Beneath the Major's Scars. Sarah Mallory
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up his own house here, Graddon and I was only too pleased to come with him. But he don’t go into company, nor does he invite anyone here, and I can understand that. I’ve seen ‘em—when people meets the master, they look everywhere but at his face and that do hurt him, you see. But Master Nick, well, he treats the major no different from the rest.’
Zelah was silent. In her mind she was running over her meeting with Major Coale. Had she avoided looking at his terrible scarred face? She thought not, but when she had first seen him she believed he was attacking Nicky and she had been in no mood for polite evasions.
The housekeeper went off and Zelah settled down to keep watch upon her patient.
* * *
As the hours passed the house grew silent. She had a sudden yearning for company and was tempted to go down to the kitchen in the hope of meeting the housekeeper, or even a kitchen maid. She would do no such thing, of course, and was just wondering how she could occupy herself when there was a knock at the door. It was Mrs Graddon.
‘The major asked me to bring you these, since you likes reading.’ She held out a basket full of books. ‘He says to apologise, but they’s all he has at the moment, most of his books being still in the crates they arrived in, but he hopes you’ll find something here to suit.’
‘Thank you.’ Zelah took the basket and retreated to her chair by the fire, picking up the books one by one from the basket. Richardson, Smollett, Defoe, even Mrs Radcliffe. She smiled. If she could not amuse herself with these, then she did not deserve to be pleased. She was comforted by the major’s thoughtfulness. Feeling much less lonely, she settled down, surrounded by books.
It was after midnight when Nicky began to grow restless. Zelah was stretched out on the bed prepared for her when she heard him mutter. Immediately she was at his side, feeling his brow, trying to squeeze a little water through his parched lips. He batted aside her hand and turned his head away, muttering angrily. Zelah checked the bandages. They were still in place, but if he continued to toss and turn he might well open the wound and set it bleeding again.
She wished she had not refused Mrs Graddon’s offer to have a truckle bed made up in the room for a maid, but rather than wring her hands in an agony of regret she picked up her bedroom candle and set off to find some help.
Zelah had not ventured from the yellow bedroom since she had followed Nicky there earlier in the day. She retraced her steps back to the great hall, too anxious about her nephew to feel menaced by the flickering shadows that danced around her. There was a thin strip of light showing beneath one of the doors off the hall and she did not hesitate. She crossed to the door and knocked softly before entering.
She was in Major Coale’s study, and the man himself was sitting before the dying fire, reading by the light of a branched candelabra on the table beside him.
‘I beg your pardon, I need to find Mrs Graddon. It’s Nicky …’
He had put down his book and was out of the chair even as she spoke. He was not wearing his coat and the billowing shirt-sleeves made him look even bigger than she remembered.
‘What is wrong with him?’
‘He is feverish and I c-cannot hold him …’
‘Let me see.’ He added, observing her hesitation, ‘I have some knowledge of these matters.’
Zelah nodded, impatient to return to Nicky. They hurried upstairs, the major’s dragging leg causing his shoe to scuff at each step. It was no louder than a whisper, but it echoed through the darkness. Nicky’s fretful crying could be heard even as they entered the anteroom. Zelah flew to his side.
‘Hush now, Nicky. Keep still, love, or you will hurt your leg again.’
‘It hurts now! I want Mama!’
The major put a gentle hand on his forehead.
‘She is looking after your little brother, sir. You have your aunt and me to take care of you.’ He inspected the bottles ranged on the side table and quickly mixed a few drops of laudanum into a glass of water.
The calm, male voice had its effect. Nicky blinked and fixed his eyes on Zelah, who smiled at him.
‘You are a guest in the major’s house, Nicky.’
‘Oh.’ The little fingers curled around her hand. ‘And are you staying here too, Aunt Zelah?’
‘She is,’ said the major, ‘for as long as you need her. Now, sir, let me help you sit up a little and you must take your medicine.’
‘No, no, it hurts when I move.’
‘We will lift you very carefully,’ Zelah assured him.
‘I don’t want to …’
‘Come, sir, it is only a little drink and it will take the pain away.’
The major slipped an arm about the boy’s shoulders and held the glass to his lips. Nicky took a little sip and shuddered.
‘It is best taken in one go,’ the major advised him.
The little boy’s mouth twisted in distaste.
‘Did you take this when you were wounded?’
‘Gallons of it,’ said the major cheerfully. ‘Now, one, two, three.’ He ruthlessly tipped the mixture down the boy’s throat. Nicky swallowed, shuddered and his lip trembled. ‘There, it is done and you were very brave. Miss Pentewan will turn your pillows and you will soon feel much more comfortable.’
‘Will you stay, ‘til I go to sleep again?’
‘You have your aunt here.’
‘Please.’
Zelah responded with a nod to the major’s quick glance of enquiry.
‘Very well.’ He sat down at the side of the bed and took the little hand that reached out for him.
‘Would you like me to tell you a story?’ asked Zelah, but Nicky ignored her. He fixed his eyes upon the major.
‘Will you tell me how you got your scar?’
Zelah stopped breathing. She glanced at the major. He did not look to be offended.
‘I have told you that a dozen times. You cannot want to hear it again.’
‘Yes, I do, if you please, sir. All of it.’
‘Very well.’
He pulled his chair closer to the bed and Zelah drew back into the shadows.
‘New Year’s Day ‘09 and we were struggling through the mountains back towards Corunna, with the French hot on our heels. The weather was appalling. During the day the roads were rivers of mud and by night they were frozen solid. When we reached Cacabelos—’
‘You missed something,’ Nicky interrupted him. ‘The man with the pigtail.’
‘Ah, yes.’ Major Coale’s eyes softened in amusement. In the shadows Zelah smiled. She had read Nicky enough stories to know he expected the same tale, word for word, each time. The major continued. ‘One Highlander woke to find he couldn’t get up because his powdered pigtail was frozen to the ground. A couple of days later we reached the village of Cacabelos and the little stone bridge over the River Cua. Unfortunately discipline had become a problem during that long retreat to Corunna and General Edward Paget was obliged to make an example of those guilty of robbery. He was about to execute two of the men when he heard that the French were upon us. The general was extremely vexed at this, and after cursing roundly he turned to his men. “If I spare the lives of these men,” he said, “do I have your word of honour as soldiers that you will reform?” The men shouted “Yes!” and the convicted men were cut down.’
‘Huzza!’ Nicky gave a sleepy cheer.
Major Coale continued, his voice soft and low.
‘And