by Vikki Vaught
“We went for a long ride.” Her face bright with enthusiasm, Margaret said, “We explored more of the caves. He’s fascinated by them and thinks he’s going to find buried treasure. I keep telling him the tales are only myths.” She rolled her eyes. “He says it doesn’t hurt to take a good look around anyway. After all, those caves were used by smugglers, and they may have left something behind.”
Relief filled her. Margaret and Boling seemed to be getting along well, so perhaps this union would not turn out to be the disaster they’d expected.
Helen poured a cup of tea and handed it to her. “I’ve never been inside of them. I’m not sure I would enjoy exploring them. I don’t care for dark, damp places.”
Margaret’s expression turned wistful. “It seems strange…not returning to school. I know I only had one more year left, but I’ll miss it. I don’t regret marrying Peter though.”
She patted her sister-in-law’s hand. “I’m pleased all is well between you and your husband. I worried he might grow restless since he was forced to marry you so quickly. Both of you are so young to be thrust into adult responsibilities. You should still be in school, but if you’re happy, I pray you’ll continue to be so.”
Margaret huffed, “You worry too much. Although I know Peter and I are young, we truly do love each other. We’re blissfully happy in our marriage.”
Matthew and Peter joined them, and soon they were all enjoying their refreshments. Both men ate several ham and Swiss cheese sandwiches each, along with a chocolate cream cake. Helen adored Cook’s lemon puffs and managed to eat two.
After tea, Matthew returned to his study, and Mr. Boling went with him. He had agreed to teach the young man how to manage an estate, since he would have his own sometime in the future. She went to her sitting room and started a new book she’d purchased in Plymouth.
The next week went peacefully by. Each morning Helen went on her morning ride with her husband, and then met with the housekeeper. Margaret went along so she could learn how to manage a household. After all, she would eventually need to take on those duties for her husband.
Every afternoon Helen spent time with Christina and Catherine either playing tea or going to the garden. Although they had not called her mama yet, she believed it would be soon. Both girls had warmed up to her and were listening much better. Their time in Plymouth had established a closer connection between them.
She had also attended several committee meetings and had gotten to know Mrs. Winslow much better, and they were now using each other’s given names. In fact, they’d gone riding several times.
Helen and her husband spent their evenings playing cards with Margaret and Peter or listening to music. Overall, she was content with her life. She still had not told Matthew she loved him. She was afraid to reveal her feelings, and it had to do with the duke. She needed to move past that hurt. Matthew was nothing like Manford. She kept hoping he would share his feelings first.
CHAPTER 18
While the morning was cool in late September, Matthew and Helen still set out on their usual morning ride. When they reached the shore, they dug in their heels and flew across the hard-packed sand along the water’s edge.
Suddenly, fear raced across Helen’s face as she grabbled for Ginny’s mane, but she still began to slip. With his heart in his throat, Matthew moved Apollo closer and tried to grab the pommel of the sliding saddle. Much to his chagrin, he missed and he watched her tumble to the sand.
One of Ginny’s hoofs clipped her head.
His heart stopped.
Oh, God, please, not Helen.
After pulling Apollo to a halt, he jumped off and rushed to her side. She was not moving, and she had a large gash on the right side of her head, where blood gushed forth. Afraid to move her at first, he touched her carotid artery and found a weak pulse.
Thank God!
He felt along her arms and legs and nothing seemed to be broken.
He stroked her lovely red-gold curls from her face. “Wake up, my darling.”
When he went to pick her up, her shoulder looked odd. He greatly feared she may have broken something after all. Although he was afraid to move her, in case she had more injuries internally, he needed to get her out of the freezing water. He carefully lifted her and carried her to a dry patch of sand.
His eyes darted around, and he spied his sister and her husband coming down the path.
Praise the Lord.
He waved his arms as he yelled, “Helen’s taken a fall. Peter, go to the house and find help.”
He dashed away, and Matthew removed his jacket and wrapped it around his wife’s head, which still bled copiously. His heart hammered in his chest as he held her head in his lap, praying she would survive.
After what seemed an eternity, his brother-in-law returned with a footman, carrying a flat plank. Once he gently positioned her on the board, they carried her to the house and up to her bedchamber.
Once she was on the bed, Matthew frantically touched her neck. Her pulse—while weak—was steady. Helen still remained unconscious, and no matter how he tried to stop it, blood continued to flow from the cut.
Her maid rushed forward and helped him remove her clothing. They had to cut away her riding habit to avoid moving her injured shoulder. Once she was only in her shift, the joint looked swollen and had started turning purple. He pulled the covers around her body to keep her from getting chilled.
Sally brought a wet cloth and handed it to him. While he bathed the blood from her beautiful face, he had to remember to breathe. Anxiety raced through him. She had to live, or his life would have no meaning.
Wells ushered the doctor into the bedchamber. Dr. Moore turned to him after he finished examining his wife. “While the trauma to Lady Collingswood’s head is most concerning, I’ll deal with that after I take care of her dislocated shoulder. You’ll need to keep her still while I pop it in place.”
