by Wendy Bayne
After Hopewood’s departure I wandered through the card room and back out again. I thought about retiring for the night when Mr Allan came to me with a single rose in his hand, smiling as he presented it to me. “There is a gentleman in the summer room, miss, who asked me to give you this and requested that you please join him there.”
I bristled at first thinking that it might be the Viscount returned and I almost fled to my room, but Mr Allan nodded his head to someone behind me and I felt a cool hand touch my shoulder. I tensed then turned around and there was Miles. He took the rose from Mr Allan presenting it to me, “I’m sorry, Mr Allan, I found that I just couldn’t wait.” I looked back for our butler, but he was gone. Miles took my hand and led me to the summer room. A fire was burning there, and the drapes were open so that we could see the stars and moonlight cascaded across the floor. On a low table by the fire was a bottle of Champagne with two glasses. He pulled me down to the hearth rug with him then reached out to touch my face with one hand while the other was clasped in a fist. His hand was shaking. “You’re so beautiful! I never thought I would ever see your face again.” Then he took my left hand and kissed it. “You are no longer my poppet, but I hope that I may call you my lady?” He opened his clenched fist and in the palm of his hand was a gold ring with a single blood red ruby.
He gazed at me waiting for me to say something. “Miles I…I thought…I…why…” I couldn’t complete a coherent phrase let alone a sentence.
He looked hurt at first, then comprehension lit up his eyes. “I want you to marry me, Clarissa.” I shook my head to clear it then put my fingers to my lips to stop them trembling. He swallowed. “I’m sorry for leaving you after Cornwall but I did go to Scotland, I needed to sort things out in my head and the Highlands are always good for that. But I didn’t go to my father’s estate, instead I went to Switzerland to meet my mother’s family and to get this.” He held up the ring so that the firelight made the stone blaze a molten red. “It belonged to my mother and had been given to her by her grandmother. The Marquis was going to bring it to England in the spring when he comes to visit but I didn’t want to wait till the spring. I want to marry you now if you’ll have me.”
Tears were racing down my cheeks and I flung my arms around his neck whispering a simple “Yes” into his ear. He wrapped his arms around me and we sat there in utter bliss until my shawl slipped and he saw the marks on my arm, they were already turning from a deep red to an angry looking purple. He pulled away from me and lit the candle beside him then held it close enough to my arm that I felt the heat from the flickering flame, but the heat of the anger in his eyes was even more painful. “WHO DID THIS?!”
I was at a lost as to what to tell him, but I couldn’t lie, it must always be the truth between us from now on. “Lord Burley’s son Justin.”
“That’s why you hesitated when Mr Allan asked you to come to meet me, you were afraid it was a ruse?” I nodded, and he smiled. “Smart girl.” In a half-amused voice, he said, “Now how do I make him pay for this insult, should I call him out or assault him in a dark alley…either way is fine by me.”
I gasped. “No, Miles, you can’t, please don’t spoil this moment. I just want to forget about it and think of our future.”
Miles grimaced clenching his jaw. “I understand, Lissa, but this will not go unanswered.”
I took both of his hands in mind and pleaded, “Miles, please…don’t.”
He sighed pulling me back into his arms. “I will discuss it with your father but one way or another he will pay for this eventually.” Then his lips descended in mine and we lost ourselves in each other.
Chapter 42
A Knife to the Back
Miles and I joined the family after the other guests left and told them our good news. Father was the first to congratulate us both and I silently said a prayer of thanks that Aunt Mary and Uncle Arthur had left so the planning for our wedding need not start immediately. Miles and I wanted to savour our engagement for at least the rest of the night before the juggernaut of planning took over.
Father opened a bottle of champagne to toast us and Mother sat quietly watching Miles and I as we openly held hands. I waited for any censure, but it didn’t come. Because we didn’t want to wait till spring to marry Mother suggested that a Christmas wedding might be perfect, where it would be held and how big it would be was up to Miles and me. The only thing Father insisted on was that it be a proper church wedding where he could walk me down the aisle. Mother’s expression changed to one of concern when she nodded towards my arm knowing what was under the shawl. I sighed and let my shawl drop and everyone’s eyes immediately focused on the bruises.
