eyes, glad of the quiet that had descended upon the room, and fell asleep.

GLOSSARY

Animadversions - criticism

Turkey carpet - Red carpet of Persian design

Mantelpiece - shelf over the fire