Subject: The sorry patient. Who: Daniel and Eward, Daphne later. Where: Daniel's home Warnings: Manic Depressive Smutty Pants. Open TO: Daphne Wexley
Daniel had noted a grave deterioration in his most important patient - Eward Mountford-Miles. The Lord had sat in his bed refusing treatment, food and even water. He had not warmed to company, had not conversed and had not said a word since Katherine's visit over a week ago. This made Daniel very worried indeed - Eward had lost a considerable amount of weight and if he were to carry on in this depressed strain then he would not recover at all. Promising himself he would resolve the situation Daniel walked into Eward's room to see him the usual state: pale, thin, sour-looking and gazing out of the window like a frail old man. It was unnerving to see such a usually strong man deteriorating before his eyes.
"....Good evening," he said quietly, watching Eward's lack of reaction to his presence. He tried not to sigh as he walked in, placing the tray of untouched food to one side so he could examine him. "How are you feeling? You really should try and eat this meat, it's delicious." Unphased by the silence, Daniel continued. "Yvette has been worried about you. You have gotten to her at last! It takes a lot for Yvette to be phased by a patient... you still have the usual infiltrating charm."
Nothing. Daniel lifted Eward's arm - so scrawny than the muscles he'd had before! - to check his pulse. "Daphne asks about you. See, you are causing everyone to worry! You need to eat... it isn't often Yvette cooks special foods for patients... you need to get your strength back up. Every little helps. There are balls to go to, people to see...... I er, I hear Katherine is back soon... I would send for her, if I were you. Try and resolve this little situation between you, I'm sure she will be more then willing to listen to you..."
"Katherine doesn't want to see me."
It was the first time Eward had spoken in a good long while and that was enough to stop Daniel in his tracks. After a moment's pause for surprise, Daniel replied. "You cannot be sure...."
"I am sure. She hates the very sight of me."
Eward continued to stare out of the window as he spoke, eyes sad and dark. There was no hope left in them, the blue of his iris were pale and lacking the sparkle he used to have. To see him like this made Daniel even worse.
"Katherine could not hate the sight of you. She loves you - she may not say it nor even realise it, but where one person is blind to their emotions others see it as plain as the nose on their face... just call for her, see what she says..."
"If I call for her and she does not come it will only make it worse," said Eward. He would have snapped but he lacked the energy and the emotion. "I know she does not want to speak to me, hear my explanations and my pleas of innocence so why should I request her to come and ignore me especially? Any love she had for me has gone. It vanished the moment the thought of my killing another man came upon her - she has already made up her mind and I am not going to try and change it simply because it is impossible. The one woman I fall in love with has to be as stubborn as a mule!.... so no, I will not request her. Katherine no longer cares for me, Lysander does not want me as a brother, my sisters do not need me and I... there is no point to me any more." He turned to Daniel with a sad expression. "So please, Daniel... leave me alone. Walk out of the door, turn the key and leave me in here to rot."
Daniel immediately frowned and shook his head. "No. I will not allow you to give up just because of the possibility Katherine has done the same to you - if you love her you must fight for her!"
"I have no fight left, Daniel, I do not desire to desperately use the last of my energy in a feeble attempt to win her back when I do not even know I had her in the first place! Do not get righteous on me, I have made my decision."
"And a poor one at that!" Daniel sighed, shaking his head at him. "Eward..."
"Just get out, Daniel," came the feeble voice from the bed, Eward again turning to look out of the window. "You may send food but I will not eat. You may send company but I will not talk. Just leave me be, Daniel. I will not inconvenience you much longer."
Knowing that he could no longer argue with the stubborn Lord, Daniel opened his mouth several times before he shut it again, turning to leave. He knew there was no way he was going to convince him to take back his death wish and it unnerved him. Katherine had more power over that man than she realised, and maybe, Daniel though, it was high time she was shown what effect she had.