Page 75 of The Lord's Compass
The clopping of the horse’s hooves, the turning of the carriage wheels. Was he only hearing what he was wishing for, or was it reality? And was it friend or foe approaching?
He collapsed to the ground, no longer able to do anything but give in to the darkness that awaited.
* * *
Faith’s heartpounded as they approached the last place she had seen Eric. Would he still be there? Would he be… alive?
The driver had sensed the urgency as he encouraged the horses on quickly, and Faith hung her head out the window to see what awaited them.
Her heart seemed to jump out of the window and run down the road by itself when she saw him, recognizing the color of his jacket from where he lay on the side of the road – motionless.
“Eric!” she called out, hitting her hand against the side of the carriage to tell the driver to stop, for she was sure she could run faster than even the horses with the desperation that was currently fueling her.
The carriage couldn’t slow fast enough, seconds turning into minutes until she could open the door and run down the stairs, tripping over the bottom one and catching herself just before she fell.
“Eric,” she cried out, reaching his side, not recognizing the plaintiveness in her voice.
Something hot and wet dripped onto her hands as she reached out to him, belatedly realizing that they were her own tears.
“Eric!” she repeated, screaming at his still frame, his face so pale and the blood behind him too much. She shook him, willing him to respond to her, to show some kind of reaction that there was still life within him.
When he groaned, relief flooded through her, though she knew that they did not have much time to save him. They had to stop the bleeding.
“Faith?” he murmured, although his eyes remained closed.
“I’m here,” she said, leaning down and taking his face in her hands.
“I love you,” he whispered before his entire body went limp.
“I love you too,” she cried out, willing him to respond again, but it was no use, and she had no idea if she had lost him as her sobs emerged, the emotion too much to hold in any longer.
“Help!” Faith called out, lifting her head to see that the driver and valet were there beside her, ready to do what was required. The valet wrapped a handkerchief around Eric’s leg before the two of them lifted him and ran him toward the carriage, Faith following them as closely as she could without impeding their progress.
“We’re almost there, my lady,” the driver said. They entered the carriage, Faith taking a seat and lifting Eric’s head to hold it steady on her lap, as the men draped the rest of his body over one of the seats. “We will go as fast as possible, so hold on. It will be a bumpy ride.”
She nodded her thanks as the valet climbed in next to her, helping her to steady Eric on the seat.
“Our fathers were soldiers together,” the valet said, nodding toward Eric. “His father was my father’s officer, and he gave him a job when he could no longer fight. I know a bit about treating wounds. We’ve tied it and with pressure, hopefully, the bleeding will stop, or slow, at least.”
“And then?” Faith asked, her heart dropping at the hesitation in the man’s eyes.
“I would hope that we can prevent any more blood from being lost,” he said. “From my first look, the bullet didn’t go too deeply into the muscle, but there is a chance he will lose the leg.”
Faith bit her lip, knowing how much that would pain Eric.
“As long as he lives,” she said, and the valet nodded, although his expression was grim.
“God willing,” he said.
They rolled up to Castleton sooner than Faith had expected, and when the driver opened the doors to the carriage, not only were footmen waiting to help, but Lord Ashford was hurrying down the wide stone steps toward them, concern etched onto his handsome face as he approached.
“Lady Ferrington,” he said. “How is he?”
“I do not believe he is very well,” she said, her voice breaking.
“I have already sent for the physician,” he said as footmen lifted Eric and carried him into the house. He was such a large, strong man that it was difficult to see him like this, so limp and broken.
“He will fight through this, Faith.”
