Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Ebony wasn’t sure if she felt sick when she saw James’ blood travel down a cylindrical tube from his arm into Henry. James didn’t appear fazed by the pain, he simply watched in anguish as Harrison set to work on repairing the damage to Henry’s abdominal organs.

Little J monitored the amount of blood that was taken from James carefully while also feeling Henry’s pulse. She murmured numbers to Harrison while he worked that Ebony didn’t understand. All she did was watch the shallow rise and fall of his chest intently. So long as it kept moving then she too could breathe.

“It’s his spleen,” Harrison told Little J. “It’s torn.”

“Is that bad?” Ebony panicked. She wasn’t sure what the spleen was or what it did, she just prayed it was fixable.

Harrison and Little J didn’t respond, and Ebony didn’t blame them. They needed to concentrate.

Little J stopped the blood flow from James and told him to stay sitting until she’d had a chance to fetch him some water and a biscuit. She looked inside Henry’s open wound and murmured something about repair.

‘Good,’ Ebony thought. ‘They can fix it.’

She watched intently as Little J and Harrison worked in perfect harmony, sewing and burning – or as they called it ‘cauterising’. Every few minutes Little J would check Henry’s pulse and report a number again.

After a few hours of careful repair and monitoring, Little J announced that they were ready to close Henry’s wound and then monitor him for infection. He was not out of the woods yet, and he would not be safe for a long while. But he was alive, and that was the main thing.

Once Henry was had carefully and safely been placed in a bed upstairs, Harrison and Little J tended to Ebony and Ellen. Harrison had taken Ellen into his office to correct her nose and Little J stitched the cut on her forehead. James had departed after having something to eat to collect Henry’s parents.

It hurt each time Little J’s needle touched her skin but she didn’t complain. “I know I don’t have any right to him, but thank you for saving him.” She’d never met a female doctor before, but she could tell Little J was a talented one.

Little J smiled slightly as she fixed the last of her stitches and began to clean her forehead from any dried blood. “Henry would want you to have a right to him,” she replied. “He’s always been so painfully awkward around women. I’d wager he’s barely spoken three words to one since his first ball. It would take someone very special to inspire these events.”

Ebony bit her lip as a wave of guilt washed over her. She hadn’t considered her own fault in the events. Had she never asked Henry to find Celeste then he wouldn’t have gone across the country looking for her. If he hadn’t found her, a letter would never have been sent and Vernon would never have learned of Celeste’s rescue and she would never have been imprisoned in his Aunt’s cellar. In turn, Henry would still be alive and well. Now he was just alive. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “You are right. It is all my fault.”

Little J frowned. “That was not what I meant, Miss Seaver. I meant you are the one who inspired him to take charge, to show strength and gumption. Henry is the most level-headed of us all. He would not have chosen to do anything if he didn’t want to. He obviously thought you worth it.”

Ebony felt a little bashful at Little J’s comments. She’d noticed Henry was shy, it was evident by the fact that he’d blushed and said the wrong things around her. He wasn’t a very confident person. But she’d seen a transformation from the timid man she’d met in her dressing room to the strong, determined man who’d burst into the cellar to save her. “You really think so?”

Little J could not answer her, as they were interrupted.

“Mama?”

Both women turned to see three small girls standing in the doorway of Little J’s office. All three girls had inherited Little J’s golden hair. They were dressed in their nightgowns, the youngest, who could be no more than two years old, was rubbing her eyes lethargically.

“Get rid of the sheets – NOW!” Little J hissed at Ebony, gesturing to the bloody sheets on Little J’s surgical table. Ebony quickly scampered to the table and folded up the sheets and hid them from view. “What are you doing up so early?” Her tone had completely changed to that of a nurturing mother. Ebony didn’t know what time it was, but it was still dark out. Little J lifted the youngest into her arms and held her on her hip.

“We heard voices outside our room,” the eldest replied. “I saw Uncle Henry … what happened to him, mama?”

“There was a little accident and Uncle Henry was hurt but papa and I fixed him so we must pray that he will be alright,” Little J said tenderly.

“Who is that lady?” the middle daughter asked, pointing to Ebony.

“Georgiana, it’s rude to point,” Little J scolded.

Georgiana immediately dropped her hand.

“This is Uncle Henry’s friend Miss Seaver,” Little J introduced. “Miss Seaver, this is my eldest, Victoria. My middle child is Georgiana and this is my littlest, Clara.” Clara was practically asleep in Little J’s arms. “Come along, back to bed with you.” She turned away from Ebony and took a hold of Georgiana’s hand to take the three girls back to their beds.

By the time Little J had returned from tending to her daughters, James had returned with his parents and another young woman. By the way he held her, it was obvious the woman was his wife.

