Chapter four
iBelle, is the only word I know that suits her well When she smiles oh, the stories she can tell A free bird try out her wings to fly away And when I see her move I see the hell to pray
She looks right into my soul and sleep won't come And it's no use to pray this prayers to Notre Dame Tell, who'd be the first to raise his hand and throw a stone I'd hang him high and laugh to see him die alone Oh Lucifer, please let me go beyond god's love And run my fingers through her hair, oh my love!
Belle, there is a demon inside her who came from hell And he turned my eyes from god, oh, I fell He put this inside me I'm ashamed to tell Without my god inside I'm just a burning shell...
The sin of Eve she has in her I know so well For want of her I know I'd give my soul to sell Belle, this alluring angel, is there a soul beneath her skin And oh she bears the cross of all our human sin Oh Notre Dame please let me go beyond god's love Open the door of love inside her innocent heart!
Belle, even though her eyes seem to lead us to hell She may be more pure more pure than the words can tell But when she smiles feelings come no man can quell Beneath her rainbow coloured eyes there burns the well
My promised one please let me one time be untrue Before in front of god and man I marry you Who would be the man who'd turn from her to save his soul To be with her I'd let the devil take me whole I am a man who knows no love I go to open up the rose of her precious soul!
She looks right into my soul and sleep won't come And it's no use to pray this prayers to Notre Dame Tell, who'd be the first to raise his hand and throw a stone I'd hang him high and laugh to see him die alone Oh Lucifer, please let me go beyond god's love And run my fingers through her hair, oh my love!/i
(Originally by Cocciante and Plamondon, a few changes in the text by the author)
Elizabeth held her little girl while the doctor examined her hands, hoping for the best. Finally Dr. Brook had finished his examination and turned towards the shaking mother to give his verdict. "Mrs. Darcy, how long has she been floating in the water?" Elizabeth's shoulders slumped, she felt tears welling in her eyes as she thought of her baby freezing all alone with no one to help her. "I don't know. I wasn't with her... I can't tell..." Her voice broke and her tears flowed freely. "Now, now..." Dr. Brook tried to soothe the agitated mother. "I'm sorry, Doctor Brook. I just don't know..." She forced herself to speak steadily. "According to the state of the frostbite she must have been in the water for hours. But what I find to be more disturbing are the bruises on her forehead." Elizabeth embraced Abby tighter. "What do you mean?" Her heart was racing. "It is clear that they were caused neither by a fall nor by any other natural means. Someone hit her on the head and whoever did it, had low motives so to speak..." "Doctor, do you know what you're saying? Who'd hurt an innocent child like this? Abby never harmed anyone! Are you sure that she didn't get them by falling or slipping?" Dr. Brook shook his head sternly. "There is no doubt in my mind, I'm sorry. There are more bruises on her arms, as if she had been struggling with her assailant..." Elizabeth cried out, her hand flew to her mouth to stifle her hurt but the picture the doctor had created remained with her even though she kept her eyes shut to avoid it. Pangs of guilt filled her heart, why did she let Abby go with Alex and Diana so that she could read her letters by herself? And now her baby had been hurt, her precious child had been attacked and left for dead by someone who had no qualms of making an innocent child his victim. "Dr. Brook, will the frostbite heal? What can we do? Please tell me that you won't have to..." She choked on these words. "Well, you know that it is severe. But I won't operate as yet because there have been cases where special treatments worked well. But before you get your hopes raised up too high I have to tell you that the risk you'd be undertaking is high. If the treatments won't work in a matter of days she might lose her entire hands or even an arm as a result." "What are the treatments exactly?" Elizabeth felt her hopes rising. ____________________________________________________________________________ __________ It took an instant until her words broke through to his heart and mind. Bolting up from his chair he let forth a moan or something coming close to that sound, Diana had never heard anything that came close to this intensity. Turning around abruptly he was holding his shoulder, it felt as if her touch had burned a hole in his skin. "Miss Diana, you startled me!" As he saw her approaching him he stepped back towards the fireplace. "There is nothing to forgive!" he flared up as he felt his temper rising at her boldness. But she just smiled smoothly. "Are you certain?" Her glance mellowed his defence. "If you're talking about Abby, no, I'm not blaming myself. Or am I? Miss Diana, what do you want of me?" Never in his life had he been approached this boldly, not even by Elizabeth. Her guts arose his admiration and disdain at the same time. "To be of help to you!" Her voice was just a whisper. If he started with his feelings about today's incident that was just fine. "There is no help and there never will be!" he snapped and turned away from her. He wanted peace, he wanted these nagging doubts and questions to stop, he wanted to feel Elizabeth's warm arms around him, to hear her soothing voice.... She made another step towards him and stretched out her arm. "Now there is!" she murmured. Not knowing how to react at this he turned around to face her. For a moment she could see his eyes brighten and his features soften but as he met her glance his face won back its severity. "Miss Diana, let me try to solve this with