Page 43 of Leave Her Wild
She took his hand and kissed the back of his knuckles. “We received an express earlier today from Colonel Fitzwilliam. He has finally located Mr. Wickham and has placed the lieutenant under arrest, but all that can be addressed once you are up and about. Lord Lindale has called daily, as has Mr. Bingley. If you wish, I could write to both Lord Matlock and Lady Catherine to inform them of your recovery.”
“Lindale will . . . speak to . . . the earl. Matlock . . . will inform . . . his sister. Do not want . . . her at . . . my home. Too demanding . . . wants me . . . to marry . . . Anne.”
Elizabeth stroked the hair from his forehead. “I have heard much of your aunt and the indomitable Miss de Bourgh from my father’s cousin. As to the lady and your marriage, I doubt Jane will step aside for your cousin.”
She looked up when he turned his head into the pillow. The corners of his mouth had turned down. “But . . . you will.” He expelled a ragged breath. “Must rest.”
Elizabeth took a clean cloth and dipped it in lavender water. “Just take one step at a time. Soon though, you may reclaim your life and my sister. Jane has worried over you excessively.
“It seems . . . every time . . . I woke . . . it was you . . . not your sister . . . tending me.” He closed his eyes then, andElizabeth had the sinking sensation that he, too, had come to accept what could not be changed.
>>
The next time Darcy woke, Georgiana was in the chair last occupied by Miss Elizabeth. The woman had kept her promise. She had seen him on the “road” to recovery, and now she meant to absent herself from his life. Carefully, he squeezed his sister’s hand to wake her.
Immediately, Georgiana was on her feet. “William!” she said with a start. “It is wonderful to see you awake. Might I bring you some water?” She rushed towards the nearby table. “Miss Elizabeth says . . .”
“Georgie!” he said with emphasis. “Ring . . . for . . . Sheffield.”
“I can truly tend you myself,” she declared with a bit of “hurt” in her tone.
“Not with . . . personal . . . needs,” he said without emphasizing the words. Odd as it would be to say the words aloud, though he would have asked for Sheffield even if Miss Elizabeth was tending him, he knew Miss Elizabeth would have recognized his needs without being told.
“Oh!” his sister gasped and darted away. Within seconds, he could hear her tapping on a nearby door. Evidently, Mr. Sheffield was closer than Darcy had anticipated. Mumbled words were exchanged seconds before Sheffield rushed into the room.
“Permit me to assist you, sir.” His valet came around to the side of the bed to brace Darcy to a seated position. Then he fetched a chamber pot. “Can you manage from there, sir?” Sheffield asked. “I am not confident you should attempt to stand.”
“Neither am I,” Darcy admitted. “How long have I been here?”
“A bit over a week, sir,” his valet explained. “We were all excessively concerned. However, once Miss Elizabeth insisted you had an additional infection and insisted that I turn you over so we could examine your back, your fever quit being a nuisance.”
Darcy sat back, bracing himself to remain in place while Sheffield removed the pot. “Where is the lady?” he asked with as much casualness as he could muster. “I owe Miss Elizabeth my gratitude.”
“Miss Mary insisted that her sister claim her own rest. Miss Elizabeth watched over you quite exclusively, in fact, until her own near collapse. She foolishly allowed herself to know exhaustion,” Sheffield explained as he lifted Darcy’s legs to return them to the bed. “If you like, sir, I can rub your legs and arms to restore the feeling.”
“Permit me to reassure Miss Darcy I will survive and then you may return. Perhaps a towel bath and a shave,” Darcy suggested.
“Gladly, sir,” Sheffield said with a smile. “You frightened all of us.”
Darcy ventured, “Where is Miss Bennet? Perhaps I should also speak to her.” Like it or not, Darcy was convinced he could no longer honor his word to Miss Jane Bennet. Though he knew his decision would not sit well with the lady’s family, he could not spend a lifetime worrying over Miss Elizabeth’s future while bedding the lady’s sister. He was not built for such deception.
Sheffield glanced at the still open door of Darcy’s suite. He bent over Darcy to straighten the sheet and blanket covering Darcy’s person. “If I may make an observation, sir?” he asked softly.
Darcy nodded his permission.
“Mr. Bingley has called upon Darcy House daily not only to inquire of your progress, but to sit with Miss Bennet, withtheir heads often together. If you wait a bit longer, I suspect the lady will answer your dearest wish and call off the wedding,” his valet suggested.
“In the beginning,” Darcy said with equal slealth, “Bingley favored Miss Bennet also.”
“Just change the Christian name on the license,” Sheffield suggested with a wink before he stood.
Darcy stayed his valet’s exit. “Do you recall the ball given by Sir Robert and Lady Ellis shortly after I exited my mourning period following my father’s passing?”
“How could I not?” Sheffield said with a smile. “You rarely use so many curse words, especially directed at yourself.”
“The girl Lindale, Fitzwilliam, and I ignored . . .”
“Miss Elizabeth?” Sheffield asked with a knowing nod of correctness and a slight smile. “God does have the habit of placing who He wants a person to know in a man’s path until said man opens his eyes and actually views his future. Obviously, you must never question God’s wisdom again. He knows what you require most in your life, Mr. Darcy.”
