Page 21 of Worthy in Every Way (The Montford Cousins #5)

Georgiana startled awake and blinked two or three times before frowning and lifting her head from the mattress. What was that noise?

“Forgive me, miss,” said a maid who stood near the fireplace. “With the chill in the air, Her Grace thought a fire might be of aid to the master.”

She rubbed her arms. The girl was right. For summer, the rain and lack of sun the past week had definitely made the house seem colder. Whether it was so in truth was in question, but her concern for Charles’s comfort was paramount.

“No, of course, he needs to be kept warm.”

The maid made quick work of starting a fire, then stood with her pail in her hand. “If you’ll pardon me for sayin’, miss, your devotion to Lord Bath is quite romantic. He is a good master, and I am happy to know he found someone who obviously loves him. When we were told of his hearing loss, we all had concerns about what would become of the estate if he did not find a bride. We are relieved all will be as it should be.”

She forced a smile. The hour was too early for pleasantries. “Thank you.”

The maid dropped a curtsey and hastened out the servants’ entrance. As soon as she was gone, Georgiana shifted to sit on the bed beside Charles and brushed his dark locks from his face.

“Will you not wake? Two days is far too long without seeing your eyes, dearest.” As much as she wished him to wake, he remained in his insensible state. He had, on occasion, fits of coughs, which made the apothecary concerned over how much water he had inhaled while being washed downstream, but he never showed any hint of returning to her. While she caressed his cheeks with her thumbs, his eyes slowly blinked open, and he groaned. Her heart leapt.

“You likely feel as though you will be sick,” she signed.

He nodded and again groaned.

“Do you think you can take sips of broth? We have kept some waiting for when you wake. I also have laudanum for the pain as well as willow bark tea.”

She held the cup to his lips. He took four sips before he shook his head and weakly pushed the broth away.

“You will drink more with time. Here, take the laudanum. It will be of aid.”

Dutifully, he swallowed the tincture and grimaced. When she held up the cup of broth, he took two more sips before his eyes began to droop.

After placing the cup back on the tray, she took his hand and squeezed. Her heart settled some when he returned the pressure. He would be well. His recovery might take time, but he would be well. He had to be.

The chiming of the clock on the mantel drew her notice. Those in the kitchen and the maids would be about by now. She stood and rang the bell, and Jennings appeared not long after. He replenished the water in the basin for some that was warm, then disappeared with the tray and to bring fresh tea and broth.

She wiped Charles’s face with warm water, as well as his arms. When Jennings returned, she handed him the towelling. “I shall return. I would like to refresh myself.”

“Of course, miss.”

Her maid was in her rooms to assist her, and while she washed, the familiar sound of hoofbeats made her draw near the window. A lone rider approached the front, dismounted, and strode to the front of the great house. She had no need to see the rider’s face clearly to know his identity. His seat on his horse as well as his long stride as he made his way to the house told her all she needed to know.

Fitzwilliam had come.

After a fortifying inhale, she crept to the stairs and down until the voices that carried from the hall could be discerned.

“Darcy,” said Henry. “I had not expected you for another day or so. The roads must be quite poor since the rain only abated last night. When my valet woke me to say a rider approached, I was not certain whom I would find.”

“I fear I hastened my arrival after your express reached me of Bath’s injuries. How is your brother?”

“He has not awakened as yet, but your sister is hopeful. As much as we have tried to convince her to remove herself from his bedchamber, she does not leave his side. She has been quite the devoted nurse.”

“I fear she has learnt a certain amount of stubbornness from my wife. Elizabeth would not hesitate to remain with me were I in a similar state. As soon as I am cleaned up from my ride, I shall speak with her.”

“Ah, yes. Forgive me. This is Mrs. Grant, the housekeeper. She will show you to your chambers so you can refresh yourself. Once you are ready, ring the bell, and I shall take you to see Charles and your sister.”