Father got to his feet with fists clenched glaring at Miles who put his hands up in surrender then my father turned to me. I tried to speak but all that came out was a squeak, “It was the Viscount.” Father narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. I cleared my throat then described what happened and that Murphy had intervened. Father reached out and rang the bell. When Mr Allan arrived, he requested that Murphy attend us.
“I’m sorry, sir, but Mr Murphy is not here, he left with Jacob to follow the miscreant who assaulted Miss Turner.”
Father inhaled deeply and growled, “Without my permission?!”
Mr Allan nodded. “You were engaged with Major Hopewood and he didn’t want to wait and perhaps lose sight of him, sir.”
Father nodded. “Thank you, Mr Allan. When he returns have him come to me regardless of the hour. I’m not about to let such treatment of my daughter go unanswered.” Then he turned to the rest of us. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll send a note to Sir Thomas advising him of what happened. We need to start watching Burley’s entire family closely from now on.” With that he abruptly turned on his heel and followed Mr Allan out.
Emilie was seated by my uncle with her hand resting protectively on her very noticeable belly. Then her face crinkled up and she started to cry and between sobs she managed to say, “Will they never leave us alone!”
Uncle Samuel put his arm around her, kissing her on the forehead. “Darling, it will be alright, I promise you.”
She looked back at him with tear-stained eyes. “You can’t possibly promise that, Samuel. And I don’t need to be coddled! I’m just emotional and irrational right now and I can’t stop myself. But just once I wish we could have a normal life!”
She had put a voice to all our thoughts, I felt the same way and I could see from everyone’s expression they did as well. Mother smacked her hands on the arms of the chair where she was sitting. “Well, it has been an eventful night, so I suggest that we all retire. Miles, you might as well spend the night, just not in my daughter’s room if you please. I don’t think Colin would be able to handle that right now.”
I must have turned fifty different shades of red as everyone looked at us. Miles tightened his grip on my hand glaring at the assembly until Emilie broke into laughter that sounded like bells tinkling. “Oh, Irene, you do so amuse me. But I think it’s Clarissa that you need tell to stay out of Miles’ room.” I opened my mouth and closed it several times, unable to collect my thoughts or my breath to rebut her statement. Finally, we all disintegrated into raucous laughter.
Miles walked me to the foot of the stairs and gave me a chaste kiss while we were watched by my mother, uncle and aunt. Then he stepped back. “I’m not going up yet, I need to speak with your father.”
Samuel hung back and kissed Emilie. “I need to speak to Colin as well, darling, John will see you home, I won’t be long.”
Emilie lifted her shoulders and pursed her lips. “John needn’t bother seeing me home for heaven’s sake, I can go through the garden, Samuel!”
He looked down at her and sighed. “After what happened here tonight I’m not going to let you traipse around at night unprotected, you had better come with me.”
Mother took a deep breath, she looked exhausted—she was huge with child—she sighed, “We might as well all talk to Colin, co
me along then.” She walked back down the stairs and over to the study. When she opened the door, she took a step back and screamed. Miles and Samuel ran forward to catch her just as she fainted.
I raced to the door of the study and saw my father slumped over his desk with a knife in his back. Then I saw his hand move. I yelled at the top of my lungs, “GET DR JEFFERSON NOW!” I ran forward with Miles and took hold of his hand as he went to remove the knife. “NO, wait till the doctor comes.” I leaned forward and placed my face as close as possible to my father, “Papa? Papa?”
He groaned and opened his eyes. “I feel terrible.”
I smiled at him. “Don’t move, Papa. Dr Jefferson has been sent for.”
He grimaced. “Your mother…was that her screaming?”
I bit my lip. “Yes, Papa.”
