Lamentation

‘Jack will probably die tonight,’ Guy said quietly. ‘What do you think Tamasin would say if she were denied the chance to be with him at the end?’

‘Then let me be the one to tell her.’

‘The boy will be quicker. I would rather have you here. And I may need your help if Francis is called away to other patients.’ He turned to Nicholas. ‘Tell Mistress Barak only that there has been an accident. Say I am in attendance.’

He nodded sombrely. ‘I will.’

‘Hurry now. Use my horse, it is outside. And tell Francis to come in and assist me.’

Nicholas looked at me. I nodded, and he hurried from the room. When he was gone Guy said quietly, ‘Can you face her?’

‘I must.’

He bent and opened his bag. Barak lay unmoving.

It was near an hour before Nicholas returned with Tamasin. Guy had been working to clean Barak’s wounds the whole time, moving deftly and quietly. I sat in the chair next to the bed, so exhausted that, despite the appalling circumstances, I had dozed off, waking with a start when I almost tumbled from the chair. By the light of a lamp which Sybrant held up I saw Guy re-bandaging Barak’s wrist, a concentrated expression on his dark face, suppressing God knew what emotions. He paused to glance across at me. ‘You slept near half an hour.’

I looked at Barak. His breathing was ragged, irregular. Guy said, ‘I tried to make him drink something, poured some apple juice into his mouth. It made him gag, and waken for just a second.’

‘Is that a hopeful sign?’

‘He did not swallow. I have to get some nourishment into him, so his body can make more blood to replace all he has lost.’

Then I heard footsteps outside. Nicholas’s fast, heavy tread, lighter steps behind. The door opened; Nicholas held it as Tamasin came in, her eyes wide, breathing hard and fast. When she saw the state of her husband I thought she might scream or faint but she only looked at Guy. ‘Is he dead?’ she asked in a trembling voice.

‘No, Tamasin, but he is very badly hurt.’

I stood up and indicated the chair. ‘Tamasin, please sit down.’

She did so, but without looking at me, brushing aside some strands of blonde hair which had escaped from her coif. She held her stomach with her free hand, as though to protect the baby within from the sight on the bed. She spoke to Guy again. ‘Nicholas said Jack was badly injured. He would not say why, but I pressed him and he said there was a sword fight. He said Jack had lost a hand. Dear God, I see now that it is true.’ Her voice still trembled but she made a fist of her hand, willing herself not to break down.

Nicholas said, ‘She insisted I tell her, Dr Malton — ’

Guy nodded. ‘Yes, there was a fight.’

Tamasin turned her face to me, full of fury. ‘Why? Why was there? Why did you get Jack to lie to me about where he was tonight?’

I said, ‘I needed help. He gave it, as he always did.’

She shook her head angrily. ‘I thought he was past all that now, I’ve suspected there was something going on for weeks but I told myself he would never endanger himself again, nor you lead him into trouble.’ She cried, ‘Well, it is for the last time. He cannot do your dirty work any more now, can he? Even if he lives? And if he does, he will not work for you again, not ever. I shall see to that!’

‘Tamasin, I am sorry, more than I can say. You are right. It was my fault. But if — when he recovers — he can come back to work for me, in the office — ’

Tamasin answered savagely, ‘How? What can he do? When he will no longer even be able to write?’

‘I will arrange something — I will make sure you do not lose — where money is concerned — I will take care of you — ’

She stood up, fists bunched at her side. ‘I see how you have taken care of my husband! You will leave us alone, never come near us again!’ Nicholas reached out a hand to steady her, but she slapped it aside. ‘Get off me, you!’ She turned back to me. ‘Now, get out! Get out!’ She put her face in her hands and sat down, sobbing.

Guy said, ‘You should go, Matthew. And you, boy. Please, go.’

I hesitated, then walked to the door. Nicholas joined me. Just as we reached it we heard a sound like a groan from the bed. Whether from all the commotion or from hearing his wife’s voice, Barak appeared to be waking. I glanced back at Tamasin; she reached out to her husband. I took a step back into the room but she cast me such a look that without further ado I let Nicholas lead me out.

He took me home, carrying a lamp the porter gave him. He could see I was nearly spent. He had the sense not to speak, only to take my arm when I stumbled a couple of times. I asked him once, ‘Do you think, now he is awake, Jack may live?’

‘Yes, I’m sure.’ He spoke with a confidence which, I could tell from his voice, he did not feel.