Chapter 8

The Meeting

Mrs. Beckworth turned and walked through the door into the sitting room Lou following her. The sitting room was almost a lovely as her sleeping quarters. The large over stuffed chair and settee were also done in shades of blue, but they were stripped. Mrs. Beckworth walked through the other door into Kids room. Lou took a deep breath. She hoped Kid would recognize her but at the same time she hoped he wouldn’t in front of Mrs. Beckworth.

Kids room was larger than her own and decorated in dark maroon colors. The bed and dresser were made from the same wood as in Lou’s room and there were heavy drapes on the window. Lou began to wonder if any of the drapes in this house were ever open to the sun or if it was always closed up like a tomb.

Lou saw Kid sitting up in the middle of the large bed. He was dressed in dark red pajamas and looked very sexy. "Keep it together Lou," she warned herself, "He probably won’t know you any way."

The doctor and Kid had been talking quietly when Lou and Mrs. Beckworth entered the room. The doctor stopped suddenly and stood up and walked towards Lou taking her hand and drawing her forward.

"James," he said, "I’d like you to meet Ms. Louise McCloud. She will be your nurse until you are healed. Ms. McCloud meet James Beckworth."

Lou stepped forward to curtsy to Kid; "It’s nice to meet you Mr. Beckworth. I hope you will be feeling better soon." She said in her most demure voice.

"Thank you Ms. McCloud and please call me James." Kid said with a smile.

"James," Mrs. Beckworth said curtly from the end of the bed. "Remember she is a servant here not your best friend."

Kid opened his mouth to speak but Lou was quicker saying, "Mr. Beckworth she’s right. I’m your nurse and therefore should not call you by your given name. It just wouldn’t be proper."

"I’m sorry," Kid said a little sheepishly. "I guess I just wasn’t thinking."

"No harm done," the doctor said with a small laugh, "Now Charlotte if you would give me a few minutes I’m going to show Ms. McCloud how to change James bandages."

"Oh, well then," Mrs. Beckworth said eyeing Lou suspiciously, "Then I’ll go have Parker bring us some tea to the parlor. You can join me there Andrew." She made sure that Lou understood that she was not being invited to have tea with them which to tell the truth Lou was perfectly happy about.

Mrs. Beckworth left the room and the doctor turned to Lou and said, "Now Lou let me show you what needs to be done."

The doctor proceeded to show Lou how to remove Kids bandages from his side, clean the wound and apply clean bandages. Then he showed her the leg wound and the same procedures for it. Lou was having a hard time keeping back the tears for the man she loved. He had been injured far worse than she first thought. Seeing how bad the wounds were made her thankful that he had survived at all.

"Now Lou," the doctor said getting her attention, "You will need to change the bandages twice per day, first thing in the morning and then just before bed. Any questions? Also if James is feeling up to it, I think he can get out of bed tomorrow and sit in the sitting room"

"No, I think I have it," Lou said. She didn’t tell the doctor that she had changed these types of bandages before even on Kid.

"Good then I’ll leave you two to talk and get to know each other. Let me know as soon as possible if there is anything you need Lou." The doctor said good-bye to Kid and left the room.

Kid hadn’t said much since Lou had entered the room. He wasn’t sure why but he had the feeling that he had seen Lou before but he didn’t know were or why. He didn’t even remember his mother or fiancé that she had told him about. Then why would he remember this girl? His brow furrowed at this unanswered question.

Lou saw the confused look on his face and asked, "Is something wrong?"

"Huh? Oh, no just trying to think is all," Kid said looking at her more intently. "So why does the doctor call you Lou?" he finally asked her.

"Oh that," Lou said giggling. The doctor and her had discussed him calling her Lou. The doctor hoped that hearing that familiar name might jog Kids memory. "It’s just a nickname most people call me."

"Would you mind if I call you that?" He asked

"Well," Lou said hesitantly, "What would your mother say?"

Kid laughed, "True but I’ll only call you Lou when it’s just the two of us and you can call me James. Deal?" He said sticking out his hand.

Lou smiled and took his hand, "Deal"