Putting the bowl aside, Cecilia smiled. “You can drink some more when you wake. I’m happy you took a little nourishment.” She poured a spoon of something and held it out for Diana to drink. “Dr. Page said you’d need the laudanum for a few days more.”
Diana took the medicine and winced at the sweetness covering the bitter drug. “That is terrible.”
“It will keep the pain manageable so you can rest.” Honoria sat back, smiling.
Cecilia helped Diana lay back, then covered her to her chin.
Honoria said, “Cecilia, you can take the bowl down. I’ll stay with Miss MacLeod.”
With a nod, Cecilia gathered the napkin and bowl on a tray and left.
“My lady, I have many questions, but I’m afraid I cannot remain awake to ask them.” Diana’s lids closed despite her efforts to remain lucid.
“That’s all right, my dear. You may ask them later when you wake up. I will be here or close by. Sleep now.”
* * * *
Waking the next time was far easier. The sun shone through the westerly windows of Diana’s room. She was still on her back and her muscles ached from inactivity. Jacques sat to her right. “You look better.”
He smiled. “As do you.”
Using her left arm, she pushed herself to sitting.
Jacques jumped up and added his strength while propping her pillows up behind her. He frowned as he returned to the chair.
Heart pounding, she broached the subject haunting her dreams. “Victor lied. I never betrayed you. I never betrayed England.”
Letting out a long sigh, he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “Diana, I have never thought you had, not even for one moment.”
“But why, Jacques? I don’t know if I could believe me after all that has happened.” Besides the throbbing of her shoulder, her chest ached with emotion.
“Because I know your heart. You are everything to me, my goddess of the moon.”
A knock on the door ended the conversation and preceded Preston Knowles’s entry. As a duke, he generally looked proud and poised. Today his expression was contrite. “You’re awake. I’m very glad to see you, Miss MacLeod.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
Preston rounded the bed and knelt beside her.
Stunned to silence, Diana could only stare at him. Dukes did not kneel, and this duke didn’t like her very much. She looked to Jacques for some explanation, but he only shrugged and grinned.
Preston looked at the floor and then up at her. “You must forgive me.” He stopped and turned his gaze down again. “No. I’m sorry. I’m begging you to forgive me.”
“Your Grace? I don’t know what you should be forgiven for.”
“Preston or Pres, please. I need no titles when with true friends. I doubted you, Miss MacLeod. I thought you might be using my friend, my brother, to get information, or trying to get him sent back to France to save yourself. I was a fool.”
It was not a revelation. She’d heard him say as much in the parlor, yet her heart pounded. “And now?”
“I was wrong. No one jumps in front of a bullet unless they have love in their heart for the person they’ve saved.”
Truth or not, it was not enough. “I could love him and still be a traitor.”
Nodding, Preston acknowledged her logic. “That is true. Still, I was convinced by your noble act. However, the Horsemen have had five days with Victor Caron and he has confessed to more things than he was asked. Of course, he’s completely mad and obsessed with you to the point where we can no longer mention your name without sending him into hours of incoherent babble.”
Sweat beaded on her forehead and upper lip. “He’s still here?”
Jacques stood and hovered over her. “He is shackled in the dungeon. He will never harm you again. Word has been sent to France that he will face trial in London. We await Napoleon’s response, but we assume he will deny any part in Caron’s actions.”
“Does that mean I am free from them?”
Jacques looked at Preston then back at her. “I do not know, my love. We will have to wait for a response and gauge the answer.”
The idea that this might never be over churned her stomach. Living the rest of her life with the fear of being captured was no life at all. She returned her gaze to Preston still kneeling on the floor. “Of course, I forgive you. There is nothing to forgive. You wanted to protect your friend, and no one can fault you for that.”
He leaned forward, took her hand and kissed it. “Thank you. I’ve been distraught with the notion that you would never forgive me for being such an ass. I’ve written to my wife. She has been very worried about you and sends you prayers for a quick recovery, Miss MacLeod. I think she will join us here at Buckrose soon.”
“Diana. You must call me Diana. I will be happy when I can walk out of this castle on my own feet. Now, please, get off the floor before you damage yourself.”
Jacques laughed. “It is good for dukes to kneel from time to time. It keeps them humble.”
A loud rumble of Diana’s stomach shot Preston to his feet. “I will send for something for you to eat. Thank you, Diana.”
She smiled as he left. “Jacques, it is a very strange day.”
Leaning down, he kissed her forehead. “It is a great day. You are alive and will recover.”
The fact that the Duchess of Middleton was coming didn’t bode well. “When can I leave here?”
He frowned and sat back in the chair. Crossing his arms over his chest, he glared at her. “You have to heal that bone. It will be a few weeks. I am curious, where will you go?”
It was a fair question. She had no family, but she did have a home—or whatever was left of one—in Scotland. “I will go and check on my parents’ house and find out what happened to the servants. Of course, that will have to wait until the snow melts a bit. Traveling to Scotland would be difficult for me with the harsh winter.”
“I see.” His frown deepened.
