Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

E liza felt herself drifting in and out of consciousness, caught between vague, fleeting dreams and the soft hum of a familiar voice nearby. That voice—deep, soothing, a comforting anchor in the darkness—wrapped around her like a warm blanket. The baritone voice, mixed with images of soup and tea, carried her back into a deeper sleep, away from the gnawing pain and exhaustion that plagued her like a distant storm.

When she finally blinked her eyes open, even the act of waking felt monumental, her limbs heavy with fatigue. The unfamiliar room swam before her, bathed in soft light, and for a moment, she couldn't place where she was. Where am I?

"Oh, Eliza, you're awake!" Emily's voice broke through the fog, and she stepped closer, her face bright with relief .

"Where am I?" Eliza croaked, her throat parched and her voice hoarse, as though she hadn't spoken in days.

Emily smiled warmly, pulling a chair closer to sit by the bed. "You're at the Blackwood Manor, of course. How are you feeling?"

Eliza frowned, her body aching, every muscle stiff and sore. "I'm … not exactly sure."

Emily nodded sympathetically, her brow creased with concern. "The doctor has checked on you every day."

"Every day?" Eliza echoed, her heart skipping a beat. How long had she been here?

"You've been asleep for nearly three full days," Emily said softly. "We've all been worried—Daniel most of all." A flicker of concern passed over Emily's face, her expression softening. "He hasn't left your side, Eliza. I finally convinced him to rest a few hours ago, but he's been here, watching over you, making sure your fever didn't rise too high."

A warmth blossomed in Eliza's chest, spreading through her like a quiet, glowing ember. He stayed with her? Her cheeks flushed, the thought of him by her side protecting her, filling her with a tender sense of gratitude. "That was … very kind of him," she whispered, her voice still weak.

Emily's eyes twinkled knowingly. "I'll ring for tea and broth, and I'll let him know you're awake. I'm sure he'll want to see you." She stood before Eliza could protest, leaving her swirling in a haze of thoughts .

The minutes felt like hours as Eliza tried to piece together the fragments of her memories. Then, the door opened, and Daniel appeared in the doorway, his tall frame silhouetted against the light. His face—marked with the familiar scar along his jaw—was a portrait of relief and worry. "Eliza," he breathed, stepping toward her as if the very act of seeing her awake lifted a weight from his soul. "You have no idea how relieved I am that you're awake."

The sound of her name, spoken so tenderly by him, sent a shiver down her spine. Did he realize he had used her Christian name aloud again? The thought lingered, but in the haze of her exhaustion, she pushed it aside.

"How are you feeling?" Daniel asked, pulling a chair close to her bedside. His voice was low, cautious, as though he were afraid that asking too much would break the fragile peace between them.

Eliza tried to sit up, though her head throbbed with each movement. "It's nice to be awake," she managed, her voice thin and strained. Her entire body ached, a reminder of how long she had been unconscious.

Daniel's brow furrowed, his gaze searching her face, as though trying to measure just how much pain she was in. "Do you remember what happened?" he asked softly.

She frowned, her memories slipping through her fingers like grains of sand. "I remember the storm ... and being so cold."

"You were more than cold," Daniel said, his voice gentle but thick with guilt. "We found you near the far entrance to the garden. You twisted your ankle. You told us you were trying to make your way back. I don't know how long you were out there."

As he spoke, the memories came rushing back in vivid detail—the rain, the biting wind, the despair that had driven her to leave the ball. The cold—the unrelenting, bone-deep cold. Her breath hitched in her throat. "Thank you for finding me, Captain," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Daniel's expression softened. His eyes, dark and intense, met hers, holding a quiet vulnerability. He hesitated before speaking, his voice tender. "I would be honored if you would call me Daniel," he said quietly. "I've been using your Christian name."

Her heart skipped, and for a moment, the world felt smaller, the space between them charged with unspoken feelings. "Very well, Daniel," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

For a heartbeat, they simply stared at each other, the air between them thick with things neither of them dared to say. Daniel reached for her hand, but before his fingers could close around hers, she pulled back instinctively, her heart pounding.

