That did not stop Colin from trying to saysomething, to explain, to apologise to her again, but his wife was either never alone (and he suspected that this was by her design), or she would close her eyes and pretend to sleep whenever she felt he might start talking to her.
Not even Colin was monster enough to wake up and torment a sick person, let alone accuse them of faking sleep, so he would remain seated by her bed for hours, sometimes talking quietly, more to himself than to her, sometimes combing her hair, and sometimes just staring at her peaceful face.
Today’s delivery was different from all the others, however, and was, in Talbot’s mind, certainly going to soften his wife’s heart.
“Good morning,” he said when he entered her room.
“Good morning,” Lizzie’s mother replied, then anxiously glanced at her daughter, who didn’t acknowledge the newcomer in any way.
“How are you feeling today?” Colin asked gently, ready to be rejected again.
“Doesn’t she look much better today, Your Grace?” Catherine interjected, attempting (in vain) to rescue all three of them from the palpable tension in the room. “Her colour has returned, as has her appetite.”
She glanced at his empty hands, her widening eyes betraying her surprise.
“Today’s gift is… sweet in a different way,” Colin said and headed to the door.
When he opened it, a very tall dog with drooping ears and a wrinkled brow ran into the room, and Catherine cried out.
“What is this?!”
Lizzie looked like she was about to burst out laughing as she offered her hand to the dog, who sniffed and licked it excitedly. Talbot had given the breeder some of Elizabeth’s hair ribbons weeks ago, so Thunder was already familiar with her scent.
“This is Thunder,” Colin said proudly, expecting Lizzie to laugh upon hearing the name, but her face remained impassive.
“Pardon?” Catherine was still on her feet, hiding behind her armchair, like she’d done when she first saw the mastiff.
“I’ve purchased this dog for my wife, and his name is Thunder. He is an English mastiff, and he is almost one year old.”
“Is he… where is he going to live? He’s so big,” Catherine inquired, clearly horrified at the idea of sharing a home with the slobbering giant.
Talbot wanted to laugh as he thought of what Miss Williams would say if he told her that Thunder hadn’t finished growing, but then decided to answer her question. “His breed is most suitable for hunting or guarding property, so when we’re not in Norwich, he will spend his days outside in the garden.”
That seemed to mollify Catherine a bit.
“Do you like him, Lizzie?” she asked her daughter, who nodded wordlessly, which for Colin was the highlight of his day.
Lizzie was gently stroking the dog’s head, and Colin found himself jealous of an animal.
There truly is a first time for everything,he thought.
“Can you ring for Mrs White?” Elizabeth told her mother, and Colin’s skin erupted in gooseflesh upon hearing her voice.
“What for, my dear?”
“I want my things moved back to my room. And I shall like a bath,” she replied.
“Don’t forget, your brother is coming to see you today,” Colin reminded her, pretending he was part of the conversation.
“How lovely, I haven’t seen Nicholas in ages,” Catherine said, since Lizzie didn’t look up from Thunder.
“Well,” Colin said, patting his knee as he stood up, “I shall see you both later then. I will be in my study if you need me.”
Talbot had never been as happy to see Hawkins as that day, since his presence allowed him a legitimate excuse to see his wife three times in one day.
“How is she?” Nicholas asked after the pleasantries were out of the way.
“Her health is improving,” Talbot said. “But she hasn’t spoken a word to me in three days.”
