It's almost an eternity before Emma finally got some helping hands. A groom was dispatched to fetch Dr. Perry directly. James and another footman carried Mr. Knightley very carefully into the coach and set off immediately after Emma following in.
Emma knelt beside Mr. Knightley and wrapped her arms around his shoulders to keep his body still, struggling between getting home as quickly as she can and moving as smoothly as possible. Mr. Knightley didn't wake up once on the way home even though the jolts were sometimes perceptible. Emma fixed her eyes on his blood-stained face, tears streaming down, soaking his coat.
Mr. Woodhouse and Dr. Perry had been anxiously waiting at the door when the carriage came to a halt in front of the house. "Oh, my dear child, what happened? Are you well? You look so pale. And how is Mr. Knightley? Is he well?"
"Papa, I'm fine. But Mr. Knightley is not. I'll talk to you later." Emma followed Dr. Perry to describe what had happened to Mr. Knightley and what he was like during the last one hour. Dr. Perry frowned gravely and asked a stretcher or alternative to move him.
Emma gathered almost all her household staff to execute whatever Dr. Perry commanded. And before giving orders to Mrs. Hall, the housekeeper, she turned to Mr. Woodhouse and said briefly, "Father, Mr. Knightley was seriously injured because of me," She paused a second and added, "for saving my life, so I'm going to have him staying with us till he's fully recovered."
"Of course my dear, you're right. But what do you mean by saving your life?" Mr. Woodhouse became obviously agitated on hearing something regarding his daughter's life. But Emma didn't explain more, just hugged him and simply replied, "I'm fine, Papa." then turned again to her housekeeper.
"Mrs. Hall, please prepare the boys room for Mr. Knightley." The loyal housekeeper lifted her kind eyes with a little surprise but didn't question it. "Send someone to Abbey and let Mrs. Hodges know that Mr. Knightley will stay at Hartfield for a while, and ask if she could spare Mr. Knightley's valet to come and aid, whom I believe can take better care of Mr. Knightley than our man."
"Very well, Ma'am, right now."
Emma got back to the closed door of a small sitting room in which Dr. Perry was examining Mr. Keightley, paced back and forth, face pale, cold sweat rolling down, till she could no longer support herself and slumped down on the bench along the side of the corridor.
And she almost jumped at the sight of Dr. Perry, "How is he, Doctor? I mean, Mr. Knightley!"
"He has plenty of bruises and scratches all over the right side of his body, meanwhile a fractured upper arm and at least six broken ribs."
"And?" Dr. Perry's grave look indicated that things couldn't be this easy.
"Yet he hasn't woken up until now, and I'm not sure whether he has any severe internal damage."
"Is there anything we can do then?"
"I have cleaned and treated the wounds, stabilized the fractured bones. His pulse is steady, though not strong. Several drugs can help reduce the pain when he is awake. But for now, we can only watch and wait. "
Emma stiffened, forgetting to show her gratitude to the doctor.
"Miss Woodhouse, let Mr. Knightley rest comfortably, have someone watching him all the time. I'll be here early tomorrow morning or any time he wakes or I'm wanted."
"Oh yes, Dr. Perry, thank you so very much! And if you please, I thought all these have been too much to my father. "
"I'm going to see him now. "
"Thank you Doctor!" Emma curtseyed gratefully and hurried into the room in which Mr. Knightley was lying.
Riley, Mr. Knightley's valet, had arrived with his master's supplies. After giving a very detailed instruction on how to care for Mr. Knightley, Emma spared herself a little while to console her father and prepare dinner for him and Dr. Perry. By leaving her father to the company of the kind doctor, Emma spent most of the evening in her nephew's, now Mr. Knightley's room.
He had been carefully cleaned and changed into a light gray nightgown, lying quietly in bed, pale and broken. Emma had never seen him in this condition, this fragile. To her he was always healthy, lively and strong, but now…She took his left hand, minds wandering all over her life time where he had always been faithfully by her side. And she had taken him for granted, never treasured his presence and merit until he might no longer belong to her, body and soul.
She shook her head driving these unhappy ideas away, wiped the tears unconsciously filling in her eyes. She should be strong, do what she was required, treat Mr. Knightley as he deserved when she still could.
It's been late night, though reluctant, it would be highly improper for her to remain in his room any longer. She picked up the glass of water and spoon, moistened his cracked lips, tucked him up tenderly and summoned Riley.
She went back to her own bedchamber and left the door a crack open so she could perceive the slightest movements in Mr. Knightley's room which was just next to hers. She sat contemplating for a moment and washed, then called her maid to help her dress up.
"Dress up? Won't you go to bed, Ma'am?"
"Don't mind, just do what I said." She didn't know when Mr. Knightley would wake up, nor would he ever do. But whenever it would be, she would be there right away.
She finally fell down on the top of her blanket and woke with the first light of dawn. She jumped out of bed and rushed to the next room, knocked at the door which was directly opened by the loyal and diligent Riley.
"Does Mr. Knightley wake up?"
"Not yet, but he seems sleeping, and well."
"Thank you Riley, you may go back to your room and get some sleep, I'll tend to Mr. Knightley."
"Thank you Miss Woodhouse." Riley bowed and withdrew.
It's still very early in the morning. Emma stepped over and sat in the chair at Mr. Knightley's bedside. A beam of dawn light leaking through the crack of the curtain illuminated his face gently, causing Emma the illusion that he was sleeping peacefully, not passing out. She stared at him, could not help running her fingers down his cheek.
And when he fluttered his eyelids, opened his eyes, recognized Emma, and gave her a brightest smile, time stopped!