Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Morning Visitor

The next morning arrived with the sounds of crunching and pounding outside Teressa's home, that jolted her from sleep. Alarmed, she hastily wrapped her old shawl around herself and hurried to the door.

But the sight that greeted her upon opening the door left her utterly shocked.

There, in the middle of the cold of winter, stood Sir Gayle, shirtless, vigorously chopping wood.

"My goodness, young man! What are you doing? You'll catch your death out here!" Teressa exclaimed in genuine concern, rushing back inside to rouse Isabel from her sleep.

"Isabel! Wake up, dear!"

Isabel's eyes fluttered open slowly while her mother's form was still blurry before her.

"Yes, mother?" she mumbled sleepily.

"Your... husband— I mean... that young man! The physician is outside chopping firewood in the snow!" Teressa relayed, her worry evident in her tone.

"Mother, let him be. He's accustomed to such tasks," Isabel replied groggily, the reality of her situation still sinking i