Gentleman's Guide 02 - His Contrary Bride) (35 page)

“It appears so.” Marius matched the strained
cheerfulness of the tone she tried to put forth.

“Of course we can’t really start enjoying
ourselves until Simone is recovered. It wouldn’t be very fair to
her especially since she did save my life.”

“I’m sure everyone will be in
agreement.”

Lantern light flooded into her darkened
space when several rocks were pulled away from the collapse.
Sabrina needed to shield her eyes from the sudden pain. They needed
a moment to adjust after being in pitch blackness for so long.

Richard was the first one through the
opening, which didn’t actually surprise Sabrina. After all, it was
his wife who was unconscious. Marius followed and Sabrina looked
down to the head cradled in her lap when Richard lifted the lamp to
examine his wife. She sucked in her breath, shocked at the sight.
Simone’s forehead had been split open and blood covered a good
portion of her face and head, having dripped onto Sabrina’s skirts.
But, it was the only blood on her person. Well, except for the
bloody hand prints on her chest from the several times she checked
her heartbeat. Other than being very pale and the wound to her
head, Simone appeared otherwise uninjured.

*

It was Sabrina’s appearance that shocked him
the most. Her hands and gown were covered in blood. Even though he
knew it was Simone’s blood, it didn’t make the appearance less
frightening. Marius was just thankful she was alright. Pale and
possibly in shock, but whole, and that was all he could ask
for.

Between the two of them Marius and Richard
managed to lift Simone through the opening to the others. Richard
followed so he could carry her to the doctor.

Marius helped Sabrina to her feet and drew
her into his arms. Sabrina fell into him, and he kissed her
quickly. “There will be more later, when we are out of here.”

Sabrina offered a slight smile, her eyelids
drooped and she leaned her head against his shoulder as Marius led
her to the opening. “I can’t imagine why I am so weak.”

“It’s just from being stuck in here.” Marius
continued to support Sabrina until they came to the hold in the
wall. Not only was she barely walking on her own, but her speech
was faint.

He assisted her through the opening and
followed close behind. They had only taken a few steps towards the
exit when she looked at him with confusion. “I feel very
strange.”

Marius was able to scoop her limp body into
his arms before she landed on the filthy floor. He had only taken a
few more steps when he felt warmth at his side. Pausing, he
adjusted her to look down. Blood was seeping into his shirt. “Bring
me a light,” he hollered.

Dillon was at his side in a moment, as was
Noah, both with lanterns raised so Marius could better examine
Sabrina. She was covered in so much blood he couldn’t find an
injury. He squatted down and settled her on his knees and rolled
her body from side to side. Despite the blood soaked gown he was
able to find a hold in the dress on the right side above her hip.
“That bastard did shoot her.” It took only seconds to stand and be
out of the mine before Marius began yelling for the doctor.

The women had been placed in the back of a
wagon and surrounded by blankets from the neighboring homes. The
doctor had already temporarily bandaged Simone’s head when Marius
appeared with his wife. “Lay her flat and cover her, Mr. Parker.
I’ll examine her further at the house.”

The wagon moved at a snail’s pace, careful
to avoid any ruts in the road. It felt like an eternity before they
arrived at the house. Marius and Richard had stayed with their
wives and walked beside the wagon. The other gentlemen rode ahead
to alert the households to make preparations. The doctor was
waiting as well.

“You may put Lady Lavins in her bed. I’ll be
up momentarily.” Without moving Sabrina, he cut away the gown at
her side, locating the bullet hole. “She needs to be moved with the
greatest care.” Marius picked her up gently and took her to their
chamber. Janine sank into a chair, pale at the sight of Sabrina.
Phoebe appeared only slightly shaken but followed the doctor.

“The bullet did not exit.” The doctor stated
gravely. “Have one of the servants cut away her gown and wash her.
I’ll return after I check on Lady Lavins.”

Phoebe followed him out of the room.

Sabrina’s maid retrieved the scissors but it
was Marius who removed the clothing and bathed the blood from her
body. There was so much blood. Pulling the cool sheet up over her
body he waited for the doctors’ return while praying for his
wife.

Dr. Ginnis was alone when he returned. “It
appears Lady Lavin’s only injury was the blow to her head. The
bleeding has finally stopped and Lady Sandlin offered to stitch the
injury.

