Virtue and Vanity: Continuing Story of Desire and Duty (15 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

Quietly they stepped into Andrew’s darkened room. Sarah asked to have the lone candle brought closer so she could see how badly he was injured. An audible gasp escaped her lips as the light fell onto the bruised and swollen face. She could not restrain her hand from reaching out and gently caressing the side of his face that looked least injured. “Oh, Andrew,” she whispered, “what have they done to
you.
”
             
             
             
             

Anna tugged on Sarah’s sleeve, bringing her back to reality. “Will
cousin
Andrew be all right?” the young girl asked, with tears streaking down her face.

Georgiana placed a loving arm around Anna, and answered, giving Sarah a moment to compose
herself
. “The surgeon, Mr. Barnes, says he will be fine, but he must stay in bed for several weeks”

“What can I do to help?” Anna asked as her gaze returned to Sarah.

“We certainly can pray for him.”

“Of course, but what can I do for him?”

Sarah smiled at the child’s eagerness to serve, “It is very difficult for an active man to stay abed while his body heals itself; so, when he awakens we will be needed to keep him entertained. Perhaps you can find some books he might enjoy having us read to him or think up some stories we can share with him.”

Anna smiled and bounced out of the room, “Mother, please have someone call me the moment he awakes!”

As Georgiana and Sarah watched Anna leave the room, they noticed Edgar standing outside the door. “You may come in if you would like,” said Lady Staley.

Edgar came in, but was careful to stay several feet away from the bed. After several moments of quiet thought, he asked, “Sarah, whatever happened? If there were only two ruffians, could he not have fought them
off.
”

“Perhaps he could have; but, I believe he was most concerned for my safety and seeing that I was given a way of escape.”

  “If
cousin
John and I were there, this would not have happened. We would have taught those thieves a lesson they’d never forget.”

“Edgar, your cousin Andrew was very brave.” Sarah said with feeling. “He tried to reason with those horrible men and when that failed, he took their punishment upon himself and told me to escape. I
know,
that had it not been for me, he would somehow have been able to slip through their grasp.”

The young boy looked chagrined for having obviously upset Sarah and said, rather condescendingly, “I suppose he did have to let you get safely away. If only I had been there with him instead of you.”

Sarah smiled shakily at the lad, “I’m sure your assistance would have made all the difference.”

Georgiana said, “Now, young man. Why don’t you help me escort Sarah back to her
room.
She needs the rest.”

“Indeed, no,” said Sarah. Blushing slightly, she said, “I will rest much better if you would allow me to sit here and watch over Andrew. I promise to call for assistance if I become overly tired.”

After studying Sarah for a moment, Georgiana acquiesced. “Be sure to keep your promise though. We will need you to help nurse him back to health and you can only do that if you take care of yourself as well.”

Sarah smiled. “Thank you.” Turning to Edgar she asked, “Would you be kind enough to retrieve the book I am reading and my embroidery basket from my room?”

Edgar ran to do as he was bid. Georgiana said, “I will have a light meal brought in for you” Then in imitation of a stern, matronly tone, she added
,.
” If you are not well enough to eat, then I will have to insist you return to your room.”

The day passed slowly as Sarah watched over Andrew, hoping for some indication that he would be all right. Anna came in and out of the room throughout the day and brought books and pictures that she thought Andrew would enjoy when he awakened.

The surgeon came again. He emphasized the need to keep Andrew quiet and make sure he did not thrash about in the bed lest he further damage the broken leg. After giving Sarah some suggestions for his care, he left her to continue her vigil in solitude.

Late that afternoon the
Darcys
arrived. Sarah slipped out of the room, allowing them some privacy with their son. She went upstairs to refresh herself and then knelt by her bed and prayed earnestly for the healing of her friend.

Soon, Edgar and Anna came to her door. “Mother asked us to see if you feel up to joining them for tea.” Anna said.

Puffing his chest out a bit, Edgar said, “I shall be glad to assist you if you are still a bit tired.”

Sarah smiled and took Edgar’s proffered arm. “What will you two be doing while we have tea?”

“Cook has promised to let me help make biscuits,” Anna said excitedly.

“I shall be their official taste tester,” Edgar added.

The children greeted Mr. and Mrs. Darcy before excusing themselves to the kitchen.

Sarah settled herself onto the couch beside Elizabeth. “I am so sorry Andrew is
injured.
. .  perhaps if I had not been there. . . .”

Elizabeth took her hand. “My dear, it is certainly not your fault that he was accosted.”

“Indeed not,” said Mr. Darcy as he stood and began to pace. “We shall have to do something about
these
highwaymen–it seems there is no safe place to travel anymore.” Taking his seat once again, he softened his voice, “Perhaps if you could tell us what
happened.
. . give us some clue as to the attackers identities.”

“I am afraid I cannot tell you
much.
. . it all happened so fast.” Sarah said; but, with gentle prompting, her novelist’s mind recalled more details than she thought possible.

“Do you think any of this will help you find those terrible men?” Sarah asked.

Mr. Darcy said with earnestness, “If this information does not allow us to catch them, I believe it will put us close enough on their heels that they will leave the area.”

“I hope so,” Sarah said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I would like to sit with Andrew again. Certainly one of us should be there when he wakes up.”

Mr. Darcy nodded his
approval.”We
are so pleased you are feeling better today and appreciate your keeping an eye on him. His mother and I will plan to share the
nightwatch
.”

