Chapter 2

"The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision." Helen Keller

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Chapter Two

Everything ached.

Luke groaned as consciousness began to take hold of him. His head was ever so heavy, as though he had spent a week drowning in a pub.

"Captain?"

Luke recognised the voice immediately. It was Commander Peter Lockwood. His voice was soft and strained. He was worried.

Luke could feel that he was lying down on a bed. He was covered in an itchy, woollen blanket and his head was resting on a flat pillow. There was something covering his eyes. Some sort of bandage. When he concentrated his foggy thoughts on the area he could feel that it was tender. His face had been injured somehow.

"What the bloody hell happened to me, Commander?" grumbled Luke.

"It is over," said Commander Lockwood. "Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo."

Those words were like music to Luke's ears. After years of fighting, after years of being away from their families, the war was finally over. They would all be able to go home. They would all be able to fulfil their wishes for the end of the war. Luke would finally be able to see his son.

"You did not answer my question, Commander," Luke realised. "What happened to me?"

"Do you not remember what happened during the final battle?" Commander Lockwood asked.

Luke was quickly becoming annoyed. "Just answer the bloody question, Commander," he snapped. "What happened to me? Why am I in this bed? What is this bandage for? Where am I? I am your commanding officer, your superior. You will answer me."

Luke shuffled through his jumbled memories. He could recall standing on the bridge of his ship conversing with his officers. He could recall the imminent threat of enemy ships. But how had he been injured?

"Captain, you were struck in the head by a splintered part of the boom," Commander Lockwood informed him. "We are back in England, in London. You are in hospital."

A splinter? Then it could not be that bad, could it? Was the bandage not a little bit of an overreaction?

Luke chuckled. "I do not need to be in hospital for a mere splinter. The war is over, Commander. I want to go home." Luke reached for the bandage that was covering his eyes. He could only have but a little scratch under there.

Commander Lockwood grabbed his wrist before he could remove the bandage. "Captain, it was not a little splinter," he said firmly. "The wood penetrated your eye socket. You were bloody lucky not to lose your eye. The doctors have been keeping you unconscious for a few weeks to allow the damage to heal. Let me go and fetch your nurse. She had been taking wonderful care of you."

Luke heard Commander Lockwood stand and move away from the bed. He then heard a door open and close.

Wood had pierced his eye socket? That was ... that sounded dreadful! He supposed he was very lucky not to have lost his eye.

Luke needed to be positive. He was alive. He was fine. He still had both of his eyes. The war was over. There was no need to worry.

He did feel drowsy, but he was determined to go home. It would be only a matter of days before he would be holding Jamie in his arms.

Luke heard the sound of the door opening again.

"Welcome back, Captain Cassidy," chirped a friendly female voice. She had to be the nurse. She sounded quite young, but very positive. Luke hoped that her tone indicated his good health.

"Thank you ..." Luke said, realising that he did not know the nurse's name.

"Mary," she replied. "Mary Smith."

"It is nice to make your acquaintance, Miss Smith," Luke said politely.

Mary leant over him to tend to the bandage on his face. He caught two conflicting scents. He could smell something floral on her, but he could also smell faint hints of various potions. A hazard, he supposed, of the nursing profession.

"The pleasure is all mine, Captain," replied Mary. "May I just say to both of you gentleman, thank you sincerely for your efforts in the war. I cannot imagine what it must have been like for you."

Luke did appreciate her words. England seemed so separated from his experiences in the war. When he had been on leave in Somerset, it was as though nothing was happening. Nobody seemed aware of what was going on overseas. It was nice to hear recognition.

"Thank you," both Luke and Commander Lockwood said at the same time.

"Commander, did you say that I have been unconscious for a few weeks?" Luke recalled.

"Yes, Captain," he confirmed.

"Have you written to my wife?" Luke then asked. He hoped that Commander Lockwood had written to Isabella. If he had then she would be travelling to see him. She would bring Jamie and they would be reunited sooner.

"Wife?" repeated Mary. "You are married, Captain?" she asked casually.

"Quite married," interjected Commander Lockwood smoothly, "but I am as unattached as they come."

Were his eyes not covered, both Commander Lockwood and Mary would have seen him rolling his eyes. "Yes, I am married, and I have a son, both of whom I am anxious to see. Have you written to Isabella?"

