Page 35 of Until My Last Breath

Her mouth fell opened. “I do not think this is the kind of comment a single gentleman should make to a lady.” Then she frowned. “What did I say?”

Darcy could not hold his laughter anymore, immediately regretting it. Taking a deep breath, and still struggling to contain his amusement, he said in a higher pitch tone, “Please put this bonnet away, it is… monstrous.”

She smiled at his boyish behaviour. His features were so handsome when he was relaxed. The arrogant and haughty man that she once believed him to be was definitely gone.

“Well,” she said embarking in his jest, “If that is the case, I believe it was not just a mere dream but a nightmare. No respectable lady wants to be seen using such an unfashionable item.”

The light-hearted moment was interrupted by a sound at the door. Elizabeth stepped out of the bed as Dr Hayford and Brown were bidding them good morning.

“Well, well, what do we have here today?” Dr Hayford remarked. “It seems our young man has had a good night’s sleep, have you not, sir? You look much better today.” He smiled and placed his hand on his patient’s forehead. “Yes, capital. No fever. Now, let us see this wound. Sorry, sir, it may sting a bit,” the doctor added quietly, pulling the bandage from Darcy’s wound.

Darcy shut his eyes, pressing his lips together. Perhaps the old, proud Mr Darcy was not completely gone, after all.

Elizabeth’s thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a curious Mr Brown attentively looking at the doctor’s work.

“The wound is healing splendidly, much better than I would expect. Mrs Smith, you have been an excellent nurse,” the doctor said without raising his eyes.

“If Mr Smith is so much improved, perhaps they could join us in the dining area,” Brown said.

Elizabeth widened her eyes. What was the man about now?

“Oh, no,” said Dr Hayford. “Good gracious. Although Mr Smith is much better, going up and down those stairs is still beyond his abilities fornow. Waiting a couple more days would be preferable. It would be better if you could keep sending their meals upstairs for now.”

Elizabeth sighed in relief and wondered if the doctor was been too precautious for their benefit.

After the doctor had changed the bandages, Darcy turned to Elizabeth. “My dear, why do you not take advantage of the doctor’s presence and go and refresh yourself?”

She understood his meaning. “If the doctor agrees.”

Without taking his eyes from his work, Dr Hayford gave his assent with a slight movement of his head and hand. “Of course. Go my dear.”

To Elizabeth’s surprise, the bowl in the dressing room was full again with fresh water and the chamber pot, which she had used during the night, was empty. She blushed at the thought of Mr Darcy having his needs attended by the doctor, just behind the door. For this very reason, she took her time. When she thought it was safe to go back, she opened the door, peeking outside. Thankfully, they had already finished.

“Well, my dear Mrs Smith,” said Dr Hayford. “It seems your husband is on his way to a full recovery. I will come back tonight. Have a good day.”

Before leaving the room, he gave Elizabeth a meaningful look. “Everything will be well, my dear. I promise you.”

After closing the entrance door behind the doctor, Brown went to the kitchen and asked the servant to take some food upstairs. He approached Ned, who was sitting at the table, drinking a cup of tea while cleaning his pistol. Brown served himself the same and sat in front of him.

An ugly grimace distorted Brown’s face as he spat the tea back into the cup. “Heaven and ’ell, Ned. What are you trying to do, kill us all? This tea is ’orrible.”

“If it’s so bad, why don’t you prepare some yourself?” Ned roared back, suspiciously pointing the pistol he had been cleaning in Brown’s direction.

“Whoa! Put that thing down,” Brown said looking at the pistol. “Doctor said our dandy will recover. Perhaps tomorrow we can take himaway from ’ere.”

Ned chuckled. “Ah! What an idiot, that doctor.”

“Yeah,” Brown replied, sneering. “The good doctor is an idiot, blind as a bat to what’s ’appening around him. He’s quite taken by the girl, always reassuring her that her husband will be fine in no time. He has even taken upon himself to change the man’s clothes, and help him to use the chamber pot, just to avoid the good lady from being overtired!”

“And the lady, what are we going to do with her? We can’t take her with us, can we?”

“We won’t,” Brown replied, a sneer illuminating his wrinkled face. “I sent word to Wickham and told him to make the necessary arrangements for her. By now, he must have received the message and be doing exactly that… If he wants to live, of course.”

~ ♥ ~

Doctor Hayford’s amiable countenance turned into a deep frown as he entered his carriage.

“So, Doctor. Was your first impression confirmed?” a man in the dark corner of the carriage asked. “Was the lady really asking for help?”

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