civility. What makes you say such words to a man you barely know? Who gives you the right to treat me, a man of your father's age, like an impudent boy?" She did not flinch at all, Darcy couldn't help but admire her. She was as bold as she was beautiful. "You're engaged to my son, he loves you. So what makes you think that you can address me this boldly?" Her arm sank as did her eyes. "If I have offended you in any way, I beg your pardon. What I did was kindly meant, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." Her voice didn't betray any sentiment. Darcy hated it to be cornered and this woman was a master at twisting around other people's words. For Alex's sake he wanted to remain friendly with her. "No offence was taken. But what made you come to me instead of being with your betrothed?" Darcy regretted his question as soon as he had uttered the words. Her response was like a bolt of fire. "I came because I know that you're lonely." ____________________________________________________________________________ ________________
"The treatments are simple but very painful. It consists of bathing your daughter's hands in water, the temperature of the water must be raised with time. It will hurt and there might be some scenes but this is the only treatment that can heal her fingers without damaging the tissue for good. Do you feel up to this?" Elizabeth didn't hesitate for a moment. "Yes, we shall do it. How much time do we have to apply the treatments?" "Between three and five days. If the tissue hasn't regained it's natural colour until then I'll have to operate." Elizabeth nodded. "Well, I suppose we should get started now. Let me fetch my husband to tell him about our course. He'll have to give her the treatments while I'm gone." A little tear flowed down her cheek. "You mean you'll leave?" The doctor was aghast. "It is my duty... You see, my father is dying and he asks for me... Dr. Brook, what is it?" Elizabeth began to tremble with fear. "Mrs. Darcy, I have no intention of scaring you but do you know how critical your daughter's situation is?"
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For a moment Darcy was left speechless. He couldn't think of any response and his head was aching horribly. As much as he tried he couldn't fight it off, the strange feelings she had stirred within him were too powerful. "If you'll excuse me," he cried out, "I have to see my wife." She merely nodded, seeing the struggle he was fighting. Watching him rush out of the room she turned away from the door and approached the fireplace. With a deep sigh she removed the letter from her bosom and threw it into the fire. Then she got up and left the library quietly. ____________________________________________________________________________ ________________
Ascending the stairs that led to their bedroom only one sentence echoed in Darcy's mind. iI came because I know that you're lonely!/i As much as he tried he couldn't figure out what she had meant. The more he saw of her the more he wanted to know. She had entered his home as a beautiful stranger and thus far he had found out nothing about her. Shrugging it off he thought of Abby. His lovely little girl waiting for him to be comforted. Even though he dreaded the outcome he entered the bedroom with much vigour and determination. The picture unfolding there was gripping. There was his wife, his precious Elizabeth, holding Abby while she listened to Dr. Brook. He cleared his throat to make his presence know.
"Mrs. Darcy I shall leave you to your husband now. No, thank you Sir, I shall see myself out." He closed the door softly. "Elizabeth..." Just saying her name in her presence soothed his spirits. Elizabeth came towards him carrying Abby in her arms. "There are good news!" She smiled through a mist of tears. "Dr. Brook said that he won't operate for a few days and offered treatments to heal Abby's fingers instead." Elizabeth filled him in gently. After she had told him everything she gave him a glance of weary sadness. Without a word he took Abby from her and carried her to their bed while holding Elizabeth's hand. He felt so exhausted, so incredibly tired... Turning to his wife he cupped her beautiful face in his hands and kissed her lingeringly. Feeling her arms around his neck he breathed in her sweet scent and kissed her again, this time with more hunger and desire. "Elizabeth, you'll never stop loving me, will you?" he asked at her lips. "What makes you ask this? There is no way I could ever stop loving you." She tilted back her head for another kiss. "Not even if you found out that I was... that I iam/i fallible like every man?" His words were urgent. Elizabeth ran her fingers through his thick hair and gave him a glowing smile. "That is why I love you all the more!" "My heart song, my beloved..." Finally he gave her the kiss she was craving for, both of them were in need of comfort that only their soul mates could give. After a delirious moment of happiness Elizabeth pulled away from him but did not pull back her hands as he grasped them. His gaze was enigmatic to her. "William, there is something I haven't told you yet..." she began uneasily. "What do you mean?" His grip started to hurt. "Abby has fallen into a coma and might not wake up again. There is a bump on the back of her head..." her voice trailed off.
iBelle, is the only word I know that suits her well When she smiles oh, the stories she can tell A free bird try out her wings to fly away And when I see her move I see the hell to pray
She looks right into my soul and sleep won't come And it's no use to pray this prayers to Notre Dame Tell, who'd be the first to raise his hand and throw a stone I'd hang him high and laugh to see him die alone Oh Lucifer, please let me go beyond god's love And run my fingers through her hair, oh my love!