At least she would have a few more weeks with Jacques while she healed. She picked up her chin, but her voice remained small. “When will you leave Buckrose?”
“You are the most infuriating woman.” He stood and stormed across the room, grabbed a fire iron and poked at the fire.
“I am? What did I do?”
The flames grew, and Jacques put another log on. “First you step in front of a bullet and get yourself injured, nearly killed. Totally unacceptable behavior, you should know better.”
“I saved your life.” She shook her head. “I assume there is a second reason.”
He turned, and while his lips were pulled in a tight line, his eyes had filled with admiration as he approached the bed. “Second, you still assume I will leave you after I have told you I never will.”
Emotion pushed up from her throat. “You also told me you were not the marrying kind of man.”
“I also told you I have changed.” He sat on the edge of her mattress.
“In my experience, people don’t change.” She tried to stay the stream of tears, but they still dripped down her cheeks.
He leaned in with a hand on either side of her head. Very careful not to touch her right side, he pressed a kiss to her lips. “Diana, perhaps I have not changed. Perhaps I have always been the marrying kind, but a bad experience sent me down another path. It is not a path I am particularly proud of, but it is the path that brought me to you, so I shall always cherish its memory. I love you, not just for today, or next week, or a year. I love you for all time. I want to marry you and make a life and family with you. You are the smartest, kindest, bravest and most beautiful woman I have ever known. Tell me you will be mine.”
His declaration rolled through her and settled in her heart. “You still want to marry me?”
“More than anything.” He kissed her cheek.
She could
n’t stop her tears. Pure joy was impossible to contain. If she could have jumped up and down, she would have. “I can think of nothing I want more than to be your wife, but what of your business? There are many people who will always think the worst of me.”
“I do not want to marry them. I only care about what you think.” He kissed one eyelid then the other.
A swift knock on the door, and Cecilia brought in a tray. Spices and chicken scented the room.
Jacques stood and moved away from the bed.
Cecilia blushed at having caught them during an intimate moment.
“I will return when you have finished eating.” Jacques’s smile simmered with promise.
Spotting the brown bottle on the nightstand, Diana stopped him. “One thing more, Jacques. And this is for you too, Cecilia. I do not want any more of that.”
“But, miss, the doctor said the laudanum would help you get better.” Cecilia put the tray down on the table and carried the soup bowl over with the spoon and napkin.
“It will not make me better. It just makes it so I don’t care about the pain. I would rather suffer than feel like I’m in a fog. No more.” As if in defiance, her shoulder pain increased. She relaxed and the pain eased.
Jacques took the bottle. “You are a grown woman. If you do not want the laudanum, you shall not be given it. If you change your mind, you need only say so.”
“Thank you.” So many more things needed saying. He treated her like an equal, he loved her, he wanted to marry her. She wanted to jump into his arms and never let go. “I’m relieved you didn’t make me fight you on this.”
With a smile that melted her heart and a brief nod, he left the room.
Cecilia sat with the bowl of soup and gave her a lecture about following the doctor’s orders, but she also told her about how Jacques had been with her the entire time she was unconscious. She went on and on until Diana was convinced the maid was as in love with him as she was.
Still grinning after her bowl of soup was empty, Diana drifted back to sleep.
Several times in the night, she rolled over the wrong way and the pain was excruciating. Honoria was there once and Mrs. Fallcraft another time. She never woke and found the room empty. She had many people to thank when she recovered.
Mrs. Fallcraft said, “I know it is uncomfortable to lie on your back, but that shoulder will require it for a while.”
“I think I forgot while I slept,” Diana offered in explanation, which was probably unnecessary.
* * * *
A commotion in the hall woke her. Sunshine shone bright through the window. It was the first time she’d woken up with no one watching over her.
Men were shouting, and the door burst open.
Victor Caron ran through the door. Drool ran from his mouth and sores marred his lips. Red-rimmed, sunken eyes sparked with madness and malice. “I will kill you.”
Rolling to her left, she put the bed between herself and the madman coming for her. Her feet hit the floor hard, and her legs shook from lack of use. Screaming pain shot through her shoulder. She grabbed the glass from the bedside table and threw it left handed. She hit Victor on the forehead, but the shattering glass had no effect on him.
Skirting the bed, Victor kept coming, with his arms outstretched and hands like claws.
Alex and Jacques rushed in.
Grabbing the candlestick, Diana backed into the corner.
Screaming her name, Victor rushed forward and wrapped his hands around her throat.
Diana bashed his head with the candlestick, but her airway closed. She gagged. Pain racked her body. She beat his head and back, but it had little effect.
Alex grabbed Victor and pulled him away.
The sight of Jacques renewed Victor’s madness. He charged forward.
Jacques grabbed for something on the washstand. He lunged back to avoid Victor’s punch.
Undaunted, Victor raged forward, pinning Jacques to the wall.
Diana screamed.
Victor collapsed on the floor with a pair of scissors lodged in his chest.
Jacques ran over and lifted Diana from the corner. He took her out of the room, stepping over Cecilia, who was just rising from the floor, and Sebastian who remained still in the hallway.