He smiled. “I promised her I would never go anywhere without her, ever again. Tell her I’m not about to start now.” Then he groaned again and closed his eyes.
My uncle leaned out the door yelling for John who was there within seconds, “Take every available man, check all the doors, windows and the gardens.”
I panicked. “Papa?!” I tried to rein in my emotions and do what the doctor had taught me. I watched his breathing, it was shallow but regular. I could see the pulse in his neck just where he must have loosened his neck cloth when he sat down.
Supported by my uncle, my mother came to my side, she appeared to have collected herself somewhat, so I stepped away for her to take my place. She kissed his forehead then place her hand on his cheek. “Oh, Colin…”
His eyes fluttered but didn’t open. “I won’t leave you, my love, I promise.” Then he slipped into unconsciousness. Mother stood there leaning over my father with her head next to his, whispering to him.
It seemed like it was hours before Dr Jefferson arrived, bag in hand. He examined my father then looking up he waved me over when he saw me standing there with a brandy decanter in my hand. “Alright, the lot of you either clear out or be ready to do exactly as I say.” Then he looked down at my mother. “Irene, you’re in my way. I need you to sit on the other side of the desk but keep talking to him while I work.” She looked up at him but didn’t acknowledge him. “Irene?”
She seemed to be in a trance, but she answered him never taking her eyes of my father. “Yes, Matthew, whatever you say. I’ll just talk to him while you work.” Uncle Samuel came around the desk and took her by the arms, turning her around and walked her to the chair facing my father. She immediately reached out to touch him then withdrew her hand when the doctor shook his head no. So, she began talking to him about me from the time when I was a baby.
Dr Jefferson removed everything from the desk then took out his instruments. Allan arrived carrying two basins, another bottle of brandy and several towels followed by Richard, our new footman, with two pitchers of hot water and one of cold. The doctor threw his instruments, suture and needles into one of the basins and poured the brandy all over them leaving them to soak in it. Then he took off his jacket rolled up his sleeves and washed his hands and forearms thoroughly first in hot water with soap and then in brandy. He asked me to position the towels around my father and had Emilie light every candle in the room and place them on the desk. Uncle Samuel held onto a candelabra behind the doctor. He asked that Richard and Miles hold my father down and when they pushed on his shoulder, he groaned.
Father’s breathing was raspy, and was become more laboured. The doctor listened to his chest, pausing, he looked up at the ceiling with his eyes closed before saying. “Damn…the lung has been punctured. I need to relieve the pressure first before pulling out the knife. Lissa, in my bag there are several small glass tubes and a jar of honey, bring them to me.” I obtained what he asked for then he soaked the tubes with his instruments. Once he was satisfied he took out a fine thin blade from the basin and one of the slender glass tubes, laying it on the towel beside him and a suture already threaded through the needle. He then positioned the blade between the ribs and tapped the end soundly as it slid in then out followed by a hiss of air escaping along with some blood the doctor quickly dropped the knife, and picked up the glass tube which he pushed through the slit. Then he ran a suture through to either side of the tube and around it to anchor it in place. Then he took what appeared to be an animal’s bladder and secured it over the open end of the tube and applied sealing wax all around it, making a tight seal.
Without missing a beat, he grasped the knife and pulled it out of my father’s back then with another suture he stitched the wound close. “Quickly, Lissa, the honey.” I opened the jar for him, he inserted a spoon from the basin then carefully smeared the honey over the knife wound and around the slit with the tube. Lastly, he pulled the tube out, quickly pulling on the sutures to either side tight then smearing more honey over the site. He applied a thick dressing over both, anchoring them with a strong linen bandage wrapped several times around his chest. He stood up stretched his back then took the bottle of brandy and drank from it passing it to my uncle who passed it off to Miles.
Mother had by this time stretched her hand out to rest it on my father’s shoulder as tears poured down her cheeks. She looked up at Dr Jefferson. “Well, Matthew?”
