Hi Everyone,
So as the world seems to be going to shit, what a good time for me to come back.
Hopefully, a chapter here and there will be able to take your mind off our situation, even just for a moment.
On that note, if anyone wants to talk I'm here.
Happy Reading,
Sarah x
Chapter Summary,
The family reels as Brandon battles his wounds.
Brandon slumped to the ground, blood seeping from his shoulder.
Marianne let out a horrified scream, clutching at his frame, "Christopher!"
Willoughby realising what his anger had caused moved towards them to see the result for himself.
"Stay back" cried, Marianne. "Don't come any closer"
Brandon breathing was heavy and laboured, he groaned as he put his other arm protectively around her frame.
"You'll hang for this!" shouted Marianne. "You beast!"
"We'll see" replied Willoughby.
He would have stayed to mock them further, but the sound of men's voices and footsteps alerted him. Seeing his cousin Morton and others moving towards them he broke into a run, slipping effortlessly into the nearby trees and vanishing.
"Marianne" rasped Brandon. "Morton-get-him"
He had placed his hand over the wound on his shoulder, which was still leaking blood.
"I won't leave you" cried Marianne, trying to help. "I can't leave you!"
"Go and get-" Brandon slumped onto his back. "Morton"
"Christopher" wept Marianne. "Please get up"
"Morton" he coughed. "Now"
She pressed a kiss to his lips before pulling herself away, fortunately, Morton and his men were returning from the hunt, heading at a slow and steady pace back for dinner.
"Thomas" screamed Marianne, "Quickly"
Morton searched for the voice, unable to place its location as it bounced off the trees. "Marianne?!"
She waved frantically from where she stood "Thomas, please come quickly!"
One of his men spotted her, "the lady is there Sir!"
Morton broke into a run, those men of his not weighed down with baggage joined him.
Marianne grabbed his arm, the blood staining on her dress petrified him. "It's Christopher" she wept. "Willoughby shot him, please you must come"
"Willoughby was here?" cried Morton. "Search for him, now!"
Three of his men broke off into the woods, whilst the rest charged to where Brandon lay.
Marianne fell down beside him, "Christopher please, say something"
Morton recoiled at the sight, quickly ordering "Let's get him up"
"Come on my friend" he groaned, pulling Brandon's frame off the ground.
Brandon hissed in pain, as one of the men tried to look at the wound. Marianne scolded him. "Leave him alone!"
"I'm checking Miss" he replied. "There's no exit wound Sir"
"That's- that's good" muttered Brandon, his face pale and clammy.
Helping balance Brandon, Morton ordered "Marianne go back to the house, take a man with you. Get my butler to fetch the doctor"
"Keats" whispered Brandon, looking at Marianne.
"Who?" asked Morton.
"His closest friend," said Marianne, clutching Brandon's hand. "He will know about wounds"
"Go and send for them both" urged Morton.
Marianne seemed to be in some kind of daze. Before long she was surrounded by faces and noise. First, the shrieks of Mrs Jennings, soon accompanied by the soft yet panicked words from Eliza and Morton.
Brandon lay in a bed, Keats pressing a towel into the wound which was still leaking blood.
"Where is that damned doctor!" he exclaimed. "This bullet must come out!"
Morton stood with his sister, both utterly lost and guilt-stricken, feeling that this whole affair was their fault. "He will be here any moment," said Eliza.
"Worry not," said Mrs Jennings, trying to be jovial. "The Colonel will be cured by nightfall"
"With respect Madam," said Keats, his tone unapologetic. "Your opinions in such a matter are best kept to yourself"
Mrs Jennings laughed off the comment, before retreating to the window. "Here he is now!" she cried. "John is with him!"
Marianne sat by Brandon's bedside, unable to say or do anything that would be of any use. Her hand clung to his, his usually gentle fingers clamped on her own like a vice, he was not planning on going anywhere.
Sir John and the Doctor burst into the room, frustrated by the sheer number of bodies in his way. "Everyone out!"
Morton helped file out his sister and an ever-curious Mrs Jennings, but Marianne did not shift from her vigilant stance by the bed.
"Madam" the Doctor called. "I include you in my orders"
"This is my husband. I will go nowhere" she replied plainly. "I am not afraid of blood or suffering, And I will not let him bare these things alone"
The Doctor would not relent, it took some force for Keats to remove Marianne.
Brandon could make little protest, only groaning as her hand was ripped from his.
"Please let me stay!" she cried desperately.
"My lady I would" replied Keats. "But this is not a sight I'd wish you to see"
She broke down in sobs, almost falling at his feet.
Keats knelt down and vowed, "Should anything happen to him, you have my word I will send for you. But Marianne, he'd not want you to see this"
Mrs Jennings and Eliza had heard her cries, gently leading her away from the room.
The Doctor lifted the towel from Brandon's shoulder, "You were shot from a distance?"
Brandon nodded. "Can-can you get it out-"
Keats already had located the laudanum in the Doctors bag, "Christopher, take some"
"No" breathed Brandon. "I want a clear head"
Brandon hissed as the Doctor explored the entrance wound with his fingers.
"Tongs" he ordered, I can feel the bullet"
Keats complied, handing him the instrument.