She hugged him around the neck and a wave of nausea overtook her. “Jacques, I think I may be sick.”
Picking up his pace, he turned into his room. He put her down on the bed, grabbed a washbasin from the washstand and held her while she retched.
Heaving made the pain worse, which made the nausea worse. Diana wondered if dying at Victor’s hand wouldn’t have been better. Finally, the room stilled, and the queasiness subsided. She allowed Jacques to wipe her face and ease her back on the bed.
He went to the table and brought her something to drink. “Just a sip, then spit it in the bowl.”
How would she ever face him again? She did as he said, but wiped her own face this time. “Is he dead?”
Jacques pushed her hair back and dabbed her forehead with a cool towel. “I certainly hope so.”
“What happened?” Her stomach settled, but the pain from her shoulder stabbed like a knife and radiated across her back and down her arm.
“The Horsemen were ordered to transport Caron to London. He broke free, determined to get to you.”
“Is Mr. Turril badly hurt? How is Cecilia?” More people hurt on her account. Diana wanted to scream.
“I do not know, but I will find out. This is not your fault, Diana.”
“Perhaps not, but I feel responsible.”
“We’re going to have to look at that wound. I fear your stitches could not survive the last few minutes.” Jacques got up and grabbed another towel from his washstand.
“You are quite good at nursing.” Despite all that had happened, a little giggle emerged. Perhaps she was becoming hysterical like one of those ladies one read about. It was possible she’d lost her mind.
His wry little smile said he appreciated a bit of levity after what had come before. “Nursing you is my honor, Diana. Do you think you can lean forward?”
Nodding, she did as he asked.
Jacques sat behind her. “I am going to pull the ribbon at the top of your gown.”
Why she should feel embarrassed when he had seen her completely naked, she didn’t know, but heat flushed her skin from head to toe. “I understand.”
She gripped the top of her nightgown while he pulled the back low. He cut the bandage away and let out a breath. “The stitches held. It is a miracle. There’s just a little bleeding.”
A cool towel soothed the ache in her shoulder.
Mrs. Fallcraft rushed in, out of breath. “How are you?”
It seemed the fact that her back was bare in the company of a man didn’t shock Mrs. Fallcraft in the least. Diana clutched her gown tighter. “Mr. Laurent says that my stitches are intact.”
She collapsed against the doorframe. “Thank God.”
“How are the others?” Diana asked.
Mrs. Fallcraft straightened and color rushed back to her face. “Sebastian has a lump on his head and is in a bad temper, but is otherwise fine. Cecilia has a few bruises. It could have been much worse. That monster who attacked you is dead. There was nothing I could do.”
Jacques covered her wound, pressed the bandages back in place and retied the bow of her nightgown before helping her ease back against the pillows, which filled her with his scent.
“Mrs. Fallcraft, Diana will need new bandages.”
“I will see to it,” Mrs. Fallcraft said.
“I suppose there will be questions,” he said.
Rushing into the room with blankets, Cecilia was followed by Alex. Cecilia covered Diana from her bare feet to her neck. “I’m so sorry, miss. I tried to stop him. I wasn’t strong enough. He was filled
with the devil. I’m sure of it.”
“Are you all right, Miss MacLeod?” Alex remained near the door.
“Yes. Thank you. He did not have long enough to do much damage.” She pressed her hand to her throat, trying to dispel the memory of Victor’s hands there.
“Then we were lucky. It could have been much worse. He should never have been moved so soon. I will write to His Majesty and explain that the prisoner died due to his own actions.” Alex looked at Jacques. “I’m confident there will be no investigation.”
“If there is, I will stand by my actions.”
The two men stared at each other for a long moment. Alex nodded. “And the Horsemen will stand behind you. In the meantime, I suggest that those of us who were present keep the details to ourselves.”
Cecilia bobbed a curtsey. “I was not of clear mind to see or hear anything once the madman knocked me down.”
“I wasn’t even there,” said Mrs. Fallcraft.
“Very well.” Alex turned to leave, but stopped and came to Diana’s bedside. “Miss MacLeod, the Buckrose Horsemen owe you a great deal. You have acted in good faith and great honor. I cannot make up for our inept protection, but I offer our services to you or your family should you ever need us.” He made a low bow.
Not knowing what to say to such a vow, Diana stuttered before she regained her wits. “I have no family, sir.”
A warm smile transformed Alex’s harsh features. He looked from her to Jacques. “I’m confident that is about to change.”
Embarrassment, joy and something more bubbled inside Diana. How her life had changed in a few short months.
Cecilia spoke as soon as Alex left the room. “We are cleaning your room, miss. I shall inform you the moment it’s ready.”
“Thank you, Cecilia.” It was an effort not to sound disappointed.
Mrs. Fallcraft said, “I’m going to check on Sebastian. I told him to be still and keep ice on that bump. I will gather fresh bandages and return shortly.”
Honoria nearly bumped into Mrs. Fallcraft in the threshold. The ladies curtsied and smiled. “I went for a short walk in the gardens and all Hell broke loose inside. Are you hurt, Diana?”
A Lady's Past Page 24
