Chapter 19
Georgiana held the last chord of the sonatina for a moment longer before releasing the keys. Now, what should she play next?
As soon as she had returned to her bedchamber that morning, Ambrose had ensured she was dressed and able to go downstairs in good time. Henry and Jane tended to rise early, as was Georgiana’s wont, so she and Charles did not want the couple suspicious of her being late to breakfast. No matter what had happened at the inn or since they had come to an understanding, she and Charles would be married, so her brother and Lizzy need never know that they had anticipated their vows.
Jane had given her some odd looks while they discussed the weather, followed by their plans for the day trapped inside—again. At times, she would pause after enquiring of the plans for the wedding. What had Jane expected her to say? Charles had purchased a common license so the banns need not be read. Once Fitzwilliam and his family arrived, they would set the time with the vicar, who was amenable to marry them at their convenience.
She stroked one of the lower keys on the pianoforte with a reverent touch. The instrument did not appear very old and was in excellent condition, so she had enjoyed the opportunity to play every day since her arrival. Some of those times had been to settle herself due to Charles’s capriciousness, yet matters were finally where they should be—or would be as soon as they were wed. Becoming Charles’s wife could not come quickly enough.
In fact, since their betrothment, she no longer required the instrument to bring her solace. For the first time since they arrived at Bathwick, she was at peace. She and Charles would spend their lives together. She could not wait!
She flipped through the meagre selection of music. She would need to bring more of her music books down from her trunk. A nocturne that she had never before played caught her eye, and she followed the progression of the notes to have some idea of the melody.
The door in the hall slammed, making her startle. The shouting that followed drew her from her perusal to search out the source of the commotion. Her knees nearly buckled at the sight before her. Oh, Lord!
“What has happened?”
Henry and the new steward carried a bedraggled and insensible Charles between them, the duke with one of her betrothed’s arms over his shoulders and the steward propping his master’s other side. Meanwhile, her beloved’s head lolled back onto his brother’s shoulder as they started for the stairs. He looked dreadful!
“That dam his tenant built upstream must have collapsed with the rain and sent a deluge that swept him away. We followed as best we could until we found him caught on a log that crossed the river about a half-mile from the house.”
“Thank God for it,” said Mr. Jasper, who was noticeably out of breath. “He could not have taken much more of the bobbing in and out of that torrent. He is fortunate to be alive.”
“Good heavens!” Jane covered her mouth as they passed on the way to Charles’s chamber where Georgiana had run ahead to open the door. As soon as they had him inside and laid out on the floor, Mr. Jasper rang the bell.
“He needs to be relieved of those wet clothes!” Georgiana rushed forward and began struggling with his cravat while Henry pulled off Charles’s boots.
“Why would you not put him on the bed?” asked Jane.
Henry wrested one boot off and began on the next. “Despite it being summer, he is chilled. After a hot bath, he will need to be put into bed without delay, so I do not wish to wet the bedding through.”
Georgiana tossed his cravat aside and untied the top of his shirt.
“Georgiana, his valet can do this.”
When she glanced over her shoulder, Jane stood over her. “His valet has yet to arrive, so I will do what I must to be of aid.” Jane would need to pull her away if she wished her to desist!
“I really must protest Georgiana.”
Her back stiffened, and she levelled a hard look at Jane. “If this was Henry, could I make you leave?”
“But we are wed. You are not yet—”
Her fingers began working at his cuffs. “Do not trouble me with what I consider a trifling. I will remain. If you want to go, then go.” Georgiana would not sit in the drawing room sipping tea while Charles was in such dire circumstances!
A moment later, Jennings was in front of Charles and helping Henry remove her betrothed’s breeches while she cradled his head in her hands.
“Charles, wake up. Pray, come back to me.” She caressed his cheek and rubbed at the damp shirt in the hopes of warming him. He was so cold! The effort was fruitless, yet what did that matter? At least she was doing something.
While Jennings and Henry hauled Charles’s upper body off the floor, Georgiana pulled and tugged at his shirt to remove it. As soon as he was completely bare, Jennings tossed rugs over him that they tucked around him.
“I shall see about the bathwater.” Jennings hastened from the room.
Henry knelt on Charles’s opposite side while she again cradled her betrothed’s head in her lap, stroking the damp hair back from his dear face. “Jane is right. You should not be in here. It will cause talk amongst the servants.”
“I care not for what the servants say. I shall not leave him.” With Mr. Wickham, she had worried so that her reputation would be in tatters. This time, let those so wholly unconnected to her gossip!
“When the physician comes, he will insist.”
“Let him.”
With a heavy sigh, Henry shook his head. “You can be as recalcitrant as he is.”
“Then we suit each other well.”
“And what happens if the worst occurs? You will have been in a gentleman’s bedchamber while he is undressed. You will be ruined—you likely are already ruined.”
She looked up and caught Henry’s gaze. Lines marred his forehead. “I understand what I am doing, but I shall not leave him, even if it means I am not accepted in polite society from now on. After all, if the worst happens, I shall never marry. I could never marry anyone but him.” Henry gave a frustrated growl as Jennings entered.
“The hot water will be up soon, sir. Thankfully, the housekeeper thought you would want hot water when you returned, so she was keeping it ready.”
“How fortunate for us then,” said Henry.
Moments later, Jennings returned to indicate the bathwater had arrived, so he and Henry carried Charles into the dressing room and put him in the tub. While Henry ensured his brother did not slip under, Jennings bathed him. Meanwhile, Georgiana took the liberty of washing his hair to remove the river from as much of him as possible. If it had been stagnant before the storm, it could carry disease.
