Chapter 8: Some days simply lay on you like stones.
"Listen, it's true that i like being payed, and yes I need to be payed to keep myself afloat especially because of that unfortunate rushed investment that I made which Safa did warn me about...so yes! I do need financial support and possibly financial education too but when I proposed to Safa, I wasn't thinking about money only! It wasn't the primary reason for my decision, believe me!" James defended himself.
Scoffing at his face, "Oh please! Like I'll believe that.
And by the way, here's some education for you! You're an Englishman James! A part of the Tons I might add! While Safa is this girl from Spain nobody knows, so if she marries you, you would gain ownership over all her property and she'd lose all her rights over her own inheritance! Making you the sole beneficiary of this relationship.
After all, Married women here face the same fate when they get married, their stupid irresponsible husbands take everything!
Safa was already lucky enough to inherit everything her family left because there was no male heirs left, and she was the only living family member.
With all respect, She won't just give you her fortune on a silver platter, especially not to a man like you!" Wolfgang replied.
"I swear I won't control her inheritance! I vow that anything she owned before we get married, will remain under her full control, I'm willing to write a contract dictating everything I just promised!" James said.
Scoffing again, "Aha?! Screw your promises, Are you seriously believing you'll marry her?! Now hold your horse!
First of all, your vows mean nothing! Time can change even the purest of intentions, so I don't trust you'll keep your word, and second..." But before he could finish, Wolfgang paused as he heard something, his face twisted into an expression of worry and confusion as he tried to focus on what he's hearing.
Confused himself when Wolfgang stopped talking, "What?! Why did you pause?! Keep burning the living hell out of me!" James said angrily.
With a surprised look on his face, "I'll continue later....i just heard Clara scream?!...wait, she is calling for our help!" Wolfgang said and without warning, he bolted out of the room, running to find the maid.
It took James just a second later before he ran after Wolfgang, the sound of Clara calling Their names became much louder as they reached the study room.
Going into the dimly lit room, Wolfgang's heart squeezed tightly in his chest at the sight of Safa, laying fainted in Clara's arms.
"Oh God!" James said upon seeing the scene, "What happened?" He asked approaching them hastily.
With tears in her eyes, "I don't know what happened my Lord, she just fell into my arms, she's not waking up no matter how much I shook her!" Clara replied.
Wolfgang hurried to the girls, he and James knelt at the same time beside Safa, both with the same intentions in mind.
"Let me help, I'll pick her up!" James said, "I am her servant, and it is my duty so step back!" Wolfgang replied unhappy.
"But Wolf!"
"James, if you wish to be helpful, call for a doctor."
Sighing, James knew he can't afford to argue again with the manservant, he watched as Wolfgang effortlessly picked his lady in his arms, and carried her out of the office as carefully yet as fast as he could.
When they were gone from his sight, James rose to his feet again and offered his hand for Clara who was still on the ground shaking in fear, she gladly took the help and held her lord's hand, lifting herself up in the process.
"I'll go find us a doctor, would you like to come with me or stay with those two?" James asked.
Sniffling, "I...wish to stay...my Lord." Clara replied.
Nodding, "Then please, help Wolfgang as much as you can while I go fetch us a doctor, I'll be back as soon as I can." James said before he offered his handkerchief to Clara as she shed a tear from the stress.
...Some time later...
"Doctor Martin, how is she?" Wolfgang's asked as soon as the elderly short doctor exited Safa's room, Clara was there with her in the room, while Wolfgang and James waited outside.
With his thick mustache and round spectacles on his nose, the doctor looked at the taller two gentlemen, he eyed them with an icy glare before he answered, "Are you two gentlemen her family members?"
"He is." James lied while pointing at Wolfgang, "I am merely a suitor." He added making Wolfgang roll his eyes.
Annoyed, "Well, you won't be courting anyone anytime soon if she keeps exhausting herself!" The doctor said to James.
"Uh, You Mean Her Life Is In Danger?!" Wolfgang nearly shouted.
"Lower you voice! Oh My poor sensitive ears!" The doctor scolded the manservant, "But I didn't shout!" Wolfgang replied frowning.
"You almost did wolf...anyways, doctor...what were you about to say?" James asked.
"The girl needs to rest, and avoid any sort of hard labor or stressful situation for at least a good few weeks before she can be considered healthy enough to marry." The doctor replied.
"SHE'S NOT GETTING MARRIED!" Wolfgang shouted.
"Wolf calm down! Please don't mind him doctor! What should we do to help the poor lady, is there anything she needs to have besides rest?" James asked.
"I would recommend her to eat more, she's not too skinny but it's for the best if she puts on a little more weight." The doctor replied.
Skeptical, "What about medicine?" Wolfgang asked, "Rest and nourishment should be enough for now, anyhow...that maiden with her, She said something about the girl being crippled? Can she walk?" The doctor questioned.
"Yes, she can walk now with the help of her walking stick, however she used to depend on a wheelchair, few years ago when walking was still difficult for her to manage." Wolfgang replied.
