April 21st, 1894 — Wellingtonshire

Seraphina only went to see her father when her husband made a comment about it; it had been nearly a month since her last visit. If Henry mentioned it, then she had to visit — she was already so much more vibrant than she'd been under the imperius curse, and she did not want her husband getting suspicious. Besides — this allowed her to keep an eye on what her husband was up to.

"Father," Sera greeted, stepping into his bedroom after knocking on the door. "I thought we might take tea in the garden?" She did not much care for being alone with her father, but being alone with him in the light of the day would be better than being alone in this bedroom.

  

---

set by MJ | adopt a Bythesea!

Algernon was making progress. He wasn't anywhere near where he ought to be, but progress was nonetheless being made. He was spending part of the day in a chair now, which was somehow still exhausting after too long.

Frustratingly, he had the niggling suspicion that something was wrong, but he had neither energy nor the ability yet to really determine if this was the case or just paranoia brought on by his continued invalid status. He was going to go mad before long, that much was clear.

Looking up at Seraphina's entrance, Algernon said, "Yes. All right." At least he could talk a bit more. Even so, his notebook was always on hand.

---

  

"Would you like me to help you?" she asked, in her most accommodating tone. Somehow, her most accommodating tone still sounded sharper to her than it had when she was Under. But Sera knew it was possible she was projecting. "Or shall I summon the staff?" She was not sure which her father would find less dignified.

  

---

set by MJ | adopt a Bythesea!

"The staff will be fine," Algernon said, not taking note of Seraphina's tone one way or the other. It was what servants were for, anyway, and Algernon thought they'd probably had quite the vacation with him mostly incapacitated. He did not, of course, have any idea what servants did most of the time when they weren't within his sight, only what things looked like when the work wasn't done to his satisfaction.

---

  

"I'll fetch them," she said. She stepped outside and informed one of the maids, and hovered awkwardly behind the staff as they helped her father make it into the garden. It felt invasive, as if she was seeing something she should not be.

She waited until the staff left them to sit down in a chair next to his in the garden, and smiled expectantly at him.

  

---

set by MJ | adopt a Bythesea!

Once he was settled in the garden, Algernon sighed. It was a relief to be able to spend time outside. It felt as though he'd been in recovery for years instead of a few months. Dying would have been less of a trial, he thought, from a purely practical standpoint.

Once the servants had retreated, Algernon said, "I'll be glad when I'm recovered enough to get about on my own." He said this in Seraphina's general direction. He mostly spoke at his children rather than to them, which was an unfortunate side effect of how he'd dealt with his family in general. Though, frankly, he probably would have been like this regardless.

---

  

The thought of Algernon Rowle being mobile was a chilling one — Sera needed to be able to protect herself from him. She settled in her seat to avoid shivering. She wished she could get away with being like Philip, and never visiting.

"Is the nurse as confident in your full recovery as we are?" Sera asked, after a beat where she tried to figure out how to frame her question — grouping herself together with her father made her feel vaguely nauseated.

  

---

set by MJ | adopt a Bythesea!

Algernon made a derisive sound--not a snort, Algernon Rowle did not snort. But perhaps to uncultured ears it would sound like he had. "I certainly know myself better than any nurse." he said. Or healer of any kind, really.

---

The following 1 user Likes Algernon Rowle's post:1 user Likes Algernon Rowle's post
   Seraphina Bythesea

"Of course, father," Sera agreed, hating herself. "I merely want to ensure that she is providing you with the best care possible.'' And never mind that she wished that Algernon's nurse was a little less competent.

  

---

set by MJ | adopt a Bythesea!

Algernon sighed. "Yes, well." Algernon couldn't deny that he'd needed the help--still needed the help, really. He couldn't deny it, so he didn't say anything about it at all. "I am better everyday. It shouldn't be long now." The only question, really, was just how long "not long" was. That, apparently, was a thing he had no control over.

---

  

Sera's blood felt chilled. She smiled at her father and laid a sympathetic hand upon his arm, which she pulled away after a beat. She did not want to discuss this anymore. She should have asked. She would have to warn her brothers. ''My dear husband and I think we may put Harriet in summer programming at the finishing school,'' she said, mild. ''Do you think it would be wise?"

  

---

set by MJ | adopt a Bythesea!

Algernon was, of course, less interested in his granddaughters on any sort of personal level than he was in... well, most things, really, but this, at least, was something that felt normal. A family matter. And Harriet... well, Algernon thought that she could use a firmer hand, frankly. So, he said, "Pendergast's?" The three-syllable name was a feat he might have been proud of getting through if it wasn't so shameful that it had taken seven months to get to that point. "Yes. Yes, I think that would be wise."

---

  

"Oh, good," Sera said, in that same mild tone. Was this what she had been like while Under? She thought so. "My dear Henry will be so happy to know that you agree."

(Luckily, Sera suspected this would be a fun program for Hettie.)

  

---

set by MJ | adopt a Bythesea!

Yes, Algernon rather thought he would. He'd been very particular with his children's spouses, and he was not disappointed with Bythesea. Harriet's demeanor notwithstanding, obviously. If anyone understood the limits a man had over his children, it was Algernon Rowle.

"Where is that maid with the tea?" he asked aloud. Surely they had been out here long enough to brew a pot of tea and to have it brought out. Honestly, it was a wonder anything got done around here.

---

  

Algernon's question found Sera with some relief. She stood up and smoothed her skirts, neatly. "I will find her, Father," she said simply — but did not step away yet. She knew better than to walk away without release — especially when that required turning her back towards her father.

  

---

set by MJ | adopt a Bythesea!

"Yes, go on," Algernon said, turning his face away to look out into the garden. A clear dismissal.

---