Chapter 15: I have never been in love; it is not my way, or my nature.

Meals have been quiet, unsocial affairs of late. Mostly because what Mr and Mrs Wynne deem ‘social’ is flinging veiled insults and self-pity at their children, as though having two remarkable offspring is such a burden to carry that no one could possibly be expected to do such a thing with steadfastness and dignity.

Regardless, after Mr Wynne’s run-in with Edmund in Aidan’s room during his time in the respirator, the older man has come to terms with his frailty, as well as his mortality. Even more so in the face of the good doctor’s talent with a scalpel.

Edmund being military during wartime means he outranks local law-enforcement, so there really is no one for the old man to take his frustrations out on aside from Officer Bolton.

And Officer Bolton won’t have any form of abuse under whichever roof he’s staying. He did not allow Harry near the drink in their family’s London home, and he will not allow these parents near their children if they refuse to be humane.