Chapter 7 A shoulder to lean on

A sharp, searing pain jolted Jenny awake, and she sat up with a gasp. Slowly, she realized she was lying on her bedroom floor, the darkness punctuated by shadows cast from the window. Moonlight reflected in the mirror above her, softly illuminating the carpet and bathing her in a gentle glow.

The pain was familiar—swelling in her cheek—and she understood she must have rolled over in her sleep, pressing her injured cheek against the ground. With a low moan, Jenny grasped the bedpost and struggled to her feet. Her face felt sticky with tears, her mouth parched, and her hair tangled messily around her shoulders. She stumbled to the bathroom where she kept her hidden stash of pain medication and took a couple of pills.

Though they were not supposed to take any medicine without approval from the house doctor, Jenny had grown tired of calling him each time she had cramps or a headache. She had borrowed a bottle of medicine from a friend at school and never returned it. Standing in the dark bathroom, she hoped the medication would quickly ease her discomfort.

As Jenny returned to her bedroom, she was surprised at how brightly the moonlight lit her surroundings. She swiftly changed out of her day clothes and into her pajamas, then gazed at her bed. The velvet curtains were still drawn around it, giving it an almost ominous presence in the large, empty room.

Too unsettled to go back to sleep, she wandered to the window. Her bedroom overlooked the garden, where the roses and shrubs were in full bloom, highlighted beautifully by the moonlight. She opened the door to her balcony, feeling the cool floor beneath her bare feet. The sweet, fresh air momentarily soothed the pounding in her head and face. She touched her cheek as she leaned against the railing, considering whether to see the house doctor in the morning to help her heal faster.

Suddenly, the image of Kevin in the hallway, calling her name, flooded her mind. She winced, eyes closed, contemplating how different the day could have been if she had ignored him. Contrasted with his bright, hopeful smile was the expression he wore when Julius leaned in to whisper something to him.

Jenny could only imagine what Julius had said. Perhaps a comment about their family's reputation, a warning to stay away from her, or a recap of the boys who had approached her only to regret it. She didn't realize she was crying until she felt a warm tear fall onto her thumb, bringing her back to the present.

"Jenny," a voice startled her. She looked down, her heart pounding, half-expecting to see Kevin again. But it was Richard standing below her balcony, looking up with his face bathed in the cool moonlight.

"Richard," she breathed, her voice so soft she doubted he could hear her. He looked weary, as if he'd been walking for some time, holding a small flashlight that illuminated the ground in front of him. Jenny wondered if Julius had pursued him after their conversation with Father, or if their Father had confronted him directly. Yet Richard's expression revealed nothing.

As Richard gazed at her, Jenny wondered how she appeared to him. Quickly, she wiped her cheeks with the backs of her hands, hoping to hide her tears. She flinched at the pain but tried not to show it.

"Would you like some company?" Richard asked, his voice soft yet clear as if he was standing right beside Jenny.

"Please," Jenny replied, almost instinctively, and then questioned if it had been the right response. Julius's window faced the opposite direction, but what if he was out for a stroll? What if he saw Richard now, tucking his flashlight into his belt and anchoring his foot on the trellis? Richard quickly scaled the side of the building, pulling her from her thoughts as he landed next to her on the balcony.

Jenny turned away, suddenly feeling self-conscious. It wasn't the first time Richard climbed up to comfort her, as she had nightmares since childhood, but this felt different. Her mind drifted to how he had hugged her in the school's courtyard, his arms warm and strong.

"Jenny," Richard said, his eyes tracing the red welt from Julius's hit and then lingering on the bruises on her neck. She felt warmth rise to her cheeks and neck, wondering if he could see it through her markings.

With a swift yet gentle movement, Richard stepped forward and wrapped her in his arms, enveloping her in warmth and security. Jenny closed her eyes, the pain melting away, replaced by the sweet scent of roses and the gentle sound of the fountain in the garden.

When Richard pulled back, the cool air rushed between them, reminding her how chilly it was on the balcony in her pajamas. He held her at arm's length, observing her for a moment.

"I'm sorry, Jenny," he said. She immediately shook her head, watching as his eyes traced her injuries again. In the soft light, Richard appeared more concerned than ever.

"You don't have anything to apologize for," Jenny insisted, raising a hand between them. As she did, another gust of cold air brushed against her side, causing her to shiver. Richard responded by gently grasping her elbow and opening the balcony door.

"Come on," he said, his voice low and tired. "Let's get you inside. It's too cold for what you're wearing."

Once inside her room, Jenny grabbed her robe off the wall hook and wrapped herself in it, shivering again. Richard switched on a lamp in the corner and led her to stand beneath it, tilting her head so he could assess the bruising.

He went to the bathroom and returned with a first aid kit, carefully laying it out on her desk. He instructed her to sit and retrieved an instant ice pack, activating it and handing it to her. As she held it against her cheek, he continued to search through the kit.

"I am sorry," Richard repeated. Jenny opened her mouth to protest, but he stopped her. "No, don't say it, Jenny. I'm supposed to protect you, yet I can't even keep you safe from your own family."

"If it were anyone else," Jenny laughed softly, "I know you'd already have them taken care of."