Once Charles was in bed, Georgiana sat upon the side and held his hand. A tear finally tracked down her cheek. “Charles, dearest, do wake up.” With the size of the bump on the back of his head, it was doubtful he would open his eyes soon, no matter how she wished it.
“He has bruises forming in several places where he must have been struck,” said Jennings.
Henry shook his head, his eyes solemn. “Likely whatever was caught in the current with him.”
“I believe the lump on the back of his head is the worst of it.” She wiped the tears from her cheeks while Henry and Jennings felt for the knot.
“I beg your pardon.” They all turned to stare at the housekeeper at the door. “The young lad we sent out fetched the apothecary, a Mr. Gibbons, in the next village. He was the closest. The groom I sent for the physician returned saying the man had gone to London for some reason.”
“Very well,” said Henry, “send this Mr. Gibbons in.”
Within minutes, an older man entered, his bushy white eyebrows lifting when his gaze landed on Georgiana. She steeled herself and returned his look with an implacable one of her own. She would not be intimidated!
He came to a halt and bowed near the bed. “Good morning, Your Grace…and madam. I am not often called out in such weather. ’Tis truly dreadful. I thought my horse would be stuck in the mud along the road.” He chuckled then stepped to the side of the bed and looked down at Charles. “The servant said he was swept away by the river?”
“Yes,” said Henry. “We were ensuring the tenants with homes close to the banks were safe as well as aiding in securing their livestock. My brother was swept quite a distance until we found where he had been caught on a sizeable tree that had fallen over the water.”
“Was he awake when you found him?” The man was feeling over the back of Charles’s head. “He has a good-sized knot here.”
“No, and he has not been awake since we found him.” Henry ran his fingers through his own hair.
After pressing on Charles’s shoulders, the man glanced at her. “If I am to examine him fully, the lady should leave.”
“I will go nowhere.”
Henry scrubbed his face with a growl. “Pray, forgive the irregularity. My brother is newly wed, and his wife has been adamant since we found him that she is not to be excluded. If you would indulge her. Otherwise, you may never have the opportunity to examine him.” The only reaction from Jennings was a slight cough.
The older man’s gaze returned to her. “I have laudanum should you require some.”
Georgiana gritted her teeth. “I am not some hysterical female who requires laudanum. I only wish to know the current state of my…husband for myself and not as told to me by others.”
“Mmm,” hummed Mr. Gibbons before looking back at Charles.
A vase stood upon a pedestal within reaching distance, yet she clasped her hands in front of her and clenched her jaw shut lest she hurl it at the old goat, who drew the sheet down and continued as though he had said naught that was offensive.
“I believe he has several broken ribs, and his shoulder is out of place. I shall need to set it.” He drew the sheet back up over Charles’s chest before checking his legs. “He seems well other than the injuries I noted, although the head injury is what I consider the most alarming. The bump is large, and we shall need to see how he fares for the next couple of days.”
Mr. Gibbons waved Jennings and Henry over. “Now, if you could hold him, I shall return the shoulder to where it belongs.”
Despite remaining asleep, Charles cried out as the arm was forced back into position, then began to heave.
Georgiana gasped. “Turn him to his side!”
The men rolled him over just in time to expel the contents of his stomach over the edge of the bed. As soon as he seemed to have finished, they returned him to his back while Jennings rushed to fetch towelling to clean up his master as well as the floor.
The apothecary grimaced. “That does sometimes happen when one has taken a significant blow to the head. I would prop him on pillows so if it happens again, he will not choke. He will need to wake if he is to take fluids or laudanum to help with the pain. I am certain he will have a devil of a headache as well as nausea when he finally regains his senses. His recovery will take time.”
Georgiana hurried around the bed and took Charles’s hand. “Is there nothing we can do for him?”
“Besides make him comfortable, no. I had heard Lord Bath had returned to Bathwick, although no one mentioned he had wed.” He glanced at where her hand was joined with Charles’s. “He is young and other than the loss of his hearing, appears to be a healthy sort. I shall pray he rallies, and you may have a long marriage.”
“I thank you.” Her eyes burned, and a great lump formed in her throat.
Mr. Gibbons opened a bag and pulled out two bottles. He held up the first to show Jennings as he entered. “This is laudanum for pain. The second is a tincture in the event he becomes ill from inhaling water. Do send for me if he worsens. I shall return on the morrow to check on his condition.”
“Thank you, Mr. Gibbons,” said Henry. “If you wish to wait until the rain slows, I am certain the housekeeper can see to some refreshments. She can also give you a guest room where you can stay if it is required.”
“I appreciate your generosity, Your Grace.”
The moment the door closed behind him, Henry rounded on her. “The moment he wakes, no matter how confused he may be, the two of you will wed. I only pray the apothecary does not comment upon your presence here while he is in the kitchen.”
“Your Grace,” said Jennings, “I took the liberty of informing Miss Darcy’s maid of what you said. She rushed to the kitchen to let the housekeeper know of the falsehood. For what it is worth, they are aware of how Miss Darcy has been of aid to the master, and I do not doubt both the cook and the housekeeper will do what they can to protect her.”
Henry rubbed where his neck and shoulder met. “I hope you are correct, yet you must understand that her brother entrusted me with her well-being. If her reputation suffers, he will hold me accountable.”
Jennings glanced at her. Charles’s valet knew all. “I understand, sir.”
Her entire being relaxed when he responded as he had. She could only be thankful Jennings was trustworthy and would never reveal their secrets.