Belle, there is a demon inside her who came from hell And he turned my eyes from god, oh, I fell He put this inside me I'm ashamed to tell Without my god inside I'm just a burning shell...
The sin of Eve she has in her I know so well For want of her I know I'd give my soul to sell Belle, this alluring angel, is there a soul beneath her skin And oh she bears the cross of all our human sin Oh Notre Dame please let me go beyond god's love Open the door of love inside her innocent heart!
Belle, even though her eyes seem to lead us to hell She may be more pure more pure than the words can tell But when she smiles feelings come no man can quell Beneath her rainbow coloured eyes there burns the well
My promised one please let me one time be untrue Before in front of god and man I marry you Who would be the man who'd turn from her to save his soul To be with her I'd let the devil take me whole I am a man who knows no love I go to open up the rose of her precious soul!
She looks right into my soul and sleep won't come And it's no use to pray this prayers to Notre Dame Tell, who'd be the first to raise his hand and throw a stone I'd hang him high and laugh to see him die alone Oh Lucifer, please let me go beyond god's love And run my fingers through her hair, oh my love!/i
(Originally by Cocciante and Plamondon, a few changes in the text by the author)
Elizabeth held her little girl while the doctor examined her hands, hoping for the best. Finally Dr. Brook had finished his examination and turned towards the shaking mother to give his verdict. "Mrs. Darcy, how long has she been floating in the water?" Elizabeth's shoulders slumped, she felt tears welling in her eyes as she thought of her baby freezing all alone with no one to help her. "I don't know. I wasn't with her... I can't tell..." Her voice broke and her tears flowed freely. "Now, now..." Dr. Brook tried to soothe the agitated mother. "I'm sorry, Doctor Brook. I just don't know..." She forced herself to speak steadily. "According to the state of the frostbite she must have been in the water for hours. But what I find to be more disturbing are the bruises on her forehead." Elizabeth embraced Abby tighter. "What do you mean?" Her heart was racing. "It is clear that they were caused neither by a fall nor by any other natural means. Someone hit her on the head and whoever did it, had low motives so to speak..." "Doctor, do you know what you're saying? Who'd hurt an innocent child like this? Abby never harmed anyone! Are you sure that she didn't get them by falling or slipping?" Dr. Brook shook his head sternly. "There is no doubt in my mind, I'm sorry. There are more bruises on her arms, as if she had been struggling with her assailant..." Elizabeth cried out, her hand flew to her mouth to stifle her hurt but the picture the doctor had created remained with her even though she kept her eyes shut to avoid it. Pangs of guilt filled her heart, why did she let Abby go with Alex and Diana so that she could read her letters by herself? And now her baby had been hurt, her precious child had been attacked and left for dead by someone who had no qualms of making an innocent child his victim. "Dr. Brook, will the frostbite heal? What can we do? Please tell me that you won't have to..." She choked on these words. "Well, you know that it is severe. But I won't operate as yet because there have been cases where special treatments worked well. But before you get your hopes raised up too high I have to tell you that the risk you'd be undertaking is high. If the treatments won't work in a matter of days she might lose her entire hands or even an arm as a result." "What are the treatments exactly?" Elizabeth felt her hopes rising. ____________________________________________________________________________ __________ It took an instant until her words broke through to his heart and mind. Bolting up from his chair he let forth a moan or something coming close to that sound, Diana had never heard anything that came close to this intensity. Turning around abruptly he was holding his shoulder, it felt as if her touch had burned a hole in his skin. "Miss Diana, you startled me!" As he saw her approaching him he stepped back towards the fireplace. "There is nothing to forgive!" he flared up as he felt his temper rising at her boldness. But she just smiled smoothly. "Are you certain?" Her glance mellowed his defence. "If you're talking about Abby, no, I'm not blaming myself. Or am I? Miss Diana, what do you want of me?" Never in his life had he been approached this boldly, not even by Elizabeth. Her guts arose his admiration and disdain at the same time. "To be of help to you!" Her voice was just a whisper. If he started with his feelings about today's incident that was just fine. "There is no help and there never will be!" he snapped and turned away from her. He wanted peace, he wanted these nagging doubts and questions to stop, he wanted to feel Elizabeth's warm arms around him, to hear her soothing voice.... She made another step towards him and stretched out her arm. "Now there is!" she murmured. Not knowing how to react at this he turned around to face her. For a moment she could see his eyes brighten and his features soften but as he met her glance his face won back its severity. "Miss Diana, let me try to solve this with civility. What makes you say