Chapter 33 #2
Jack always slept like the dead, Lucy reminded herself.
But it was scant comfort as she sat at his bedside in the room the inn had given them with his skin so pale against the vivid bruises on his temple.
His arm was set and splinted—and she was glad he’d been unconscious for that.
The grate and snap of bone as the surgeon worked still made her shudder.
But worse was the memory of the first bullock hitting him and watching him sink under the pounding, mad-eyed mass, dust and screams choking her throat.
But he’s alive, she reminded herself. And it’d only been eight hours.
Eight hours of waiting, assuring the innkeeper that yes, she was his wife.
Eight hours of the sun sinking and night falling and guttering candles and the dim incessant noise of the inn below while Jack slept, even his breathing sounding painful.
Trust you to be asleep at a time like this, she tried to scold the sleeping figure. But the only answer was the prick of tears in her eyes.
“I can’t believe…you’re sleeping…at a time like this.”
Lucy roused with a start, her neck stiff from sleeping in a chair.
Someone had been in and opened the curtains.
Morning light illuminated Jack—still pale, still horribly bruised, but awake.
He was smiling at her sleepily, the wince of pain in his voice.
“I’m at death’s door, and you’re having a lovely nap. ”
“Jack!”
She rushed to her feet but stopped her impetuous movement before she jostled the bed. Instead she knelt carefully by its side. “How are you?”
“Like a man who got hit by a herd of bullocks. But a nurse of some description came in while you were sleeping and poured something vile down my throat. Laudanum, most likely. Am I being coherent? I’m not so sure.”
“You saved my life!”
“Of course I did.”
“You…you sacrificed yourself for me. You could have died! For me!”
“Would have been worth it.”
“Jack!”
“What? What are you scolding me for?” He winced.
“Oh. The money. I was going to tell you, Lucy. But everything happened so fast, and everything was so perfect, and I was selfish enough not to want to ruin it, not then, when it was all so new…and I was afraid…afraid what you would think of me…” He trailed off, wincing again.
Despite the laudanum, it clearly took a great effort for him to talk.
“It’s alright, though. I haven’t got you under false promises.
My income will be what it was before long, and in the meantime, I’ve got a position, so we can afford to marry right now—well, perhaps when I’m able to stand up before the altar.
Tomorrow. Maybe this evening. Or we can do it in this room.
I don’t care, so long as you’re mine. You are, aren’t you? I haven’t ruined it?”
“Oh, Jack!”
“No! Don’t cry!”
“Stop trying to move!”
“But you’re crying.”
“There.” She sniffed. “I’ve stopped. Stay still.”
A mischievous glint in his eyes, he made a tapping motion with the fingers of his unbandaged hand, inching it over the blanket until she gave in and took hold of it.
“Better,” he said.
“You saved my life,” she said again.
He frowned at her. “Why do you seem so surprised?”
“I didn’t…I didn’t know.”
“Know what?”
Despite her best efforts, she sniffed again, the tears back. “If you really loved me.”
“What?” He stared, incredulous.
“I know you like me,” she said quickly, embarrassed. “I know you’ve always been fond of me, but when I heard about the money, I thought…I thought maybe that was why you wanted to marry me all of a sudden.”
He groaned. “Lucy…”
“In the park, you said—”
“Devil take the park!”
“You said you’ve never thought of me that way, would never want to marry me—”
“Lucy, Lucy…we’ve established I’m an idiot. Take everything I said in the park and reverse it. I love you. I’d marry you without a penny. I don’t even know if you have a penny, and I couldn’t care less. It’s you I want, you goose. Lucy, Lucy.” More quietly, he said, “My little Minnow.”
His thumb rubbed over the back of her hand. She watched the motion of it, feeling her pulse, feeling his echoed back where their fingers touched.
“Why do you call me that?” she asked shyly, glancing up at him. Dark grey eyes met hers in warm amusement.
“Exactly because of this. Your eyes. Flashing silver like shy little fish and always darting away from me before I’ve managed to look at them as long as I want to. My little Minnow, hardly ever quite looking at me. And yet, somehow, you see…”
She couldn’t speak. The lump in her throat was too big.
“Are you disappointed?” he asked. “Do you hate it? I should have made up a more romantic story.”
“No! I… I don’t hate it. I…don’t hate it at all. But now I know, I’ll be more self-conscious than ever.”
“Don’t be. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
She looked at him. Made herself hold his gaze. He smiled at the effort it took her.
“Minnow,” he said, softly, reverently. “Can I call you it? The only one who ever does?”
“Y-yes.” Then, stoutly, “But I like Lucy too.”
“Of course,” he agreed. “I also like Lucy. I’d go so far as to say I love Lucy. Did you really doubt it?”
She nodded.
“Do you doubt it now?”
She shook her head.
“Then I’ll find those bullocks and thank them all most warmly.”
She laughed at that.
“Will you kiss me?” he said.
“Won’t it hurt?”
“It’ll hurt more if you don’t.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“The word is charming.”
“The word is absurd.”
“The problem, Lucy, is that I’m madly in love with you. I’m a Byronic hero; you’ve already said so. I’m allowed to destroy myself for the sake of one kiss. It’s heroic.”
She laughed again, and then, carefully, seriously, the two of them only laughing a little, she leaned over and gently pressed her lips to his—startling backwards at a knock on the door and accidentally elbowing Jack in the ribs.
“I’m so sorry,” she said as he groaned.
“Worth it,” he muttered through a grimace of pain.
Lucy went to the door. She spoke to the maid, who passed her a note. She read it, Jack watching.
“It’s from Caroline.”
“They caught them?”
“Yes. Nora is safe.”
Jack let out a heavy breath of relief.
“Caroline writes… She is taking Captain Sedgewick to their house in Derbyshire. She says it is likely a foreign posting will conveniently come his way soon.”
“Arranged by her, no doubt. I’ve no idea how she manages these things. But I’m very glad of it. Having the man out of the country will be best for everyone.”
Lucy nodded. “And she writes to say that George is, as we speak, escorting Nora back to town. It seems she was glad of the rescue. Her flight…” Lucy hesitated.
“Caroline writes her flight was largely prompted by jealousy. She hated that I was getting so much attention after my engagement to you being announced.”
“Stupid girl. But I’m glad she’s unharmed. I hope she’s learnt a lesson, at least. But poor George, having to play chaperone!”
“And I thought that was supposed to be my job,” Lucy said innocently, a twinkle in her eyes.
“Never!” claimed Jack, laughing as best he could. “You can’t possibly think that was why Nell invited you—”
She would have thrown a cushion at him, if it hadn’t been for his bruises. Instead, she said, “You horrible boy.”