That must be the carbolic acid she was talking about.’Twas a sweet, acrid scent that made me a bit sick to my stomach.Or maybe that was due to the thought of Miss June touching me where it already hurt so much.
Miss June cut away the bloodied bandages then began to disinfect the injury.
I tried not to make any noise, but it hurt like hell.I reckoned I was on my last legs when it came to withstanding all this pain, and a few helpless whimpers escaped.
“I’m sure Oscar won’t think less of you if you make a sound, Jimmy.It has to be painful.”
I grimaced.“Sure.”But it was hard to go from stifling everything to being plain about my suffering.Seemed second-nature to be stoic.
“He only makes those sounds when he’s caught up in a tumble.And even then, only right before he spends.”
I glared at Oscar while Miss June grinned.“Is that so?”she asked.
“’Tis.”Oscar looked smug as he perched on the corner of the bed with his arms crossed.
“You should”—I grimaced at the pain but gestured at Oscar—“hear the noises Oscar makes.You’d think I was killin’ a goat,” I panted out, feeling like I needed to defend myself.
Oscar made a shocked face, but then he started laughing.
“A goat?Jimmy, that’s not fair.”
“Oh, yeah, ’tis,” I grunted.“But I like it, so don’t change.”
“Okay, I won’t.”
He moved closer and took my hand again as Miss June prodded and poked and wiped up the fresh blood.
“Well, it’s not too bad.I’ve seen worse.”
“You have?”
Miss June nodded curtly, pressing her lips together.
“I have.One night a bastard client sliced one of my girls through the thigh and almost killed her.She bled so much we didn’t think there was much hope.But she made it.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“That was Trick.”
Oscar and I exchanged a glance.
“God,” he said.
“That’s awful,” I concurred.
“Yes, it is.I do my best to protect my girls, but sometimes…” Miss June looked tired.
“You do a good job here, Miss June.It ain’t gonna be perfect,” I said.
“I know,” she said.She looked me in the eye.“This needs stitching.”
“I know it.”
“I have laudanum if you want it?”
I thought about it.“No, not that.But I’ll take some willow bark tea before you start, if you have some.And probably another cup soon after.”
“Of course.Oscar, can you go ask cook to make it?Let her know I sent you.”
