Page 11 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

When Bennet woke again, he recognized the ceiling and drapes. He could hear Franny weeping in another room.

“Papa, can you drink a little water?” Elizabeth held a glass to his lips.

“Send an express, Lizzy, to Gardiner. He will know what to do.”

“Yes, Papa. We sent one as soon as you returned home. I expect our uncle will arrive tonight.”

“Tell Phillips to wait… as long as he can before he notifies my heir of my demise.”

“Papa, do not speak so. You will not die.”

“Listen to me. I am dying. Ask Phillips to delay.”

Elizabeth wept in silence, her head bent low to catch his whisper.

“Yes, sir. I shall ask Uncle Phillips to wait as long as he can before he notifies Mr. Collins.”

“Lizzy, Lydia is lost. That man plans to sell her to a madame… a brothel. In London.”

He fell silent. He struggled with each breath. After several moments, he spoke again.

“I shot him, tried to stop him, but the wound was not fatal.”

His eyes closed.

“Papa, do you want more water?”

He made no answer.

Elizabeth rose and paced the room. “What can be keeping Doctor Edgerton?”

Mary kept the pad of rags pressed against the wound to stem the bleeding.

After what seemed hours, the doctor entered the house. Hill brought him upstairs, and Jane left her mother's side and entered the bedchamber behind him.

Doctor Edgerton removed the pad, then unbuttoned the jacket and shirt.

He examined the wound carefully.

“Can we give him something for the pain?”

“Yes. I shall give him laudanum.”

Elizabeth watched as the physician prepared the medicine.

“Can you remove the ball?”

“No. It is lodged too deeply. Attempting to remove it would kill him.”

Jane began to weep.

“How long does he have?”

“A few hours, perhaps.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes.

Doctor Edgerton administered the laudanum.