Chapter 18
11th August 1815
Once again, the pitter-patter of rain against the window roused Georgie from a deep slumber. She turned her head and stared at the rivulets of rain coursing down the window. When would the cursed weather improve? They had managed to send out an express rider to Pemberley the day after Charles had finally proposed, then, of course, the weather had turned, and the rain began anew—that time more of a misty nuisance rather than a true shower.
After two days of poor weather, the express rider had returned, having ridden through the mud with Fitzwilliam’s response. Her brother, Elizabeth, Richard, and the children were supposed to arrive today, yet whether they would choose to travel in this much rain was certainly in question at the moment.
She shifted and toyed with Charles’s hair. After his proposal, he had insisted they behave and not sleep in each other’s beds until they wed; however, before midnight, he had appeared in her bedchamber complaining of an inability to sleep without her. She had experienced the same affliction, but how was that possible? They had only spent two nights together. Years or even weeks would be required for the presence of the other to be so necessary, would it not?
Yet, these moments in the quiet before he woke were some of her favourites. The way he held her against him or nuzzled her in his sleep spoke of his affection for her. This morning, he slept with his head pillowed on her breasts, one arm nestled against her side and the other splayed out from his body.
He groaned and rubbed his face against her. Without warning, his mouth closed over her nipple, making her gasp and clutch at his russet locks. He lavished attention on one before moving to its twin while his hands wreaked havoc on the rest of her. She could lose her mind with the sensations he evoked in her, but she welcomed the mindlessness of it all.
At the moment, she needed the connection with him she so craved and cradled his cheeks in her palms to bring his mouth to hers. He had become adept at awakening every part of her and making her ache for him in ways she had never imagined possible. From the moment he touched her so intimately, she became desperate to have him inside of her. When he finally joined with her, she could have wept in relief. He was hers, and that was all that mattered.
Charles’s body was a lead weight as he recovered. This was the first morning he had awoken in such a position, and if asked, he would have to admit the advantage of having Georgie’s breasts as a pillow. With his morning erection begging for release, he had been roused in the best way imaginable.
“ It is raining again ,” he said aloud. “ Do you think they will wait out the storm? ” As much as he despised moving and separating himself from her glorious flesh, he lifted onto an elbow so she could respond.
“I would guess Fitzwilliam will remain at the inn until the weather improves. He will take no chances with Lizzy, Alexander, and Sophie. I doubt Richard will travel ahead of them. He is still recovering.”
“ I hope your brother will not make us endure the usual engagement period .”
“He had no wish to wait when he was betrothed, so I would hope not.” She took him by the cheeks and guided him to kiss her. As it so often did, the kiss deepened until he rolled away.
“ We cannot. We must make an appearance at breakfast .”
She sat up and faced him, the sheet falling from her chest and allowing him to admire her beauty. “I shall do what I must to be married sooner rather than later. I tire of hiding and sneaking through the servants’ passages.”
“ I do as well .”
Georgie startled. “Someone is knocking.”
Charles rose and donned his dressing gown. While they had stayed in her bedchamber at first, the past two nights had been spent in his. He drew the bedcurtains that faced the dressing room before opening the door to Jennings who wrung his hands.
“ What is it? ”
“Sir, Mr. Jasper has requested your urgent presence in your study. He has had word of flooding on the estate near the river. Your brother is being awoken as well.”
After sighing, he nodded and lifted his hands to sign. At times, it seemed quicker than trying to speak it all. “With the surfeit of rain lately, we have been waiting for the river to break its banks. Pray, tell them I shall be down directly. Once Miss Darcy is dressed, she will require aid to return to her rooms.”
“I shall let her maid know,” said Jennings.
As soon as he closed the door, Georgie slipped through the curtains. “I heard. How bad do you think it will be?”
“I cannot know until we go out and see. If the water has risen too high, the tenants who live along the river could lose their homes. I just hope they do not lose any livestock or their crops. Most of the sheep and horses have access to water, and the fields closest are planted. The ground is more fertile, and the nearby water supply is helpful if we have a spell of dry weather.”
He handed her the nightgown she had worn to his rooms the night before. A part of him protested when she covered herself, but as much as his heart despised leaving her, he had no choice in the matter. He had to see to his tenants.
Jennings made quick work of helping him dress before he met the steward and Henry in the hall. His brother stared at him for a moment, and Charles frowned in return. The way he regarded him was odd, and he could not place the expression.
Their mounts were in front of the house waiting, so together, the three of them climbed atop and galloped in the direction of the Grigg farm as Harold Grigg’s parcel of land was the closest.
Charles glanced to the portion of the river that was some distance behind Bathwick. The water had obviously swelled over the banks, but not enough to reach the great house. It had some distance to go before that would occur. Hopefully, the rain would abate before they had a flood of such dire proportions.
