The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2(183)

"You were the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. I had heard of love at first sight, of course," he whispered, "but I thought it was a fairy tale until it happened to me. I love you, Elizabeth. Please come back to me."



Thomas and Charlotte did more than their far share of the nursing in the dark days which followed, but at the end of the first week, a letter came from Brimley with most disturbing news which caused them to wonder how much longer they could risk staying in Ireland.



Clifford saw the Duke's aghast expression as he read the missive from their friend Jonathan Deveril.



"What is it? What's wrong? Is everyone well?" he asked Thomas.



"Yes, yes, for the moment at least. But that swine Ferncliffe, who killed my sister Jane, has got away. He and his accomplices Agnes and the coach driver, who helped kidnap our friend Alexander, have escaped from Newgate."



"Escaped? But how?" Charlotte gasped.



Thomas shook his head. "I have no idea. They would have needed awfully powerful friends to help."



"Had they reached the end of their trial?"



Thomas nodded. "Jonathan says here that Ferncliffe was given a capital sentence, and Agnes and the driver, Bart Davis, were supposed to have been transported. Alistair Grant wrote to me at Eltham Castle to give me the news, and to warn me. He'll make enquiries around London, organise a man hunt."



"This is most disturbing news," Clifford said ith a shake of his head.



Charlotte nodded. "Remember that his associate Paxton tried to burn down the castle and kill everyone who got in his way."



"I know. Plus, the Jonathan and his wife and sister, and her husband Alexander Davenport, have been their targets in the past. I hate to think what sort of havoc they can wreak once more now that they're free."



"Well, at least the war is over," Charlotte sighed.



"For some people, like Will, Parks, and Alexander, it's never over."



They all sighed.



Clifford offered, "If you want to go home, Vanessa and I will stay. I mean, we can understand-"



"How can I leave my sister?" thomas said with a shake of his head.



"Because she's in good hands here. And your wife is ue for her confinement soon. Plus, because we both know where Ferncliffe was going, what he was doing when you and Pamela stopped him. That at least is no longer an issue."



"No, but my niece is," he sighed.



"Jonathan and Pamela have been doing an admirable job seeing to all her needs, but there is nothing quite like your steady hand upon the wheel to navigate the most rocky shoals," Vanessa said, giving a meaning looks across the breakfast table at her husband to show that she supported his stance that the Duke and his wife should go back to Somerset with all possible haste.



Thomas ground his teeth together audibly, and sighed. "We'll wait and see. Another day or so should not make too much difference, and will help me decide what best to do about Elizabeth."



Vanessa and Clifford both exchanged looks, and prayed their friend was right.





Ten days after the accident, there was still no change in Elizabeth, which in the circumstances could only be seen as a good thing. The radical alteration was in Will, for with his long straggling hair and beard and wild-eyed look, they began to fear for his sanity.



"I can't sleep. I must watch. It will be all right. It's coming."



"What's coming?" Vevina asked her brother gently.



"Everything in alignment. Fate, the completion of the circle."



"I don't understand, love. What are you-"



"Soon. Then I can sleep."



"Eat something at least."



He shook his head. "No. Must fast. Soon. I promise."



Will turned back to his wife and continued to speak to her in a low tone.



Doc suggested massaging Elizabeth's arms and legs to keep the circulation going, and to move her around in the bed so she would not get bedsores.



Will rubbed her down with warm oil faithfully three times each day even though his left arm had limited mobility. The only time he ever left the bed was to go hurriedly into the bathroom, and then he insisted on whoever was also helping watch to hold her hand and speaking to her while he was gone.



"We don't want her to think she's alone," Will said in an earnest tone.



The doctor or Thomas or one of the other men would help get him into the privy, and try to get him to clean himself up or shave.



"Come on, old man. If Elizabeth woke up right now, you'd give her an awful fright," Stewart said, brushing his brother in law's greasy hair back from his brow.



"Soon, I promise. I can't explain it. But soon."