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Authors: Kara Louise
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cloths, wondering if it was lowering his fever at all. Occasionally he thrashed about, startling Elizabeth with each violent movement. He began to moan, unintelligible sounds, but at least they were sounds. In her heart she hoped that this meant he was coming back to them, but she also knew it could just be the result of delirium from the high fever. His nightshirt was becoming soaked with the tremendous amount of perspiration.
"Please, Mr. Darcy, fight. Fight this. I know you can!"
She soon felt herself perspiring from all her hard efforts and pulled out her handkerchief from her pocket. She drew it across her face and forehead, breathing in the fragrance of the gardenia scent. It helped give her new strength. She set it down on his bed by the pillow as she continued to minister to him.
Elizabeth knew that she had to get him out of his nightshirt and begin applying the cool cloths to his chest and arms. She tried to remain composed as she reached for the shirt that was clinging to his chest. As she reached for the top button, her fingers intermingled with the curly hair on his chest, and she nervously pulled them back. Shaking, she forced herself to reach out for the button again and struggled to keep her mind focused on the simple task of unbuttoning a button. Finally she took a deep breath, and despite her blush, accomplished her task. The first button was undone.
The next two buttons were just as difficult, but Elizabeth determined to accomplish it without so much a flinch. As she pulled back his shirt, she let out a gasp as she gazed down at his masculine chest. She watched his chest rise and fall, and with each breath she took in a breath of her own, as if to encourage him to continue breathing and to help ease the laboured effort each breath required.
Durnham returned within five minutes and informed her that Winston was now on his way to find the doctor. He asked what he could do to help.
"Take some cloths and dip them in the water. Wring them of all the excess water and then apply it to his face and neck, chest and arms."
With an even greater struggle now, she dipped the cloth back in the water and applied it to his chest and arms. Durnham looked up and obviously noticed the strain on her face. "Are you sure, Miss, that we should not get anyone else to help? You look a little unstable yourself."
"No, I am quite well," she lied.
They spent about a half hour dipping, wringing, and applying the cloths to Darcy. His thrashing diminished slightly and Elizabeth put her hand again to his forehead and was relieved to find that his fever had diminished.
Elizabeth relaxed a bit, standing at his side. How she wished the doctor would come, but at least she felt that he was now out of immediate danger. She closed her eyes for a moment; feeling the effects of exhaustion.
When she opened them, she found herself gazing with much incredulity at Darcy. His eyes were fluttering. She stood transfixed as she watched him slowly, but deliberately, open his eyes. His eyes were glazed, looking at her, through her, she could not determine whether there had been any recognition in them. During these moments her heart literally stopped. She wanted to jump, shout, scream, but nothing came.
But just as suddenly, his eyes closed.
"Mr. Darcy! Come back. I know you are in there! Durnham , did you see that? He opened his eyes!"
"I did Miss Elizabeth. I think he may be well on his way back to us!"
"Mr. Durnham , please stay here. I think I must get Georgiana now!"
Elizabeth ran through the house. It was now close to three o’clock; she had spent almost four hours with him. She knew Georgiana needed more sleep, but felt she had to give her this encouraging news. She climbed the stairs two at a time, came to Georgiana's room and knocked excitedly at the door.
"Georgiana, come quick! We believe your brother may be waking up!"
Chapter 5
T he first thing that Darcy became aware of was how hot he was. He felt as though he was burning
"Please, Mr. Darcy, fight. Fight this. I know you can!"
She soon felt herself perspiring from all her hard efforts and pulled out her handkerchief from her pocket. She drew it across her face and forehead, breathing in the fragrance of the gardenia scent. It helped give her new strength. She set it down on his bed by the pillow as she continued to minister to him.
Elizabeth knew that she had to get him out of his nightshirt and begin applying the cool cloths to his chest and arms. She tried to remain composed as she reached for the shirt that was clinging to his chest. As she reached for the top button, her fingers intermingled with the curly hair on his chest, and she nervously pulled them back. Shaking, she forced herself to reach out for the button again and struggled to keep her mind focused on the simple task of unbuttoning a button. Finally she took a deep breath, and despite her blush, accomplished her task. The first button was undone.
The next two buttons were just as difficult, but Elizabeth determined to accomplish it without so much a flinch. As she pulled back his shirt, she let out a gasp as she gazed down at his masculine chest. She watched his chest rise and fall, and with each breath she took in a breath of her own, as if to encourage him to continue breathing and to help ease the laboured effort each breath required.
Durnham returned within five minutes and informed her that Winston was now on his way to find the doctor. He asked what he could do to help.
"Take some cloths and dip them in the water. Wring them of all the excess water and then apply it to his face and neck, chest and arms."
With an even greater struggle now, she dipped the cloth back in the water and applied it to his chest and arms. Durnham looked up and obviously noticed the strain on her face. "Are you sure, Miss, that we should not get anyone else to help? You look a little unstable yourself."
"No, I am quite well," she lied.
They spent about a half hour dipping, wringing, and applying the cloths to Darcy. His thrashing diminished slightly and Elizabeth put her hand again to his forehead and was relieved to find that his fever had diminished.
Elizabeth relaxed a bit, standing at his side. How she wished the doctor would come, but at least she felt that he was now out of immediate danger. She closed her eyes for a moment; feeling the effects of exhaustion.
When she opened them, she found herself gazing with much incredulity at Darcy. His eyes were fluttering. She stood transfixed as she watched him slowly, but deliberately, open his eyes. His eyes were glazed, looking at her, through her, she could not determine whether there had been any recognition in them. During these moments her heart literally stopped. She wanted to jump, shout, scream, but nothing came.
But just as suddenly, his eyes closed.
"Mr. Darcy! Come back. I know you are in there! Durnham , did you see that? He opened his eyes!"
"I did Miss Elizabeth. I think he may be well on his way back to us!"
"Mr. Durnham , please stay here. I think I must get Georgiana now!"
Elizabeth ran through the house. It was now close to three o’clock; she had spent almost four hours with him. She knew Georgiana needed more sleep, but felt she had to give her this encouraging news. She climbed the stairs two at a time, came to Georgiana's room and knocked excitedly at the door.
"Georgiana, come quick! We believe your brother may be waking up!"
Chapter 5
T he first thing that Darcy became aware of was how hot he was. He felt as though he was burning
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