Page 70 of The Widow Wore Plaid

Slowly, Jane turned to Gareth, lying motionless on the bed. An unimaginable sense of dread assailed her as she rose.

The pallor in his face had retreated slightly, with a pinkish tinge to the skin instead. Still, there were no signs of life. She turned to Fanny, misery flowing all through her. “Oh, Fanny.” She put her hands over her face, not wanting to see, not wanting to believe he was gone. “Oh, Gareth.”

Tears poured down her cheeks and she laid her head on his chest, the place she’d always been the safest. “Oh, my love.”

“Are you bathing me in tears now, Jane. Did you run out of willow bark?”

Jane gasped and bolted upright, utterly shocked to see Gareth’s eyes open, his mouth puckered in his characteristic smirk. “You’re alive.”

“It would seem so, sweetheart.”

“Oh, Gareth.” She laid her head back on his chest and burst into tears.

“It took me over a year to get you to marry me, Jane, so don’t think you can get rid of me that easily.” He patted her back, soothing her until she sat up. “Good morning, Fanny.”

“Good morning, Gareth.” Their friend’s face beamed at him. “You seem to be feeling much better.”

“Thank God. I certainly couldn’t have felt much worse.” He shrugged his shoulder. “Whatever Jane did to my shoulder it hardly hurts at all now.” Glancing about the room, he frowned. “Do you think you could get me something to eat?”

Jane laughed and Fanny joined in. “When a man wants to eat, it means he is definitely on the mend.”

The tray arrived with Mr. Robbins, who was astonished not only that the patient lived, but that he was demanding food. He inspected the shoulder and turned to Jane. “I can hardly believe these are the same wounds I saw yesterday. The redness is almost gone, the skin has firmed up. His fever has disappeared. Do you know what happened, my lady?”

“I tended him through the night is all. I changed the dressing each hour and washed the wound in willow tea and your salve.” She’d had no idea her ministrations could have such a dramatic effect, but she thanked God it had.

“Hmm. I shall remember this for the next such case I have of inflammation.” The doctor raised his eyebrows. “The result is quite remarkable. I will suggest you keep up the dressing changes, although I think you can lengthen the time between them. Try to keep him resting and move the arm as little as possible. I’ll check back tomorrow, my lord, but if you continue to make such progress, I’d say you should recover very satisfactorily.”

After listening to Gareth’s chest and leaving another pot of salve, Mr. Robbins took his leave.

As soon as the door closed, Gareth looked at her and frowned. “Now can I have something to eat?”

* * *

Gareth’s recovery over the next week was nothing short of miraculous. Jane would never have believed the man had been at death’s door to see the way he talked and laughed, holding a sort of court in his bedchamber each day, where their friends would come, two or three at a time, to sit and chat and eat. Drink had been forbidden him by Mr. Robbins until he was fully recovered, as well as red meat, but her husband made the most of what he was allowed and Cook outdid herself creating interesting dishes from chicken and fish.

On the first night Gareth was permitted to walk downstairs to dinner, everyone was in such a festive mood it quite seemed like the wedding breakfast they had never gotten. Gareth sat at one end of the table, Jane proudly presided at the other. Everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly, celebrating the initiation of the final member of the Happy Ever After Club.

After dinner, when Jane had led the ladies to the drawing room and ordered tea, their talk turned to the sad topic of her friends’ departures.

“I cannot believe that everyone is leaving all at once.” Without her friends here, life at the castle would be quite different for Jane. She’d come to rely on them so much over the past weeks.

“Don’t make it sound as if we are abandoning you, Jane.” Fanny poured milk into her teacup until it threatened to overflow. “Most of us have been here almost a month. We need to return home and let our lives settle down once more.”

“We won’t be leaving for another few days, Jane.” Maria patted her hand. “So not all of us will be leaving at once.”

“Rob and I have decided we will not journey all the way home until Christmas.” Georgie nibbled at a sugary cake, then grimaced and set it on her plate. “Father has asked us to stay with them at Blackham through the autumn, and I didn’t wish to disturb Lulu and her pups just yet either.” Her face brightened. “But we plan to run up to London if any of you will be there for the Little Season. I know Elizabeth has said she will be.”

“Yes, we will be coming from Blackham as well,” Elizabeth spoke up. “Mother wrote me last month that my sister Dotty needs chaperoning during the Little Season. She enjoyed her first Season so much she insists on attending this one as well and Mother cannot be with her as my sister, Lady Haxton, will be confined about the same time. Therefore, Jemmy and I must see to Dotty.”

“We will be there as well, with dear Arabella.” Maria gazed fondly at her sister-in-law, who perked up at the news.

“It sounds as though you will all be gathering in London without me.” Jane couldn’t help but wish she had a reason to meet them there. But Gareth shouldn’t travel so soon after his illness. She’d settle for being content here with him all to herself.

The door opened admitting the gentlemen, Gareth walking slowly, but without assistance. She shot him a smile and patted the sofa next to her.

He grinned back at her and headed to the sideboard. “Not that I don’t appreciate the offer, my dear, but this is the first I’ve been allowed.” He raised the brandy decanter and crystal tumbler. “I intend to take full advantage of it.”

“Now that everyone is together, I have an announcement I wanted to make.” Elizabeth shot a look at her husband, who nodded, his face split with a wide grin. “I informed Jemmy earlier today that I’m increasing again. Nes will have a little brother or sister sometime in the spring.” She shot her husband a stern look. “And this child will be given a name that we choose.”