"No, sir," replied Commander Lockwood. "I did not know the information. I did send for it from the naval office, but I am yet to receive it."

Luke nodded. "Not to worry, Commander. I will be leaving soon, anyway."

Luke could feel Mary's cool fingertips on his face as she untied the bandage that was covering his eyes. Moments later, the bandage was lifted away.

Luke immediately rubbed his eyes as he opened them for the first time in weeks. He furrowed his eyebrows. That was strange. It was so dark. Was it the middle of the night? Luke blinked a few times but his vision did not focus. There was nothing to focus on. It was not night time. It was just total and complete darkness.

Luke's lower lip began to tremble. He did not need a doctor or a nurse to tell him what was wrong.

He was blind.

***

November, 1815

When Isabella had seen the headlines on the morning newspaper in June, she had been ecstatic. Napoleon had been defeated at Waterloo. The war was finished. The British troops would be coming home.

And so they did. Every week it seemed as though another carriage was travelling through the village carrying a father, or son, or brother, or nephew, or cousin home to their families.

But none of those carriages were bringing Luke home to her and Jamie. At first, she had not been worried. Luke was a captain in the Navy. He was very important. There would surely be work to do before he could leave.

But when she had not heard from Luke in several months, she had begun to get very anxious. Isabella was not alone. Luke's poor mother, Helena, fretted constantly as well.

Isabella had finally received word of her husband one warm August morning. The letter was not from Luke, but from a comrade of his, a Commander Peter Lockwood. Isabella recognised the name from past letters.

Nevertheless, she had not been prepared for what was in the letter.

Dear Mrs Cassidy,

I hope this letter finds you and your son in good health. Your husband has talked of little else in our three years of serving together.

I am sorry to be the one to bring this grave news to you, and I wish I could deliver it, and your husband, in person, but I am afraid that Captain Cassidy is not yet ready to be seen.

On the last day of battle, Captain Cassidy was injured in an enemy attack. He was struck in the eye with a splintered boom and has since lost his eyesight. I am sorry to be blunt, but there is no other way to deliver this message.

Your husband has been blinded, and it seems as though his sight will not return as there has been no improvement in two months.

Captain Cassidy has not allowed me to write you before now as he was holding out hope on improvement, but alas, it shall not be.

Your husband asks that you do not come to him as he is being well taken care of. He will return home when he is ready.

Yours sincerely,

Commander Peter Lockwood

Isabella had been utterly shocked when she had read that letter. Guiltily, she had been so relieved that it was not news of Luke's death. But to be blinded one the last day of battle was such a cruel fate.

Isabella had then broken down and cried.

She had immediately wanted to travel to London, but she had noticed that Commander Lockwood had conveniently neglected to tell her which hospital Luke was a patient in. That would not stop her from banging on the door of every hospital she could find. But she ultimately knew that she needed to respect Luke's wishes. He was the one suffering and adjusting, and Commander Lockwood had assured her that he was being well looked after.

Isabella had done her best to carry on with her life while she desperately awaited news. She attacked Commander Lockwood's sporadic letters whenever they came, frantically awaiting news of Luke's homecoming.

In between letters, Isabella did her best to simply be a mother to her son. Becoming a mother had changed her for the better. She had grown up and matured. Of course, she could still have the occasional giggle with her sisters, and she had liked to be flirtatious in her letters to Luke over the years.

But Jamie did remind her so much of Luke. Not only had Jamie inherited Luke's dark blond hair and blue eyes, he had inherited his cheeky personality, and he knew just how to wrap Isabella around his little finger.

Jamie had kept her company while Luke was away, and no matter his condition, she could not wait to be a family with him.

And that chance was coming.

It was now November, and Luke was finally coming home.

"Stop fidgeting. You look lovely," Annaliese playfully scolded.

Isabella could not help it. She was wearing the fourth gown that she had tried on this morning. Not that it mattered as Luke would not be able to see what she was wearing anyway.

She had not seen her husband in over three years. She was nervous.

This would be a big adjustment for them all. Luke would have to get used to be home again, and Isabella would need to quickly learn how to take care of him. She was very willing to do whatever was needed. Once they had a routine, they would hopefully be able to pick up where they left off.

Isabella then absently combed Jamie's hair with her fingers while she looked out the window. The family was congregated in the drawing room awaiting Luke's imminent arrival.

