The afternoon went on because it had to.
There was nothing that John Segundus would have liked to do more than hide for a while until he felt better, less guilty, but that was not possible. There were many things to do and anyway, the would be no hiding at for the time being. He would know wherever he was that Childermass had followed him there because he had no choice but to do so.
Segundus walked toward the house and now that Childermass was able to move again, he did, and preceded him inside.
Childermass threw himself into a chair in the kitchen and glowered at nothing in particular.
"Childermass-" Segundus started to say.
"Please. I do not want to hurt your feelings, but if I have to speak to you at the moment, I may do so."
"I see."
It was past time for lunch and and Segundus gathered some bread and cheese and fruit and set it at the table because he felt he must do something and that passed a few very tense minutes and gave him, for a short while, something else to put his mind to,
He and Childermass sat across from each other at the table in silence for some time. Segundus ate a few bites of food but Childermass only stared and sighed.
"We will think of some solution," said Segundus.
"I have other things to do than fix this," said Childermass.
"Oh. So you intend-"
"I am saying that this is has interrupted other important work. Of course we must fix it."
Both men were drained from the afternoon and after Segundus cleaned the cold lunch away, he stared down at his hands for some time, trying to work up the nerve to speak to Childermass again.
"I am a mess," he eventually said. "I must have a bath."
"Do it then."
"Childermass..."
It seemed for a second that Childermass had managed to forget his new bondage. When he caught Segundus' meaning, he groaned.
"Fine," he said.
There were still hours until anyone else would be home, so Segundus put the water the on stove himself and pulled out the tub and began to drag it up the stairs.
"What are you doing?" asked Childermass.
"Taking this upstairs. It's where I bathe. In my room."
He had not considered that Childermass would have different, perhaps less private, bathing habits until then. It was to Childermass' credit that angry was he was, he did not let Segundus struggle with the tub, but carried it with him, and the water too.
When it was ready, Childermass sat outside Segundus' door while he undressed and bathed for some time. He had nearly fallen asleep leaning against the door when he heard Segundus call for him.
"Childermass, I am very sorry..."
"What?"
"The water...it's black and I am not clean yet. I must empty the tub and start again. If I asked...would you?
"You know I would have no choice."
He waited a moment and then entered the room. Segundus was in a robe and standing next to the tub, dripping water onto the floor. He and Segundus dumped it and then filled it again.
Segundus continued his bath until the three servants came home in the late afternoon, Soon after they were heard approaching, Segundus emerged in fresh clothes with very pink skin.
Childermass followed him downstairs, where the maid was in a state at the ink all over the house. She was even more overworked by the sad look on Segundus' face and it seemed to erase her frustration at the mess instantly. She set to cleaning and took care of the tub of inky water without asking questions, but looked forlornly at Segundys several times out of concern. Segundus informed them that Childermass had some unexpected business and would be staying for dinner.
Segundus and Childermass sat in the parlor while dinner was prepared, Childermass with his arms crossed staring ahead out the window and Segundus with a book that he made a show of interest in while in reality looking every minute or so at Childermass.
The meal was quiet. Childermass had regained his appetite and then some and ate without speaking, Segundus thought a few times of trying to engage him in conversation, but he was exhausted did not wanted to cause more harm. He picked at his food and was despondent each time he caught Childermass' face across the table.
After dinner, Segundus wanted only to sleep and said as much.
"Well, if you are going to bed, then I am too," said Childermass.
Problem piled upon problem, thought Segundus. They went upstairs together and tried many different variations of them standing or lying in separate rooms to see what would work for sleeping arrangements. It was feasible to a point, if they moved their beds against adjoining walls, but there was a deep straining at the bond between them this way that was very uncomfortable for both.
Segundus sat on his bed on one side of a wall and Childermass on the other and all Segundus felt was a wish to loosen to the taut feeling he had in his middle.
"How will we explain?" he asked when Childermass came back in the room as he pushed his bed back to where it had been. Childermas too looked relieved to have the bond relaxed, but Segundus did not mention it.
"You decide," said Childermass.
What Segundus decided was that tonight, they would tell no one.
He brought back several blankets and a pillow to the room. He handed them to Childermass, who started to make a pallet on the floor, and then pulled the curtains over the windows.
"I must undress now," he muttered.
Childermass shrugged.
Segundus kept his back turned while he took off each layer of clothing on the top half pf his body and set it on the bed. When he was done, he pulled on his sleeping down and then removed his breeches.
Childermass was lying on the floor, still in his clothes, looking up at the ceiling.
"Do not say goodnight to me, please," he said.
"If you don't wish it, I won't."
Segundus got into bed and pulled the covers over himself. He had just closed his eyes when he heard Childermass speak.
"I will try to be less angry tomorrow," he said, much more gently than he had said anything else since the incident in the garden. "I know you meant well. And who knows where I would be now, otherwise."
"You have every right to anger. I will try...I will try to be careful in my speech while we solve this so that you are as comfortable as you can be. I do not want you to do things you don't want to, even if they are small."
Childermass did not respond, so Segundus closed his eyes again. He could not sleep for some time and tossed in his bed. Eventually, he heard Childermass removing his clothes though Segundus did not think he slept.
The last thing he thought of before sleeping was the expression on the fairy women's faces when they had looked at Childermass. He thought that this may cost him a friendship in the end, but that he was glad he had done it, after all, to have Childermass here and safe.