Page 100 of Tendu: Dancing in the Castle

“Ee, aye, the daddio, the farmer wants a wife! All together now!”

Thankfully no one took him up on the offer, and the song faded away as Holly approached with the doctor.

“You look like a different girl today, Amalphia,” he said. “Let’s check those feet, shall we?”

Aleks joined us as we walked up the stairs towards the doctor’s room, but there was no chance to speak with him as Dr. Duthie was eager to know all about The Green Womyn.

“The black bottom pie is amazing,” I told him. “And the place is cosy: big log fire, comfy sofas...”

“I think I’ll take my wife there tonight,” said the doctor. “I’ve been a neglectful husband of late.”

Outside the medical room, he reminded me that I had the right to a private consultation.

“No, that’s okay.” I smiled at Aleks but didn’t get much warmth in return, so just sat up on the high bed and undid my boots.

“How are they feeling?” the doctor asked of my feet.

“Better, though still really sore.”

“I was surprised you were well enough to go out. That was a very high temperature you had yesterday. However, the outing has obviously been good for your mental state, something else I was concerned about.”

As the doctor continued to quiz me, the choice to let Aleks stay seemed less wise.

“No, I’m not depressed,” I said in answer to a question. “At least, I don’t think so. I’m in pain. I feel frustrated and annoyed quite often.”

“Do you feel like you’re being bullied?”

I thought of Michelle and Colin. “Yes.”

He wrote something down. Red spots showed through my dressings. He removed them and spoke in unison with Aleks.

One said, “Oh, that’s excellent.” The other exclaimed in Ukrainian.

“They’re much better than they were. See this here…” The doctor pointed to a red line stretching upwards from the large scabby section on my toes and lower foot. “This was what concerned me most, infection spreading fast. However, the antibiotics are working, so keep taking them. And no classes until you feel you’re ready.”

“You could do my morning class,” said Aleks, tone gentle. “It is remedial and adjustable, any pain and you stop.” Back in the corridor, he continued. “Malphia, I am truly sorry. I did not know you were so hurt.”

“You did know.”

We started to walk back down the stairs, me in socks, not wanting to put boots back over stinging feet.

“I thought you were just…”

“What?” I looked at him. “You believed Michelle. That I was sulking.” I was horrified into an ironically sulky silence.

“A little attention-seeking is no bad thing,” he said. “The diva is surely part of a dancer’s make-up?” He smiled and did a shoulder-wiggling dancey move as he spoke, which only made what he was saying all the more offensive. How dare he look all sweet and sexy while being so annoying?

“Attention-seeking? You sound like her. What’s the point of telling you anything? I’m going to watch the football.”

“So. You just run back to your friends.” The tenor of his voice was no longer so gentle.

I whirled round. “And why shouldn’t I? Where would I be without them? Lying up there, dead of septicaemia!”

“You are being the actress now, so dramatic.”

Fury grew, the space around me turning brilliantly red.

He changed tack. “And the farmer. He is your friend now too?”

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