A rumble of thunder woke Salvael in the night. The rain was pummeling the windows. The fire in his hearth was dangerously low and he was getting chilled. He went to the door.
"Derward, get Finella from the servants' quarters, please," Lord Musgood told the guard.
"Yes, milord," Derward said and left his post.
As the lord waited, he relieved himself into the chamber pot, then warmed himself by what was left of the fire. A few minutes went by with no sign of Finella, or Derward. Salvael put on his trousers, threw on his jacket for warmth, and slipped on his fur slippers. He made his way downstairs when the door burst open as he neared the bottom. Derward and Branneth, both guardsmen, carried Finella's wet body inside. Her head was bloody.
"What happened? Why was she outside?" the lord asked frantically.
"Don't know. Found her in the stables on Bernelle's suggestion. She said Finella goes there often. It looks like one of the horses got spooked, kicked open its door, and she hit her head on the wall," Derward informed his lordship.
Branneth and Derward were making their way back towards the servants' quarters.
"No! Take her upstairs," Lord Musgood ordered. The two guardsmen looked at one another. "Now!"
"Yes, milord," Branneth said as they turned their direction towards the stairs.
Once upstairs, Salvael instructed them to put her into the room across from his. Then he turned to Branneth and shouted, "Fetch the maester!" Then he rounded on Derward and yelled, "Get me a bowl of warm water and a cloth!"
Both guards forewent formalities and left the room swiftly. Salvael ripped off a portion of his shirt at the hem. He folded it over and held it to the bloodiest part of Finella's head trying to alleviate the bleeding. Branneth was the first to return with the maester. Maester Josen took one glance at Finella and began to examine the woman.
Maester Josen appeared to be in his late forties with fading red hair with an equally fading red beard. He had a round belly and stood as tall as Lord Musgood. His thick hands were gentle on his subject.
"Skull isn't broken, which is good. I can't see much else with all this blood," Maester Josen said trying to use the impromptu bandage to wipe some of the blood away.
"Where is that boy with the water? Go find out what is taking Derward so long," Lord Musgood told Branneth.
"Yes, milord."
He didn't get far. Derward came into the room at that moment with a deep bowl of steaming water. Maester Josen pointed to the bedside table and Derward set it there. He pulled a cloth from his belt.
"Thank you, now everyone, out," Maester Josen said as he took the improvised bandage off of the wound.
"I'm not leaving her," Lord Musgood said moving to the other side of the bed. He took Finella's hand into his and knelt beside her. The concern in the lord's eyes was not that of a master to his servant, but one of ardor. The Maester gestured to the guardsmen to leave.
"My Lord," Maester Josen said after the guards had left. Salvael looked up at the maester hoping he had good news to tell him. Maester Josen only peered at Salvael with unease.
"Shut up and make her well again," Lord Musgood said firmly.
The Maester held his tongue for the moment as he dipped the cloth into the water and rung it out. As he wiped away the blood as he spoke.
"Salvael, this isn't right," he voiced. "She is a servant, barely in your charge, what, a week?" He rung out the cloth in the water again. "Did you already have relations with this woman? Is that the real reason you bought her?"
"No. Of course not!" Salvael snapped. "I would never take advantage of a woman like that. Have you known me to do otherwise?"
"No, and I'm relieved that hasn't changed," the maester said more calmly. He continued to wipe the blood from Finella's head until he could see her injury better. "It's just a deep cut. It's going to need stitching. Keep this cloth on her head while I get what I need."
Salvael pressed the cloth to the cut on Finella's head. His eyes never wavered from her as the maester left the room. He sat there with the din of the storm in the background, and the thoughts of her racing through his head. The moment the maester addressed Salvael's unconventional affection for Finella, Salvael realized he had fallen in love with her. Gently, he kissed the back of her hand.
"Please get better, Finella," he begged as he pressed the back of her hand against his cheek.
Maester Josen returned. He spread his accoutrements out on the bed beside her and began to stitch her head wound. Salvael remained on the other side of the bed, still holding Finella's hand. Maester Josen eyed Salvael.
"Salvael, you and I know this, whatever this is, cannot work," the maester tried to put to him gently. "You need to marry someone of nobility, not of nothingness."
"I had nobility. She died," he spat. "Why can't I, for once in my life, follow my heart?"
"Unfortunately, for you, you were not born with that privilege," the maester reminded the lord.
"There are no noble women interested in marrying an older man like me. People like me are ushering their children to marry into other noble families. I have no one to marry off. My three sons went off to war and were returned to me in boxes. For once, I want to be happy. If she makes me happy, so be it. Is that so difficult to understand?" Salvael seethed.
"No, My Lord," Maester Josen said. He finished stitching Finella and added a healing salve to the wound. "She'll need rest now, My Lord. You should get some rest as well."
Lord Musgood did not move.
"I'll come back in the morning to see how she is faring," Maester Josen informed him. He gathered up his supplies and went to leave. At the door he said, "Salvael, I highly advise against any relationship with this woman."
"I appreciate your consultation, Maester. I will give it some thought."
Maester Josen nodded and left the room.