"As to diseases, make a habit of two things — to help, or at least, to do no harm." Hippocrates

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Chapter Twenty – Two

"Do you have a strong stomach, ma'am?" asked Mr Kelly.

Faith nodded, not moving her hands from Cassian's chest wound. Her hands and her cuffs were now red with blood as well. It was warm and wet, and utterly vile, but she could handle anything so long as this stupid, brave man survived.

"I need to stop this bleeding long enough to get him to a surgeon. I will need your help." Mr Kelly spoke in a low, calm voice. It was almost startling.

"What do you need me to do?" she asked desperately.

"The swords," he motioned to the set of fencing swords that had been brought down as possible duelling weapons. "Fetch me one, now."

"But I cannot move my hands!" protested Faith. If she moved her hands, blood would flow more freely.

"Now!" urged Mr Kelly forcefully.

Faith regretfully abandoned Cassian's side and raced over to where the servants had assembled the refreshments. The fencing swords were lying in a similarly ornate box.

"Aunt Anne, can I help?" asked Olivia softly. Olivia was nervously standing beside a tray of untouched pastries. Her face was ashen. She was in shock.

But Faith had no time for sympathy, no matter how she would have liked to have comforted the girl. "Stay away from it, Olivia. Stay out of the way." Faith seized one of the swords and ran back over to where Mr Kelly was waiting with Cassian.

When she fell back down onto her knees, she saw that the duelling pistol was now in pieces, and Mr Kelly was holding the flint lock in his hands along with another metallic piece of the weapon. He had created a small pile of cloth from Cassian's clothing, and was attempting to use the flint lock to create a spark.

"As soon as I have a flame, you put the sword into it, do you understand?"

Faith had heard of the technique, but she had never known it being practiced except for in the militia. Mr Kelly was going to burn Cassian's flesh to seal his wound.

Faith tore her eyes from the blood that was still pumping out of Cassian's chest and focussed on watching for a flame. Mr Kelly was working tirelessly, panicking and panting as he continuously struck the flint against the metal to gain a spark.

"Please, please, please," Faith prayed.

After several agonising moments, Mr Kelly cried out as a spark ignited the cloth. Faith did exactly as she was told, and plunged the sword into the flame. She knew the flame would not burn for long as it quickly devoured the cloth. Mr Kelly seemed to have this thought as well as he quickly untied his cravat and added it to the pile.

The tip of the sword soon turned yellow, as if it were molten lava.

"Press it onto his wound," encouraged Mr Kelly. "You burn him until you no longer see any blood flow."

Faith was shaking as she brought the sword towards Cassian's chest. But she did not hesitate. She had a way to save him and she would do it. Faith pressed the molten blade into Cassian's chest, and the sickening crackle and singeing smell was enough to turn one's stomach.

Cassian screamed in agony. Faith had never before heard such a noise, but she did not care, nor did she stop. So long as he kept making noise, he was alive.

The scent of burning flesh permeated the air, and Faith continued to move the thin blade across his wound to ensure that it was properly burned, and not even the tiniest seepage could get through.

"Help me get him up," instructed Mr Kelly.

Faith abandoned the sword but was virtually helpless in lifting Cassian to his feet. Mr Kelly took most of his weight. Faith wrapped her arm around Cassian's waist but she knew she was not aiding in any way.

"There is a carriage waiting through there." Mr Kelly pointed to the wilderness that adjoined the Runthorpe estate. "We need to carry him about a mile. I am not familiar with this county, Miss. Is there a hospital nearby?"

Faith looked back over her shoulder fleetingly, to see that Doctor Sampson was still working on George. Was he dying? She did not know, nor did she care. "No," Faith replied. "There are only town doctors. Doctor Sampson caters to the gentry but there is another doctor in the village who charges farmers' prices."

"Alright," agreed Mr Kelly. "We will need to move quickly."

Faith felt herself take on more of Cassian's weight as they moved through the trees. They were dragging Cassian's body, but Faith did not struggle. She felt as though there was something flowing through her body, willing her on, and giving her the strength to get Cassian to help.

They trekked for about a mile, but it felt like a thousand before Faith could see a break in the trees and the beginning of a road. She saw Mr Green waiting, leaning against the carriage with a book in hand. He quickly noticed their approaching party.

"Good God!" he exclaimed.

Faith shouted directions at the driver and ordered him atop the carriage, wasting no time on manners.

Faith wrenched open the door to the carriage and helped Mr Kelly to push Cassian inside. Once the door was closed, Faith heard the crack of a whip and the horses took off towards the village.

She carriage jolted and bounced about, so much so that Faith was afraid that they would lose a wheel, but she supported Cassian by holding his head against her chest. In doing that, she kept a hand on his neck, feeling his pulse constantly. His heart was beating weakly. Cassian was slipping in to unconsciousness.

The carriage came to a stop outside Doctor Jeremy Ward's small cottage in the heart of the Runthorpe village. Doctor Ward accepted payments in eggs and mending, and not the coin that that Doctor Sampson demanded. The poor people could afford Doctor Ward's services.

Mr Kelly climbed out of the carriage first, and helped Faith to pull Cassian down. Together, they supported Cassian over to Doctor Ward's door, where Mr Kelly promptly beat it with his fist.

The door was quickly opened by a young doctor who was wiping his hands with a cloth. His astute eyes quickly went to Cassian, and to his large, horrendously burned wound on his chest. "Bring him inside," he instructed.

