Tony looked uncertainly at the doctor, wondering what was going to happen next. He still hurt everywhere from the operation and the medication had made him nauseous earlier but that was done with and over now. "How long must I remain in the hospital? I hurt so bad, though.."
Dr. Jacqout patted Tony's hand and said, "Not long, my boy. Not long at all within the next two weeks you will be in the warm air of fair France with your friend, Master Andrew."
Sir Matthew Ffoulkes, in an attempt to escape from his wife who had the entire household in an uproar over getting ready to go to France, decided to visit Dr. Jacqout and young Tony Dewhurst.
He took a carriage to the hospital, where he made his way to where Tony was staying. He stepped in. "Hello. How is our patient feeling after his surgery?" he asked kindly.
Tony glanced up at Sir Ffoulkes, slightly startled to see a visitor by his bed. "I'm doing ok, I think- tired mainly." He yawned, then stretched. His body was all achy from laying in bed for so long. "When can we go to France?"
Sir Ffoulkes smiled. "In about a week, if Docteur Jacquot approves. Am I correct in the assumption that your valet is getting your things ready?" he asked the boy.
Tony grinned, fiddling with a piece of string on the blanket that covered him. "Yes sir, he is getting them ready as we speak." How he hoped that he was for Tony could not stand being locked in this place for much longer. He was going crazy, if the truth be known. "Will I get to go horseback riding in France? I love horses, but I don't get to ride much, here..."
"If you're healing well, I can't see why not. We have a few horses in France, and my children also adore riding." He hadn't been there long, but Sir Ffoulkes could already tell that Tony was feeling much better than he had before the surgery. There was more color to him, and he seemed happier. He would have to be sure to give Jacquot an extra thanks for his services.
Tony found himself smiling genuinely when he pretty much gave him permission to ride horses which was something he so dearly missed. "Will I be able to go to school, too or will I have to have a tutor?" He didn't like the idea of a tutor but he'd have one if Tony had no choice.
"While we're in France, Andrew and Michelle generally have tutors," was the reply. "You can have your lessons with Andrew, if you wish, or have them separately. They both study French, literature, and dance, so those lessons are taught together. All other subjects are separate."
Tony felt his spirits sink a bit, but he wanted to learn more than anything. He couldn't fall behind in his studies anymore than he had as of late. "I'm so far behind in school and all, I've got to get caught back up." The poor lad had an almost panicky look on his face.
"Then a tutor should be good for you," Sir Ffoulkes assured Tony. "My children often get ahead in their studies while in France, and with very little additional work. Their tutors are most excellent."
Tony would have grumbled about this news but the thought of getting ahead without being in the classroom made him smile slightly. "I just hope I don't have to take anymore medication- ever. All I want to lead now is a nice, safe, quiet life with nothing to interrupt it." He couldn't help but wonder what his own father was up to these days, if the duke of Exeter even thought about him anymore. The duke could be a cold man, very cold. But yet he loved his children with a vengeance. "I just want to get out of this place, where is Andrew, anyway?"
Sir Ffoulkes gave a wry grin. "I believe he and Michelle are doing what I have done--figured out a way to escape from their Mother. To be more exact, the young Lord Hastings came for a visit, and when that occurs, they usually go riding."
Sir Ffoulkes gave a wry grin. "I believe he and Michelle are doing what I have done--figured out a way to escape from their Mother. To be more exact, the young Lord Hastings came for a visit, and when that occurs, they usually go riding."
Tony scowled slightly, how he envied his friends! Not that it was their fault he was bedridden for the time being, that time frame being a week. Maybe less if he cooperated with the doctor and did what he was supposed to do in order to enhance his recovery. "Wish I could have gone," Tony said hunkering down into his bedcovers.
Ffoulkes smiled. "Perhaps, but you have been quite ill. I'm sure that by the time we reach France, you will be feeling much better. As for now, you must rest and gain your strength. Which reminds me," he continued, pulling out a book. "I brought this for you. Andrew selected it, and he thought you may like it." He handed the book to Tony. "It will give you something to do while you are in bed."
Meanwhile, a few days later, Tony was feeling much better but also growing restless. He wanted to get up and out but was fairly sure that the doctor would not let him. Taking a deep breath, Tony picked up the book that Andrew's father had given him and began to read.
Jacquot entered Tony's room with a pleasant smile, "Good morning, mon petit milor! How do you feel?" Jacquot came over to the bed. "Let me check on your stitches, mon petit," he said and lifted Tony's shirt and examined the grim scar then straightened up. "Ah, good! It is getting much better! Excellent! You are in fit condition to travel! I have received a letter from Milor Ffoulkes, you are to be transported to Dover. Your valet is already there with your bags. Most excellent news, no?"
Tony glanced up with a start, for he had been spacing out slightly when the doctor had come into the room. "Really? I can go?" His face lit up like the sun would- if indeed there were such thing as sun in England. Most of the time it rained. "When? My bags...oh, you said Ralph was taking care of them." Tony's face was pink from excitement. "Does this mean no more yucky medicine again- ever?"
Jacquot smiled, "I cannot promise forever, but I promise you will be health in no time and I will be traveling with you to France. And be very happy to be out of this horrid weather. We can go any time you are ready."
"I can really go to France, now? You think I'm ready?" Tony asked with an air of excitement in his voice that was rarely there. He was utterly exhausted but glad to be alive and that this ordeal of 'cancer' was behind him. Surely it would not come back. The doctor had operated and he was cured now. Or so he hoped..
"But of course!" Jacquot laughed, then said a little more seriously. "We will take certain precautions and I will travel with you, but any moment you are ready we may go."
Tony sighed but nodded. He would do anything to get out of this bed. "I'm ready right now, sir! When is the next tide?"
Jacquot smiled, "Then within two days time you shall be in France! I shall go see to the carriage and call M. Ralph in to help you dress."
Tony was more than happy to leave the gloomy English country side for awhile, one of the things he missed most from having been sick was horse back riding. That was one of the activities that he was planning on doing as soon as he was able. Smiling slightly, Tony peered outside the window of the carriage. "Say Ralph, I won�t have to lay around all day, will I? I have so much to catch up on..."
Ralph smiled, "I'm afraid Dr. Jacquot says you will have to wait for those stitches to come out before riding, but that should only be two or three weeks."
Ralph smiled, "I'm afraid Dr. Jacquot says you will have to wait for those stitches to come out before riding, but that should only be two or three weeks."
"Two or three WEEKS?" Tony blurted out, finding himself getting rather annoyed at the fact that he had to be probably housebound for a month before he could do anything fun. "How long until we get there, two months?" He was still a bit pale but mainly from the carriage ride, there.
"It's not that bad," Ralph said consolingly. "We'll be there by tomorrow�s end... besides, there are other things you can do. Dr. Jacquot is afraid you may pull your stitches..."
Tony sighed, it was obvious that he would not be winning this argument with Ralph any time soon. They would arrive in a day or two- then what? He couldn't even visit his cousin Percy if he asked to do so. "What kind of things AM I allowed to do? I don't think anybody realizes how frustrating this is for me."
"Well, you could visit your friends or your cousin, you could go shopping, the doctor merely wants you to avoid strenuous exercises," Ralph said.
Young Tony had finally dozed off in a peaceful sleep in the carriage, his arm hanging to one side and the book that he had been reading had fallen to the floor. What was going to happen once he arrived at Ffoulkes Manor, would they still want him at their home? Nervously, Tony fidgeted in his sleep and still did not make a sound. He would only wake up when Ralph chose to wake him up, the second they arrived at the manor. For now he slept. "I am right here, mon petit."