Before Fitzwilliam could discover her thus, she hastened back to Charles’s room. For the most part, a maid had been present while she was with Charles. This morning had not been the usual since she had persuaded the girl who had been falling asleep to retire to her chambers at about two in the morning.

Upon entering the room, Jennings straightened and smoothed Charles’s bedclothes. “He stirred some a moment ago.”

“I forgot to mention he woke not long before you returned. I encouraged him to drink some broth and take laudanum, though he was not awake for long.”

His man nodded. “’Tis a good sign he has awakened, yet the cough concerns me. ’Tis deep.”

She approached and brushed his hair from where it had fallen near Charles’s temple. “I agree.” The times Charles had coughed had made her wince. The horrible wracking fits sounded painful.

A young maid entered and sat in a chair by the servants’ entrance. Meanwhile, Georgiana withdrew to her seat beside the bed, picked up the embroidery she had been doing to pass the time, and attempted to soothe the sudden urge to fidget. Her brother’s appearance had never conjured such a response before, which was odd indeed. Yet, here she sat, attempting to appear serene. Her blasted foot bounced. She had no way of stopping it.

She steadied herself as best she could and pulled the blue thread through the fabric until it lay flat against the background before poking the needle through for the next stitch. Over and over, she concentrated on the repetition and counting of the stitches in an effort not to think of what would come next. Would Fitzwilliam force her to leave this room? He would surely try, but she needed to be stronger than she had ever been in her life. She would ensure she remained with Charles.

At an odd sound, she lifted her head to look at Charles, whose face contorted. A second later, a stream of hard, deep coughs burst from him as he doubled over with the effort.

She tossed aside her needlework and wrapped an arm around his chest, holding his opposite shoulder, as Jennings hit him on the back with the method the apothecary recommended in an effort to help expel whatever was causing the fit.

He gagged at one point, but those sips of broth he had taken stayed down. Thank heavens!

When they leaned Charles back into the pillows, her palm to the side of his face gave her pause, so she pressed her cheek to his forehead. “He is warm—not much, but a little warmer than he should be.”

Jennings placed his palm to his master’s forehead, his lips pressed in a flat line. “I shall have the cook make more willow bark tea. We should extinguish that fire in the grate.”

“The maid just started it.” Would they not need it to keep Charles from becoming cold? When one of the maids at Pemberley had a terrible fever, the poor girl’s teeth had chattered.

“I am aware most apothecaries and physicians believe a hot room is of aid with a fever, but my mother’s brothers both took fevers at different times. One had been kept in a room with a fire as Lord Bath is now, and the other was kept in a cool room, the fever tempered. The latter survived.”

“Then I shall defer to your greater knowledge.”

His valet opened the windows and let the breeze sweep away the warmth of the fire while Georgiana dampened towelling and sponged her betrothed’s face.

“Georgiana?”

She startled and turned to find Fitzwilliam standing beside Henry at the foot of the bed. “I had not heard you come in. He woke early this morning and took a few sips of broth and some laudanum, but now, he is feverish.”

Henry strode around the side of the bed and felt his brother’s forehead. “Likely from being submerged in the river for so long. The apothecary warned of this before he departed last night. I am certain Jennings has all under control.”

Her brother placed a hand between her shoulder blades. “Georgiana, his valet can do that. You will make yourself ill if you do not rest.” While not in her hearing, Henry must have mentioned her remaining night and day. She could only be thankful he did not know of her becoming ill yesterday. Jennings had been a godsend and helped her conceal the matter.

“I am well. If he wakes, I want to be here.” She placed the rag back in the basin and began pressing it to Charles’s cheeks. “Jennings has been quite busy, even with my aid.”

“I do not doubt it. I am certain you have been a great help.”

She paused and studied Fitzwilliam’s gaze. He was placating her. When was the last time he had done so? She could not remember. “Pray, Fitzwilliam, if all you wish to do is persuade me to depart this room, you are wasting your breath. I shall not leave.”

