“Yes.” Leath didn’t give a rat’s arse about Greengrass when his love lay so silently. The doctor seemed to know what he was doing, at least. He was gentle with Eleanor and his ministrations appeared confident and efficient.
“Drink up,” Hillbrook said.
Leath stared hard at Eleanor. “She’s been out so long. It can’t be right.”
As if she’d heard, Eleanor flinched and whimpered. To Leath, this moment when her eyes cracked open felt like watching his first sunrise.
“James?” she asked feebly.
“I’m here, darling.” He shoved his glass aside and crossed the room.
“James?” Her hand rose in a shaky attempt to find him. “Where are you? What happened?”
Ignoring the doctor’s frown, he laced his fingers through hers. “Greengrass shot you.”
“The swine.” This time when she looked, he knew that she saw him. “I hope… I hope you shot him back.”
The response was so like his darling that a choked laugh escaped. “I did indeed.”
“Good.” She closed her eyes. For a moment, he thought she’d drifted off again, but her hand tightened weakly around his.
“Don’t talk.”
She ignored his command. She definitely returned to life. “Did you hear me say I love you? I do, you know.”
The tightness in his throat made speaking difficult. “Yes, you told me before you took that damned stupid risk in attacking Greengrass.” A damned stupid risk that yet might finish her.
A faint smile hovered around Eleanor’s colorless lips. “I knew you’d beat him.”
His grip firmed, as he dared destiny to steal her away. “If you leave me, I’ll never forgive you.”
The smile strengthened. “Don’t be a dunderhead, James. I told you, you won’t lose me.”
The doctor’s face was austere. “I’m Dr. Manion, young lady, and I’m here to tell you that you’ve had a lucky escape. The bullet scraped your skull without any lasting damage that I can see. But head wounds can be unpredictable so I’m advising only cautious optimism.”
Leath stared speechless at the doctor. When he’d carried Eleanor inside, he’d been so sure that she wouldn’t make it.
“I’m not going to die, Doctor.”
Her certainty made Leath want to kiss her. “You’re damned right about that.”
“My lord, I really would proceed better if you all left me in peace,” Dr. Manion said sternly. “I’ll send for you if there’s any change.”
“James…” She drew a breath. Even this short exchange tested her strength. “James, please do as the doctor says.”
Hillbrook stood beside him. “Best to cooperate, old man. I’ve got the steadiest set of nerves in England and even I’d shiver in my shoes if you glared at me the way you’re glaring at Dr. Manion.”
Only with the greatest reluctance did Leath agree to go. He lifted Eleanor’s bloodstained hand to his lips for a kiss of heartfelt gratitude. “I’ll be right outside. I love you.”
She regarded him with such trust that his heart turned over in his chest. “That’s all I need to know.”
Her voice faded. Her eyelids drooped and the hand in his went limp.
“Doctor?” Leath turned to Manion in panic.
“She’s asleep.”
Sedgemoor ushered him away. Leath was in such a daze of anxiety and hope that he barely noticed. The last he saw of Eleanor as the door closed was her lying heartbreakingly quiet under the doctor’s ministrations.