Concern flickered across his face. "Eliza, why were you out there?" His voice cracked slightly, as though he had been holding back the question for days. "I was so worried. Why did you leave?"

Her chest tightened, embarrassment mixing with regret. She felt so foolish, so utterly childish for fleeing the ball over something that seemed trivial now. She let out a breath, her eyes dropping to her lap. "It all feels silly now ... but I left because ... because you didn't want to dance with me."

His brow furrowed, his confusion palpable. "I didn't want to dance with you?" His eyes softened. "Eliza, that's not true. I wanted to dance with you—that's why I asked you."

Her voice trembled as she spoke, her fingers clutching the blanket. "But I know about the extra lessons, remember? You didn't want to dance with me."

"No," Daniel said, his tone firm yet laced with regret. "I didn't want to be clumsy and make a fool of myself in front of you. I practiced so I wouldn't step on your toes. The last thing I wanted was to step on your toes again." He paused, his gaze softening. "I wanted to dance with you, Eliza. That's why I went along with the idea of the ball."

Her heart clenched, warmth spreading through her chest at his words. He wanted to dance with her. "Truly?" A tingling sensation filled her.

He reached for her hand again, and this time, she allowed him to take her hand. "Why do you think I went along with this crazy idea Emily had to even throw a ball? The ball, the lessons, all of it—It was because I wanted to dance with you."

"All just to dance with me? "

"Yes, Eliza."

Eliza's chest swelled with a mix of relief and regret. If only I had known ... "I wish I'd realized," she said softly, her cheeks warming as her gaze fell to the blankets. "It would have saved us both a lot of heartache."

Daniel reached for her hand again, this time holding it gently between his. His touch was warm, steady, grounding. "When you're feeling better," he murmured, his voice low and intimate, "I should very much like to dance with you."

A soft smile touched her lips, and she nodded, her heart full. "I would like that, Daniel. Very much."

"Then it's settled."

A heat that had nothing to do with her fever poked at her cheeks. "Thank you for rescuing me, Daniel."

His eyes held pain and sadness. "I'm so glad we found you. I should have blamed myself if something worse had happened."

She gave him a small smile. "I do not see how you could be held responsible for my choice to venture out in the weather."

"Still," he said softly. "I do feel responsible."

The quiet moment between them lingered, but was soon interrupted by the creak of the door as the doctor entered. Daniel reluctantly stood, his hand lingering on hers for a moment longer, before stepping aside.

"I shall be right outside if you need anything," he said softly, his eyes locking with hers one last time before he left the room.

The doctor smiled at Daniel. "I won't be long."

"You are healing well, but you should continue to rest. Do not do anything too strenuous." A few moments later, after the doctor checked her and asked her a bunch of questions, he opened the door.

Daniel and Emily came back in and soon there was a tray of food brought in. Eliza only felt like a few bites, before she started yawning after every bite.

"It looks as if you should get some rest," Emily said.

Eliza nodded. "I am quite tired."

"Ring the bell pull if you need anything," Daniel said.

"I will." Her eyes connected with Daniel's. "Thank you so much. For everything."

He smiled and left the room, with Emily trailing behind him. The way Daniel had held her hand left her feeling warm and happy.

Eliza awoke from her nap, feeling a bit more refreshed but still disoriented. The afternoon light was fading outside, casting the room in soft shadows. Her limbs were still heavy with exhaustion, though the pain in her ankle had dulled to a manageable throb. She shifted slightly in bed, and as she moved, she noticed the door opening quietly.

A maid entered, carrying a tray laden with food and tea. She placed it on the small table by Eliza's bedside. "Miss Montrose, I've brought you a little something to eat. Cook has prepared a light meal for you."

Eliza smiled gratefully, though as her stomach rumbled in response, she couldn't deny the tug of disappointment. She should be well enough to join them at dinner by now. She hated being confined to bed, especially when she could hear faint voices and the sounds of life bustling downstairs.

