She unwrapped her blanket from around her shoulders. “Take my blanket, sir,” she said. “I am not cold.”
“You cannot expect me to be so unchivalrous as to take a blanket from a young lady.”
She shook her head. “It is your turn now. Look at me. Am I shivering? Are my lips blue?”
She did not intend anything by it, he was certain, but the temptation to examine her lips had to be avoided at all cost.
“There is not enough light for me to judge,” he replied, turning his gaze anywhere else but on her.
Apparently realizing her error, she turned to Georgiana instead. “Do you think I am turning blue?” Her tone was light, almost playful.
Georgiana inspected her. “No. You do notlookcold,” she said uncertainly, “but you might not be feeling it yet.”
“There,” said the woman, giving a satisfied nod. “I told you. I have an excellent constitution. I rarely fall ill.” She smiled, looking remarkably cheerful, considering her ordeal. “You had better convince your brother to take the blanket.”
He could not explain to her the other reason he wanted her to keep the blanket. He could hardly point it out, but her drenched clothes clung to her body. She needed the blanket as a cover.
He looked away. “I thank you,” he said. “However, I entreat you to keep the blanket. We should be arriving soon, and I do not really need it.”
The sound of his teeth clattering as he spoke contradicted his statement.
She raised an eyebrow. “You are shivering, sir, and, as can you see, I am not making use of the blanket. You may as well take it.”
She held it out to him.
There was no convincing her. He may as well take it. Her solicitous offer was purely maternal. She was looking after him, as she would after her child.
He gave a nod and took it. His hands were shaking as he brought it around his shoulders. He tried to conceal it, but the look in her dark eyes told him she had noticed.
She leaned across the seat and rearranged it, pulling it to cover his head like a hood. The light touch of her fingers was reassuring.
“There,” she said, with a smile, as she tucked the corners around him. “That’s better.”
As she sat back and examined her handiwork, he felt unexpectedly moved. She had wrapped him in kindness. He did not recall the last time anyone had been trulyconcernedabout his well-being. It was a long time since he had met a female who fussed over him. It was a nice feeling.
He looked out of the window to avoid looking at her. But when he turned back, he caught her rubbing her arms to stay warm.
“I caught you,” he said. “Youarecold.”
“There is a difference between being cold and having my lips turn blue, sir.”
“Nevertheless, I will not hog the blanket.”
“Then we will have to share it.”
He stiffened. “That is out of the question.”
The woman sighed and turned to Georgiana. “Your brother is understandably worried about propriety. He is prepared to become ill rather than break the rules. However, I do have a solution. I remember my uncle telling me how important it was to huddle together if a person fell in the water. If all of us who are wet sit on the same seat, the blanket will be long enough for us to use. Margaret will sit between us, and Miss Darcy, you can be our chaperone. It will be a terrible squeeze, but I assume we will soon be arriving at your home. At least we can share each other’s warmth.” She turned towards him. “I am concerned for you, sir.”
Miss Darcy nodded. “Of course. I would be happy to do so.”
Darcy examined the mother. Her eyes were free of guile and the concern in them was real. She meant what she said. A warm feeling inside countered the cold that was biting into his bones.
He was too cold to object further. He shifted to the other side and handed the blanket to the young lady. There was a fuss as everyone changed positions, then silence fell over the carriage. A heavy drowsiness came over him. He roused himself, only to notice that the child had grown more still. A sense of alarm brought him to full awareness.
“She should not be allowed to fall asleep,” he said, with a sense of urgency. He recalled something about it being dangerous to sleep after falling in cold water.
“Then we shall sing,” said the mother, reacting at once, and managing to sound remarkably cheerful. “How about that song you were learning, Margaret? About the Robin? Shall we sing it together?”
