Chapter Two #3
To his amazement, she laughed. “You are hardly in a position to do me harm. Even if you managed to stand, I could easily push you over.”
He coughed, imagining that he still had river water in his lungs. “All too true, I am afraid. But propriety….” Clearly this was a family wealthy enough to care for the reputation of an unwed daughter.
She leaned forward and spoke in a low voice. “I shall not tell anyone if you do not.”
Darcy found himself smiling despite the circumstances.
“Do you wish me to leave?” she asked.
“No,” he said hastily and found he meant it. Apparently recovering from a near-death experience was far more pleasant if one had company. “I enjoy your conversation.”
She did not simper and blush as he expected. Instead, she gave him a look of mock disapproval. “Now, sir, you are not yet strong enough to expend energy upon compliments to a lady. Conserve your strength.”
This elicited a chuckle from him. “It was not intended as a compliment; it was simply the truth.”
Now a faint blush did stain her cheek, and she averted her eyes. “Are you in pain?”
He attempted to sit up in bed and was rewarded with an ache in his side. Oh yes. I was stabbed. Touching the skin over his ribs, he discovered that the area was covered by a bandage, but the pain was not nearly as sharp as he expected.
“That wound and the one in your leg are mostly healed, but there is still a chance you may develop an infection,” Miss Bennet said.
“Mostly healed?” How was that possible? It had only been two days.
“We did what we could to heal them and reduce the swelling from the blow to your head and the ankle injury. But everything will require additional time and rest.”
Darcy gingerly touched the bump on the back of his head, wincing at even light contact. And how did she even know that his ankle was injured? Surely he had not attempted to walk?
“How long does the doctor suppose I must remain in bed?” he asked.
“The doctor has not examined you.”
No doctor? The thought alarmed Darcy. “Who treated me then?”
“I did.” Miss Bennet colored slightly. “I have a bit of healing magic.”
Oh. A few puzzle pieces fell into place. Magical healers were rare outside of large cities. Darcy had been exceedingly fortunate indeed. No doubt she was being modest, and she was the reason for his unexpected survival. “Did you train in London?”
She cast her eyes down. “No. I have only visited London twice.”
Twice? When they live so close? Her family might have limited means, but such isolation was odd.
“My family does not travel extensively,” she added. “When you are healed, I hope you will tell me about the places you have visited.” He recognized the hunger for knowledge in her eyes. He possessed such hunger as well but was fortunate to have the means to indulge it.
“Of course,” he said. “It is the least I can do to thank you for your efforts on my behalf.” She had saved his life. He would need to find a more substantial way to repay that debt.
“We can send for the doctor if you wish,” Miss Bennet said.
“That is not necessary. I believe your care has been quite beneficial.”
She wagged a finger at him. “Now you are wasting strength on compliments once again!”
He laughed. Did he dare to suppose she found him amusing—even charming?
He never had much luck with charming women.
Not that I wish to charm her, he reminded himself sternly.
Although she was witty and quite lovely, her family would not mingle with Darcy’s level of society.
Naturally, her attentions to him were because he was her patient; she wanted him to recover.
“Pray tell me how a wool merchant found himself in the River Lea,” she said.
He blinked. He had not said he was a wool merchant, but it was as good a story as any. Darcy was tantalized by the idea that the home’s inhabitants would not know about his identity, income, or lands in Derbyshire. While at Longbourn, he could shed the expectations of the ton.
Many merchants traveled extensively to find new markets for their wares, so it accounted for his presence in Luton.
“I was set upon by highwaymen and dove into the river to escape. I did not expect to awake here.” Belatedly, Darcy wondered where his watch and money purse were.
Probably at the bottom of the river with his boots—he could vaguely recall removing them when they filled with water. At least it lent credence to his story.
She stared at him aghast. “That is terrible! You are fortunate you survived!”
“Indeed. Thanks to your family’s care.” He reached out to touch her wrist. “But I pray you…please prevail upon your family not to speak of my presence here. There will be…men looking for me. They are the ones who gave me this.” He gestured to the knife wound.
She frowned. “But surely you have nothing they could be in want of.”
Darcy endeavored to think through the muddle in his mind as exhaustion crept up on him.
“The situation is complex….They have a grudge against my family….” The lie sounded thin to his ears.
He had grown more accustomed to deception during his two years working with the Agency, but he was never comfortable with it.
He preferred sneaking around in the dark.
“It is vitally important that it remain a secret.” He yearned to sound firm, but his voice was weakening.
Miss Bennet nodded. “Nobody knows you are here, save my family and our servants. I will request their discretion. We have only limited intercourse with the rest of Hertfordshire in any event.”
Why was that? But Darcy’s eyelids were growing heavy; he did not have the energy to inquire.
She stood. “I believe you require additional rest. Perhaps we can prepare some tea and broth for you the next time you awaken.”
“I am not hungry at this moment, but perhaps if I sleep a little, I might be….” His last thought was to curse the weakness of his body as he tumbled into darkness.