Dr. Moore grabbed her arm and pulled up. The joint slipped into its socket, but she did not stir. Helen should have screamed when the doctor manipulated her shoulder, and she did not even flinch.
Oh, God, please let her be all right.
After the physician cleaned her head injury, he threaded a needle and began to stitch the gash. Again, Helen remained motionless as the doctor pulled the thread through her skin more than a dozen times. At least she did not feel the stitches, but as much as he did not want to see her in pain, he prayed for some reaction; none came. At last Dr. Moore stepped back.
The doctor finished applying a fresh bandage and looked at him. “When she awakens, she will need to keep her arm immobilized and give her shoulder time to heal. She will have a terrific headache when she awakens.” Dr. Moore pulled a packet from his medicine bag. “Give her this, which should help with the pain.”
“Will my wife recover?” he asked, holding his breath as he waited for the man’s reply.
The doctor stroked his chin. “It’s too early to say. If you’re a praying man, I recommend you do it. God alone knows if she will survive. I shall return this evening. Perhaps she’ll have regained consciousness by then. If not, she may have a fractured skull, which is very serious indeed.”
Matthew refused to leave his wife’s side. He sat holding her hand for hours. Margaret offered to take his place so he could rest, but he refused. He asked Peter to have Edwards find Ginny and discover what caused her fall. She was an accomplished rider, so her fall made no sense. Something must have happened to her equipment.
The doctor returned at six, but Helen remained unconscious. After the man examined her thoroughly, he asked, “My lord, is your wife with child? I found some bleeding, although it’s slight.”
Stunned, Matthew replied, “If she is, she could not be very far along.”
“I shall continue to monitor the situation.” The doctor stood. “Try not to worry. If she is, perhaps she’s not far enough along for the fall to hurt the babe. I shall take my leave now and return tomorrow evening.”
He refu
sed to allow anyone else to care for his wife. He stayed by her side all through the night, but she never awoke. Dr. Moore examined her the following evening. “The bleeding has stopped, my lord. On closer examination, she is carrying and has not lost the babe yet. Please do not hesitate to send for me if anything changes. I will return tomorrow evening.”
Matthew needed to send word to Sanderford. Her family needed to know of her accident. He could only imagine how the duke would take the news.
Margaret watched Helen long enough for him to bathe and send the missive to her family. While he was away, he talked to Edwards, and the man showed him the girth on Helen’s saddle. It looked like it had been cut, but only enough to weaken it. The stress of the ride must have severed it completely.
“Dammit. How could this happen?” he growled.
Edwards frowned. “The new stable lad saddled her horse. However, he’s disappeared.”
“Find him,” he ordered.
The head groom nodded and hurried away. He returned to his wife’s bedside. When Edwards found the lad, he would demand answers. Although, he could not imagine why anyone would want to hurt Helen. Perhaps the lad had been careless and that’s why he’d taken off.
Searching her dear face, his heart tore in two as he took in her diminished form and the dark circles under her eyes. Fortunately, Matthew managed to get water and gruel down her by massaging her throat. At least she was getting some nourishment for her and the babe. Two more days passed, and she had still not stirred.
After Dr. Moore examined Helen that evening, he sighed. “I’m amazed she hasn’t lost the child, but that may not matter if she does not awaken in the very near future. I’m sorry, sir. If she does not regain consciousness soon, I fear she may not make it. I shall take my leave, and I will return tomorrow.”
He was too overcome to reply as Wells showed the doctor out. Bowing his head, tears formed. As they slipped from beneath his lashes, he allowed them to fall unchecked. Lacing his fingers with hers, he dropped to his knees and began to pray harder than he’d ever prayed in his life.
Several days later, the duke and his wife arrived. They must have driven straight through to make it that fast. Matthew gained strength from Melody’s determination. The kind woman would not contemplate failure, and it gave him the encouragement he needed to not give into despair.
Each night he held her in his arms as he fitfully slept. That night, he succumbed and fell into a deep, exhausted sleep. He dreamed Helen had recovered and gave birth to their son. It was such a pleasant dream, and he did not want to awaken, but the sound of someone moaning forced him to stir.
The noise came from Helen. He looked at her, and a gentle smile graced her face. It was the first one he had seen since before the accident. His heart tripped and his pulse raced as he clasped her hand to his chest.
“My darling, please wake up. I need you so much…we all need you to come back to us. Christina and Catherine have been asking to see their aunt Helen.” Crying to the heavens, he called out, “Oh, God, help her…I can’t lose her. She’s my life, my reason for living.”
Tears rolled down his face as he pulled her close and whispered, “Please come back to me, my love. You have so much to live for, my darling…you’re going to have a babe. Please…I love you.”
He stroked her face, and her lips turned up at the corners as she slowly opened her eyes. “Why are you crying, Matthew?”
“My darling.” He pulled her close. “Thank God you’ve come back to me.”
“Where have I been?” she asked, clearly confused. She touched her forehead. “Oh, dear. Why does my head hurt?” She tried to sit. She cried out and slumped against the pillows, but remained alert.
“Don’t try to sit up, my darling,” he pleaded. “You’ve been unconscious for days, so you’re weak. You fell while we were riding, and one of Ginny’s hooves hit you. Do you remember any of this?”