"Colonel" reminded the Doctor. "This is your last chance, do you wish to have a dose of laudanum?"
"You heard my answer the first time" replied Brandon, bracing himself.
His friend had retrieved Brandon's belt and urged him to take it.
"Here Christopher, bite down," said Keats. "Like the old days"
Brandon almost gave a smile, clamping his teeth over the leather.
The Doctor tore away the remain shirt fabric that lay in his way, "You can hold him I'm sure"
"Of course" replied Keats, clamping his hands on the uninjured arm.
"Brace yourself, Colonel," said the Doctor, dosing his tool in medical fluid.
Brandon took several deep breaths, before nodding.
As the tongs sunk into Brandon's skin he roared in pain, the sound muffled by the belt.
The Doctor was skilled and fast, swiftly locating and placing the round onto the table.
Once the bullet was removed, the bleeding subsided to the relief of the Doctor. "It narrowly missed the bone Colonel," he remarked. "You are a lucky man"
"We'll see" grunted Brandon, spitting the belt from his mouth. "Are you going to burn or sew it closed?"
The Doctor coloured, "Good God Colonel, we are not in the woodlands of the Americas! I shall sew it closed. And I am sure your lovely wife would appreciate myself leaving you without much scarring"
"Burn it indeed" he muttered, going to his bag.
"It worked when we had no alternative" reminded Keats. "Name a soldier that carried a needle and thread in their pocket"
"Burning the flesh only heightens the risk of infection" replied the Doctor. "A medieval practise that is as outdated as it is barbaric"
He gathered his tools and set to sew the wound closed, handing Keats the belt. "He might need it again"
Brandon shook his head, "The worst is over"
"Colonel, I warn you I will not stop for anything once I have begun" warned the Doctor. "You will have to bear it"
"Very well" sighed Brandon. "Proceed"
He hissed as the needle punctured his torn skin, but pleased to see the gaping wound slowly disappear.
Once the Doctor was done, he looked down at his newly scarred shoulder. "I thought one was bad enough"
Keats almost smiled, "At least this one means something"
"Not if he gets away with it," said Brandon.
The Doctor interrupted, "I can do nothing else at present, I will leave you with laudanum, perhaps your wife can persuade you to take it"
"Take some now Brandon" suggested Keats. "Sleep for a while"
Already weak with fatigue and his surge of adrenaline spent, he agreed, silently slipping into unconsciousness.
In what felt like hours Marianne finally had her sister by her side. Keats had soothed her worst fears, but Brandon was still in such danger. Keats watched over him as he rested as the Doctor wished to look at Marianne, giving her a small vial of laudanum to help her rest.
Elinor held Marianne as she wept bitterly, she hated to see her sister so frightened.
Sir John had given Edward a brief explanation but the young man was easily distressed.
"He's bloody mad!" exclaimed Edward, entering the library. "Willoughby I curse your very name"
"Darling, please" scolded Elinor, cradling her sister.
"Forgive me Elinor, but this is beyond comprehension!" cried Edward. "And to think how much worse this could have been if the Colonel had not-"
"Edward Ferris!" snapped Elinor. "No more of this, please!"
He could see how his ease of speech had only heightened Marianne's pain.
Edward knelt down beside her. "My dear sister I am at your service, please excuse my anger"
Marianne nodded, "Thank you, Edward, please pray for the Colonel"
"My lips and mind have not ceased in prayer since I heard" confessed Edward. "Nor will they until he is well"
At this moment Keats entered and they all jumped to ask questions.
Marianne's voice rose above the others, "Is he awake?"
"Yes" replied Keats. "And is asking for you"
Marianne opened the door to his room and instantly flew to his side.
She wept bitterly, pressing kisses to his face and head. "I'm so sorry!"
"My love" he whispered, "do not say such things"
Marianne looked at his swollen shoulder, "Why did you do it?"
"Because I made you promise, to never let that man hurt you again," he said slowly.
"He tried to take you from me" she replied. "I'll never forgive him for this"
"I am through the worst of it," said Brandon, taking a deep breath. "He failed"
Marianne stroked his hair, trying to soothe him.
She looked to Keats, "Has he been found yet?"
"Morton's men are still searching, but half the town is up in arms now. Once I'm sure Brandon is well I will join them. I'll happily see to his incarceration myself"
"If I were a man I'd take up a horse and pistol and kill him myself" proclaimed Marianne, tears returning to her eyes.
Brandon patted her hand, "Then I am glad you are not a man, for such talk and action would not suit you"
"Christopher, he only shot you because he missed me because you-" she paused for tears. "You took my place"
"And I would do so again," he replied. "Without hesitation"
"Please don't say foolish things like that" she begged. " I can't bear it"
"You must bear it" replied Brandon. "You must understand, I love you with my whole being, there is nothing I won't do for you"
"Clearly" she cried. "Don't you see how frightening that sounds?"
"I don't wish for my devotion to frighten you" he soothed.
She gently leant in and kissed him, "I hope you understand that I will be quite unbearable over these next few weeks, you shan't lose me"
"Hours with you?" he replied. "I can't think of anything better"
