It was another week before Dr. Jenkins would allow Louis to leave his room. Seven days of boredom punctuated by frustratingly inconsequential conversations with Daniel. Once freed from the room, Louis spent a fortnight spent building his strength, initially calling on Gwylim for physical and navigational aid as he explored the house and then venturing alone to the gardens, wandering the paths as he convinced himself of the necessity of leaving before desire betrayed him and Daniel cast him from the house in shame.
Sharing a drink before dinner as the sun splashed through the windows, Louis forced himself to comment on the dramatic improvement of the weather since the day he’d arrived. “As summer seems now firmly on its way, and my strength increases daily, I will not impose myself much l
