Old Mrs. Bean laughed. “I never said he couldn’t talk, gal. My Edmund just ain’t much for speaking.” She nodded at Drake. “Think you might want to speak with him whilst you still have a chance?”
While she still had a chance? Felicity went to her knees and rested his head in her lap. “Don’t you dare die,” she repeated, meaning it more as a challenge than anything else. He needed to live so she could spurn him as many times as it took to be rid of him, but she didn’t wish him dead.
“I am so sorry,” he whispered, grimacing against the pain. “So very sorry.”
“You should be.”
“I am. More than you will ever know.”
“A lie of omission is still a lie.” She used a corner of her gown towipe the dirt and sweat from his face. “A lie is a lie.”
“I know.” He sounded weaker. “I will never forgive myself for being such a fool and throwing you away. You—the best thing that ever happened to me in my entire life.”
She wouldn’t saygoodand agree that she wouldn’t forgive him either. Not now, when he lay knocking at death’s door. She swallowed hard, her throat aching because her heart had lodged in it sideways. Hot tears streamed down her face, making her angrier still.
Chance took hold of her by the shoulders. “Let us get him into the wagon, Felli. We have to get him to the village. With any luck, they have someone there who can help him.”
Drake didn’t make a sound as the men lifted him, even though he had to be in agony.
“Help me up there,” Felicity told her brother. “I need to hold the rag to his wound. The ride will be rough.” It wasn’t that she loved him still. No, that foolishness was over. It was merely her Christian duty to do what she could to help him.
Without argument, Chance lifted her into the wagon. Once again, she pillowed Drake’s head in her lap while pressing hard against the wound that was not in the center of his back but nearer to his shoulder. The fact that he had pushed her to the ground and taken the shot meant for her didn’t escape her. It didn’t matter. She would still be rid of him as soon as he was well.
Because hewouldbe well. She wouldn’t contemplate otherwise.
The wagon lurched into motion, making Drake bare his teeth and dig his fingers into the pallet until the material ripped. But he didn’t make a sound, simply took his punishment as if it were his due.
“I am sorry,” he said again, barely loud enough to be heard over the rattling of the wagon. “So very sorry.”
“So you said earlier.” She wiped his face again, trying to keep him as steady as possible as they thundered across the rough terrain. “Save your strength. I refuse to have your death on my conscience.”
He caught hold of her hand and pressed it to his mouth, tenderly kissing it. “Forgive me so I might die in peace.”
“I do not forgive you. Therefore, you best not die.”
“Felli…please.”
“Do not call me that. We are no longer that familiar.” She frowned at the wad of rags she held pressed to his back. The bleeding was worse. They needed to hurry so they could stop shaking him and stanch the flow. “Now, stop talking and save your strength.”
He became almost peaceful, frightening her even more. “You thought you were a shy wallflower, yet you sound like a fierce general on the battlefield.”
“If I have learned anything since meeting you, it is that I have many strengths of which I was unaware.” Good heavens, would they never get to Grange? “It is time for you to look within yourself now and draw upon your own strengths.”
He didn’t answer, and his lips were barely parted. Panicking, she pressed her hand to the middle of his chest. A sob escaped her when she felt nothing. No, it had to be because of the rough ride. He was not dead. She bent forward and kissed his forehead, willing him to live. “I told you not to die,” she said through gritted teeth.
Relief filled her when the heat of his breath barely brushed across her fingers as she held them close to his face.Thank the Almighty.Drake was breathing. The pain and loss of blood must have finally rendered him unconscious.
“How much farther?” she called out to Mrs. Bean.
The old woman turned and cast a worried look at Drake. “Soon, gal. I know it feels like forever, but we be there soon enough.”
Felicity held tight to Drake as the wagon swayed and bumped over a particularly rough patch of road. At this rate, soon enough might not suffice.
*
The Grange inBorrowdale Inn wasn’t much, but it was clean, and the nearest place they could find Drake the care he needed. It just so happened that the innkeeper’s husband was also an experienced surgeon who had learned his trade on the battlefield.
Binnocksbourne’s magistrate didn’t stay in Grange with Chance, Felicity, and the Beans. He bade them farewell and returned to deal with the criminals awaiting their punishment in the roundhouse. Rum and Catherty’s moneylending business was now closed. Permanently.