"Thank you," Eliza said, glancing at the tray. A simple broth, a few slices of bread, and tea. She sighed inwardly. As comforting as it looked, what she really wanted was to be downstairs, to feel like herself again.

The maid smiled sympathetically. "Would you like some help to sit up, miss?"

Eliza shook her head, sitting up slowly on her own, but her thoughts drifted to the idea of joining the others. Surely, she was not so weak that she cannot sit at the table?

The maid hovered by the bed, waiting to serve the food, but Eliza stopped her with a quiet request. "Actually … I think I should like to come down for dinner."

The maid's eyes widened slightly. "Miss Montrose, the doctor did say you should rest. "

"I've rested for days," Eliza replied softly but with a quiet determination. "I won't stay long, but I feel much better now."

The maid hesitated, clearly torn between obeying the doctor's orders and Eliza's request. "Shall I fetch someone to assist you, miss?"

"Yes, please," Eliza said. "If you could help me get dressed as well, I would be very grateful."

The maid nodded quickly, moving to help Eliza into a simple gown that would allow her comfort without too much fuss. Eliza felt the familiar fabric drape around her shoulders, the small buttons fastening snugly. As the maid tied the ribbons at the back, Eliza's heart lifted a little.

Once dressed, Eliza waited, assuming that a servant would come to assist her down the stairs. But instead, when the door creaked open again, it wasn't the maid who entered.

It was Daniel.

Eliza's breath caught at the sight of him, his presence filling the room as if the very air had changed with his arrival. He stood in the doorway, his eyes soft but determined. "I heard you were planning to join us for dinner," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Her cheeks flushed slightly. "Yes, I thought I could manage ... with some assistance, of course."

Daniel stepped forward, his gaze unwavering as he approached her. "I'm afraid the doctor would have my head if I allowed you to walk on that ankle. So, I will carry you down."

Her eyes widened at his words, and before she could protest, he was already gently reaching for her. "I assure you, I can walk—"

"Eliza," he interrupted softly, his voice warm but firm. "Please let me carry you. I won't have you hurt yourself further."

There was something about the way he said her name, the tenderness in his tone that made her heart flutter. Without another word, she nodded, feeling her pulse quicken as he bent down to scoop her effortlessly into his arms.

As he lifted her, she became acutely aware of how close they were, the heat of his body seeping through the fabric of her gown. Her hands instinctively rested on his chest, and she could feel the steady, strong beat of his heart beneath her palms.

"You don't have to do this," she whispered, her voice catching slightly as she looked up at him. His face was just inches from hers, and the intensity of his gaze made her feel light-headed.

"I want to," he replied quietly, his eyes holding hers. "You've spent enough time cooped up in that bed."

She didn't argue further, allowing herself to rest in his arms as he carried her out of the room and down the hallway. The motion of his steps was smooth and gentle, and for a moment, she allowed herself to enjoy the closeness, the feeling of being cared for in a way that made her heart ache.

As they reached the top of the stairs, Eliza couldn't help but smile to herself. "I think this might be a bit of a scandal," she teased softly, trying to lighten the sudden rush of emotions that surged within her.

Daniel glanced down at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Let them talk," he said, his voice low. "You're the only one I'm concerned about."

Her heart skipped at the quiet intensity of his words, but before she could respond, they reached the bottom of the stairs, and he gently set her down on a cushioned chair near the entrance to the dining room.

"There we are," he said, his voice a little breathless, but his eyes warm as he gazed down at her. "Comfortable?"

Eliza smiled up at him, her heart swelling with gratitude and something more. "Thank you, Daniel. For everything."

His hand lingered on her arm for just a moment longer than necessary, his eyes soft. "It's my pleasure, Eliza."

With that, he gently helped her into the dining room, where Emily and Adam were already waiting. The table was set beautifully for dinner. But as Eliza took her seat, she couldn't stop the fluttering in her chest, the warmth that lingered from Daniel's touch .

She wasn't sure if it was the fire crackling in the hearth or the way his hand had felt as it rested against hers, but for the first time in days, she felt truly awake, her heart beating with a sense of anticipation that had nothing to do with the meal before her.