The doctor sighed, stretched again. “If the wound doesn’t become infected then he has a very good chance for surviving this, Irene. We’ll know in the next few days.”
Uncle Samuel stood there with a puzzled look in his face. “Why the honey, Matthew, won’t that make things worse?”
Matthew laughed nervously but it helped to relieve some of the tension in the room. “Honey I’ve found has some amazing healing properties. A friend of mine discovered it in an old herbalist book when he was in Edinburgh. I’ve used it often this last year and it has proved to be most efficacious. Now what to do with our patient.” He looked about the room pursing his lips and shaking his head. “We need to move him from the desk, but we can’t risk carrying him upstairs.” He stood there looking pensive.
Miles spoke in a whisper to Samuel then said, “Give us a bit, Matthew, I think we can move everything you need into here, just clear a space by the hearth.” They both left the room while the rest of us helped to clear half of the room nearest the fire. They returned with Allan and Richard carrying two feather beds and of all things a door. Then Allen and Richard went out and came back in with my mother’s large chaise lounge from her sitting room.
My uncle smiled at them and then took my mother’s hand, “Allan knows you so well, this way you can stay here with Colin and still be comfortable.”
Suddenly a tea trolley came jerking into the room pushed by Mrs Cripps. “Good heavens, I got up to set the bread to rise only to find the lot of you still up and Mr Turner near death. Well dying or not, you are all going to need something to keep up your strength. It’s still the wee hours of the morning so I imagine you won’t be to bed for hours yet. I made you something to eat, breakfast will be at the usual hour. I can’t rush the bread rising nor the hens laying so this should tide you over till then.” She parked the heavily laden trolley and shuffled out, sniffling and wiping her eyes with a huge handkerchief.
Father groaned again. “Will someone please tell the dear lady that I’m not dying.” Mother choked on her own tears then giggled. She reached out and touched my father’s head, smoothing his hair back, he smiled but never opened his eyes.
Dr Jefferson knelt beside him. “Colin, I want to give you something for the pain before we move you. You’ll have to suck on this glass tube, I don’t want to sit you up because you’ve lost a great deal of blood and your lung was punctured. But first I need you to take a deep breath for me while I listen to your lung.”
Father didn’t respond but he tried to take a deep breath and called out “CHRIST!” with the pain.
“That’s very good, Colin, you’re going to need to keep taking deep breaths every so often.” Father cracked an eye open and grimaced. Dr Johnson added a few drops of laudanum into a glass of punc
h, inserted a clean glass tube and put it between my father’s lips. “Suck on the tube, old man.” Father automatically did as he was told then closed his eyes once more.
Major Hopewood came to the door and knocked. “Excuse me…” Then he saw my father. “Oh my god, what happened?”
Mother turned to look at him as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and wiped her face with the back of her hand. “Oh Major…I’m sorry. May I help you with something?”
The Major walked further into the room. “I should be asking if you require my assistance, dear lady.”
Uncle Samuel rubbed his brow while looking at my father. “Actually, Lionel, we could use your help moving Colin to the makeshift bed by the fire.”
Hopewood’s mouth opened and closed, he looked annoyed but said, “Of course.”
Miles, Dr Jefferson, the Major, my uncle, Allan and Richard then picked up my father following the doctor’s instructions and laid him face down on the door that had been covered by the feather bed. Then Hopewood turned to my uncle. “Hughes, I’d like to speak to you about William…I mean Billy. I’m most perplexed, he’s been telling me some fantastical stories about what goes on here. I’m concerned that perhaps he was damaged when Colin’s carriage…or when he saw his mother…I ah…I thought that the doctor might be able to help him.”
Samuel looked down at his toes then over to Colin and finally to Miles who merely nodded, both Miles and my uncle looked less than pleased. But if there is one thing I knew for sure it was that Billy would never tell anyone about Father’s business or the talents of the other staff without his approval. “Why don’t you join us here for a pre-dawn snack, Lionel, and we’ll endeavour to answer your questions.”