Doctor Ward's cottage was small, and boasted only a kitchen and sitting room in the downstairs. Doctor Ward led them into the kitchen and quickly moved his breakfast things. He fetched a fresh sheet and laid it on the table for Cassian.

Mr Kelly lifted Cassian onto the table while Doctor Ward collected his medical bag from the other room.

"What happened to this man?" the doctor asked accusingly. He quickly set about in removing what was left of Cassian's shirt and coat. "Who is he?"

"His name is Cassian Kensington. He was shot in a duel," replied Mr Kelly.

"A duel?" repeated back Doctor Ward as he inspected the wound. "It looks as though he was burned with a hot poker."

"Yes, he was. I instructed Faith to seal the wound to stop the bleeding."

Doctor Ward checked Cassian's pulse, and then listening to his breath sounds. "Help me to turn him over," instructed Doctor Ward. Mr Kelly helped the doctor lift Cassian onto his side briefly so that the doctor could see his back. "No exit wound," he said to himself. "The bullet is still in there."

"How do you get it out?" asked Faith breathlessly. Would Cassian survive surgery?

"We don't," replied Doctor Ward. "The wound is high in the right chest. All it would have hit would be muscle. His breath sounds are weak, but equal. The bullet has not hit his lung. The main concern with wounds like these is to stop the bleeding. The cauterisation you did, Faith, may just have saved his life."

"You are going to leave the bullet in his chest?" asked Mr Kelly slowly.

"For now," he replied, nodding. "Surgery is not always necessary. I could do more harm than good if I went into his chest, digging around for a little bullet."

Faith nearly vomited. "Won't it hurt him if you leave it?"

"Bullets are made from lead, which is incredibly harmful to the body. But as the lead is not in its most dangerous form, it takes a much longer time to have any ill effects. I would recommend an extraction in the future, when this man his healthy again, and when he has the ability to decide on the procedure, but I do not recommend it for his immediate survival."

Faith blinked. She knew what she was hearing was logical, but it did not make any sense to have something that could cause lead poisoning to sit idly in Cassian's chest.

"Will he live?" asked Mr Kelly.

"The bleeding has stopped," replied Doctor Ward. "What I must do now is to clean the wound and wrap it to prevent festering. If it festers, it will lead to blood poisoning. I would not cease praying if I were you."

Faith watched as Doctor Ward cleaned Cassian's monstrous burn with alcohol. He then applied clean bandages and wrapped them around Cassian's chest. Doctor Ward and Mr Kelly carried Cassian upstairs to the bedroom, where they set him down gently.

"When will he wake up?" Faith asked softly as she took the chair next to the bed.

"In times of trauma, the body often shuts down to give itself time to repair. Mr Kensington has lost a lot of blood. He will wake up when he is well enough to." Doctor Ward went to the door. "I will send my wife up with some tea in a little while." With that, he left them alone.

Faith immediately grabbed on to one of Cassian's hands and she watched intently as his chest rose and fell with each breath. The doctor was right. His breathing was weak but it was even.

"We have not been properly introduced, ma'am. My name is Finnegan Kelly. You may call me Finn if you like." Finn sat down on the opposite side of the bed.

"Faith," replied Faith. "How do you know Cassian?"

"Oh, we are old friends," replied Finn. He held that position for a moment before confessing, "He woke up in my jail around Christmas."

Faith's eyes widened. "Jail?" she gasped. Near Christmas? That had to have been right around the time that Cassian had been inspecting his northern factories for a time. What on earth had he done to wind up in prison?

"I am sure he will tell you about it," Finn said quietly.

Well, he had better wake up then, because Faith wanted to kill him.

"He was right about you though," Finn continued.

"What?"

"He told me you were an angel."

Faith softened. "He spoke about me?"

"He spoke of little else," Finn told her.

A tear trickled down Faith's cheek as her gaze returned to Cassian. "This is my fault."

"This is not your fault, Faith," promised Finn. "This is your husband's fault, and nothing you could have done would have prevented Cassian from fighting for you. So, I suppose in a way it is your fault for making him love you so much."

Faith was not so sure she was comforted by Finn's words.

"Cassian came to me yesterday and told me what was to happen. I told him, as a magistrate, that it was not lawful, but Cassian did not care. He would do anything for you. That was one of the first things I came to understand about him. I agreed to come today as his second, and in doing so he made me make two promises, one of which I have already broken." Finn sighed. "He made me promise him that if anything happened to him, I would take you and Lucy back to Norwood with me where you would be safe."

Faith had never heard of Norwood, but nothing could have convinced her to leave Cassian's side. Even now, she was half expecting her intrusive in-laws to barge in and take her to George's side, but she would never leave.

Faith was certain that George would be fine. He had the attention of the surgeon immediately.

"And the second?" she prompted.

"I was to add a second name to the deed of purchase on the Norwood Cottage," Finn replied.

Faith had not known that Cassian had purchased a cottage. But whose name could it possibly be? It would not be hers. Women could not own property in their own right. It was not allowed. "Whose name?"

"A Christopher Kensington. Do you know him?"

Faith's heart just about melted as her tears fell more freely. Her eyes were just about cried out. Cassian had planned to take care of everyone, even Kit. How could this be the fate of such a kind man? "Yes," she whispered. "Yes, I know him." Faith lifted Cassian's hand to his lips and she kissed it softly. "Wake up," she willed. "Be alright. Come back to me."