Chapter Sixteen #2
Caroline was already taking up the poker.
She drew the coals apart and settled the guard back into place, moving with the same determined grace Thomas remembered from years before.
She was always a practical woman, and as they had talked of their future, he had always imagined her by his side in his surgery, a true partner in all things.
He returned to the bed. "Has she taken any water since she lost consciousness?"
"We tried," Miss Elizabeth said, "but she could not swallow."
"You were right not to pour it into her mouth. We may still moisten her lips and give her a little at a time."
He asked for a clean square of linen and dipped one corner into the water. Supporting Miss Bennet's chin, he squeezed a few drops carefully between her parted lips, then waited. For several seconds, nothing happened. At last, her throat moved weakly.
Miss Elizabeth gave a broken sound of relief.
"Only a little," Thomas warned. "If she swallows, we may continue drop by drop. If she coughs or her breathing worsens, we stop at once."
Caroline came to stand beside him, and he passed her the cloth without considering the intimacy of the gesture. "Keep it damp, Caroline. No more than two or three drops at a time."
Mr Bingley's eyes lifted towards him in shock, while Miss Elizabeth glanced quickly from Thomas to Caroline. Even Caroline seemed startled by the use of her Christian name, though she recovered almost at once and took the cloth from his hand. "Of course," she said quietly.
She lowered herself into the chair beside the bed and touched the damp linen to Miss Bennet's lips. Her hand trembled on the first attempt, but steadied as she squeezed out two small drops and waited for the faint movement of Jane's throat before offering more.
Thomas watched long enough to be certain she understood, then turned towards the bottles gathered upon the bedside table.
He uncorked the draught Mr Jones had left and caught the heavy sweetness of an opiate beneath the spirits.
"She will have no more of this," he said, replacing the stopper.
"It may quiet a cough, but her breathing is already too greatly burdened to administer more sedatives. "
Miss Elizabeth looked towards him, fresh fear gathering in her face. "Then what can be done?"
Thomas understood the question beneath the words. And wished he had a better answer, some magical elixir that would wake the dangerously ill young woman and return her to her friends and family unharmed.
"We shall ease her breathing, bring down the fever gradually and give her water whenever she is able to swallow.
If she wakes, she may have a little barley water or broth, but nothing rich and nothing forced upon her.
More than anything, she needs quiet and constant watching.
I shall remain through the night and, if she grows stronger, we may try a little willow bark. "
Mr Bingley looked at the motionless woman upon the bed, his face a mask of pain and sorrow. "And this will save her? You are sure?"
"I cannot promise it," Thomas said. "But I will not spend what little strength remains to her on expensive, unnecessary treatments that may do more harm than good."
Mr Bingley bowed his head, his expression tightening with distress. After a moment, he moved to the opposite side of the bed and took Miss Bennet's hand between both of his. "Then pray tell us what we can do. I must have some occupation or I will run mad."
Thomas glanced towards Caroline. She remained bent over the patient, squeezing another few drops from the cloth and waiting for the faint movement of Miss Bennet's throat before continuing.
"Fresh water, clean linen, barley water and broth prepared in case she wakes," he said. "Someone must also remain beside her without interruption."
Bingley jumped up immediately, clearly pleased to be able to help in some small way. "I shall speak to Mrs Nicholls at once. Jane will have everything she needs to see her well."
Caroline looked after her brother as he hurried from the room. "Elizabeth and I shall take turns. She will not be left alone."
"I do not require anyone to take my place," Elizabeth said at once. "Jane is my sister. I shall remain with her."
"And you have already been awake for most of the night," Caroline replied, without looking away from the cloth in her hand. "If you collapse beside her bed, you will be of very little use to anyone."
Elizabeth drew herself up. "I am not going to collapse."
"No, because I shall make you rest before you have the opportunity."
Thomas looked between them. Caroline wore the same firm expression he remembered from the beach whenever she had decided he was wrong, something which had occurred often. She had always held strong opinions and never hesitated to voice them. It had been one of the things he loved most about her.
"Miss Bingley is right," he said, doing his best to keep the level, determined tone he used with patients and their families. "You may both remain, but you must take turns and rest when you are able. Exhaustion will make you careless."
Elizabeth looked ready to argue, but her gaze fell upon her sister and some of the resistance left her. "I shall take the first watch," she said firmly, only for the effect to be ruined by a yawn so enormous that she had to cover her mouth with both hands.
"You have already taken the first watch," Caroline said sternly.
Their eyes met across the bed, both women equally determined. At last, Elizabeth gave a reluctant nod.
"Very well. I shall rest. But only for an hour."
"Two," Caroline replied.
"One."
"An hour and a half."
Then Miss Bennet drew a rough, uneven breath, and Caroline turned back to her at once. Thomas opened his case and began preparing for the long night ahead.