Nodding, "Well I suggest you bring and dust that chair so you can prepare her to use it again, under no circumstances would she be walking around while she's supposedly resting, it would be better if she stays in bed, however if she needs to move around, don't let her walk on two, make her slide if you have to." The doctor replied.
Shocked, "Are you sure doctor?!" Wolfgang asked, "Well if you don't care for her, let her further exhauste herself! Why do I care!" The doctor responded sarcastically.
Smiling, "Thank you for your help, doctor." James said, "I should take my leave now, i'll send you my bill soon." The doctor replied.
"Let me escort you outside!" James said, "That won't be necessary, I'm not a damsel in distress, I can find my way out! Now step aside Lover boy." The annoyed doctor responded and left stomping away.
Offended, "What an odd character he is! If he wasn't the closest doctor I came across, I wouldn't have asked for him to come!
I can't believe he got angry at us the whole visit simply because we asked him to wash his hands before he examins Safa!" James said once the doctor left.
"Safa is going to murder me, not only have I allowed a doctor to examine her, and she hates doctors...but now she has to use the chair again! She won't like it." Wolfgang spoke-up.
"Unfortunately, this isn't a matter of like and not like, if she wants to get better soon, Safa will have to adjust to the change." James replied.
Sighing, "Thank you James...for bringing the doctor yourself...
I still believe in my opinion, that you're not suitable for Safa, however I'm sorry about our argument earlier, I said some things...harsh things." Wolfgang said.
"Well you weren't THAT wrong about me...after all I am a womanizer and a money enthusiast.
Hardly ever the man that women would want to build a home with.
It's just that I thought my situation and Safa's would both be solved by our possible union.
I laughed when she spoke about her worries when she explained why she avoided lady Danbury.
But now seeing how she fainted, she must've been right! I bet the old woman came to offer Safa's help in finding a husband." James replied.
"Safa has always been sharp, good at reading people and predicting their next moves.
I can understand how you'd think your two situations would be solved by marrying each other, but...I genuinely believe that marriages built on anything but love, are doomed from start.
And as much as I want Safa to find her happiness, I want you too to find it, Lord James Teaton." Wolfgang said smiling softly at the redhead man.
Surprised, James felt his cheeks heat up.
His now red face has surprised Wolfgang, "Are you...blushing?" He asked, he was blushing too.
"You just...took me by surprise with your words! Anyone would blush in my shoes!" James replied.
Embarrassed, "I'm sorry, I'll go quickly see if the puppy is doing well, since it didn't follow me around like usual." Wolfgang said and made an escape.
Watching the manservant leave in a rush, "Goodness, why did I have to turn all red like my hair! And in front of him nonetheless!
I can't believe I am behaving this way because of another man!" James said before he grunted to himself loudly.
...Some minutes later...
James sighed for the thousand time possibly, he watched by the door, as chaos unfolded in Safa's room.
Now awake standing near the bed, Safa against the doctor's orders, was on her feet, held back by Wolfgang as she tried to get closer to Clara who was trying to keep a pistol secured in her hands and away from Safa.
"Clara give me the pistol!" Safa cried out, "Clara don't give her the pistol!" Wolfgang said next.
James sighed again, "Goodness, Clara dear come here and give me the pistol!" He said, his maid hurried to him with the gun and James took the loaded weapon and concealed it.
"Seriously Safa, who sleeps with a gun under their pillow!" James said.
"GIVE ME BACK MY BELONGINGS JAMES!" Safa yelled.
"James don't listen to her!" Wolfgang said, "As if! You believe I'm that stupid to hand her a loaded pistol!" James replied Astonished.
"You know I think I heard the dog barking, I'll go check on it!" Clara made an excuse before running away.
"See! You scared Clara away!" Wolfgang said, "Safa you need to stop resisting!" He added.
"I will not be using that wheelchair ever again! I worked so hard for years training to walk on two feet so I would never have to use it again! I would rather kill myself than sit in that chair!"! Safa spoke-up.
"Safa! Please it's only for few weeks and then you will be healthy enough to walk on your feet again!" Wolfgang begged, he was still holding her back by her waist as she continuously tried to get to the gun.
"Safa listen to wolf, and the doctor! You fainted! I never saw you faint in all the three years I've known you! You seemed dead in Clara's arms!" James said.
"I refuse to listen!" Safa replied.
"Why?!"
"BECAUSE I FEEL TRAPPED IN IT!" She yelled.
Wolfgang finally let go of her and she staggered to the bed to sit, "When I am in that chair, I feel like I am sitting in a moving prison cell." Safa said, doing her best to hold back her tears.
"I'm sorry, I can't imagine how horrible you must be feeling Safa." James replied.
"Just go...both of you, leave me alone.
Take the gun, I do not care anymore." Safa said laying in her bed.
Hurt, "I'll be right outside, if you need anything just call my name." Wolfgang said before he dragged James out of the room with him.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
QW_JiHi
QW_JiHi The first known dedicated wheelchair (invented in 1595 and called an invalid's chair) was made for Phillip II of Spain by an unknown inventor. In 1655, Stephen Farfler, a 22 years old German paraplegic watchmaker, built a self-propelling (self-moved) chair on a three-wheel chassis.
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