Page 98 of Marry in Secret
Thomas breathed again. “Can I see her now?’
The doctor shrugged. “If you like, but don’t disturb her. I’ve given her something to help her sleep.”
“And she’ll make a full recovery?”
The doctor held up a warning finger. “I never said that. These things tend to run their own course. All we can do is try to manage it. I’ve warned Lady Ashendon to expectsome fever—that’s the worst of these gunshot wounds. There’s no way to be sure.”
“Then what do we do?”
The doctor sighed. “Wait, and pray. When the fever comes, treat it as you would any fever and hope it breaks quickly.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
The doctor tutted gently. “Let’s cross that bridge if and when we come to it.” He picked up his bag and left, promising to return in the morning.
Thomas went in and sat down beside Rose’s bed. She lay on her front wedged with pillows to prevent her from rolling onto her back. What he could see of her face was deathly pale, but she was sleeping peacefully enough, from what he could tell.
Ashendon poked his head in. “How is she?”
“Asleep.”
“And you’re just going to sit there and watch her, are you?”
Thomas frowned. What else could he do? Ashendon beckoned. Thomas didn’t want to leave. Ashendon beckoned more forcefully, and Thomas sighed, glanced at Rose, kissed her on the forehead and left the room.
“It’s nearly noon,” Ashendon said.
Thomas blinked. “So?”
“Didn’t you plan to be on your ship by now? You can still make it. We’ll take good care of Rose, you can be sure of that.”
Thomas stared at him. “Are you mad? I wouldn’t leave Rose now for—” He shook his head, unable to think of a way to finish the sentence. “I’m not leaving.”
Ashendon gave him a long look. “You’re sure? You’ve been set on this thing as long as I’ve known you.”
“I know.”
“You’re going to abandon your plan to bring those men home?”
“No.” He glanced at the door to Rose’s bedchamber. “But I can’t leave Rose, not like this.”
“So you’ll go as soon as she’s out of the woods?”
“No,” Thomas said slowly. Rose’s injury and the hours leading up to it had settled something in his mind. He wasn’t going to leave her ever again, wasn’t going to put her through that worry. His honor was important to him, and he had no intention of breaking his promise, but a man could learn to bend, couldn’t he?
He turned to Ashendon. “Ollie says you ‘know people.’ Do you know of anyone who could go to Mogador in my place, someone trustworthy, who could track down my men and negotiate their freedom?”
Ashendon’s expression was enigmatic. “I don’t know of anyone like that.”
“Damn.”
“But I know someone who might.”
***
The fever came the following day later in the early hours of the night. Thomas had barely left Rose’s room—George had given up her bed to him—when he heard the first signs: restlessness and agitated muttering. He felt her forehead; she was burning up.
They’d discussed what to do if this happened, and he soaked a sponge in vinegared water, squeezed it out and began to wipe her down. She moaned and muttered.
