Page 68 of Until My Last Breath

“Richard!” Darcy remembered, trying to stand up again.

“The colonel is being attended already. Mr Chase is taking care of him,” Captain Walker said, holding Darcy down.

“How is he?”

Captain Walker smiled. “He will survive. It seems the two of you are too stubborn to die.”

Fortunately, despite the dagger having pierced his flesh on the left side of his abdomen, and caused a significant leakage, Richard’s heavy uniform had prevented the blade from going lethally deeper. Despite still being a nasty and painful cut, it was not enough to pose a threat to his life.

Nearby, a movement from Wickham’s body caught Richard’s eyes.With Mr Chase’s help, they knelt down beside Wickham. The man was still alive, despite the massive bleeding from his stomach.

“Colonel,” Wickham called in a weak voice, “It was never… my intention… to go this far… Forgive me…” He gasped for air as he extended his hand.

Richard flinched in surprise. He was not expecting that. He had wanted, even planned, to send Wickham personally to hell. But now, seeing the pain of his old acquaintance, disfigured by torture, his youth wasted on lies and crimes while dying alone — even if, as Richard had witnessed with his own eyes, Wickham had saved Darcy’s life — something stirred inside Richard. As he looked down at Wickham’s wound, he knew he would not survive.

Wickham grimaced in pain, his hand shaking in the air as blood trickled from his mouth.

Richard took his hand.

A weak smile formed on Wickham’s lips. “Thank you…”

The grip of his hand weakened, and Wickham took his last breath.

Richard held his hand a little longer, and then let it go.

Leaning closer, Richard closed Wickham’s eyes, taking a deep breath. He felt the pull of Mr Chase’s hand. “Let us go, Colonel. It is over.”

Some members of the crew entered carrying litters. Carefully placing Elizabeth in one of them, they carried her away.

Darcy remained on the floor with Captain Walker beside him pressing a cloth against his bleeding and most certainly broken nose. One of the soldiers approached them. “Captain, we recovered four ladies from the village and five others from the lower deck, all of them foreign and in quite bad condition. None of our men fell, just five wounded in the village, and three here on board, including Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr Darcy — and Miss Elizabeth, of course. All the pirates from the village were captured or killed; the survivors were arrested and are now being taken to the ship. Six of the pirates on board are dead, four of them here in the captain’s cabin, including the captain himself. Colonel Fitzwilliam recognised the seventh body as George Wickham, Miss Elizabeth’s captor. It seems our missionwas successful, sir.”

“Indeed, Lieutenant. Thank you.”

Once the ship was emptied, and the wounded removed, Captain Walker gave one last look before giving his command. “Lock the helm and tie up the sails. In a few days, another crew will arrive to sail this ship back to England.”

But for them, it was time to return home.

~ ♥ ~

After some time waiting outside, Mr Darcy was invited into their former cabin, now reassigned as their temporary infirmary. One of the berths was occupied by Richard, who was already sleeping. On the other, Darcy saw Elizabeth’s immobile form; her arm wrapped around her body and part of her face covered with clean, white bandages.

“How is she?” Darcy asked as he sat on the third berth and Dr Alden started attending him.

“She is fine, considering everything. Apart from the several scratches on her face, the soft part of her nose was damaged. But nothing time cannot heal. And her arm? Dear God. The way Captain Walker described it. The strength he said he applied to put her shoulder back. I would have expected it to be broken, but fortunately it is not. We have a very brave and lucky lady among us, Mr Darcy. Very lucky indeed. I gave her a dose of laudanum and expect her to sleep for some hours.”

A moan escaped Darcy’s lips as a sharp pain spread throughout his face. Only the memory of Elizabeth fighting at his side gave him strength to endure it.

“It seems you have fractured your nose too, Mr Darcy—”

“Daaarcy?” a slurred voice called interrupting the doctor.

Darcy frowned, looking at Dr Alden.

“Your brave cousin refused to take laudanum. He was adamant about it. He said he would not go through the same experience you had. I wasforced to get him drunk with rum before stitching the wound.” Dr Alden pursed his lips while stuffing dressings into Darcy’s nose to raise the broken bone. “He has a nasty cut in his abdomen, but… God knows how, the blade did not damage any vital organs. I am reluctant to keep using this word, but you all were very, very lucky, Mr Darcy. Do you have any idea of the odds of everything ending as well as it did?”

“Arghh!” Darcy hissed in pain, as tears escaped his closed eyes.

Dr Alden stopped. “I am sorry, but in your case, rum will not help; this is a bone fracture and not a flesh wound. Shall I give you some laudanum?”

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