Page 76 of A Lady's Past
The idea of wrapping his hands around Victor’s throat made Jacques’s hands twitch. Insane or not, he’d hurt Diana on more than one occasion, and now she was above stairs fighting for her life. “He has always been obsessed with his emperor, but no. It would seem losing Diana for a second time has snapped something inside him. If I did not wish so intensely to kill him, I might feel sorry for the bastard.”
Alex turned his head but kept his relaxed pose. From the way his shoulders bunched, he was nowhere near as relaxed as he looked. “How is she?”
Heart in his throat, Jacques swallowed several times before he could answer. “Mrs. Fallcraft is with her. When the surgeon arrives, we will know more.”
“I hope she dies a miserable death.” Victor’s English suddenly perfect, he stared with wide, vacuous eyes at Jacques.
Jacques’s wrath boiled, and it took a great effort not to become as crazed as Victor. Slowly, he approached the bars. “If she dies, you will be next. I would rip your arms off one by one and watch you bleed to death. If they would let me, I would kill you now. You should be happy you are on the other side of these bars, and I do not have the key to your cell. You had better pray Diana MacLeod lives. Otherwise, nothing will save you from my fury.”
Preston’s hand on his shoulder broke through the disturbing escalation of Jacques’s emotions. He strode out of the prison and climbed the stairs two at a time.
At the top, an out-of-breath Mr. Bates stopped short. “Mr. Laurent, I have been looking for you.”
Jacques’s heart stopped. The butler looked ready to drop. Had he lost her? “Is it Miss MacLeod?”
Catching his breath, Mr. Bates nodded. “The surgeon is here.”
Jacques strode down the hall to the parlor and opened the door.
A plump man in a gray suit, with long sideburns and a powdered wig, stood over Diana. He held her wrist and looked at his watch. “I need to get that bullet out, but her heart is beating strong. It might be the pain that keeps her unconscious. Probably a good thing.”
“Will she live?” Jacques demanded.
The doctor hemmed and hawed, looking around the room and avoiding Jacques’s gaze. “Her condition is grave. She has lost blood.”
“Will she live?”
“I… I can’t say for sure. She is young and strong. If we can get the bullet out, and she does not contract an infection in her blood, perhaps. The bullet didn’t invade any organs that I can tell. I see no reason she’s not awake. I shall do what I can to save her, Mr…”
Mrs. Fallcraft stood. “This is Mr. Laurent, Dr. Page. He and Miss MacLeod have been courting. He is understandably upset by today’s events.”
Dr. Page gave a solemn nod and his expression softened. “I understand. I assure you I will do what I can to help the young lady.”
“How can I help?” Jacques wanted to be of use. Finding Diana was a miracle. Never had he expected to need someone as he did her. Losing her now was not possible. He couldn’t bear it.
“I have to cut away her dress. I imagine when I go fishing around, she will wake. Do you think you can hold her still while I work? I’m concerned that the ladies will not be capable of the strength required, and I would guess you would not favor one of the other men holding her in such a way.” Dr. Page raised an eyebrow.
Jacques looked around the room at Honoria and Mrs. Fallcraft. “I will hold her.”
Sebastian and Nathaniel stood to the side watching, but left the room when Dr. Page turned to cut Diana’s dress. He pulled a blade and some kind of tweezer from his bag before washing his hands in a basin.
Seated on the couch facing Diana, Jacques pulled her torso toward him and wrapped his arms around her lower back exactly as the doctor instructed.
Her head lolled then settled against his shoulder. She moaned a weak protest.
Jacques whispered in her ear, “Diana, the doctor must remove the lead ball from your shoulder. It will be painful, but I have you. Stay with me.”
Dr. Page said, “She cannot hear you, sir. She’s not conscious.”
“We don’t know what she hears. Besides, it can do no harm.” Jacques looked at Mrs. Fallcraft, who stood ready to assist the doctor.
She gave him a smile and a nod.
Her moan must have meant she had some sense of what was happening. It didn’t matter if they thought him mad. She was a part of him, and if there was a chance she heard, and his words could soothe her, he would continue. Jacques took a breath. “Let’s get this thing out of her, shall we?”
Dr. Page gave a nod and stepped to Diana’s back.
Mrs. Fallcraft removed the bandages she’d packed around the wound to stop the bleeding.