Harold Grigg was out in the storm when they arrived, moving what livestock he could into the small stable, which was situated near the cottage, uphill from the river. His livestock should be safe if he could gather them all inside.
The three of them dismounted and helped Mr. Grigg bring in a couple of goats, another horse, and a milk cow.
“If the sheep have any sense, they will find a place to shelter from the storm away from the river,” said Mr. Grigg while his steward and Henry translated.
His steward pointed to the water. “The river is not terribly swollen here, yet the reports from upstream are more severe.”
Charles glanced at the banks that were higher than usual, yet not as bad as he would have expected. “Likely due to the damming.” He had told Morris to remove the dam, but by the looks of matters, he had not done so.
“When the obstruction clears, it will be dangerous,” said Henry.
“We should continue on.” His steward waved towards their horses, which were tied inside the stable while they had helped Mr. Grigg.
The next farm was also affected by the dam, and again, the men aided the tenant in bringing in the animals that had been outside in the weather. At the moment, the cottage and stable were not flooded, but if the water from upstream was released, the resulting deluge would wipe away the man’s home.
As soon as the draft horse had been secured, Jasper looked at the sky before turning his attention to the man. “We are certain John Morris has not yet removed the dam on his property. When it gives way, your cottage could be swept away by the water. I would take your family and shelter from the storm in the barn. You will be safer there. The ground is higher.”
“You may come to the great house if need be,” said Charles while his steward translated. “We can find a place where you and your family can remain until this subsides.”
The man shook his head. “I cannot leave the animals, but if the weather worsens, I shall send my wife and son to the house. I thank you for your offer.”
Upon reaching the next farm, it seemed they had happened upon a number of tenants working together to bring their animals to safety. Mr. Long from the next parcel over was wrestling with a stubborn ox that insisted upon remaining knee-deep in the mud.
Henry, Charles, and Jasper all secured their mounts and waded into the mire to be of aid, his brother and steward taking positions along the beast’s chest to push on either side while Charles rushed around the back to push at the animal’s rump. He shoved with all his might, but the animal would not budge. The stubborn beast did not know what was good for him. They shoved again and again. Blast it all! The beast could rot here if he so chose!
One more great heave forced the ox to take one step when Henry’s entire body whirled around. “Leave it! Get out of here!” His signing was so careless. Why was he frantic?
Charles straightened. “What is happening?”
His brother grabbed his arm and pulled with so much force a pain ripped through his shoulder. Before he could follow, he was off his feet, engulfed in a torrent travelling at great speed. He shed the weight of his greatcoat and fought his way to the surface to take a huge gulp of air, only to be sucked back under. John Morris’s dam had surely broken. It was the sole explanation for this. None other existed.
Something hard struck him in the chest, purging the air from his lungs, which now burned. Air! He needed to breathe! He dug towards the surface as the current thrust him upwards. An enormous gasp filled his lungs with some much-needed air while he swung his arms to take great pulls of water. He needed to make it to the side!
The current whipped him around. His attempts at swimming did nothing, so he attempted to float upon the rapids. A branch extended over the river just ahead. This could be his sole opportunity to reach the safety of solid ground. He reached for the limb, yet he was moving so fast, his fingers barely brushed the bark before he was swept under and past. Damn!
Once again, he was tossed, this time plunging back into the depths of the racing water. Bubbles surrounded him. Damn! How was he supposed to know which way was up? He took great pulls of water in the hopes of making his way to the surface once again. His stomach lurched when he seemed to fall over a cliff, a sharp blow to his back making him wince as he landed. The drop was not significant. He had to have plummeted over Miller’s Falls, a small cascade with a rocky ledge and great boulders where he would have landed—those were what likely struck his back. The spot was more picturesque than dangerous in good weather. Now, in its current state, it was treacherous.
He scrambled once again in an attempt to breach the surface, his lungs threatening to explode if he was not allowed to breathe. His arms flailed to remove his topcoat and boots, and he kicked with all of his might. They had become sodden and were weighing him down. He needed desperately to shed himself of them lest he drown. He could not drown!
Georgie! His arms began scrambling for purchase once more. He had been impulsive in claiming Georgie for his own, and now, would she pay the price? She could already be with child. If he died, who would protect her? How he wished he was still lying with her in his embrace!
His hands grasped at anything he could find, but they only slid along the rocks, which were slick. His fingernails hurt from him clawing in an attempt to grasp any surface he could. His lungs were once again begging for air, but no matter how hard he tried, the surface was unattainable.
Every part of him ached with the effort of fighting the current, but he continued to struggle. He had to return to Georgie!
A moment later, a piercing pain tore through his skull, and he knew no more.