"As if anything short of a Christmas miracle could keep me away," he laughed. Sternness wasn't a strong enough of a deterrent to force a job change, anyway, which was the only way he would cease winding up in her care as often as he did. "I think if anything I would try to suffer through my injuries alone at home." And then die, most likely. Miss Skovgaard likely didn't care for him as he did her, but even she wouldn't wish death upon him.

Sitting up without the use of his limbs would prove to be quite the challenge, though he had to at least try for her. "I think my insides are all jelly," he tried to joke once he was vertical. Unbeknownst to him, he was swaying like a wobbly child.