Pemberley Ranch - Jack Caldwell [60]
“Of course not,” he said smoothly. “I just happen to be in your general vicinity as often as possible.” He glanced at her. “Mrs. Burroughs knows nothing of this.”
Anne stared at him, confused.
“I think Mr. Darcy struck his head as he fell,” the butler determined. “The damage is less than it seems. Head wounds do bleed freely. He needs to rest. I don’t envy his head when he wakes in the morning.” He slid his hands under Darcy’s arms and tried to lift him. Beth immediately moved to help.
“Miss Bennet, please! It is unseemly!” Bartholomew complained.
“Mr. Bartholomew, it’s obvious you need assistance, and I am no helpless female. I will help you get Mr. Darcy upstairs.” Beth’s words inspired Anne to do the same, and despite the butler’s protests, they worked together to maneuver the barely conscious man up the stairs and into a guest bedroom just across the hall from Beth. They were fortunate that Darcy could still make his legs work, for he was too tall and heavy even for the three of them. A towel was placed against his head to stem the bleeding before they allowed him to fall upon the bed.
“That won’t last,” Bartholomew said as he observed the towel turning red with blood. “I will fetch new cloths straight away.” With that he left the room.
Beth stared at the man sprawled across the bed, trying to come to terms with her feelings. She was mortified to learn that most of what she held against him was based on her own ingrained prejudgment and other people’s lies. Just who was William Darcy?
“I’d give anything if he could be here today,” Darcy had said. “Anything. I’d trade places with him, if it would make you happy.”
Will Darcy would die for me?
Anne moved over to Darcy’s towel-covered head. “Beth, help me.”
“What? What are you doing?”
“If we don’t get his shirt off, he’ll get blood on it.”
Beth hesitated a moment, frozen by the impropriety of the suggestion, before her innate sense of the absurd promoted itself. Beth Bennet, you’re already in a gentleman’s bedroom after spending a half-hour talking to him late at night in your nightgown. It can hardly get any more improper than it already is. At least Anne is here with me.
With a shrug, she reached over to assist. They turned Darcy over, careful not to dislodge the towel, and unfastened the buttons. For the first time, Beth saw the bare chest of a man unrelated to her. And a fine, broad one it was. Unconsciously, she licked her lips.
Beth glanced up to see Anne grinning at her. “What?”
She laughed. “Nothing. Oh, we can’t get this off. We’ll have to turn him over again.” Once again on his stomach, the ladies were able to remove the shirt completely. They weren’t prepared for the sight before them. Beth gasped and Anne let out a sharp scream.
Bartholomew dashed into the room, arms filled with cloths and towels. “What is it? What is the matter—Oh, my God!” He stood stock-still at the foot of the bed.
Anne’s eyes filled with tears. “What happened to William? Who did this?”
Beth could not answer; her attention was fixed on Darcy’s back—a back completely covered in angry, white scars.
4 Camp Douglas POW camp was real and has been referred to as the “Andersonville of the North,” Andersonville being the infamous Confederate POW camp whose commandant was executed by the U.S. Government for war crimes. It is difficult to know how many men died at Camp Douglas, as many records were hidden or destroyed by the camp officials. Camp Campbell is fictitious.
July 5
WHEN BETH CAME DOWN for breakfast the next morning, she was not surprised to learn that Dr. Bingley had been sent for. She didn’t need to ask who Charles was there to see. Indeed, she was hard-pressed to get the man out of her head.
Anne glanced sheepishly at Beth, but with her mother in attendance, she refrained from speaking. It wasn’t until Mrs. Burroughs retired to her study to work on ranch matters that Anne moved to the seat next to Beth.
“Beth, about the dress, I’m so sorry. It was Will’s idea to surprise you—”
Beth cut her off. “Please, the less said about yesterday, the better.”
Anne, chastised,