Helen closed her eyes. “Oh, goodness, I don’t feel well…I think I’m going to be sick.”
Matthew climbed out of bed and rushed for the chamber pot, hurrying back to her side. He barely reached her before she cast up her accounts. He held her head, and when she was through, he wiped her face with a damp cloth and gave her water to rinse her mouth.
He climbed back in beside her and pulled her into his arms. She laid her head on his shoulder and fell asleep. He held her throughout the rest of the night, praying fervently she would wake up again in the morning.
Helen did awaken and seemed to be much better. Her shoulder hurt a little, but not bad, and her headache was almost gone. Matthew wondered if she had heard him tell her he loved her. She did not mention it, so she probably had not. He was just grateful she was alive.
Melody entered the room, and Helen beamed. “When did you arrive? I’m so glad to see you. Is Henry here too?”
“He is,” she replied. “We’ve been so worried. Thank goodness, you’re all right. We’ve been praying every day for you.”
“May I see him?” she asked.
“Of course. I’ll get him,” Melody left the room to bring him to her.
When Henry entered, he came to the bed and gave her a hug. “Ah, sweetheart. I’m so relieved you’re feeling better.”
Helen struggled to sit, and Matthew straightened her pillows. “It’s wonderful to see you. I’m sorry I’ve been so much trouble.”
“You’re no trouble,” replied her brother. “We came as soon as we received word from Collingswood.”
After giving her brother a weak smile, she looked at Matthew. “I’m so tired. I think I need to rest,” and almost before the words were out of her mouth, she fell asleep.
His wife spent the next few days recuperating. At last, it was time to tell her about the babe. Sitting beside her, he picked up her hand and kissed it. “Sweetheart, I have exciting news. You’re with child. Did you suspect you had conceived?”
“Oh, my goodness. Is the doctor sure? I had no idea.” Tears filled her eyes. “Did Dr. Moore say when the child will arrive?”
“Don’t cry.” He wiped a tear from her cheek. “He said he needed to speak with you to be sure. He’s coming this afternoon to examine you. You did have some minor bleeding after your fall, but it wasn’t much, and the doctor said the babe should be fine.”
After the doctor examined her that afternoon, he said, “I see no reason for further concern for you or the unborn child. Based on what we discussed, the babe should arrive by the end of April. I suggest you engage the midwife in our area to oversee your confinement.”
Relief swept through him, and after the doctor left, he insisted she rest. He left her with Melody, knowing she would make sure his wife followed Dr. Moore’s advice.
Now that she was out of danger, he devoted himself to finding the stable lad who may have tampered with her saddle. Matthew and Peter questioned the other stable hands, but none of them knew where the lad had gone. Although they searched the village, they found no trace of the boy.
Perhaps the stable lad had heard of the accident and ran off. He had no reason to want to harm her. At least for the next seven months, she would not be riding, so nothing like this could happen again.
* * * *
Helen enjoyed having her family around her. Melody came to her room every day so they could talk. The day after she learned of her condition, they had a chance to have a more involved conversation. “While I’m overjoyed you came, I hate you had to travel all this way. I’m sure Henry detests being away from Parliament, especially with this business with the King.”
“When we received the news of your accident, we left immediately. Nothing is more important than you right now.” She squeezed her hand. “Henry has Weston keeping him informed of the goings-on. You just need to concentrate on getting well.”
Relieved to hear that, she relaxed against her pillows. “I appreciated your encouraging letter. You told me I should share my change of heart with my husband, but I’m too afraid. He’s never mentioned his feelings for m
e. When we married, I insisted I only wanted companionship.”
Melody harrumphed. “Are you sure he isn’t in love with you? He was completely undone when you were so ill. I think he loves you, and why would he not? After all, you’re a very loveable person. You didn’t see how he acted when you were ill. He never wanted to leave your side.”
Her heart jumped. “Do you truly think so?”
She patted her hand. “I do. I suggest you watch his actions. Many times, you can tell more from actions than words.”
“That’s sound advice.” She felt so much better having Melody to confide in. “I’m so happy about the baby. While I will love either gender, I certainly hope it’s a male. He desperately needs an heir. His brother’s such a wastrel, he would ruin the earldom if he inherited. I wrote that he’d fought a duel and almost died.”
Her friend sighed. “You have had quite a bit of excitement since your wedding. I can’t believe his sister had to wed. She’s so young, and her husband can’t be more than a few years older than she. It could not be avoided?”
“Margaret gave him her innocence,” she explained. “One afternoon, she failed to appear for tea. My husband found her and Mr. Boling in a compromising position, so they had to wed immediately. They are living with us until he comes into his inheritance. He’s Viscount Hartford’s heir and will inherit the title. Until then, he has no way to support a wife. They seem to be in love.” She sighed. “Only time will tell if they’re mature enough to handle marriage.”
“I hope for their sakes they can overcome their youth.” She stood. “You’re getting tired, so I’ll take my leave. Remember you’re carrying a precious child, and you need plenty of sleep. Take care, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