Elizabeth smiled, “I hope you rest well tonight; I fear your nursing skills will be sorely needed for the next several weeks.”

“I am glad you will entrust his care to me.” Sarah replied. “Will you call me if he awakens?”

“Of course, my dear.”

The night passed quietly. The
Darcys
retreated to their home before dawn. Sarah was beginning to fear Andrew would never wake up; but, if he did, she wanted to be there to care for him. She took her meals at his bedside and sat working on her embroidery between meals; although, an observer might have found her paying much more attention to the sleeping Andrew than to her stitchery project.

Late that afternoon she heard the
Darcys
arriving again. Sarah cringed a bit as she heard Laura’s voice bubbling greetings–she acted like she had come to attend a ball, not to visit an invalid.
Mr.and
Mrs. Darcy talked quietly with Georgiana in the hallway. Laura bounced into the room. “Andrew, I have come to cheer
you.
. . .“ She stopped as she took in his bruised face. Her voice dropped to a fearful whisper, “Sarah, I had no idea he was so badly injured.”

“His face will heal,” Sarah replied with a sigh. “It is his broken leg and the blow to the back of his head that are of real concern.”

Laura turned toward the bed once again and noted the unusual bulging of the blanket from the huge splint which protected the broken leg. With tears in her eyes, she turned and hurried from the room, “Poor Andrew. He will probably never dance again.”

The next day Sarah was reading by Andrew’s bedside.
An uneasiness
stirred her and she placed the book in her lap and just sat watching her patient. His eyes began to blink and he moaned. Sarah rushed to his side and grasped his hand. “Oh, Andrew, please wake up.”

After several more blinks, Andrew’s eyes remain open. He looked up at Sarah and then slowly glanced around the room.

Sarah quickly gave him some sips of water from the bedside stand. With a slight smile he said, “I see I am a houseguest.”

Before she realized what she was doing, she bent over and gave him a brief hug.

“I shall visit more often if I can awaken to this kind of treatment,” he jested.

With cheeks ablaze, Sarah pulled herself away. Smiling, she said, “I am so glad you are awake that even your teasing will not bother me today. Is there anything I can get you?”

“Some more water, please.” Gratefully, he took several sips. Pointing to the bulging sheet, he said, “I take it my leg is broken?”

“Yes. I have some medication for the pain, if you’d like.”

“I think I’d rather visit with you for
awhile
before I take something that will likely make me sleepy again. I’ll let you know when I need the medicine.”

After helping him settle comfortably, Sarah instructed, “Now lay still. I need to tell Sir Thomas and Lady Staley that you are awake. They will want to send word to your parents at once.

“My awakening from a nap is not usually cause for such excitement. I take it I have been here for some hours?”

“Two days is more like it. We will talk more of it later,” she said as she rushed to spread the good news.

A messenger was immediately sent to Pemberley. Sir Thomas and Georgiana quickly came to Andrew’s room to see for themselves how he was faring. Anna and Edgar barely glimpsed Andrew, who winked at them, before Sarah shooed them all out of the room.

“I suspect his parents will be coming as soon as possible,” she said, “so we had better let Andrew rest for
awhile
.”

As Sarah left the room, to allow Mr. and Mrs. Darcy to visit with their son, Mr. Hand, the foreman, approached her in the hallway and asked, “Miss Sarah, may I be
so
bold as to ask a word with you?”

She smiled, “Of course you may, Mr. Hand. I was just going to take a turn around the garden. Perhaps you will escort me?”

“It will be my privilege, indeed, Miss Sarah,” he said as he offered his arm.

“It feels good to be outside on such a lovely day,” Sarah said as they stepped into the garden. Turning to her companion with an encouraging smile, she added, “But, I am sure you wanted to discuss something more important than the weather.”

“Yes, Miss. As steward of our Methodist class I have been asked to inquire if you might consider filling in for Grannie Williams while she is ill.”

“Perhaps I could. I have never met this Grannie Williams, though. What is it that she does for your group?”

“For many years she has been our class leader,” Mr. Hand answered somewhat hesitantly.

Sarah gasped and pulled them to a stop.
“Your class leader?
Surely this is not a job for a
woman.
. . and if it were, I am certainly not qualified!”

Mr. Hand smiled, “My dear wife said you would have such a reaction; but, she also said we could depend upon you to be fair. You do not need to give your answer now, just pray about it and, if it is convenient, visit with Grannie and ask her if you are qualified.”

“Surely there is someone else you could enlist.”

“We could think of no one we would rather have
teach
in Grannie’s place. It would, of course, just be until she is well enough to return.”

Sarah softened visibly, “Being a temporary leader would a different situation than a regular teacher,” she mused. “However, teaching men, and women much older than
myself
, seems out of the question.”

“Pardon me for saying so, Miss, but you have done a fine job teaching men and
women of all ages
how to read and write.”

“But, I have not the audacity to try and teach spiritual truths to those who certainly know far more than I.”

Mr. Hand smiled as they returned to the entrance of the house, “Just pray about it, Miss; and, if you would like to visit with Grannie Williams, I’ll be happy to see you safely there.”

“I will consider it,” Sarah promised. “Perhaps if I visit her I could discover someone else in the class who would make a good leader. . . You may schedule a visit when it is convenient; but, mind you, that does not mean I am obliged to be your class leader.”