Chapter 3

It had been a rough night for the residents of Lydia Moss' house, she had been sound asleep dreaming of days gone by when she had been jolted awake by a heavy thud. There were only two causes of a noise like that, either she had a burglar or more likely the patient had tried to get out of bed and had fallen. Getting up without caution she soon found the latter to be the case. In the dull lamp light she saw a dazed Richard Harrow trying to pull himself back onto the bed, his legs not quite willing to assist him. The moment Richard saw her he looked overcome with some terrible emotion and his hand went up to cover the injury on his face. To do this he had to sink back onto his knees again and he dropped his head with dismay. Lydia came up to him, kneeling down herself with some effort.

"Now then, it seems to me we need to get you back in bed." She said softly. "So let that be the last of me seeing your hand over your face."

Richard looked at the older woman, searching her face for the truth of her words. She offered a small smile as proof and he slowly pulled his hand from his face. The revelation of the damaged cheek, gaping mouth and hollow socket did not shock or appall Lydia, it's true in the dull light of the room it seemed perhaps more grotesque than it's reality but she would not be repelled by it. Lydia got to her feet steadily and taking the weight of Richard they worked together to pull him back onto the bed.

"I'm sorry. I felt nausea. I. Did not. Hmm. Want to make a mess."

"That's very considerate of you, but you gave me a scare my boy."

My boy. How long had it been since anyone referred to him that way? He had long been a man, long known the painful, brutal truth of the world. But the words endeared Lydia to him, he was certain she was merely masking her discomfort in his true form but he appreciated the mask on her part.

"Can I get you anything?" She asked, smoothing his hair off his face that stuck there with perspiration.

"No." He replied quietly. "You. Must get some sleep. I'm sorry. I won't. Hmm. Do this again."

"You're not in the school room now Richard." She said firmly. "I like pleases and thank you's but I'm not so fond of sorry's where they are not needed."

His urge was to apologise again but he did not. He watched as she made her way from the room, offering him a friendly good night and then he was left alone. The sickness in his stomach still churned, he longed to vomit and get it over with, but sadly it was only a side of affect of this wound on his head. Swinging his legs back onto the bed he rested back against the pillows, hands going to rest on his stomach and his eye tried to grow accustomed to the blackness around him. It was a lonely hour, he considered how others were spending it, likely in heavy sleep, labour or love.

The morning brought him his second attempt at getting to his feet; he managed a few steps but then staggered back towards the bed. This was no good; he longed to be on his feet and no longer imposing on the goodwill of Lydia. Richard heard voices in another room; he recognised them as both his nurses from the last few days. Nell did not come to check on him; instead he heard her leave and was able to hear Lydia talking to Elsa. He washed, dressed and replaced his mask then with grim determination he again tried his hand at walking steadily.

Groping at whatever was nearest he made his way to the bedroom door and opened it quietly.

"Now Elsa, do you think you could watch that stove? If you start to see smoke coming from it you tell me. It means I've forgotten to take the bread out."

"Yes Auntie Lydia." The child replied in a sweet tone.

"Good girl."

The interchange drifted down the small hall to Richard's ears and he couldn't help but smile. Stepping out of the room he held the wall for support and made a slow journey to the kitchen. As he neared the kitchen door which was ajar he peered round. Lydia was busy with something, her back to him, but on the floor playing with two well loved looking dolls was Elsa. Lydia sang a song quietly to herself and Elsa chatted in her own game as Richard continued to watch them. A few minutes passed before the little girl happened to look up towards the door and see him. A sudden nervousness rushed over Richard and he wanted to move away from the door but the child smiled at him and said.

"Hello."

Lydia turned around, amazed to see Richard up and about but not failing to notice how he relied on the wall for support. Coming over she took his arm and guided him to a chair.

"Now this is some progress, Richard."

Richard sunk into the wooden chair and the relief of being off his legs made him feel tired. Elsa turned fully to face him and took in his full appearance, her expression unchanged. It spoke of curiosity, but it was that innocent curiosity of the young that lacked judgement and presumption.

"Are you the sick man?" She asked a question that prompted a laugh from Lydia.

"Hmm. Yes." He answered. "I'm. Hmm. Getting better."

"Did they hit your legs as well?" Elsa continued to question.

"They hit his head Elsa." Lydia answered.

"Then why do his legs wobble?" She asked.

"It was. Hmm. A very hard blow." Richard replied. Elsa seemed to take this information in and muse over it for a moment. Climbing to her feet she came and stood in front of him, craning her neck to see the bandage.

"Is your name Mr Harrow?" She asked.

"Yes. Hmm."

"Mama said your friend is coming to see you. That's very nice isn't it?"

"Elsa, let Mr Harrow have a rest. This is the first time he's been walking about, go and play with your dolls." Lydia instructed, the girl looked at Richard a moment, she did not smile but she seemed satisfied and went back to playing. "I'm sorry about her Richard, she's a talker but as you can see she does as she's told."

"Do you. Hmm. Take care of her. Often?" Richard asked.

"Nell has just gone to get some meat. She can get there and back quicker without Elsa. So Elsa stays and helps me watch the bread don't you?"