“Has she awakened?” Marius’ voice was
hoarse.

“No.” Dr. Ginnis stated flatly. Lifting the
sheet from the side, the doctor tried to retain all modesty for
Lady Sabrina. The hole was just at the indent in her waist. An inch
or so over and the bullet would have missed her. The doctor looked
up at Marius . “I’ll need to remove the bullet and examine the hole
to see if there is any other damage.”

Marius nodded, clenching his jaw.

“Perhaps you should call a servant to help
hold your wife.”

“No. I can keep her still.”

The doctor met his eyes. “I am suggesting
that perhaps you shouldn’t be here, sir. Maybe it would be better
if you joined your friends, have a brandy while I see to your
wife.”

“Doctor, I understand your concern. I’ll
stay calm and keep my wife still.”

The doctor opened his mouth to argue but
must have noted Marius determination and shut it a moment later and
set to work searching for the ball. Even though she was
unconscious, Sabrina must have felt the pain on some level of
consciousness because occasionally she stiffened or moaned. Marius
leaned over her, holding her body still while the doctor worked.
Marius talked to Sabrina quietly while the doctor probed, pulling
out the bullet. Blood gushed from the wound and the doctor pressed
a cloth to the opening. Once the bleeding was reduced the doctor
poked and prodded the wound further, pulling out the bits of
material.

Marius wondered what else could be in there.
The bullet was gone and there couldn’t be any of her dress, from
what he could see from what the doctor already discarded.

Dr. Ginnis straightened and pressed a new
cloth against the opening of Sabrina’s wound and looked up at
Marius. “It is a good thing that your wife still wears a corset,
unlike so many young ladies today.”

Marius raised his eyebrows in question.

“It slowed the bullet. Luckily your wife
didn’t suffer a fatal injury and nothing vital was struck.”
Pausing, he looked at Marius seriously. “Still, there is always the
chance for infection. If she doesn’t develop a fever over the next
day or so, I am certain she will recover nicely.”

Marius nodded mutely and prayed that his
wife didn’t develop an infection and thanked the Lord her injury
hadn’t been as serious as it could have been.

“Do you have any alcohol?”

Marius nodded. “Scot Whiskey. Crates of
it.”

A half smile graced the doctor’s face. “I
heard rumor of smuggling in the past.” He pulled the cloth away and
Marius noted most of the bleeding has stopped. “Could you get me a
bottle?”

Marius was torn between leaving Sabrina and
doing what the doctor asked. He would only be gone a minute. With
reluctance he left the room and ran to library where two of the
bottles from the cellar were shelved.

He handed the bottle to the doctor. After he
removed the cork he looked back up at Marius. “You will need to
hold her again.”

Marius pressed his hands to Sabrina’s
shoulder. When the brown liquid entered the wound her back arched
and she attempted to roll. Marius bent forward and whispered loving
words in her ear, hoping to calm her. Surprisingly, Sabrina did not
awaken. It must be the loss of blood keeping her unconscious.

A moment later the doctor set to stitching
the wound. Sabrina lay still and quiet, her breath slow and
steady.

*

Marius stayed with Sabrina through the day.
At the insistence of Phoebe, he ate from the tray she brought to
the room, but refused to leave Sabrina’s side. She seemed so pale
and he worried about how dangerous it was to lose as much blood as
she had. He also couldn’t get over his amazement of how she kept
her wits about her while she and Simone had been caught on the
other side, and replayed their conversation over in his mind. Dr.
Ginnis told him it was quite possible Sabrina hadn’t known she had
been shot. He had seen similar reactions in war. In the heat of
battle men fought, driven to keep moving forward until it was over.
Only then would they realize they had been wounded. He couldn’t
explain why this happened especially since Sabrina’s loss of blood
should have caused her to lose consciousness long before she was
brought out of the mine.

One crisis had passed after Simone had
awakened and appeared to have her wits, only suffering a headache.
It took much longer for Sabrina. Marius only knew of this
development because Richard came in to tell him. Other than that,
he knew nothing of what was happening in his household. With each
moment that passed that Sabrina didn’t awaken, the more concerned
he became. The doctor had assured him that the sleep was not
unusual given the trauma of the injury and loss of blood. She
needed to rest and heal. Often he touched her cheeks and forehead
for signs of fever.

