Page 23 of To Love And To Cherish
With a grunt, the doctor withdrew the bullet. “There it is.”
“Praise God!” Mrs. Goulding sobbed, wringing her hands.
“Heat the probe, Elizabeth, I need to cauterize,” he said.
While Elizabeth heated the probe, he tied off several of the larger bleeders.
“Probe,” he said. She handed it to him.
He cauterized the worst of the vessels, the acrid scent of burning flesh rising in the close air.
“I’ll close it up,” he said, while you suture the scalp. Elizabeth stepped away to tend to the gash in the man’s scalp.
Her hands were swift and steady. As she stitched, she examined the man’s temple. “Jacob, bring more water and a cloth.”
Elizabeth tied off the last stitch. “Mrs. Goulding, is the salted water cooled?”
“Here it is, Miss Elizabeth.”
Lizzy took a clean cloth, cleansed the wound, and dressed it.
“Well done.” Dr. Edgerton said as he looked at her a moment too long. “Elizabeth, I could stand aside and let you do the surgery.”
She glanced up at him. “You are too kind, Doctor.”
Was that a hint of tenderness in his eyes?
She flushed and busied herself washing the instruments. He turned back to finish stitching up the bullet hole.
Mr. Goulding was moved upstairs under Dr. Edgerton’s supervision. Elizabeth remained in the kitchen, cleaning instruments and then packing everything back into the leather case.
When the doctor returned, she handed him the closed bag. “Everything’s packed.”
He turned to Mrs. Goulding. “I’ll return in the morning. Miss Bennet will see to the dressing each day.”
Mrs. Goulding’s face crumpled. “Oh, thank you, thank you both. Will you stay for tea? You’ve not eaten.”
“No, it’s growing late, and I must get Miss Elizabeth back to her family. But Thank-you.”
On the return drive, dusk had fallen. Clouds feathered pink across the sky, and the last birds called from hedgerows.
“You’re quiet this evening,” he said.
“I’m tired,” she murmured. “Mr. Goulding’s leg should heal well, don’t you think?”
He nodded. Was that affection shining from his eyes? “Yes, his leg will mend. Elizabeth, I meant what I said earlier. You’re gifted.”
She did not answer at once. The thought that he might see her as something more than his assistant was disquieting. Dr. Edgerton was not young, but he was attractive, well-formed, and affable. He possessed a good estate and a dry wit. But she could not imagine loving him.
Had he begun to imagine loving her?
They arrived at Longbourn, and Hill opened the door.
Mrs. Bennet appeared with a false smile. “Dinner was left out for you both. Come and eat.”
Mr. Bennet joined them at the table. “A misfire, was it?”
Elizabeth was silent as the doctor explained the event. The Bennets listened with interest and, for once, offered no interference. She caught the doctor watching her twice more, but he said nothing to her, for which she was grateful.
