Chapter25
During the next few hours,Kathryn continued to run the cool cloth over Peter’s face. “Vicar, you must fight. We all need you. Remember, you promised to wed Mr. Clifford and me. How can we marry without you?”
Peter’s eyes fluttered open. “Grace?”
“It’s Kathryn. Oh, Peter, I’m so pleased to see you awake,” she said.
“What happened?” he asked, his voice raspy.
She explained to him what had happened and how Grace had kept a vigil at his bedside for the past two days.
“Where is she now?”
“Sleeping, I hope, but I’ll go wake her. She’ll want to know your fever has broken.”
“No, don’t wake her. Let her sleep.”
“Peter, I must wake her. I promised to do so if anything changed. I cannot break my promise.”
“Of course.”
Kathryn flew out of the room and down the hallway to the spare bedchamber. Grace was asleep, and she went to her, putting her hand on her shoulder to gently shake her. “Grace, wake up, dear.”
Grace’s eyes flew open, and she jumped out of bed. “Oh!” she gasped. “Is he worse?
“Not at all. Peter is awake. The fever’s broken.”
Grace stood still for a moment while the information sank in before she raced out of the room to be by her husband’s side. Peter’s eyes were closed. “Peter, my darling, can you hear me?”
He opened his eyes and gave her a weak smile. “I’m here, love, but I’m so very tired.”
She tenderly kissed his forehead “Sleep now, my darling. I’ll be here when you awaken.”
He closed his eyes, and a great sigh of relief escaped Grace’s lips. She said a silent prayer of thanks to God that Peter had been spared.
Kathryn stood beside her. “Let him sleep now. Come, you must eat.”
Grace nodded and followed her friend to the kitchen. The basket of food Mrs. Greenleaf had sent over earlier was sitting on the table.
“Let’s see what Cook has made for us this time,” Kathryn said, taking the various dishes out of the basket. After spreading everything on the table, she put on the water for tea.
Grace sat at the table with tears streaming down her face. “Thank the Lord Peter’s fever has broken,” she said in between sobs as the strain and fear of the last few days poured out of her.
Kathryn went to her and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “Yes, it’s truly a blessing. You’ve been so brave.”
“I didn’t feel very brave. I was so scared I would lose him. When I overheard Lord Berkeley telling the doctor that his father had died of a similar fever, I feared for his life.”
“I cannot imagine how awful that must have been for you. We all love Peter and were praying for his recovery.”
“Thank you for being here, Kathryn. Your presence gives me much comfort.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
A steady stream of visitors—Jacob, Audrey, Mia, and Easton—came to see Peter over the next two days. They stayedonly moments—long enough to see that the vicar was indeed recovering.
Dr. Thicke came to examine Peter the next day. As he lay his head on his chest, he said, “Yes, good. This sounds much better.”
Grace smiled. “Thank you, Dr. Thicke. I do believe your tonic helped a great deal.”