The Darcys' First Christmas by Maria Grace

Author:Maria Grace [Grace, Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780692590461
Publisher: White Soup Press
Published: 2015-11-28T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

His valet stood beside the bed and cleared his throat.

Darcy groaned and rubbed his eyes, a bright sunbeam directly on his face. When had it become daylight?

“Sir, the surgeon is come.”

“Help me dress.” Darcy rolled from under the covers, watchful to tuck them back around her.

“What …” She rolled toward him, groaning.

“The surgeon will see you shortly. Do not get up.” He patted her shoulder, or at least what he thought might be her shoulder under the heavy counterpane.

A quarter hour later, Mrs. Reynolds showed the surgeon in.

Darcy briefly described what had happened and what had been done.

“I am here, you know. It is possible for me to answer questions as well.” Elizabeth pulled herself up on a pile of pillows and peeked at them.

How worn her expression. Her skin was dull, even a bit ashen, matching her voice.

Heavens, let there be nothing seriously wrong.

The surgeon shuffled to her side and began his examination. He walked like a crow, picking up his feet a might too high and stretching out each step in a very purposeful way. His elbows, knees and chin were sharp and pointed as a lancet’s blade. She shivered as he removed the blankets and cried out when he touched her ankle.

“Is it broken?” she whispered, clutching the sheets to her.

He poked and prodded and stared and muttered. “I do not believe so. You are quite fortunate. It would not have been surprising if it had been. Still, I fear the cold may have settled on you. We must watch careful for any sign of a fever or cough.”

“I … I feel fine, save for the ankle.”

“You may believe you do, madam, but it would not be wise to take any chances with your health. I recommend you keep to your bed and not walk at all for at least a week. I will instruct your maid as to the poultices and wraps she must use on your ankle.”

“Might I use walking sticks? I cannot imagine—”

“Not for at least a se’nnight complete, madam, perhaps more. We must ascertain the extent of the injury. Then, we can determine what means are safe for you.”

She fell back into the pillows, groaning.

“Pray, do not disobey my orders. It is far too easy to exacerbate the injury and cause more damage in the process. If you do, it could be months before you are able to walk comfortably, even years.”

“Months?” She gasped.

“I have seen cases that never healed properly. If you do not wish to be one of those cases, follow my orders precisely. I will also leave you a preparation of laudanum for the pain which will increase over the course of the next day or so.”

She closed her eyes and nodded.

The surgeon beckoned Darcy to the dressing room and shut the door between the rooms.

“She is fortunate to have been found when she was. The cold and damp might have killed her otherwise. She will be weak for some time. Keep her warm and calm at all costs. Upsetting her could result in a dangerous brain fever.

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