‘I imagine Edward is a great support to you,’ said Mina, trying to sound encouraging. ‘He is so very sensible, and reliable,’ she added, naming the two qualities in which her younger brother Richard was notably deficient.
Louisa gave a scoff that was very nearly a snarl. ‘Edward has his head in the clouds all the time, he does not see how I suffer. All his thoughts are for the business and Miss Hooper — Agatha as I suppose I must call her, but I cannot like the girl. She and her pretty books of pressed flowers. He praises her all the time, but I have seen her flowers and do not think all of them are as pretty as he likes to make out. Some of them are very strange indeed. I would not dare show them to you, the very sight of them would make you quite ill. Oh, I know she comes from a prominent family and will bring money to the match, but I sometimes think she has bewitched my boy who can see nothing but good in her, and he often forgets he has family of his own. I believe that if she so much as pricked her little finger he would fly to her side at once, while I am left alone to manage as best I can.’
‘Is there to be a family gathering to celebrate the betrothal?’ asked Mina.
Louisa’s look of resignation revealed that the prospect did not please her. ‘I believe so, but I am too upset to even think of it. Edward says he will delay it until you are well, and Enid is recovered from her confinement, whenever that may be. She cannot tell me the date; she seems very vague on that point, but I dare not press her because when I ask about it, she flies into a temper. And Edward does hardly anything to help me with her. Sometimes he just stands there with a ridiculous expression on his face and says nothing at all, and what good is that to anyone?’
‘Poor Mother,’ said Mina. ‘I will try to get well as soon as I can.’ She reached out to pat her mother’s hand but thought better of it.
Louisa found a dry scrap of lace and carefully blotted her eyes. ‘At least Richard is settled in his career at last. I always knew he would be a success. It was so thoughtful of him to ask to be spared from his London work so he could come here and be a comfort to me. But I have told him that once Enid is well and I am back in Brighton for good he must come and live here all the time to be near me, and he has promised me that he will. It will be no trouble at all for him to travel to the London office when he is needed. What else are trains for, after all? What a good son he is!’
Mina’s heart sank. Richard was the only one of her siblings who in her mother’s estimation could do no wrong. Louisa had always been confident of a bright future for him, and at present these thoughts were the only ones that could gave her any pleasure. Once again, a heavy responsibility had fallen upon Mina’s fragile shoulders. During the current family upheaval, she was obliged not only to protect her mother from the dismal truth about her favourite son, but also to take steps to mend the situation.
Once her mother had left she requested her writing materials and composed a letter to her older brother.
Dear Edward,
I understand that you have been told of my indisposition. You will be pleased to know that I am improving, and Dr Hamid considers me to be out of danger, but I am still confined to bed, and may be for some time.
I have only recently been permitted to read your last letter. Richard, as you correctly surmised is now here, as is Mother. The situation is quite possibly beyond my strength to manage, but I must attempt it all the same. Dr Hamid has arranged for a nurse to tend to me and for that I am grateful.
I cannot think of any message to send to Enid which would not upset her further, but I do think of her constantly and hope that she can find some peace and comfort. I leave it to your judgement of her capacity to appreciate sympathy as to whether or not to pass my words to her.
I send my good wishes to you and Miss Hooper and look forward to knowing her better. I am eagerly anticipating being able to view her collection of pressed flowers,
Affectionately
Mina
Mina’s appetite, which was always moderate at best, was finally returning, if her largely favourable reaction to the scent of cooking dinner was anything to judge by. This was just as well, since the aroma could not be prevented from floating upstairs and became apparent in her room every time the door was opened. She assumed it to be some kind of boiled joint with vegetables which would be reinvented as hash for the following day’s luncheon. Rose eventually arrived with a bowl of meat broth in which a slice of bread was floating. Mysterious things lurked beneath like creatures in a pond. ‘Cook says there’s arrowroot pudding if you want it,’ said Rose.
Mina prodded the bread with her spoon. Dark slivers of onion rose to the surface of the liquid and sank again. ‘I’ll let you know,’ she said.
In the event, she managed most of both the broth and the bread and set the dish aside.
Rose had removed the bowl and Miss Cherry was in her accustomed place when Richard arrived. He had the contented smile of the recently fed and the cheerful step of a man who did not yet know the fate that Mina had in store for him.
He sat on the bed beside Mina, and Miss Cherry gave a soft cough. ‘If you please, Mr Scarletti,’ she said gently, ‘do not sit on the patient’s bed.’
He jumped up. ‘Oh dear, I am so sorry, I didn’t know it was a rule! That is very bad of me, and I promise not to do it again.’ He drew a chair to the bedside, and once seated, fastened all his attention on Mina. ‘How are you, my girl? I hope you managed to eat some dinner.’
‘I did. It was — adequate.’
‘Mother protested that she was unable to eat at all.’
‘Did she eat?’
‘Heartily. And two glasses of wine, which she claimed were for medicinal purposes. But I have come with some news. I was at the benefit performance of Mr Merridew’s Hamlet this afternoon and very splendid it is, too. I especially liked the musical interlude and Polonius’ comic dance. But I took the opportunity of speaking to him afterwards to let him know that you are unwell. You should have seen his face; it was like the two masks — you know — the ones you see in the theatre all the time, one moment distraught to know of your illness —’ Richard made a comically mournful face — ‘and then all smiles —’ he reversed his downturned mouth into a joyous beam — ‘to learn that you are mending. He has another performance tonight, it is the very last one, and he promises to call on you tomorrow. Oh — I hope that isn’t against the rules!’ Richard turned to Miss Cherry. ‘Visitors are permitted, are they not?’
The nurse’s watchful expression had softened considerably, and she smiled. ‘I am sure that a special allowance can be made for Mr Merridew as long as he does not make noise.’
‘He will certainly cheer me up,’ said Mina, and now she thought about it there might be a way in which her actor friend could assist her in the case of the missing Mr Holt. ‘The other thing that cheers me is that Dr Hamid has permitted me to receive my correspondence at last,’ she added.
‘Oh. That is good,’ said Richard. ‘I know how you like letters. Have you heard from Nellie? Is she well? How is Italy?’
‘I have received a letter from her, and she is enjoying the fine weather and the company there.’
Richard was thoughtful. ‘Are there mountains in Italy? I have feeling there might be.’