Charlie Brandon's bedchamber

It did not pass a long time before the potions that Charlie brought from Suffolk finished.
His doctors prescribed him to take those drugs three times per day and, if necessary, to augment the dose.
He had forgotten how much Court's life could be stressful and, inevitably, he ended up to finish his stockpile in a couple of weeks.
At the moment, he felt very bad: he spent four days alone in his room, without sleeping or eating. He didn't want to see anyone, neither someone from his family.
The room became a mess: he didn't allow servants to come in and he was often victim of his own uncontrolled anger attacks.

However, in a moment of awareness, he decided to write to the Court physician.
His father told him something about the man, but the young Brandon never met him.
He put the letter into the hands of a servant who wore the livery of the Staffords, his mother's family. He feared that a servant from his father's household would give the letter to him first.
The letter was very short. The black ink dripped on the paper while Charlie was writing because of his trembling hand.
It said:

"Most admired Mr. De Agostinis,
Please, come as soon as possible.
We don't know each other yet, but I need your help or I will die.
I can pay you any sum of money you wish.
I can't write my name on this paper, but you're requested and welcomed to follow my servant to my rooms.
I wait for you.
C.H.S.B.
P.S. Burn this letter"

As the servant left the room after a bow, Charles fell on the sofa and looked at the wall in front of him.
He was wearing black pants, boots and a white shirt.
His blonde hair were ruffled, he had deep black bags under his sky-blue eyes and he looked more pale than usual.
He poured some wine in his goblet and drank it in an instant.
He waited for the physician to come.

Agostino got the letter from the servant wearing the Stafford's livery. For a moment he thought that lady Anna was not feeling well. Or..that she was pregnant again. He read it carefully and felt very surprised by the words he read. He didn't know who was the person who asked for him, but he understood that his problem was urgent. So he burnt the letter as requested and followed the servant. When he found himself in front of the young Brandon's door, he understood. He dismissed the servant and opened slowly the door. He glanced inside room

Your Grace..may I come in? It's Dr De Agostinis..

Charles remained on the sofa looking at the fireplace as if he was hypnotized.
At first he heard footsteps coming from the corridor.
Then, when he heard the door opening slowly and the physician's voice, he looked up: "Yes, come in quickly" he said.

He set down with the goblet of wine in one hand and his elbows laid on his knees.
The curtains drapes were drawn and so the room was quite dark. It didn't bother him, but it was necessary to get used to the less light inside.

"Thank you for coming. I'm very grateful. Please, have a seat... May I offer you something to drink?" he invited him pointing the armchair in front of him and drinking a sip of his wine.

Charlie took his time to watch him: red hair, pale skin, freckles... He was unusual.

"You know, doctor De Agostinis" he started "For a man in my position, I have to ask you to keep the secret about this visit. No one knows about my condition except my family and no one has to know it. Is it clear?"

Agostino came closer. The young Brandon looked very pale and not in good health. He sat hesitantly next to him and nodded

Of course..I won't talk to anyone about this visit, Your Grace. I'm tied by professional secret. Now tell me..can you describe me your symptoms? I read your message, and I'm rather worried..

He looked intently at him, noticing that he was staring at him as well. He wondered what was troubling his body and his soul

"Excellent" he wanted to say with satisfaction, but his voice sounded more like a whisper.

He coughed and stood up with much effort, walking slowly to a table not far from where they were.

"My doctors in Suffolk gave me these drugs to calm down my instincts..." he said picking up a couple of little glass bottles "I suspect they don't know exactly what to do with me" he laughed softly.
He turned and came back to him. He handed him the bottles and leaned close to the fireplace.
He looked at the flames and continued to speak: "It all started when I was a little child and got worse when I grew up. Now, it is almost uncontrollable. I fear it deals with my mind. I hurt myself without realizing it" he looked a moment to his injured hands "It happens often when I sleep and I have nightmares, terrible nightmares... And then, when it's morning, a moment I feel happy and the moment after I'm very angry and can't help but blame something: objects, people... It doesn't matter. I just have to do it. My moon changes so rapidly... " he shook his head "... I'm terrified from myself. At least, those potions helped me but since I'm back to Court I had to drink then more often than usual and... well, they finished rapidly..."

Agostino listened him carefully. He thought deeply about his symptons, and after the boy finished talking he nodded

Uhm..I see. Anger attacks are not unusual among teenagers. Even girls can have them. But I'm rather worried for nightmares..and for self harm acts. All this can be due to a very fragile nervous system..

He saw a bottle on the table and took it in his hands. He opened it and smelled it carefully. So he looked at him again

Is this the drug you use to calm down your nerves, Your Grace?

His words didn't reassure him, on the contrary... He started feeling more nervous.
At least, he appreciated that Doctor De Agostinis didn't lie to him like the doctors in Suffolk did all the time, just in order to reassure him that everything was fine when it wasn't.

"I see..." he said.

He looked at him and at the bottle he was smelling: "Yes, it is. There are many", he added pointing the others on the table.

He was getting nervous, he could feel it and also see it by the trembling of his gloved hands.
He always had them covered: he didn't want to let people see them and especially what he did to them.

He took another goblet of wine and drank from it.

Agostino put the bottle on the table again and took another one from his bag

I suggest you this one, Your Grace. It's a mixture of herbal essences. It will help your nerves to relax. Drink this..and this only, every evening before sleeping. And no more wine..

He said glancing at the glass of wine in his hands. He noticed he was trembling and looked at his gloved hands

May I have a look at your hands, your Grace? Don't worry..whatever I'll see, it will remain secret and won't come out from this room..

Charles was quite reluctant toward his request.
He didn't feel at his ease to show his hands to people he didn't know, even thought Mr De Agostinis wanted to help him.

"Well..." he sighed "If you insist..."

He took his gloves off and showed his hands without looking at them: they were not a good view.
They were kind of tortured, with many fresh wounds and scars.

"I did it..."

Agostino looked at his hands. There were many scars on them. He took them in his hands and sighed deeply

I've seen worse. But consider yourself lucky for sstill having your hand's use..

He took an ointment from his medical bag and started spreading it on his scars

Use this twice a day. I..I shall be sincere with you, Your Grace: These scars won't disappear completely. But..you hand's look can improve. So you won't wear gloves anymore. Why..why you did this to yourself, Your Grace?