Page 77 of A Lady's Past
Where her flesh had been perfect and beautiful, the back of her shoulder was marred by blood and a nasty entry wound. She had done it to herself in an effort to protect him. He would rather have died than see her hurt.
Honoria gasped and covered her mouth. “My poor girl.”
“If anyone feels they will faint or become ill, they should remove themselves from this room. I’ll not be distracted.” Dr. Page made a good point.
Two maids rushed from the room, but two more stayed as did Honoria, who kept her worried gaze on Diana.
Mrs. Fallcraft poured strong spirits over the wound.
Diana stiffened.
He couldn’t bear her pain, but still thought her reaction a good sign. Holding tight, he told her how brave she was and how much he loved her.
Dr. Page cut Diana’s skin and blood ran down her back faster than Mrs. Fallcraft could swab it away. He dug around with his tweezer.
Diana jerked and tried to pull away from the pain, but Jacques held her in place. All the while his heart was in his throat and he wished it was him the doctor was poking around inside. Jacques closed his eyes, trying to absorb her agony.
The clank of steel indicated the offending bullet was removed.
Wrapped in his arms, Diana relaxed until Mrs. Fallcraft began stitching up the wound.
When it was over, Jacques was exhausted and angry at everyone and anyone who had caused his goddess pain.
Mrs. Fallcraft bandaged the wound, then wrapped Diana in a sheet. “You should carry her to her bed. The maids will have prepared her room so we can care for her.”
Obediently doing as he was told, Jacques carried her up the steps and eased her into her bed. He hesitated at Diana’s bedside. The room was buzzing with Mrs. Bates, Honoria, and two maids. Diana’s muscles had relaxed, but she was still deathly pale. He hated to leave her, but the doctor was waiting in the hall.
Outside Diana’s room, Jacques faced Dr. Page. “How is she?”
“The ball hit bone. I didn’t detect any fragments, which is good. The bone will still give her a great deal of pain and may well have cracked. It will take some weeks to heal, and she should remain here until she is fully recovered. That arm will need to be kept immobile while her shoulder heals. Bouncing around in a carriage is the last thing she needs. Mrs. Fallcraft and the maids will watch for fever and call me should she exhibit signs of a blood infection.”
“What can I do?” Jacques needed to help in some way.
Dr. Page frowned. “Nursing is for the ladies to attend to. Perhaps you might sit with her and monitor any change. Keep her calm if she becomes agitated. We don’t want her tearing those stitches. She’s already lost too much blood.”
Jacques was grateful to the man. “Thank you, Doctor. I will see that she is well cared for and does not tear the stitches.” He shook his hand and walked back into Diana’s room.
Jacques watched from the shadows while the women fussed over Diana. When they needed to put a clean nightgown on her, he stepped in and lifted her. Despite the maids blushing over Diana’s state of undress, Jacques would help take care of her.
At ten o’clock, Honoria sat dozing in the chair next to Diana’s bed. She was tired and upset, but had refused to go to bed an hour earlier when Cecilia had said she would keep watch.
Jacques stepped forward and knelt next to the chair. “My lady, go to bed. You will do her no good if you make yourself ill. I will stay with her.”
A tear slid down Honoria’s cheek. “I failed in my duty to keep her safe.”
“I share your regret, but Caron’s madness was unpredictable. We could not have known he would attack here at Buckrose. No sane person would attempt to carry her out of this fortress.”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” She cupped his cheek much like his mother always had when he’d been upset as a child.
“I never dreamed she would launch herself between me and that gun. I allowed my own desire to be a man and protect her cloud her strength. I should have known. She is not an ordinary woman by any means.” He loved all the things that made Diana unique, but he wished she were a bit less brave.
“I believe she would do it again given the same circumstance.” Honoria’s smile was sad. “She loves you that fiercely.”
It pained him and gave him great joy. Monique’s betrayal had forced him to discard any hope of love. Falling under Diana’s spell broke the dam and left him drowning in a sea of emotions he thought he’d banished forever. “Go and rest, my lady.”
Nodding, she rose. “You will call me if anything changes?”
“You have my word.” He helped her up and saw her to the door, where she looked back at Diana one last time before stumbling to her own room.
