Thank you for your patience and continued interest.
The siblings remained holding on to each other for another minute - until Francois's awkwardly cleared his throat.
"Right, then," Percy said. "Shall we get on now? Can you ride, Bess, or would you rather ride with me?"
Bess would have dearly loved to ride with Percy so that she could rest against him, but she knew that a horse carrying them both would be much slower and she desperately wanted to get back to Tony.
"I can ride," she said and was amazed that she actually sounded like she meant it.
The four of them rode through the night and arrived back at the inn in Bethune. After handing the horses over to the sleepy grooms, and saying a grateful good-bye to Francois who went off with Lord Hastings to see his family, Elizabeth and Percy immediately headed up the stairs hoping to receive an update on Tony's condition.
They entered the sitting room to see a gentleman, who Elizabeth assumed to be the surgeon sipping something from a cup and Andrew anxiously pacing the floor.
"Percy. Lady Elizabeth. Thank God you are back."
"How is Tony," Elizabeth asked, her voice tremulously.
Andrew looked everywhere, but at Elizabeth. "He would not permit the physician to touch him, until you returned. He fought so hard, we had thought he would do himself greater harm. We were just praying that you would come back before it was too late."
"Young fool," Percy muttered to no one in particular. Eve given the circumstances, Elizabeth had to smile. She and Tony would need to discuss what he saw as Noblesse Oblige if…..Elizabeth stopped herself….when, Tony was well again.
"Can I see him?" Elizabeth asked anxiously?
"You must see him," Andrew said. "Both of you".
Elizabeth ran to the room indicated by Andrew, but stopped with a gasp as she entered the room. Tony lay on the bed. He was still dressed and his torn shirt was now soaked with blood. His face was ashen gray and drawn. He was covered in perspiration as he tossed on the bed in the throes of his delirium, his hands weakly clutching at the covers which were also stained with blood. He cried out alternatively begging for Percy's forgiveness or calling for Elizabeth. A maid, was desultorily daubing at his brow with a cloth. Elizabeth peremptorily sent her out of the room and took over those duties.
Percy put a strong, gentle hand on Elizabeth's shoulder. "Courage, Dearest. He is now going to be need your strength," he said.
Percy approached Tony and took one of his hands in his. He used his other hand to cup the younger man's neck to keep his head steady to hopefully get his to focus.
"Tony, my friend," Percy said gently, but firmly. "All is well. Elizabeth is back and she is safe. There is nothing to forgive. All is well. You must let the surgeon help you."
Elizabeth took Tony's other hand in both of hers. "Tony. Love. I am well, I assure you. Please, I beg you, let the doctor do what he must before you get any weaker."
Even through his delirium it appeared that Tony recognized Elizabeth's voice as his body visibly relaxed. "Yes," he breathed. "The surgeon," he gasped in pain, while Elizabeth continued to bathe his forehead with the cool water.
Even though he was exhausted by the pain and blood loss, Tony was still a strong young man. It took all of Percy's considerable strength and the assistance of both Andrew and Timothy to hold him during the surgeon's not-so-gentle ministrations. Tony's body arched and writhed as the surgeon first probed for the musket ball with his fingers and then used a knife heated in the fire to remove it. As much as Tony attempted to maintain silence, a few cries of pain were wrenched from his throat. Finally, mercifully, he lost conciousness and the doctor was able to finish his work.
Elizabeth did what she could as well, holding Tony's hand and trying to soothe him with her words.
Finally, the ordeal was over. The musket ball was removed and the wound stitched. He also cleaned and bound Tony's shoulder. "Make sure that he stays still so as not to tear the stitches and check often for signs of corruption," he said before he left.
Although Elizabeth was exhausted, she could not rest yet. She had the maids clean the room and open windows for fresh air. She also had them replace all the bedding and with the help of the footmen, she bathed Tony as best as she could and convention permitted and gave the servants the dirty bloody clothes to burn.
When she was done, she found he room set aside for her, bathed and fell into bed.
It seemed that she had just fallen asleep, when an urgent knocking caused her to sit bolt upright.
"Lady Elizabeth," Andrew was knocking on her door. "My sincerest apologies. If you would be so good as to come to Tony's room. I fear that his fever has gotten worse. We have not been able to keep him still and we fear he will do himself injury."
"Of course," Elizabeth was instantly awake and reaching for her dressing gown. "I shall be right there."
A minute later, Elizabeth ran into the room to see Andrew and two footmen struggling with Tony who was tossing and turning on the bed. Elizabeth took a deep breath, walked over to the bed, took Tony's hand in hers and spoke softly to him, assuring him that all was well and that she and his friends were around him.
Tony clutched at Elizabeth's hand, but he did relax. He no longer struggled against the hands that held him. From that point, Elizabeth rarely left Tony's side.
When the fever caused chills, she held him to keep him warm. When he was hot, she bathed his face and chest with cool water. When he was lucid, she forced water and broth to sustain him. And when he tossed and turned in pain, she held his hand and spoke to him telling him of her dreams of their life together. She slept in the chair when he rested.
Percy made sure that food was sent up regularly, but it went back mostly untouched. Elizabeth would nibble some bread and have some wine, but mostly, she was focused on Tony.
This went on for days. How many, she did not know. She was dozing in a chair she pulled up to the bedside when something drew her attention. Something was different with Tony. She looked over to him and a sob escaped her lips. He was sleeping. A simple peaceful sleep. There was no struggle to breathe no moan of pain, just deep regular breathing of a man asleep. She gently touched his forehead and realized that his fever was gone too.
The sound and the touch must have woken Tony up for he began to stir. He opened his eyes and looked at Elizabeth.
Please keep comments coming. I have a few things to wrap up in the next chapter and I have some thoughts on what will happen next, but if there are specific adventures you would like for our Lady, for Percy and for the League, I would love to hear your ideas too. As always, I love the reviews, your comments and critique.