such words to a man you barely know? Who gives you the right to treat me, a man of your father's age, like an impudent boy?" She did not flinch at all, Darcy couldn't help but admire her. She was as bold as she was beautiful. "You're engaged to my son, he loves you. So what makes you think that you can address me this boldly?" Her arm sank as did her eyes. "If I have offended you in any way, I beg your pardon. What I did was kindly meant, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." Her voice didn't betray any sentiment. Darcy hated it to be cornered and this woman was a master at twisting around other people's words. For Alex's sake he wanted to remain friendly with her. "No offence was taken. But what made you come to me instead of being with your betrothed?" Darcy regretted his question as soon as he had uttered the words. Her response was like a bolt of fire. "I came because I know that you're lonely." ____________________________________________________________________________ ________________
"The treatments are simple but very painful. It consists of bathing your daughter's hands in water, the temperature of the water must be raised with time. It will hurt and there might be some scenes but this is the only treatment that can heal her fingers without damaging the tissue for good. Do you feel up to this?" Elizabeth didn't hesitate for a moment. "Yes, we shall do it. How much time do we have to apply the treatments?" "Between three and five days. If the tissue hasn't regained it's natural colour until then I'll have to operate." Elizabeth nodded. "Well, I suppose we should get started now. Let me fetch my husband to tell him about our course. He'll have to give her the treatments while I'm gone." A little tear flowed down her cheek. "You mean you'll leave?" The doctor was aghast. "It is my duty... You see, my father is dying and he asks for me... Dr. Brook, what is it?" Elizabeth began to tremble with fear. "Mrs. Darcy, I have no intention of scaring you but do you know how critical your daughter's situation is?"
____________________________________________________________________________ ________________
For a moment Darcy was left speechless. He couldn't think of any response and his head was aching horribly. As much as he tried he couldn't fight it off, the strange feelings she had stirred within him were too powerful. "If you'll excuse me," he cried out, "I have to see my wife." She merely nodded, seeing the struggle he was fighting. Watching him rush out of the room she turned away from the door and approached the fireplace. With a deep sigh she removed the letter from her bosom and threw it into the fire. Then she got up and left the library quietly. ____________________________________________________________________________ ________________
Ascending the stairs that led to their bedroom only one sentence echoed in Darcy's mind. iI came because I know that you're lonely!/i As much as he tried he couldn't figure out what she had meant. The more he saw of her the more he wanted to know. She had entered his home as a beautiful stranger and thus far he had found out nothing about her. Shrugging it off he thought of Abby. His lovely little girl waiting for him to be comforted. Even though he dreaded the outcome he entered the bedroom with much vigour and determination. The picture unfolding there was gripping. There was his wife, his precious Elizabeth, holding Abby while she listened to Dr. Brook. He cleared his throat to make his presence know.
"Mrs. Darcy I shall leave you to your husband now. No, thank you Sir, I shall see myself out." He closed the door softly. "Elizabeth..." Just saying her name in her presence soothed his spirits. Elizabeth came towards him carrying Abby in her arms. "There are good news!" She smiled through a mist of tears. "Dr. Brook said that he won't operate for a few days and offered treatments to heal Abby's fingers instead." Elizabeth filled him in gently. After she had told him everything she gave him a glance of weary sadness. Without a word he took Abby from her and carried her to their bed while holding Elizabeth's hand. He felt so exhausted, so incredibly tired... Turning to his wife he cupped her beautiful face in his hands and kissed her lingeringly. Feeling her arms around his neck he breathed in her sweet scent and kissed her again, this time with more hunger and desire. "Elizabeth, you'll never stop loving me, will you?" he asked at her lips. "What makes you ask this? There is no way I could ever stop loving you." She tilted back her head for another kiss. "Not even if you found out that I was... that I iam/i fallible like every man?" His words were urgent. Elizabeth ran her fingers through his thick hair and gave him a glowing smile. "That is why I love you all the more!" "My heart song, my beloved..." Finally he gave her the kiss she was craving for, both of them were in need of comfort that only their soul mates could give. After a delirious moment of happiness Elizabeth pulled away from him but did not pull back her hands as he grasped them. His gaze was enigmatic to her. "William, there is something I haven't told you yet..." she began uneasily. "What do you mean?" His grip started to hurt. "Abby has fallen into a coma and might not wake up again. There is a bump on the back of her head..." her voice trailed off.