Henry’s mother was a wreck. It was obvious she had been crying. His father just looked terrified. They didn’t notice Ebony standing there, they just all rushed to the staircase so they could go to his bedside. She didn’t expect them to notice her, it was a time for Henry to be with family. It was inappropriate, but she envied him at that moment. She didn’t have anyone. Of course, she had Celeste, but it was not Celeste’s responsibility to care for her, it was the other way around, and she’d failed at that dismally.

Ellen joined Ebony in Little J’s office while they waited for the family to descend the stairs. Her nose had been straightened and her face had been cleaned and stitched. “Doctor Gray gave me some laudanum so I’m not feeling as bad as I look at the moment.”

Ebony received her friend with a hug, but not so much that it hurt either one of their aching bodies. “Are you alright?” she asked, concerned. It was also her fault that Ellen had been taken. So many people had been hurt because of her.

Ellen cupped Ebony’s face and she smiled at her. “I am fine. I know you, Ebony, I know your guilt over this will plague you, but you mustn’t punish yourself. We are all free now. Vernon will hang for what he has done to us. Your new family will see to that.”

“They are not my family. I nearly killed their son,” Ebony murmured.

“You didn’t. Vernon did. He’s beaten you and taken you against your will for two years. Mark my words, that boy up their loves you and you will be married before the year is out.”

Ebony shook her head and looked away from Ellen. He mightn’t realise what Vernon had done to her. Families like his wouldn’t want someone like her marrying into them. Impurity was the worst vice a woman could have, and she had it in spades.

They heard someone coming down the stairs so they both quickly made their way out of the office to see who it was. James arrived in front of them followed by Little J who carried in her arms a couple of dresses.

“How is he?” Ebony asked softly.

“His breathing and heart rate are normal,” Little J replied. “But he’s still unconscious. He’ll wake in time. Meanwhile, I’ve brought you something to wear so that you can go with James to the Met.” She handed both Ebony and Ellen a dress to wear.

“The Met?” Ebony repeated.

“Police,” Ellen muttered.

“Oh, of course, thank you.” It was surreal to think that they could now come forward to the police. As far as Ebony knew, she was the only one with someone important hidden from her. The common story was people with financial troubles that Vernon had given loans to. They no longer had to pay them back – everyone was free and if Henry kept his promise to keep Ellen’s son in school, then she would be too.

“I’d like to go right away,” James said stiffly. “The sooner he is arrested the sooner I can be back here with him.”

Ebony admired how much he cared about his brother. She cared for Celeste the same way.

Another woman, the same one that had come in with James and his parents, joined James from upstairs. She wrapped her arm around his waist comfortingly. “I’m coming with you,” she said quietly. Ebony detected a thick accent, French, she deduced. She liked the French language. She’d picked that, and Italian up through singing it.

“No,” James said stubbornly.

“Yes,” she retorted. “You’re in an irrational mood and I’m not comfortable sending you out without me.” Her bright blue eyes flitted to Ebony and Ellen. “Which of you is Ebony?” she asked.

Ebony didn’t know whether to be frightened of the tiny woman. “I am,” she said quietly.

A smile spread across her pretty face and she immediately pulled her into a hug. “Je suis très heureux de vous rencontrer!” she exclaimed before pulling back. “Oh, pardon, I think and the words come to me in French first.”

“I am pleased to meet you as well.” Ebony smiled, replying to her French statement. She was glad that she seemed to embrace Ebony rather than condemn her for hurting Henry.

She looked taken aback. “Parlez-vous français?”

Ebony nodded. “Oui, très bien,” she replied.

She seemed very pleased with the fact. “I am sure we will be great friends,” she said in English. “I am Alice, James’ wife. I am so sorry for what ‘as ‘appened to you both. What is your name?” she asked Ellen.

“Ellen Winterberry,” Ellen replied. “I am very indebted to both Mr Alcotts for rescuing us. I haven’t had an opportunity to thank you, sir.” She smiled sincerely at James who softened a little.

“Nor I,” Ebony added gratefully.

“You are both very welcome,” James replied with a small smile. “Now let us go.”

---

Hope you liked it!

I had a day at home today which meant I could catch up on my TV shows (because America gets them before us - poo!) and I watched Seeley Booth and Temperance Brennan get married!!!! Oh, their vows made me cry! As a faithful watcher of all 9 seasons, I was so excited to see them get married :) And my girl, Cyndi Lauper, was in the episode! She sang 'At Last' and I was just star struck :) Any other Bones fans cry?

And then I watched Castle and Downton Abbey :) I get way too invested in TV romances but I'm not even sorry - they're awesome :)

I'll try and get another up tomorrow :) Vote and comment!!