Chest tight and very aware that all he cared for in this world could be lost if they didn’t make haste, Blayne held Charlotte in his lap while the police carriage they rode in charged through the streets with reassuring speed.
What had begun as a dull ache in her shoulder had since transformed into burning pain. Charlotte did her best to hide it so as not to worry Blayne, but it was difficult not to wince when he shifted her in his arms.
“We’ll be there soon, lass.” His voice swept the top of her head, the low tones of his brogue a soothing comfort that put her at ease. “Ye’ll be right as rain before ye ken it.”
She nodded against the solid wall of his chest while breathing him in. Her hand clutched the front of his jacket, but it was becoming harder and harder for her to hold on. Lightheadedness overwhelmed her. She became aware of Marcus saying something but couldn’t quite make out the words. Other sounds followed, all of them unfamiliar, and she felt herself getting jostled about. She heard herself groan. A spicy liquid with a hint of bitterness slid down her throat.
“That’s it,” Blayne said from somewhere far away. “Drink as much as ye can.”
Charlotte did her best to swallow the strange concoction. She felt an odd pull and tug sensation accompanied by a wonderful weightlessness as every sound faded into the background. And then, there was nothing but glorious silence.
“She was incredibly lucky.”
The unfamiliar voice pulled her out of the deep water she’d been swimming in. It was a sunny day, so she and Blayne had found a lovely lake to bathe in.
“The lead ball missed all major veins and muscle.”
Who was this man and what on earth was he talking about?
“So she’ll be fine?”
Ah. Blayne. Oh, how she loved him. They’d have a picnic when they were done swimming. Only, she wasn’t in the water anymore and…she felt like she was lying down. How strange.
“She’ll be sore for a few days and will require much rest, but yes, she will be fine.”
“Thank Christ.”
“Blayne?” She couldn’t make sense of the world right now but at least he was there.
A large hand swiftly clasped hers. “I’m right here, lass.”
“You sound funny.” His voice was rougher than usual and slightly thicker as well.
“I’m just mighty relieved to ken ye’ll be staying with me,” he murmured.
In spite of the drowsiness trying to pull her back down, Charlotte forced her eyes open so she could gaze up at his handsome face. “Your eyes are wet.”
“Aye,” he said with a grin. He gave the tears a quick swipe, then pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Ye very nearly stopped my heart today.”
“What happened?” She glanced to the side and frowned. “We were at the lake together but now we’re in a small room. I don’t understand.”
“The lake must have been a dream. Ye’ve been asleep for at least two hours.” His hand stroked over the top of her head. “Someone tried to kill me, but they shot ye instead by mistake.”
“Oh. Good.”
“Good?” He sounded appalled.
“Better me than you.”
“Ach, lass. I’ve got to disagree with ye there.”
She chuckled and instantly regretted it when she felt an answering soreness in her shoulder. “The gunman?”
“He’s been apprehended. The constables at the Police Court are questioning him, which I’m hoping will lead to an order for Seamus to be arrested.”
“You think he was behind it?”
“Aye. I’ve nae doubt about it.”
Charlotte closed her eyes. She could feel her grip on consciousness slipping.
Blayne squeezed her hand. “Get as much rest as ye need. I’ll be here when ye wake.”
With this assurance, Charlotte sank further into oblivion.
When she woke again, she was starving. “I feel like I haven’t eaten in years.”
Blayne smiled. “I’ll order some food for ye right away.”
“Where’s Marcus?” Charlotte asked when Blayne returned to her bedside.
“Chatting with one of the doctors, I believe. Learning as much as he can about his profession of choice before he goes to visit the university.”
“We probably should encourage him to do so now that you’ve been released. I think you and I can manage well enough on our own from now on. Don’t you?”
“I do.”
A nurse arrived with a tray filled mostly with fruit and a few slices of ham. Bread and wine accompanied the dish and Charlotte dug in with gusto. She stopped mid-bite when she caught Blayne grinning. “What?”
“It’s just grand to see ye show such enthusiasm for food.”
“Would you like some?”
“Nae. I’ll grab another bite to eat later when ye’ve gone back to sleep.”
His comment gave her pause. “How many meals have you had while I’ve been here?”
“Three, if ye count my breakfast this morning. There’s a decent inn just down the road. Marcus and I spent the night there.”
“The night?”
“Aye.” He laughed when she kept on staring at him. “Ye were shot yesterday afternoon. After ye went back to sleep ye were out for twelve solid hours”
“I see.” She had no sense of time at all, but it did explain his change of clothes.
“According to the doctor and the surgeon who operated on ye, ye’ll be ready to leave the hospital tomorrow. We’ll see how ye do from there, aye?”
“Aye,” she agreed, and bit into a crunchy apple slice.
20
As expected, Charlotte was discharged from the hospital the following afternoon with instructions to keep her wound clean by gently washing it and re-applying fresh bandages twice daily. She was to return immediately at the first sign of infection.
“Will this do for now?” Blayne asked when he showed Charlotte to the room he’d acquired for her and Daisy. The maid looked like she might throw herself into her mistress’s arms, though she did manage to restrain herself. Blayne couldn’t help but smile. He knew precisely how Daisy felt.
“It’s perfect,” Charlotte assured him. She reached out and took Daisy’s hand. “It’s good to see you again.”
“I can’t tell you how relieved I am to see you looking so well, miss. You gave me a right awful fright.”
“Me too,” Blayne said. “But our Charlotte is made of stern stuff. I’ll let ye get settled. When ye’re ready, ye can meet me downstairs in one of the supper rooms. Daisy, ye can escort her, right?”
“Of course. I’ll not let her out of my sight.”
“Good to know.” Blayne left the two women and went to drop his new hat and gloves in his own bedchamber before heading downstairs. He wished he and Charlotte could share a room so he could look after her himself, but since they weren’t married yet and Daisy was here, he had no excuse to dismiss propriety in such a way. But it was one of the subjects he meant to discuss with Charlotte, so he launched straight into it as soon as she arrived by asking, “After everything that has happened and all ye’ve learned about me these last few days, do ye still want to be my wife?”