The only person who bothered him and was a
frequent visitor was Phoebe, who spent more time trying to force
him to eat and sleep than taking care of Sabrina. As dusk was
beginning to fall, Marius finally stretched out on the bed beside
his wife, away from her injury. Turning on his own side, he laid a
hand on hers and closed his eyes. He would know instantly if she
awoke and he would awake himself. Still, he wouldn’t let himself
sleep soundly for fear of her developing a fever.

*

The room was completely dark when Sabrina
awoke. It took all her energy just to lift her heavy eyelids only
to face blackness. Her mind was foggy. Was she still trapped in the
mine? How could she have fallen asleep when they needed to escape?
No, they had escaped, or she thought they had. Marius was there, he
was helping her walk, and she had felt so strangely weak. Had there
been another collapse? Were they trapped again? Where was
Marius?

Panic rose and Sabrina struggled to sit,
until a sharp, burning pain shot through her side. Crying out in
pain, she fell back against the pillows. Her mind barely registered
that she was in a bed before she felt the bed shift with movement
from the other side.

“Sabrina. Don’t move, love, you have been
injured. Just hold on for a moment while I light a lamp.” The
sudden brightness of the lamp hurt her eyes and she closed them
instantly. Her side throbbed, her head hurt and her stomach
churned.

“Let me light a fire before I extinguish the
lamp. It won’t be nearly as bright and will be further away.”

She could hear the thud of wood being
dropped and the unmistakable sound of a flint, followed the light
faint smell of smoke that tickled her nose. Moments later, the
light beside her bed vanished. She slowly opened her eyes as Marius
sat in the chair next to the bed. His face was etched with worry.
There were small wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, which she had
never noticed before and at least a day’s growth of whiskers on his
face. What had happened? Simone? She had to be alright. Sabrina was
unaware she had spoken the questions out loud until Marius
answered.

“Simone is fine. Besides a few stitches, she
only suffered a raging headache.” He grew more serious, lifting her
limp hand to his lips. “It is you we have all been worried
about.”

Sabrina’s lips were dry and she tried to
lick them only to find her mouth dry as well. In an instant, Marius
was gently lifting her and placing a glass to her lips. Sabrina
sipped, grateful yet wondering why everyone had been worried. When
Marius removed the glass and gently settled her back on the pillows
she winced, feeling the pain in her side. “Why would anyone worry
about me?”

Marius raised an eyebrow and one side of his
mouth. “Have you not noticed the pain in your side?”

Her brows knit. “Yes. I must have been hit
by falling rocks.”

Marius shook his head. “If only that were
the case.” He looked deeply into her eyes and all his worry had
returned. “You were shot, Sabrina.”

She would remember if she had been shot. Her
uncle’s gun did fire, but that young boy had knocked his arm with
the shovel so his aim was off. “Uncle missed.”

Marius leaned forward and kissed her
forehead. “No, he didn’t. The bullet struck you in the side. The
doctor removed it this morning after we got you out of the
mine.”

Sabrina shook her head in disbelief. “No. I
would have known.”

Marius smiled and kissed her lips before he
explained everything that transpired while she was unconscious.

Sabrina could only stare at him. None of
this made any sense at all. Wouldn’t a person remember being shot?
Why didn’t she collapse next to Simone? Her mind was becoming
muddled and her energy fading. His voice was drifting saying
something about Scot Whiskey, her eyes too heavy to remain open.
She would need to ask him later. Would it be rude to fall asleep
while he talked?

His lips touched hers and Sabrina
sighed.

“Sleep well, Sabrina.”

Her eyes were closed before he raised his
lips. In the light, his worry receded. She was no longer deathly
pale, yet the color in her cheeks wasn’t from a fever as he had
checked when he kissed her. He knew he shouldn’t be hasty because
an infection could still develop, but hope was restored now that
she awakened for at least a short time. He remained sitting by her
side, holding her hand and watching her for the remainder of the
night. As the dawn creased the sky again, twenty-four hours after
the bullet had been removed, Marius sat forward to feel her brow.
It was still cool. An incredible relief awakened his muscles and
tears burned in his eyes. The danger was finally past. Lying down
next to her, he fell into a deep dreamless sleep, still holding her
hand, needing that contact with her.