"I sometimes help mama carry things home." Elsa explained, appearing worried that she was not helpful to her mother.

"Your legs need to grow a bit first." Lydia laughed, she returned to her chores and all was quiet in the kitchen for a while. Richard watched Elsa play contently with her toys but after little conversation the last few days he was in the mood to talk.

"What are. Your dolls names?" He asked, Elsa looked up, she seemed pleased that someone was interested in her game. Shuffling across the floor she held both dolls up. "This one is Eleanor, that's mama's name and the other is Bess."

"Did. Your mother. Hmm. Buy them for you?"

Elsa nodded, Richard examined her clothes and toys, Nell obviously worked very hard to provide for Elsa. Since he had not seen any wedding ring on her hand he had presumed she must be a widow which gave him great admiration for her and for Lydia too. The kindness and support the women showed one another was a quality he'd always admired, he'd seen it in his sister and in Angela. Yet he'd seen lot's of women without it too and seen the looks they gave others. He never generalised women, they were something he was still only learning about, but the one's he gave true credit to where those such as Angela, Lydia and Nell.

Elsa looked sideways and seeing Lydia was occupied she quietly shuffled nearer to Richard again, she stood up and tiptoed to his ear and said.

"Does your mask hurt?"

She pulled away, a look showing she was uncertain how he would react to the question. Richard thought for a moment how best to answer her.

"Sometimes." He said quietly.

Elsa raised her hand and with the lightest touch pressed her fingertips against the mask. Her eyes flicked from what she touched to the look in Richard's eyes. She was trying to work him out and her actions made him nervous, he did not wish to frighten her and he might on closer inspection. Elsa's other hand came up to his cheek and she touched there briefly then let both her hands drop loosely to her sides.

"Your mask is very cold but you're very warm." She whispered to him.

Richard smiled slightly at her, he was touched by this strange child. Before they spoke another word to one another Nell came into the kitchen and Elsa ran to the door to greet her mother.

"You were very quick my dear." Lydia said, wiping her hands. Nell's attention was on Richard sitting in the chair and her eyes seemed to smile at him.

"It is good to see you up Mr Harrow. How are you feeling this morning?"

"A little. Hmm. Better. Thank you." He replied, his own expression struggling to mask the effect her look had on him. They weren't in the dim light of the room he had been sleeping in now, instead they were in the kitchen, the sunlight illuminating everything.

Nell's complexion was fresh and rosy; the bright eyes which he now saw were a hazel colour struck him, there seemed no end to their pools of colour. She was quite beautiful, he also found himself admiring the russet shades in her dark hair which since that day on the beach had not had chance to shine like they did now. Nell moved over to Lydia and placed some of the meat where she was working.

"Mr Harrow, would you like to sit on the porch? A little bit of fresh air perhaps…" Nell suggested. Fresh air hadn't ever really seemed a great consideration before, but with an aching head and having been bed bound for two days he appreciated the idea.

"Yes. Please." He replied and he soon found her at his elbow offering assistance, but where he was happy to take it from Lydia, the idea of needing the assistance of a young woman was rather embarrassing. He moved in a way that evaded her touch and this did not go unnoticed by Nell. Richard felt so foolish but he could not help it. When the door opened and the unsullied air hit his face he felt a little lighter and Nell pointed to a chair. She watched him sit down and then was about to leave but she stopped and said.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to embarrass you. Of course… I understand you want to try and get around on your own… I didn't think…"

She said no more and she slipped into the house not wanting to embarrass him further. Her effort worked, Richard was no longer embarrassed, he was annoyed with himself. He barely knew these women and yet whenever Nell had come near him he started to feel himself drawn to her. Logic put this slight attraction down to the fact she was kind to him, but then he was not attracted to everyone that was kind to him. This particular woman happened to be young, pretty and seemingly unblemished, a far contrast from himself. That was it, he saw in her the promise he'd once had before the war and to observe that in someone else was an attractive thing, if not a little painful. With his mind at rest over this he closed his eye and contented himself with breathing the crisp air in and out.

It was only when a hand touched his shoulder again did he rouse and realise he had fallen asleep. He looked at the hand and followed the path up the arm to the face of Nell. Her face looked slightly nervous and she held out a glass of water to him.

"I thought you might like this."

Richard took it, his fingers lightly touching hers this time. Once he had taken the glass from her she moved a couple of steps from him.

"How long. Hmm. Have I. Been out here?" He asked.

"About twenty minutes. We've been getting the bread out of the oven, but Nell piped up and said that her friend might like a glass of water. You've got a good ally there Mr Harrow, my girl doesn't forget a thing." Nell replied, her tone soft and more relaxed.

They glanced at one another a moment, Nell wanting to think of something to say but she couldn't and Richard wracked his brains to. But the moment passed and before it became awkward Nell began to return to the house.

"Thank you." Richard said and this made her stop. "And thank. Hmm. My ally."

This remark earned him a smile, the largest and most illuminating he had received from her, it lit up her entire face and her eyes appeared more brilliant because of it. This time when Nell passed into the house Richard was pleased, it had been on good terms, he was strangely impressed with himself.