“What if the gossip spreads from this house of your actions?”

“If you will pardon my presumption, sir,” said Jennings. “Mrs. Grant held a meeting of the servants in the kitchen the night of Lord Bath’s accident. She threatened to remove anyone from service to the household if they spoke about what has occurred here outside of the house. His Grace told the apothecary that Miss Darcy is Lady Bath in an effort to protect her. That said, the servants are grateful for her care of our master. We are pleased to see he found such a devoted lady to be his wife.”

Fitzwilliam exhaled heavily. “I agree with Albemarle that you must wed as soon as may be—even if Bath must do so from his sick bed.”

She continued to press the compress to Charles’s cheeks. “I have no objection to marrying Charles as soon as may be. I would wed him this moment were it a possibility.”

“Elizabeth, Richard, and the children follow as soon as the roads are more passable.”

“I am certain Jane will be thrilled to spend time with her sister,” said Henry.

Fitzwilliam moved behind her chair and leaned against the back. “Yes, well, we require a special license so they can wed here, but would one be granted?”

“I sent an express to the Archbishop of Canterbury after this occurred,” said Henry. “His mother and mine were cousins. I should be receiving some response any day now.”

Her body jolted straight. Charles had never mentioned such a connexion. They did not speak of those matters much, however.

Fitzwilliam chuckled. “I suppose having the head of the Church of England as a relation is helpful in situations such as these.”

“I have also called on the connexion but rarely, so I have no reason to believe he will deny me. Jane and I were wed by common license, so I did not even request a special license then. Favours are more likely to be granted when one does not take advantage.”

“I agree,” said Fitzwilliam.

She returned to mopping Charles’s brow. In most situations, she might bristle at plans being made for her without having any say in the matter, but at the moment, their officiousness was not off-putting. In this instance, it allowed her to concentrate on her betrothed and getting him well. Her most important duty was returning him to good health. She needed him.

Her brother placed a hand on her shoulder. “I will insist you join us for dinner.”

Her wont of late was to take a tray at Charles’s bedside, yet she would say nothing. She did not want an argument. Discord would only make matters more difficult.

As soon as Fitzwilliam and Henry departed the room, she waited a moment, then handed the cloth to Jennings and tiptoed after them. Voices came from a sitting room down the passage, so she crept close to the door and leaned against the wall.

“She will make herself ill if she continues so,” said Fitzwilliam.

“I agree, but she has been obstinate. Would you have me haul her out kicking and screaming?”

Her brother sighed. “No, but I would not have expected her to argue either.”

“Your shy little sister accompanied my brother and his steward to visit tenants before the hiring of Mr. Jasper,” said Henry. “She not only translated what Charles required, but from what I have come to understand, she made her opinion of Mr. Pitt’s incompetence known to the man in no uncertain terms.

“You should also know that we have reason to believe they have anticipated their vows.”

Georgiana stiffened.

“What proof do you have?” asked her brother.

“I was walking around the house with Clarissa the night before the accident. She was fussy and my wife needed the respite. As I passed Charles’s bedchamber, I heard them.” Henry cleared his throat. “My brother’s rooms are in a different wing. I also imagine my brother was unaware…” He cleared his throat again. “The express rider I sent to London was most displeased to be riding due to the state of the roads, but the sooner we have them wed the better since I am not certain when they first broke with propriety. I can only pray he does not take a turn for the worse. If she is with child…”

Her cheeks burned. How would she look Henry or Fitzwilliam in the eye again?

“If he was not fighting for his life, I am not sure I could restrain myself knowing this.”

“I would not have expected you to.”

Georgiana bit her lip and tiptoed back to Charles’s bedchamber. Jennings moved aside for her to resume her earlier occupation, and with a shuddering breath, she dipped the cloth in the cool water and pressed it against his cheek. Thus far, the fever was but a trifling. Charles would be well. He had to be.