Helena was sitting in an armchair staring out the window just as Isabella was. She had been just as devastated to hear the news about her son. It took a lot of convincing to keep Helena from travelling to London to sit at Luke's bedside.

Annaliese was sitting beside Isabella on the settee, with two year old Julianna on her lap. Julianna was just as pretty as her mother. She had wavy blonde hair to her shoulders and brown eyes that were slightly too big for her face. Julianna was quieter than Jamie, but they were the best of friends, and they loved to play together.

Eleanor sat beside Georgiana on the pianoforte stool. Georgiana, now thirteen, was quite an accomplished young girl. Annaliese had seen to it that Georgiana was equipped with as much knowledge as she could possibly give her. Georgiana could still be a stubborn girl at times, but she had greatly improved on the hateful little girl that she had been when the Dawsons had first arrived at Cassidy House.

Ten year old William was sitting on the other side of Annaliese with his nose in a book. He was a clever boy, and Annaliese had inspired his love of books and learning. This thirst for knowledge had all but eliminated his love of playing tricks on people ... almost. His trickster tendencies emerged at times, more often than not to annoy his sisters.

Eight year old Eva was sitting on Matthew's lap. Eva still very much enjoyed her father's attention, and Matthew gladly gave it to her. She was a happy girl, and she did like to mind Julianna and Jamie whenever she was allowed to, with supervision, of course.

Matthew had been wonderful over the last few years. He had supported Isabella as Luke's wife, and he had helped her with Jamie in any way that he could. Isabella was sure that Luke would be grateful to him for that.

"When Uncle Luke arrives home, children, we must be very careful," Matthew announced. "We must help him in and out of rooms, and up and down the stairs. You must be on your best behaviour. Do you understand?"

Georgiana, William, and Eva all replied with yesses.

Jamie did not know that Uncle Luke was his father. Isabella made sure to talk about Luke with him, but she always called him 'Papa'. She wanted them to meet each other when they were alone and settled.

It would be another hour and a quarter before a carriage was spotted travelling down the Cassidy House driveway. The nerves in Isabella's stomach fluttered uncontrollably and her heart began to pound. This was it. She needed to be calm and supportive.

Despite everything that needed to happen to help Luke with his condition, Isabella was still ever so excited to see him. She hoped that he would feel the same way about her.

Isabella immediately stood up and held Jamie on her hip. She followed Matthew out into the entry foyer as the butler and footmen gathered to unload the carriage.

Once the front door was opened, Isabella stood out on the large, paved porch and awaited her husband. She took long, deep breaths to settle her nerves. She could see that Jamie was curious as to what was going on, but he remained quiet.

The carriage came to a stop at the front steps. The footmen quickly surrounded the carriage and lowered the steps for the passengers.

The first passenger to exit was a handsome man dressed in naval blue. He was tall, lean, and tan from the sun, and had dark hair and eyes. Isabella presumed that he was Commander Lockwood, Luke's friend and comrade who had been writing to her all these months.

Commander Lockwood looked up at the party that had gathered to greet them. His eyes quickly found Isabella. Though they had never met, Isabella could see the recognition in his eyes. He knew who she was. He smiled at her kindly. Isabella returned the gesture.

Commander Lockwood held out his hand and helped a small, young woman climb down from the carriage. Was she Commander Lockwood's wife? She was very lovely. Her hair was a soft, mousy brown colour and she wore it in a simple bun. Her clothing was also very simply. Draped over her small, thin frame was a plain dark gown with long sleeves and a weathered brown travelling cloak. She had a youthful, pretty face and a kind smile. She extended that smile into the carriage, and she said something that Isabella could not hear.

Both she and Commander Lockwood offered their hands to the final passenger. Isabella's heart stopped when she saw two hands reach out of the carriage. Luke subsequently climbed down carefully.

He did not look any different than when she last saw him. A little older, perhaps, and his hair was slightly longer, but he was still the same handsome Luke. After her initial observation, the differences did begin to show. His body was very rigid, and his face was incredibly tense. He kept his eyes to the ground as he carefully placed one foot in front of the other.

Isabella so desperately wanted to run to him to help him, but she was holding Jamie, and this was not how she wanted them to meet. She did not want Luke to feel vulnerable when meeting his son.

Jamie was watching the strange man, though, no knowing that he was his father.

Matthew was the one who descended the steps to help. He reached out carefully to his brother, and placed a hand on his forearm. Luke immediately reacted to the sensation.

