or so.” Frances turned back and her eyes widened when she saw that Nicola was awake. She held her hand. “Dearest.”
“Fran.”
“How are you feeling?”
“I don’t know. I feel nothing for the moment.” She frowned, wondering why. “Earlier it hurt, my side.”
“Yes, dearest, it will for a while. The doctor is happy with your progress though and says that he’ll reduce the amount of laudanum, if you can handle the discomfort.”
“Laudanum.”
“Yes, for the pain.” Frances fiddled with straightening the sheet and blanket. “If you have less of the drug you’ll be clearer in your mind, but the pain might be too much for you.”
“I understand.” She moved her head a little, taking in the stark white room. “Where is Nathaniel?”
“Home. I left him shaving.” Fran smiled, patting Nicola’s hand. “He hasn’t slept for two days and last night I begged him to sleep, wash and change his clothes.”
“Two days?”
“Yes.” Frances brushed Nicola’s hair back from her forehead. “You were attacked on Thursday morning and today is Saturday.”
Nicola swallowed with difficulty, her throat dry. Images, no more than flashes, played in her mind of the attack. Lombard’s face, the rotten teeth of the man with him and then pain. “How did I get here?”
“A woman found you and she called to a passing dray. The driver brought you here.”
She nodded, though remembered none of it. “Can I have some water, please?”
“Of course.” Frances dashed to the narrow table under the small window. She fussed with the water jug and cup. “The water isn’t very cold, nearly warm in fact.”
“It’ll be fine.” With Frances’s help she sipped the water, savouring the moisture in her mouth. Twinges in her side made her wince, but drinking the water was worth the effort.
“Nicola.” Frances took the cup away and shifted on her chair. “Dearest, do you know who did this to you? Do you recollect anything?”
“Yes, some.” She was remembering more and more, Lombard’s threats, the alley. She’d been reading Meg’s letter on the way to the printer. “Is Nathaniel coming here today?”
“Absolutely.” Frances rolled her eyes. “He’s been unbearable. It’s the worry, I know that, but my patience was coming to an end with him. He wouldn’t leave you, he shouted at everyone, including the poor constables that came. I was embarrassed and furious with him yesterday.”
“I’m sorry for causing all this trouble.”
“Nonsense. It’s hardly your fault, is it? Nat will be so happy to see you awake properly. Likely now he’ll behave as he should.”
Nicola’s eyelids grew heavy. “Tell the doctor I don’t want any more laudanum.”
“I will. You rest and then we’ll talk again.” Fran bent over and kissed her cheek. “I’ll still be here when you wake up.”
When she next awoke, she found the room dull with a greyish light. The only sound was the clicking of Frances’s needles as she sat knitting on the chair by the bed. When relaxed, her sister-in-law was a handsome woman, especially now she’d grown her hair longer and wore elegant clothes more often than not. A splatter of rain hit the window and in the distance came the rumble of thunder. “What time is it, Fran?”
“Oh! You gave me a fright.” Frances put her knitting away and leaned forward. “How did you sleep?”
“Well.”
“I think you slept for about an hour. It’s nearly midday. There’s a huge thunderstorm happening outside. Miss McIntyre called in to see you. Everyone at the Home sends their very best.”
“That’s nice. Is Nathaniel here?”
“No. He was, but he went again.” Fran smoothed the blanket down. “He’s gone back to the police station. Cannot sit still for a second, never could.” She grinned. “Do you want some more water?”
“Please.” She hated feeling so helpless. She wasn’t one for being sick. The legacy of caring for her mother for years made her unwilling to place that duty on another. The drink refreshed her, though the pain returned, stronger than before.
“How are you feeling?”
“Sore.” She looked to the doorway, wishing Nathaniel would come through it. She missed him, wanted his arms about her, to see his smile.
“The police inspector will come this afternoon, Nicola. I told the doctor you had woken and talked to me earlier.”
She thought of Lombard, his threat and the man who drew his knife. “What do the police know?”
“Nothing. That’s why they are keen to talk to you.”
For a moment she wished it was all over and done with, then her courage returned. She wasn’t a coward and would deal with this mess, but how she prayed it’d never happened.