Page 14 of A Touch of Charm
“It’s superficial, and you were lucky they didn’t slice any nerves. I’ll clean the wound, but you’ll need some stitches to keep it closed.” With these words, Andre got to work and first rinsed the wound until there was only the red tear visible in Stan’s skin. He left for a few moments and returned with a tray of small glass bottles and a scalpel, and he took the needles and thread from Nick’s supplies, since he often performed cataract surgeries and had everything at hand.
Andre watched Thea closely, noting the way she seemed to struggle to maintain her composure. He moved with practiced care, soaking a pristine white cloth in the familiar medicinal dilution he’d poured into a metal bowl.
“This is witch hazel; it may sting a bit, but it helps prevent infection.” He observed her response, tilting his head slightly, keenly aware of the delicate balance between causing her discomfort and aiding her brother’s recovery.
“What does this mean?”
“It’s because of the unclean weapon… infections often happen that way.” André took a metal probe and gently lifted the sliced skin flap. “It wasn’t sharp either. A sharp blade makes a clean cut. This is not one,” Andre explained as he picked up the long tweezers and got to work. “I’ll have to make it a clean cut, remove some of the tissue, and then suture it—”
“Do it,” Stan commanded through clenched teeth, squeezing his eyes shut.
Andre removed the jagged piece of skin with a swift, practiced motion. Stan gasped, his knuckles white as he gripped the armrests. The pain was evident, but he bore it stoically. It took less than ten minutes for Andre to finish the sutures and place a clean bandage on Stan’s shoulder.
“It’s done,” Andre said, releasing a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. “You must rest now, Your Royal Highness. Carrying heavy crates is out of the question.”
“Don’t call her that, you hear?” Stan nodded in Thea’s direction.
“Why not? She’s—” Andre asked.
“Because the same men who sent the highwaymen might cause her trouble here, too. We’re in danger until I fix this problem with List. Until I do, nobody must know who she is.” He shifted and sat up, facing Thea. “You have to come with me to the Langleys’ and stay inside where it’s safe. The Earl of Langley and his countess are close friends. They will shield you from List.”
Thea grimaced. “I’m not going to be locked in!”
Stan hissed. “It’s not you I’m locking in; I just want you to stay safe until this is resolved.”
“Will it be resolved by tonight?” she pressed on.
“No! Do you know how dangerous these people are? If their accent was Prussian, List sent them—”
“It was,” Andre mumbled. “I knew it as soon as I heard them.”
Stan deflated. “Has there been any doubt? They were List’s men. But I don’t know how many there are, which means you’re not safe here. They could be lurking anywhere!” Stan’s words sounded earnest, but Thea seemed unimpressed.
“I can’t remember ever not being a target—” she protested. “I’ll take Mary to the Whites’ townhouse and—”
“No, you can’t be in a house full of servants we don’t know. Any stranger could be a threat!”
“But Mary is sleeping upstairs. She needs me.”
“Then take her with you and just let her parents know she’s safe with us. Thea, London is big, and there are so many people; I won’t let you out of the house without protection.”
“So you’ll go with me every time I leave the castle—ahem, house?”
“No, that’s my point. You don’t leave because I have work and can’t take my little sister with me. I can’t be your guard.”
Thea crossed her arms. “I’m not little and I don’t want a guard who locks me in rather than keeps me safe like the ones back at Bran Castle.”
Andre pressed his lips into a line. She was most undoubtedly delicate and slim—but not little. He hadn’t seen a woman with such perfect curves and—he’d never seen one, truly.
Thea’s hand rested on her brother’s good shoulder, and her alarm was unspoken but clear in her eyes. “Stan, nu ma po?i proteja mereu de lume.” You can’t always protect me from the world.
Andre sighed heavily. He understood Stan’s perspective as the older brother. All those years ago, Andre’s first impulse was to rush downstairs and fight to protect his family. If Mother had let him, he would have laid down his life to keep his sister safe.
“Then he stays with you at all times,” Stan yelled out and pointed at Andre with his good arm.
“What?” Andre blinked rapidly, mouth agape as if trying to process the absurdity of what he’d just heard.
She tilted her head to one side, squinting as if trying to see something far away, her lips twisting into a half-smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Agreed!”
