Page 60 of The Burning Passion of a Fiery Lady
Her heart surged. He was doing so well. This was the third item that the doctor had asked him to identify, and even though he had struggled a little with them all, hewasremembering.
The door opened, and Amy stepped into the room. Susannah smiled at her, leaving the bedside to speak to the housekeeper near the fireplace.
“How is he?” whispered Amy, gazing over towards the bed.
Susannah smiled. “He is doing very well. I can tell that the doctor is pleased.” She took a deep breath, gazing at her friend. “But it is slow going, Amy. This is only the third time that he has been awake, now, and it is never for very long.”
Amy nodded. “Has he remembered anything about what happened, on the night?”
Susannah’s smile faded. “Nothing yet. I have not tried to push him. All he talks about is a ‘void’, and that it was black. If he tries too hard, the pain gets worse in his head …”
“Do not worry, my dear,” said Amy. “I am sure that it will come back to him in the fullness of time. He is only just conscious, as you say. Let us thank the Lord that he is even awake.”
Susannah nodded. She knew that what Amy said was true. She needed to be grateful that he was conscious at all, even if it was only for small periods. He had suffered a major head injury, after all. It would take time for him to heal from it.
But at the back of her mind, the thought of Leonard Green nagged at her, never leaving her for an instant now. She justknewthat he was responsible for what had happened to Jasper. But she needed to hear it from Jasper’s own lips. She needed him to remember what had happened that night, and hopefully identify Leonard, once and for all.
She frowned. If Jasper could identify Leonard, it still wouldn’t prove that he had murdered Gilbert. But at least it would be a start in the right direction. She just needed to figure it out. There simplyhadto be a way to get the man out of their lives, once and for all.
“David asked if he could visit,” said Amy, interrupting her reverie. “Do you think it is a good idea? He is so eager to see him.”
Susannah smiled. “I think it is a wonderful idea. Jasper needs to see familiar faces. I am sure it would do him the world of good.” She paused. “He will need rest after the doctor leaves, but perhaps this afternoon?”
Amy nodded. “I will let him know. Shall I send luncheon up here, for both of you, on a tray?”
“Yes, that will be perfect,” she replied. “He will be hungry. But just soup, my dear. He cannot handle anything more at this stage.”
Amy nodded again, leaving the room.
The doctor was finishing up, packing his case. He walked over to her.
“He is coming along well,” he said in a low voice. “I am very pleased with his progress. He has intermittent head pain, but that is to be expected.” He paused. “He is speaking well and remembers most things. His reactions are good, too.”
Susannah breathed a sigh of relief. He was getting better. It might be slow, but at least he was on the right track.
And he remembered her. She had been so scared when he had first opened his eyes that he would gaze at her and see the face of a stranger. But he had uttered her name and looked at her with love in his eyes. She had seen that light and gloried in it.
“When do you think he will remember what happened to him?” she asked, almost whispering. “He does not seem to recall it at all, at the moment …”
The doctor sighed. “I do not have the answer to that. Sometimes, after head trauma, the memory is forever lost. He may suffer amnesia, never recalling it. It might return gradually, or yet again, it could suddenly come back to him.” He paused. “Every patient is different, in that regard.”
She sighed. She had known this, of course. But she had so hoped that the doctor would tell her something different.
He took his farewell, promising to return the next day.
She walked over to Jasper, sitting by his bedside, taking his hand. He looked drained, but he smiled faintly, gazing at her steadily.
“My love,” he whispered. “My love …”
Her heart surged. It truly didn’t matter if he never remembered. All that mattered was that he was awake. That he had come back to her. He would heal. They could begin their lives together again.
“You are doing so well,” she whispered, her eyes ablaze with pride. “Very soon, you shall be up and walking around again. I just know it …”
He nodded, gripping her hand, his eyes never leaving hers.
But the next moment, he grew pale again. She watched as the furrow returned to his brow. He was in pain.
“I think I might close my eyes for just a moment,” he whispered.
