Cornelia’s filter broke through this time – she felt a pool of tears gather in her eyes as she rushed out of the room. She went straight to her own chamber and knelt at the foot of her bed. She was full on sobbing now.
“What did I do to deserve this?” she asked out loud to whoever was listening. She hoped it would be God. “I am a good woman who does nothing but to take care of her husband. What have I done to deserve this treatment?”
At this point, Cornelia was resenting not only herself but also her husband and her own father. She picked up an empty page and started to fill it with words she had kept bottled up inside her for all these days.
She wrote to her mother, Jacqueline. She complained all about how she has been unable to find love in any form after her marriage and about how her own husband treats her like she is a burden on him, even though marriage with her has been profitable for him. She wrote about how unwanted she felt – that when you extend your love and kindness to someone to such a large degree but it is not reciprocated in even the smallest regard than that only makes you doubt yourself.
Am I hard to love? She wrote in that letter, which had now been soaked with her tears and the dissolved ink only made a bigger mess. However, she knew nothing could be a bigger mess than what she felt right now.
She kept on writing and writing and she let out all the things she felt were wrong. But just as she was about to close the letter, a thought overcame her.
A thought that came from her inside – one that did not require any sort of validation from the outside.
She tore up the letter.
“I am not a hateful person,” she said to herself, wiping away the last of her tears, “When they treat you with hate and they do see you for what you are, you respond with kindness. Because you are not the kind of person that puts out such hate in the world.”
The words had belonged to her mother – she had told her to Cornelia once when she was a young girl in school and had gotten into a fight with another group of children. The words had struck by her side since then and Cornelia knew that right now was the best implementation of them.
Because, so what if Clement felt a disconnect to her? She was still his wife and she promised to be there for him – and to her, that was unconditional.
Cornelia put down her pen and rest her head on her pillow. It was going to be a difficult journey ahead but she was ready to take it.
-
George came to visit the next day. He saw that Cornelia was sitting on the floor all alone, without Clement. He decided to ask her what was happening.
“Cornelia, my lady, you seem to look a little pale today,” he told her, “What is the matter with you?”
“I am fine George,” she hastened to get off the floor at once, “In fact, my health is all and well. It is your friend you should be concerned about at any rate.”
“What is the matter with him?” George asked at once. “I have not yet had a chance to see him for a few days and dropped by today in hopes of doing just that. But you have suddenly worried me – is there something wrong with him?”
Cornelia sighed, “It is terrible, oh George, it is absolutely terrible.”
“What is it? You have my complete attention.”
Cornelia gulped loudly, “It seems that Clement has caught a case of small pox, somehow and I am worried sick for him.”
“Small pox?” Georges’ eyes widened in panic as he recognized the disease in his head, “That is terrible! That means that none of us can be around him – is he under proper quarantine?”
Cornelia nodded, “The doctor has briefed us on his condition and he has injected me with a vaccine so I can stand to be around him without getting infected, however, despite this, he refuses to take my help. Even this morning, I went up to him with breakfast but he just did not want to talk. I am scared for his well-being.”
George cast her look of admiration, “Cornelia, I must say, I have been observing exactly how he has been treating you and I surely do not condone his actions but the way you have struck by him, well – I am completely impressed.”
Cornelia let out a small sad sigh, “If only he was also impressed but it seems that he is unaffected by my manners.”
“You shall wait and he will see what he is missing – that alone I can assure you,” he said.
Cornelia nodded but she decided to switch the conversation all together, “Right now, we just must think about how he is going to recover. That is my utmost concern at this point,” she said.
George nodded. “I suppose I should get going now since I do not think it would be wise for me to go up to him and visit him. However, you take care of yourself. I shall see you soon and I wish you the best of luck. Elizabeth and I are always available if you need anything.”
-
After George left, Cornelia decided to go check up on Clement. She knocked on his door and found him in a miserable state in his bed with his arms crossed and a defeated expression on his face.
“My Grace,” she said softly, “How are you feeling now?”
Clement grumbled something under his breath and then said, “Where is my medicine?”
“It has put it right there next to your bed,” she told him, “George came to visit you today. I told him the details of your health troubles and he wished you a speedy recovery.”
Clement frowned, “I really must sleep now. You should leave.”
“Why must you be like this at all times?” she said, “I am only trying to help you here and all you do is keep pushing me away – what must I do to prove to you that I am only here to help you?”
“I do not need your help woman. If you think you are providing such a service to me by bringing me my medicine then I suggest you leave me alone because I am perfectly capable of doing that myself,” he told her.
Cornelia hung her head and decided to leave. There was nothing more left to say to him.
-
Chapter 6
In hard times, the people who you thought you trusted the most can end up turning on you. Boston was a town where news spread fairly quickly and such was the case with the news of Clements disease.