Helena came to stand next to Isabella. Helena was just as silent as Isabella was as they watched Luke. It was clear that Helena was feeling very heartbroken.

Isabella just wanted to make things better.

Commander Lockwood's wife put an arm around Luke's waist and began to lead him towards the step. Matthew was on the other side of Luke, but Luke seemed to lean towards the woman. He put his arm around her shoulders and walked with her as his guide.

Commander Lockwood did not seem to mind that another man had his hands on his wife. Isabella tried not to mind that Luke had his hands on another woman. She was just being helpful. Isabella would soon take that role. There was no need to be jealous.

Luke, the woman, and Matthew all carefully climbed the steps up to the front door. Commander Lockwood followed closely behind. As both Helena and Isabella were standing silently, Luke did not notice them standing by the door as they walked past.

The helpful woman, however, smiled sweetly at them both as she walked past them.

Commander Lockwood remained outside with Helena and Isabella once Luke had crossed over the threshold into the foyer.

"Mrs Cassidy?" he guessed, looking at Isabella.

Isabella nodded. "Yes, I am Isabella," she confirmed. "And this is Luke's mother, Lady Cassidy."

Helena did not say anything. She still looked to be in shock.

"Milady," Commander Lockwood said politely, bowing to her and Isabella. "My name is Commander Peter Lockwood. It was an honour to serve with Captain Cassidy in the war and I am honoured to call him my friend."

"Thank you for writing to me, Commander," Isabella said quietly. "I am grateful for your faithful help with Luke."

"Not at all, Mrs Cassidy." He pursed his lips. "He has had a hard time, but Mary seems to be good for him. She can always calm him down when he gets frustrated with himself."

"Is Mary your wife?" Isabella asked. There was an ounce of hope in her voice. It would selfishly make her feel more comfortable if the woman helping Luke, if the woman that was good for Luke, was married to someone else.

"No, Mary is Captain Cassidy's nurse," replied Commander Lockwood. He then smiled. "You must be Jamie." He met Isabella's eyes. "His thoughts were always of you and Jamie. Always."

Isabella smiled slightly. "Thank you. If you will excuse me." It was time to reacquaint herself with her husband. She gave Jamie to Helena to hold, and she went inside to help in whatever way she could.

Luke was halfway up the stairs with Mary holding on to him and Matthew following closely behind. Isabella quickly flitted across the foyer and made her way up the stairs behind them.

Once they had reached the top, Isabella decided that she would take over. She wanted to lead him to their bedroom.

Matthew stepped out of her way like a gentleman and allowed her to stand beside Luke. Mary immediately watched her cautiously and looked up at Luke. Luke still did not realise that she was standing there. It broke her heart to see how nervous and vulnerable he looked. He looked frightened and uneasy. She had never seen him look this way before, and all she wanted to do was support him.

"Luke," she said softly as she placed her hand on his forearm.

Recognition filled his face as he heard her voice. He knew immediately who she was and his face softened. This lasted only for a moment, though. He quickly frowned, tensed, and whipped his arm away from her.

"No," snapped Luke. "Do not help me."

His harsh tone felt like a dagger to the chest. Mary offered Isabella a sympathetic smile as she began to pull Luke away.

Matthew placed a brief, sympathetic hand on Isabella's shoulder as he began to show Mary where Luke's bedroom was. They proceeded to move away from her swiftly, leaving Isabella standing on the landing feeling hurt and confused. Why did he not want her to help him? And why was Mary allowed to help him and not her?

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Hope you liked it!!

Just realised that my 4 year Wattpad Anniversary has just passed! Can't believe I've been writing on here for that long! I remember I'd just gotten my first Smart Phone and I was flipping through the Android apps and I found this little orange app that said "Millions of stories" and I was like "Hey, I like to read". I had no idea the stories were written by people like me. I thought it was a free iBooks :P I then happened to Google the app and saw it was a proper website. I made an account, started uploading my own stuff, and the rest is history!

Some of you guessed blindness. I have been reading so many articles online about what it's like to go blind in preparation for this story. I'm also going to get to use my psych knowledge in future chapters ;) But I feel so guilty for always complaining about my eyesight after reading those articles. My eyesight is an inconvenience that requires glasses. There are poor people who can't see anything. I hope I'm going to be able to get that emotion across in this story.

Vote and comment!! Xxxxx