A/N: title is from 'Ask' by The Smiths.
(5 hours later)
'Ah, she's waking up…'
She hadn't seen the man beside her bed for a long time. His presence, and the harsh, stinging smell that hung in the air, could only mean one thing.
She'd fainted. Again.
When she was first recovering from her illness, she had fainted nearly every time she went outside, even if it was just short trips to the outhouse.
She'd gotten better. Still couldn't go outside without gasping for breath and having to run back indoors lest she collapse, but she was better.
I hope this isn't the beginning of a relapse.
'Mr. Jones,' Elsa greeted. 'How long was I out for?'
'About an hour or two. Miss Anna was very worried.'
Anna?
Oh, he must mean Miss Smith.
Anna.
That's a beautiful name.
A beautiful name for a beautiful woman...
'Did I- did Miss Smith find me, I take it?' Elsa asked.
'Yes. You fainted on your way back from the outhouse.'
Heat rose to her cheeks.
'It is nothing to be embarrassed about. Ladies faint all the time, it's practically in the job description! Now, how are you feeling?'
'Giddy,' she admitted.
'That is to be expected. You had quite a fall.' He paused. 'I see the hysteria is still plaguing you. Are you really sure-'
'I am. The conventional treatment is not for me, if you wouldn't mind.'
'It is a shame, but I respect your wishes.' He hesitated. 'Actually, I remember reading something in the newspaper just this morning about an alternate method. Utter balderdash, if you ask me, but I suppose there's no harm in trying. Let me just fetch the paper for you.'
She read the advertisement:
Flynn Rider's "Talking Cure"- No foul treatments, no distressing procedures, just a sympathetic ear. Discuss your worries and ailments in a non-judgemental environment, and watch as session by session they disappear, with the help of Mr. Rider's expert advice. Chawton, Alton GU34 1SD
'What do you think?' Mr. Jones asked.
'It's all the way over in Alton… if I can't even make it a few paces outside, however am I supposed to get there?'
Mr. Jones was silent for a moment.
'It does say "Talking Cure". That would be just as effective via letter as face to face, yes? I suggest you write to him for advice.'
'That is a very good idea, thank you.'
She paid him, and he left.
Elsa fell back onto the bed, exhausted by the brief encounter.
RAT-TAT-A-TAT-TAT
'Miss Winters?'
'You can come in,' she called.
Miss Smith entered the room, her uncertain expression morphing into a wide smile.
'Why, you look ever so much better! At first I feared you were dead, you had hardly a pulse. It gave me quite a fright.'
'I'm sorry for scaring you,' Elsa said. 'Do you want to sit down?'
Miss Smith perched on the end of Elsa's bed. 'I hadn't heard anything from you for a few hours, and I was getting worried, so I opened your door and you were gone! I then ran outside and found you quite still. I called for Mr. Oaken and Mr. Linden, and ran for my vinaigrette box. It made you stir, but you did not wake, and so Mr. Oaken called the physician.'
'Mr. Jones has a new treatment he wishes me to try.' She handed Miss Smith the newspaper.
'That sounds perfect!' she cried. 'You must go! Oh, but how would you get there? Perhaps he could visit you?'
'Perhaps. I must write to him straight away.'
Miss Smith looked at her with pleading eyes. 'A game of Lottery Tickets, first?'
(Three days later)
Dear Miss Winters,
I would be delighted to converse with you by the medium of letters. The main purpose of this "cure" is to talk, after all, and we do not need to meet to do that. You say you suffer from hysteria, and I am most sorry to hear that. Would you mind my asking as to how this came about?
Yours, Mr. Rider.
She didn't have to, but she decided to tell him everything.
A/N: ooh, looks like we have a new character! Elsa's going to start getting the help she needs.
CBT wasn't around until like the 1900s, but hey, this guy is just way ahead of his time, okay? It'll be more like conversations than actual CBT techniques, I think.
Hope you're enjoying so far! Please review, I'm happy to answer any questions you may have!