Chapter 24
The next sennight flew by in a blur as Grace jumped headlong into helping Peter with parish business, loving every minute of it. The children were doing wonderfully in their studies, and the bounty from the vicarage garden was being distributed.
She spent time at Dandridge Manor visiting her sisters and helping Kathryn plan her wedding.
Kathryn had never seemed happier, and Grace was thrilled to know that her friend would be able to marry the man she adored.
The third reading of the banns would be today, and then Clifford and Kathryn could marry.
The wedding, as well as the breakfast at Dandridge Manor, would be a small family affair, as Lord Devon requested that there be as little fanfare as possible around the marriage.
No one had objected.
“My darling, are you almost ready? I want to get to the church a few minutes early to make sure I have all my notes in order,” Peter said before he began to cough.
“Peter, are you well?”
“He nodded. When the coughing stopped, he said, “Yes. Merely a bit of dust.”
Grace wasn’t sure whether or not it was dust that had caused Peter’s coughing fit. “You look a little flushed.”
“I’m fine. Nothing to worry about. Shall we go?”
Grace put her teacup in the sink. “Let me get my bonnet and gloves, and we can walk over.”
When she turned from the sink, Peter swept her into his arms for an earth-shattering kiss that nearly seared her bones.
She locked her hands behind his neck and kissed her husband with a passion equal to his.
When Peter finally stepped back, he said, “My darling, if you keep kissing me like that, I’m afraid we will not be early. ”
“Hmmm… and what would be the harm in that?” she said with a saucy grin.
Peter chuckled. “You’re insatiable.”
“Only for you, my love.”
“I can hardly believe I get to call you mine, my darling. Has the last week of marital bliss been a dream?”
“If it was, it’s been quite lovely.”
“You are perfect,” he said.
“You’re pretty perfect as well.”
He caressed her cheek one more time before giving her a quick kiss and turning away and coughing again. Grace wasn’t sure it was merely dust making her husband cough as she gathered her bonnet and gloves. “Are you sure you’re well?”
“Yes, don’t worry, my love. Come, let us be off.”
They headed out the cottage door for the walk to the church next door.
It wasn’t long before the parishioners started to file in. Jacob, Audrey, and Mia sat in the first pew, while Lord and Lady Devon, Lord Easton, Lady Kathryn, and Mr. Clifford sat in the second.
“Good morning,” Grace said, joining her sisters in the first pew.
“Good morning, dearest. You’re looking well,” Audrey said.
“Thank you.”
Peter stumbled slightly as he made his way to the podium and cleared his throat. “Good morning, all. I’m delighted to see so many friendly faces this morning. Let us begin. Peace be with you.”
Grace had never been prouder of her husband as his gaze swept over the congregation.
Today, the church was nearly full once again.
It must have given him a sense of pride to see so many parishioners attending Sunday services, especially after the conversations she’d had with a few of the parishioners in which she’d learned that attendance at Sunday Services had fallen off drastically in the past few years.
Evidently, no one wanted to sit for two hours and listen to horrific fire-and-brimstone sermons from Mr. Randolph, even though the poor man was only doing what the previous vicar had commanded.
No one held it against Mr. Randolph, but they were ever so glad when Peter hadn’t followed the same format for his sermons.
“Before I commence with the service today, there is one announcement I’m happy to make.
I publish the Banns of marriage between Mr. Samuel Clifford of St. Mary’s parish and Lady Kathryn Wilson of St. Mary’s parish.
If any of you know just cause or impediment why these two persons should not be joined together in Holy matrimony, you are to declare it. This is the third time of asking.”
As the engagement of Lady Kathryn and Sam Clifford was now old news, there were no whispers circulating through the church like the first time the banns had been announced.
Folks were astonished that the daughter of an earl would marry a commoner.
Many were happy for them because they were obviously in love, but some of the gentry didn’t seem as pleased to see the lines between the classes blurred with this announcement.
The fact that Lord and Lady Devon sat with Kathryn while the announcements were made sent a clear message that they supported the marriage wholeheartedly.
Grace turned in her seat to see Kathryn sitting in the pew behind her with Clifford beside her.
It made her heart glad to see her friend so happy.
Their wedding would take place in a few days.
Her family was staying on at Dandridge Manor to watch Kathryn and Clifford wed.
Grace couldn’t be happier that her friend would be living on the grounds of the manor.
She’d be able to see her as often as time allowed.
She smiled at Kathryn before turning back around to listen as Peter began his sermon after reading a number of prayers.
She noticed he was still flushed and swayed slightly on his feet as he talked. He didn’t look well.
“One must always adhere to God’s teachings of—” Peter was saying when his eyes rolled back in his head and he sank to the floor in a heap.
Grace screamed as she rushed to the altar, where her husband had collapsed. She was by his side in seconds. His eyes were closed, and his face was flushed. “Peter, wake up, my darling,” she said, stroking his cheek.
A group of parishioners soon surrounded the vicar, including the doctor. “Step aside, miss. Let me see to him,” Dr. Thicke said.
