Page 55 of The Saxon Lord's Unwanted Bride
She bent over Harald’s body, stifling her own cry.
Harald’s right leg was not only twisted, but a shard of bone protruded from the flesh. Thick blood pulsated around it, trickling down the sides.
“We must remove the leg at once,” Edwin instructed. “I’ll need a knife with a ragged edge…”
“No!” Eloise cried. “Let me inspect the injury first. Jeanette, clean the wound.”
The old woman nodded and dabbed the flesh surrounding the wound, ignoring Harald’s cries. With a delicate touch Eloise pressed her fingertips against the flesh, inspecting the bone closely.
“The larger bone is sound,” she said. “It’s the smaller one which is broken.”
“Can anything be done?” Collin asked.
“Yes,” she replied. “With careful manipulation, and a splint to hold the leg firm, there’s a chance we can save the leg. But we must be quick, or he could die. I think…”
A shrill voice interrupted her.
“Where is he? My love!”
Roswyn pushed past the young man in the doorway, who was now retching. On seeing Harald’s leg she shrieked.
“My God! He’s going to die!”
Ignoring her, Eloise turned to Edwin. “I can heal him. Stand aside.”
“The leg must be removed!” Roswyn cried. “Look at it—he’ll die if you don’t!”
“Remove that woman from my presence,” Eloise said, firmly. “Mistress Roswyn, go to your husband and letmetend to mine.”
Cursing, Roswyn raised a hand to strike Eloise but Edwin caught her wrist. He pushed her toward the door and she fell back, spitting venom.
“He wants her not,” she spat. “He wantsme.”
“Rest assured, wench, if my brother wishes it I’ll send for you,” Edwin said. “But while he’s incapacitatedIshall decide who is wanted here—and you are not wanted.”
“We’ll see who he wants when he wakes,” she replied, “ifhe wakes.”
Edwin shut the door and turned on Eloise.
“I have rid you of Roswyn, but I fear she’s right—Harald’s leg must be removed.”
Eloise shook her head. “If we can align the bones, there’s a good chance they’ll heal.” She waved the servants over to explain, demonstrating with her hands how the bones needed to lie against each other. It was a risky maneuver, and might be in vain for he was likely to lose the leg anyway. But he deserved the chance, however small.
“What you propose is too dangerous,” Edwin said. “I’ve treated similar injuries and know what to do. Eloise, you may think you’re helping but this is a man’s province. You’re only a woman and small in stature. This is no place for one such as you.”
“One such as I?” Though he towered over her, she met his gaze unflinchingly. “Do you think Harald will be able to withstand such a life if he were to lose his leg? He’s a warrior—a man with Saxon and Viking blood in his veins. You think he could bear the dishonor of living in infirmity?”
Edwin shook his head.
“How can you understand my brother so well, when I’ve known him all my life—known what he has suffered?”
“I know what he suffers, Edwin,” she replied. “I hear it in his dreams, and see it in the marks on his back. To you, I’m a mere woman—a fragile creature fit for nothing more than administering a few poultices. But I understand honor in battle, even though my battle is a different one to my husband’s.”
Before Edwin could reply, she lifted her hand.
“I’ve no time to waste arguing with you. My husband’s life is at stake and I will not be gainsaid on this.”
The men in the room watched in silence as Edwin took her hand and held it to his lips.