Since Clement had not been showing up to work this entire week, the news had spread to his shipyard. The workers had written to him and refused to work with him further at the risk of an infection. Clement was still reeling in from the effects of that and decided to end his exile from his room. But he did not know where to go – he could not step out of the house. Cornelia had called in the doctor today for a checkup and he knew that he was his only hope to any answers.
The news had spread in the neighborhood too when George found out and the people had reacted in a less than favorable way.
“It is contagious!” one person said when some people gathered around in Georges’ house to discuss the matter, “We cannot just sit here complacent and have him risk all of us of an infection.”
“I am sure it is not this grave,” George frowned. He did not want to turn his back on his friend like this.
“I think he is just saying that because he is mates with him,” said another voice, “Why should we listen to him?”
“We should not!” said the first voice, “The Boston epidemic of 1720’s spread like this too – we cannot let this happen again!”
“Hold on, gentlemen,” George tried to reason with them, “I really think we should not be so rash about this matter.”
But then Elizabeth spoke up, surprising George, “George, I think everyone has a point. We cannot let him live here and risk all of us getting infected.”
George pressed his lips into a straight line, “Let me talk to Cornelia. She can help us out.”
“Let us go talk to her right now!” said one voice.
Elizabeth nodded, “I agree. The more we delay it, the more we are risking ourselves. George, tell me, do you want our children to be infected by this horrible virus?”
At this, there was a loud roar of approval. The neighborhood people formed a sort o
f mob and decided to march to Clements’ house.
Meanwhile, in Clements’ house, he sat across the doctor who examined him.
“It seems that you are following the normal progression to healing – you should be good in a couple of weeks.”
“But doctor, my business has been put to a hold. I must get back now!”
“I am afraid there is no way around the recuperation period.”
Just then, there was a knock on the door and Cornelia went to answer it. She was surprised to see such a large crowd of her community gathered at the door.
“Can I help you?” she tried to sound as polite as she could.
“Where is he?” one person asked, “We demand to see him!”
At this point, the doctor heard the ruckus and joined Cornelia at the door.
“Clement cannot come see you at this point, as he is currently sick. But what is the matter? Why has a mob shown up at our front door?” she directed the question to George, who she saw in the crowd.
“Cornelia, we are just concerned as a community for the risk of a spread of the disease – we are only looking out for ourselves,” George said.
“What is it that you want?” she reiterated.
It was Elizabeth who spoke up next, “We want Clement to exit the town till he gets healed. Otherwise, there is no way for us to make sure that the disease will not spread. And we will not let that happen!”
The doctor jumped into the conversation at this point, “That is unnecessary at best – you need not relocate him to another town – him being in the confines of his own room is enough.”
But at that moment, Clement had decided to walk to the door to see what the racket was about.
“Look! He is standing right behind you! If you cannot ensure that he does not stay in the room, how can you make sure that he will not infect the other town goers?” the man said and there was unanimous agreement.
“He must leave the town!” There were more roars of approval.
Clement was confused and shocked. He did not know what elicited such a strong response from his own neighborhood. In the mob, he saw the faces of his friends. He saw George and he was rendered speechless for a second.
“George,” he said, “do you support this?”
George could not meet his eyes, “I have no other option. We collectively think that it is a good idea for you to leave the town until you are fully cured. At first I was ambivalent but I cannot go against the opinion of my community and I am sure you understand.”
“Fine,” Clement replied with his jaw tightening, “Close the door, Cornelia. Let these people go home, I am done talking to them.”
Cornelia did what she was told and then ran up behind him, “Where are you going, my Grace?” she asked him.
Clements’ reply was that of a broken man, “I cannot stay here if the people want me gone so urgently. I must go from here until I am cured, there is no other way.”
He turned to leave but Cornelia grabbed him roughly by the base of his sleeve, “You cannot go alone. If you are persistent on leaving, then I must come with you.”
Clement shot her a look of skepticism, “Why?”
“You will need someone to take care of you – you are already sick and you cannot possibly accept me to believe you can manage on your own. Besides, whether or not you accept this relationship, we are husband and wife at the end of the day and I must honor that, even if you do not,” she said.
Clement was taken aback for a second but he recoiled quickly. Perhaps it was a good idea that she was to accompany him. He nodded.
“Pack your things. We will leave soon.”
Chapter 7
The two travelled to a small log house in the outskirts of town. The first few days were a little hard for them to adjust but Clement found that Cornelia was trying her hardest to make sure that Clement was taken care of.
She would regularly make trips to the town and fetch the doctor to vaccinate Clement. Clement was thankful for this but what took him off guard the most was how she was managing the shipyard all by herself on his behalf without him even asking her.
“You are looking after the affairs in my shipyard?” he asked her one afternoon, when he heard the news that business was going well despite his absence.
