Mr. Knightley hurried back from Landon with no view at all after hearing the news of the best nature…

I'm not well enough

"Harriet and Mr. Knightley?!"

Emma was too distracted to know what to think, too absent-minded to be aware where she was going. She hadn't realized that she had passed through the back door of the garden, and wandered too far that the surroundings had become strange to her. But what did that matter, what did anything matter if Mr. Knightley was going to marry a woman who was not her.

She rambled without felling her feet and gazed without seeing a view until a familiar figure caught her eye right after turning a corner of the lane. It was that firm and upright figure in that becoming mazarine cloak. She knew now that that was something she could never overlook for the world. She stood still and doubted if she had created the illusion. He was not supposed to be here at the present time.

The approaching man had obviously seen her too and galloped his mount faster. Emma managed to collect herself at full steam as she would not let him perceive her distress. The clip-clop grew nearer and nearer, seemingly too loud to be rational. She could now distinguish his features clearly and was confused by the horrified look on his face. What's the matter? Was anything wrong?

"Emma! Watch your back!"The Knightly man let out a hoarse cry while dismounting from the still-galloping horse. Emma turned instinctively around and was petrified by the feet-away overwhelming carriage which was dashing directly towards her.

Emma was knocked down by a great force applied on her shoulder while she saw Mr. Knightley was flying out like a kite, hitting a stout tree trunk heavily and bouncing back onto the ground without a slightest further movement.

"Mr. Knightley!" Emma screamed at the top of her lungs and crawled desperately over to his side. His eyes closed tightly. Blood stained his handsome face and snow-white shirt collar, multiple bruises and scratches covering his right temple and cheek. "Oh, no, no, no, please…" She cupped his face with trembling hands, almost unable to support herself. She leaned her cheek to his lips to feel his breath, one hand fumbled about under his vest searching for his heartbeat.

When his staying alive was finally convinced, she could not help but rest her forehead against his and burst into tears, "Mr. Knightley…" But she pulled herself together soon. Crying like a fragile girl would do no good to her Mr. Knightley, she should take him back into the house as soon as possible and had Dr. Perry treating him.

The perpetrating carriage had vanished disgracefully long ago. Looking around anxiously with a hope that someone may help, she certainly would not leave Mr. Knightley lying alone unconsciously on the cold and clammy ground and go seek help herself. God bless, there was a ten-year-old boy playing over there in the fields and she even recognized him as the youngest son of poor Grays whom she had visited regularly in the past year.

"Tony! Tony Gray! Come over here if you please."Emma cried and waved her hand to the little boy. Tony looked up and paused a second before running across the fields and standing in front of the two, looking fearfully down at Mr. Knightley.

"You're Tony, right?"

"Yes, Miss Woodhouse."

"Dear Tony, would you please run to Hartfield to declare that Mr. Knightley is injured and let them send the carriage here at once?" Emma groped about and took off her earrings, "Give these to your elder sister. I'm sure she will be very proud of you!"

"Yes, Miss Woodhouse, at once." With a respectful bow, Tony ran away.

After making sure the boy was in the right direction, Emma drew her attention immediately back to Mr. Knightley who was still in a coma. She reached out to caress his uninjured cheek and was stunned by the terrifying coldness indicated by her fingertips. "Mr. Knightley, Mr. Knightley!" A sudden panic overwhelmed her. She fumbled again to assure herself that her Mr. Knightley would never do such a cruel thing to leave her alone on the earth.

He was still alive, but only for now… Emma sobbed, shaking like a leaf, sitting on the damp ground and holding his upper body tenderly close to her chest to keep him in warmth. The carriage was not possible to be here in less than a half hour which meant it would take much longer to get him treated. Yet she dared not even to think how badly he had been injured. He was collided by a steely horse and cart and then was thrown out on a rigid tree trunk like a broken doll, which must have terribly damaged his ribs, even the internals. What if…

She could not afford to picture this anymore, cradling him a little closer, staring at his lifeless face and cried out. "Mr. Knightley, please don't leave me! What should I do if I could no longer have you around. You're so kind, so wise, so noble, and so young. It's not fair for this happening to you." She choked, let tears rolling down.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Knightley. It's my fault. Have I not strolled this way you would never get hurt. I have never done you any good, always slighted your advices, challenged your judgments, irritated you, quarreled with you. What a stupid, hateful woman I'm. But I knew now I was wrong. I promise I can change, just please give me a chance to show you. I will read. I will play. I'll do no more match-making, no more meddling. I'll be kind to Miss Bates, be true friend of Miss Fairfax. Whatever you lectured me, I will do.

My dear Mr. Knightley, please don't leave me. You haven't known how much I love you. Oh, I'm sorry, it doesn't matter. If you love Harriet, it's alright for me to see you two to be happily married. I'll wish you joy with all my heart, if only you promised to stay."

My dearest, most beloved Mr. Knightley, I'll do whatever you want, if only you would stay with me."