“Come, Mrs. Easton,” he said, and he escorted her back to the carriage with Alice and Jeremy.
She stepped in to find two tear-streaked faces. Lisbeth sat on the bench and opened her arms. They both darted into her embrace. “Alice said Thomas was shot.”
“They are taking care of him now,” she told her eight-year-old son who’d seen too much in his short life.
Alice sniffled. “We can’t lose him. He just became part of our family.”
Her words warmed her heart even though Lisbeth was terrified. They were a family now, and they couldn’t lose Thomas. “I know. He is being cared for now. Have hope.”
She squeezed them tighter, grateful they were unharmed. “I’m so sorry.”
Jeremy lifted his head and scowled. “Why did she take us?”
Lisbeth sighed. “She is unwell. She thought she was supposed to marry Thomas.”
Jeremy shook his head, and Alice said, “I tried to explain to her that Thomas was married to you.”
She kissed the top of her daughter’s head. “I know. Her uncle is going to make sure she gets help.”
They both nodded and snuggled further into her. She forced the tears welling in her eyes to stop. Lisbeth had to be strong for Alice and Jeremy, but worry overflowed in her that Thomas might not make it. As her children fell asleep against her, she shook her head.
Thomas Easton could not die. The world was not so cruel. They’d loved each other since they were children. She would stay by his side until he woke up and knew they were waiting for him. Yes, there would be no dying for the man she loved.
*
Thomas blinked hiseyes. Where was he? He felt like he’d died, and his mouth was unbearably dry. As his eyes adjusted, he realized he was in Lisbeth’s bedchamber. His gaze darted to the left, and he saw Lisbeth lying next to him on top of the blanket.
She clutched his hand, but other than that, she seemed to be deep in sleep. She looked exhausted. Her hair was spiraling across her face, and she had dark circles under her eyes. He was exhausted, but lifted his hand and brushed a curl from her cheek.
Her lashes fluttered, and then her eyes opened. She bolted up and stared at him. Thomas smiled. “Hello, Lizzie.”
Her lips trembled, and she reached out and ran her hand along his jaw. “You are awake.”
Thomas winced as he moved his shoulder. He remembered Miss Sanders had shot him, but after that, it was all darkness. Lisbeth bolted from the bed and rushed to the door. “Fetch Benson and the doctor. He is awake.”
Thomas shook his head. “I don’t want a doctor. I want you to join me back in this bed.”
Lisbeth smiled as she wiped tears from her face. “You don’t understand, you’ve been out of it with a fever for five days.”
His eyes widened in surprise. Benson and the doctor entered the room. The guard’s face filled with relief. He smiled at Thomas. “We thought we’d lost you, Easton.”
The doctor beamed at him. “Your wife’s steely determination that you would live seems to have proven true.”
He glanced at her, confused. She shrugged. “We had another doctor at first who told me to start saying goodbye to you. I fired him, and Benson found Dr. Leroy. He has been much more helpful than the man Towson employs.”
Dr. Leroy grinned. “Dr. Jules is a good doctor, but old-fashioned in some of his methods.”
Lisbeth pursed her lips together as if she wanted to say more but was refraining herself from doing so. Thomas chuckled at her sour expression. The doctor smiled at him. “You are, indeed, feeling better, and your fever has broken. I think, Mr. Easton, you will be on your way to a swift recovery now.”
He turned to Lisbeth and said, “He will need bed rest for the next week, but short of his fever spiking again, he should be fine.”
“Thank you so much, Dr. Leroy,” Lisbeth said.
The man smiled at her. “It was my pleasure.”
The doctor departed, and Benson remained. He frowned at Thomas. “I’m sorry I didn’t reach Miss Sanders in time. You should never have been shot.”
Thomas frowned at the guard, who had become a friend. “You did everything you could. The lady isn’t well. I hope her family is getting her the appropriate care.”