Cornelia shrugged as though what she was doing was easy, “Of course, someone has to look after it, your Grace. My father did not raise a fool after all.”
Clement was speechless, “I did not expect such kindness from you.”
“I do not understand why is it so hard for you to comprehend, my grace,” she said, “I keep reminding you that we are married and doing this for you is just a part of my duty as a wife. I feel so obligation.”
Clement did not know what to say to her. He had treated her so horrible all these weeks that they had been together but now that he was at his lowest point and even his friends had turned against him, she was the only one who was standing beside him.
He did not say anything to her but she remained in his mind for the remainder of the day.
The next day, he went looking for her and found her in the small lawn. He saw that she was planting something in the ground.
“Cornelia, what are you doing?” he asked her.
Cornelia was taken by surprise – she was not used to him starting up a conversation with her but she welcomed it nonetheless. “I am doing some gardening, my Grace.”
“What are you planting?”
“Well, when I went back to the town this time, this old woman told me that this particular herb helps in the cure of your disease. I brought some back and I am going to grow it in our garden so I can give it to you.”
Clement was shaking his head, “Cornelia, you make me feel terrible.”
Cornelia felt her heart sink. She sighed – it was another time for one of his rants against her.
“No, no,” he said hastily, “I did not mean it like that. I mean that you treat me so well and here I am, having not even given you the time of my day all these months – I am both ashamed and embarrassed.”
Cornelia stopped her gardening activities and walked over to him, “Please do not be. We have had our differences but if I was going to let a small thing such as that deter me, then how would you ever have had managed all this? I am your wife, your Grace and I am here for you.”
Clement threw his head in his head, “God, I know. You are here for you. It seems like you are the only one who is. But where have I been all this time? Lately, I have found myself asking that.”
Cornelia was surprised – she did not expect him to soften up to her like this but she smiled anyway. “If you have realized it now, that is enough for me as well.”
Clement did not know how to make amends for his actions. He walked over to Cornelia and took her by her hands, “Cornelia, I must tell you this, I have been a fool. Living with you here, it has opened up my eyes. You have been taking care of everything – without me even asking. My pride was always too big to ask and too big for me to see that you are genuine in your efforts.”
“Clement, it is alright,” Cornelia replied, though a small pool of tears had now gathered in her eyes.
“Cornelia, do not weep please,” he urged, “For now I am only beginning to see sense and I do not want to see you cry anymore.”
“Clement, I have waited a long time for you to utter these words to me and for you to realize this.”
“I am sorry,” Clement meant the words.
Cornelia hushed him, “Stop. You do not need to say that to me. Come, we need to get your medicine now.” And with that, she whisked him away.
-
Chapter 8
The next four weeks, the two grew closer and closer together. Clement saw her for the wonderful person that she was and Cornelia was ecstatic that he was finally opening up to her. They formed a bond that was missing in their marriage before.
On the side, Clements’ health grew better as well. On the fifth week mark, the doctor visited once again and declare
d that he was now free of the disease. Clement was overcome with joy when he heard that and immediately went to embrace Cornelia, who hugged him back.
“We can finally go back now!”
The two returned to town to find that a small party had been arranged for his welcome. Clement stood at the door, surprised to see the same people who had urged him to get out of town welcoming him back.
“Did you have something to do with this, my Darling?” he asked Cornelia.
Cornelia just giggled, “Oh look, there is George. I am sure he has much to say to you!”
George came and hugged Clement, “My friend, I am so happy to see you restored to your good health again. I must say, I have to apologize on behalf of all of us. We were scared and it perhaps did not come out right but please know that our intentions were good.”
Clement took his apology with a grain of salt; however, spending time with Cornelia, he had decided to be a more forgiving person. “That is alright, George. I suppose you throwing this little welcome party for me condone it all.”
“Ah, that was all your little wife’s’ idea. I tell you, she adores you.”
Clement looked back and smiled at her, “I think I adore her too.”
That night when the party ended, the two were left alone in each other’s company and it was time for bed. Cornelia did not know what the situation was going to be like – was she expected to go sleep in her own quarter as she had for the past few months of their marriage?
She decided to test the waters and feigned sleepiness, “My darling, I must say that I am very tired. I must retire to my own chambers now to rest.”
Hearing that, Clement immediately grabbed hold of her hand. “You are not going anywhere that is not without me, you know that, right my Dear?”
“What do you mean? These are your own regulations and I am merely abiding them,” she said with a small wink.
“Oh, to hell with my own regulations!” he said and suddenly scooped her up in his arms. “You are staying with me tonight in my chambers.”
And with that, he carried her upstairs. It was not long till the two of them began to share a passionate kiss as Clement carried her over to his bed and laid her down.
Bad, Very Bad Shifters- The Complete Mega Bundle Page 67
