Page 41 of Leave Her Wild
“Yes, sir. We will execute whatever is necessary to save the young master. There are cakes and cheese and bread in the morning room, ladies. All of you appear as if you could use a few minutes to reclaim your energy. The staff is most grateful for your diligence. It speaks well of your loyalty to Mr. Darcy.”
“Come, Elizabeth,” Jane motioned from the open door and waited for Elizabeth to obey. She wrapped an arm about Elizabeth’s shoulders to lead her away from his room. “It will take Mr. Sheffield and Mr. Thacker at least a half hour to execute their task. You have dark circles under your eyes and require a few minutes to know a bit of attention directed to you.”
Elizabeth thought Mr. Darcy was suffering from more than a lack of sleep, but arguing would serve no purpose, so she permitted Jane to do what her eldest sister did best—tend to everyone else, but the man who was to be her husband. Descending with the others to the lower level had been the first time Elizabeth had been downstairs since their arrival at Darcy House. It was truly a beautiful house, one of which to know great pride.
“When Uncle Gardiner came to call on us the first time,” Jane was saying, “he told us that this very table had come from Grandfather Gardiner’s warehouses.”
Miss Darcy added, “My mother chose it when William was seven years old, long before I was born. Mr. Thacker says, initially, my mother polished it herself, for she was so proud of it. Papa had presented her permission to remodel several of the rooms of Darcy House, which was quite a compliment, for nothing had been changed in years.”
“Are there other pieces from Grandfather Gardiner’s stock?” Mary asked as Elizabeth listlessly ate one of the lemon cakes the younger footman had placed on her plate while Jasper poured tea in the cup before her place setting.
“The bed in the mistress’s chambers,” Miss Darcy provided with a bit of pride at knowing her family’s history, “as well as the wardrobe and tables and such.” The girl continued, “When you marry my brother, Miss Bennet, you shall use something from your own family in your quarters.”
The slight pause said that Jane had shot a glance of alarm to Elizabeth, but Elizabeth had purposely put her head down on her arm not only to hide her eyes, but to recite another prayer for Mr. Darcy’s survival.
The others talked around her; however, she no longer listened to them. Elizabeth knew Mary’s hand rested upon her to keep Elizabeth from sliding from the chair in exhaustion. Yet, she could not sleep, not until Mr. Darcy was on his way to recovery.
Eventually, Mr. Sheffield sought her out with the others. “I am, the whole house, is most grateful for your diligence, Miss Elizabeth,” he said as she raised her head to hear the valet’s news. “Mr. Thacker and I rolled Mr. Darcy to his side to review the exit wound.”
“Where the bullet passed through Mr. Darcy’s body?” Elizabeth was on her feet immediately. “I have not washed that area. Was it bad?” she pleaded in fear.
“Pus around several of the stitches,” Mr. Sheffield explained. “Inflamed.”
“I should have . . .” she began.
“Do not blame yourself, miss,” Mr. Sheffield cautioned. “All of us knew of the bullet’s path,” the valet explained, “but none of us thought of that wound being more than a nuisance.”
“Have you . . .” she began.
“Mr. Thacker sent Declan to fetch Mr. Rheem. Captain Kinself sent word yesterday that he is attending to a general and a few others within his regiment, but Mr. Rheem holds an excellent reputation. We will have Mr. Darcy fit and fine soon.”
Elizabeth felt as if her knees might buckle. “You will assist Mr. Rheem when he arrives?” she asked the valet.
“Absolutely, ma’am. Now finish your tea and have another cake and then you may return to Mr. Darcy’s side. Thacker hasseveral men changing out the master’s sheets and blankets so they might be properly laundered.”
Elizabeth wanted neither the tea nor the cake, but she followed the man’s directions.
In less than a half hour, she returned to Mr. Darcy’s suite and was restocking the towels and soap when Mr. Thacker showed a man with a bag into the room. “Mr. Rheem, miss,” the butler said.
With a simple glance to Mr. Darcy’s person, lines of concern furrowed the man’s brows. “You should leave us, miss.”
Elizabeth planted herself at the side of Mr. Darcy’s bed. “I choose to stay, sir.”
Mr. Rheem chuckled. “Exactly what those below thought you would say. I see you have set up what I might require.” He busied himself by shifting what she had set out for him to suit himself. “I assume you will not faint.”
“I shall not,” she said stubbornly.
The surgeon smiled again. “I often deal with willful women, but I find them to be the best sort.” He washed his hands thoroughly and dried them on a clean towel.
Mr. Sheffield appeared in order to assist the man. His jacket had been left behind and his shirt sleeves were rolled high on his arms.
“Wash well, sir,” Rheem ordered. “Between the fingers and around the fingernails.”
“What do you require of me, sir?” she asked.
“When we turn Mr. Darcy to his stomach, he will wish to fight us. It is to be your occupation to keep him from doing so,” the surgeon said with a wink.
“I am not the gentleman’s betrothed,” she explained.
