Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 72: Henry Returns~

The next day, an all to familiar carriage arrived at the manor, and a rather irritable man stepped out. Henry Mohan. Of course, he'd been informed of his sister's state, and compelled to return back to the manor to help tend to her in such a vulnerable time. With him, Jiu was surprised to see, one of the guests from the wedding reappear. Unfortunately, it was possible one of the more detestable ones. The overly charming, overly sly Dr. Julian Frost. As they entered, Henry staggered to a halt, seeing Jiu stare at him; from the side next to Edward and Soren.
"You left without any word," Henry murmured," I was convinced you had abandoned me, Jiu. It's quite rude to send someone off for a task and rush off last minute, don't you think?"
Jiu scowled," Didn't your maid inform you?"
"She did, but it still wounded me terribly, none the less," Henry sighed.
How badly Jiu wanted to tell him to leave and die in a ditch. He hated that Henry had returned; along with that slimy doctor. They made their way to Leora's dedicated 'tuberculosis room', to separate her from the house. Henry took Leora's hand, crouching to her side.
"Dear sister," Henry frowned," My lovely, Leora. You must stay strong, alright?"
Jiu and Leora both were startled by his tone. He NEVER spoke to Leora so sweetly in his whole life. Perhaps now, death was on the line, Henry felt the need to repair their fallen bond?

"Er...sure..." Leora nodded, sweating from her brother's odd behaviour.
"I came as quickly as I could," Henry's eyes filled with tears," I mean, tuberculosis? God, it's just like our dear aunt all over again. I can't bear to imagine you dealing with that, sweet sister. If Duncan were here...oh, he would be ever so heartbroken."
Leora was at a loss for words hearing her brother genuinely care about her. She glanced around, as if wondering if there was some other long lost sister behind her that he may be talking to instead.
"It doesn't matter now, though," Henry straightened up, wiping his tears," I'm here now, dearest. I'm here and I don't plan to leave until I'm confident you've been nursed back to perfect health. No quiet life by the Thames for me, it seems, not when my darling baby sister is dying before my eyes."
Though, despite saying this, there was a hint of toxicity at being unable to live by the Thames; that much was evident in his slightly bittered tone. Jiu visibly cringed; it was such an ugly confession coming out of his mouth, it made his skin crawl.
"Come, come, Julian; please inspect her," Henry let out a dramatic sob, gesturing for Julian Frost to check Leora's state.

The doctor sauntered over, kneeling by Leora's bedside.
"It's funny, isn't it?" Julian whispered to her, as he gently pressed on her chest," What I said when I first met you, has truly happened, little miss Mohan."
Leora's eyes widened in horror as she recalled what Julian Frost had said to her during her brother's wedding week.
"You have such a fragile body, I can tell. Family history with illness has not been the greatest either, or at least, Henry tells me. Do not feel afraid to contact me if you come down with anything, dear Leora. One can only hope you'll fall to alimentation soon, to give me an excuse..." He murmured, glancing at her, up and down.
Leora didn't want to know what his true reason for seeing her again was, and glanced away; wincing as she coughed a little from the pressure on her chest.
Julian straightened up," Afraid to say this case of tuberculosis is already past the point of mild."
"That won't do," Henry frowned," Julian, you stay in the manor whilst I'm here. We can look after Leora and occasionally go back to London for business."
Julian nodded," A wise plan."

Jiu spoke up. Something didn't entirely add up as much as he wanted it to.
"I thought you worked in a surgery, not as a doctor?" Jiu raised his eyebrow at Henry.
Henry tilted his head, confused.
"I'm neither a surgeon nor a doctor, I simply own the establishment. Julian is a doctor, he doesn't work for me; though he does have certain certificates in surgery. Don't you, Julian?"
Julian nodded, smiling weakly," Yes, when I was much younger, mind you. Though, I can't quite stand the sight of organs; so I decided not to go into that, despite my father wanting me to. I now work as a doctor."
"A good one at that," Henry chuckled," People from all over the country try to call him over for procedures."
Julian shrugged, but deep down was clearly gloating," Eh, nothing so grand."
"So, organs make you feel ill?" Jiu raised an eyebrow.
"Not just ill, he swooned once when he walked in the surgery," Henry laughed.
Julian chuckled, awkwardly," You don't have to embarrass me in front of your whole manor, Henry."
"Nobody here minds," Henry chuckled, too.

Julian dusted off his jacket, turning to Leora.
"Well, I can tell you this much, little girl," Julian hummed," We're going to have to be strict from now on. Plenty of rest. Plenty of check ups. Plenty of healthy eating and drinking. And you'll stay confined to the manor."
Jiu, Leora, Edward and Soren each seemed to do a double take.
"Confined...to the manor...?" Soren frowned," I thought for tuberculosis it was vital to get fresh oxygen?"
Edward nodded, his eyebrows furrowed, confused.
"It used to be," Julian sighed, dramatically," But we have evidence that suggests perhaps the main cause of tuberculosis is from the polluted air. Those bloody factories, I tell you. Considering Leora's condition stems mainly from the lungs, it would be best for her to avoid any sort of air that may be too harsh on them. If you love her, you will understand and respect this."
The last sentence chilled Jiu slightly. He was a manipulative man, that Julian Frost. He saw how easily Edward shrunk at those cruel words, and seemed unsure what to do; Soren, too, seemed at a loss. The two servants nodded, awkwardly, casting concerned looks at the bedridden girl. Julian turned to face Jiu.
"Do you understand?"
Jiu couldn't help himself.
"It'll make her worse, cooping her up in here!" Jiu snapped," This house it reeks of dea-!"
"Jiu!" Henry snapped," A word? Outside."