“Please, Dr. Thicke, you must help him,” Grace pleaded as tears streaked down her cheeks. This could not be happening, not after everything they’d gone through to be together. Tears blurred her vision as a cold, dark terror threatened to destroy her new-found happiness.
“He’s burning up,” Dr. Thicke said. “He needs to be put to bed immediately and kept warm.”
Jacob, Easton, Berkeley, and Mr. Clifford stepped forward and lifted the vicar ,carrying him next door to the cottage.
Grace ran ahead to open the door, then raced up the stairs to turn down the bedcovers.
The men carried Peter into the bedchamber and laid him on the bed.
Dr. Thicke began to unbutton his cassock before turning to Grace. “Mrs. Wallings, a bowl of cool water and a cloth to put on his forehead would help tremendously with this fever.”
Grace nodded and ran downstairs to get what the doctor needed. When she returned to the bedchamber, Dr. Thicke had removed Peter’s cassock, shirt, breeches, socks, and boots. He left his small clothes on for modesty’s sake.
Lord Berkeley was talking to the doctor when she returned, and she heard him say, “The vicar visited my father last week when he was suffering from his final fever.”
“I see,” the doctor said as he laid his ear against Peter’s chest. “His breathing is quite labored, and I fear his lungs aren’t functioning properly.”
“What can be done?” Jacob asked. “Whatever you need, you only have to ask.”
Dr. Thicke nodded. “Very kind of you, Lord Fletcher, but there isn’t much to be done for a fever except to keep cooling him with cloths,” he said, pulling the blankets up to cover Peter’s bare chest. He turned to Grace.
“He will try to kick off the covers, but you mustn’t let him.
He needs to stay warm. I’ll leave some cinchona bark tonic to help reduce the fever.
Try to get him to swallow some. I’ll also leave some laudanum to help him sleep.
Rest will be the best thing for him. If his condition worsens in the night, call for me immediately. ”
Grace nodded, feeling numb as the doctor and the men left the bedchamber.
How could this happen now when they’d only just found their happily-ever-after?
She tried to remain strong, but tears began streaming down her face.
An hour ago, her life had been perfect, and now her husband was stricken down, fighting for his life.
Surely God could not be so cruel as to take Peter away from her.
She dipped the cloth in the cool water and wiped his face. “My darling, you must fight this. I cannot lose you now.” A hand on her shoulder made her look around. “Audrey, you mustn’t stay. I don’t want you to become ill as well,” Grace said.
“Dearest, I will stay with you. It’s what sisters do, after all.”
Grace’s emotions spilled over into a sob, and Audrey pulled her into a tight embrace. “Hush now, my dear. Peter is strong. We must have faith.”
“I don’t know if I can,” Grace said, crying against her sister’s shoulder. “How could God strike Peter down? He’s such a good man.”
Audrey had no words to calm her and continued to hold her until the sobs quieted. “I’ll go make us some tea.”
“Thank you, Audrey. That would be most welcome.”
For the next two days, Peter thrashed in the bed, and Grace could do nothing but try to keep him cool and force some of the tonic the doctor had left down his throat. Her sisters and Kathryn took turns relieving her at Peter’s bedside. She was very grateful for their support.
“Darling, you must try to drink some of this to help break the fever,” she said, holding the small bottle to Peter’s lips. Most of the liquid spilled down his chin, but she thought some of it did make it down his throat.
As she rinsed the cloth again and placed it on his forehead, footsteps on the stairs drew her attention to the doorway. She hoped it was Dr. Thicke and was relieved when he entered the room. “Dr. Thicke, there hasn’t been much improvement,” she said.
He nodded and proceeded to examine Peter, laying his head on his chest and listening to Peter’s labored breathing. “Have you given him the tonic I left?”
Grace nodded. “Yes, a little, although most of it ends up down his chin.”
“Even a little bit should help. Just keep trying. I hear a slight improvement in his breathing, but he’s not out of danger yet.”
“Of course. Thank you, Dr. Thicke.”
“I shall return tomorrow to check on him. Again, if his condition worsens, send for me right away.”
After the doctor left, Grace heard more footsteps on the stairs. She rose from her chair by her husband’s bed to see who’d come to call and was overwhelmed with gratitude when Kathryn walked in.
“Grace, how are you?”
“As well as I can be. The fever still hasn’t broken.”
“Mrs. Greenleaf has sent over another basket of food. I’ve left it in the kitchen. You must try to eat something.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“My dear, you must keep up your strength. It won’t help Peter if you fall ill. May I suggest you go rest for an hour or two? I shall sit with him.”
“No, I cannot leave him. What if he…”
Kathryn squeezed her hand. “Dearest, you need rest or else you’ll be right beside your husband. I promise to come for you if there is any change in his condition.”
Grace reluctantly agreed. She was so tired, and her mind was in turmoil. She couldn’t imagine her life without her beloved Peter. She went into the spare bedchamber to rest for a bit, and as soon as her head hit the pillow, sleep overtook her exhausted body.