Caught in the Storm of a Duke's - Abby Ayles Page 0,13
Amy had been right by her side only a moment ago.
Finally, her eyes landed on a familiar figure, standing by a tree, frozen in place.
“Amy?” she called out again but got no response.
She covered the distance between them hurriedly. When she reached Amy’s side, she found her maid sobbing, eyes wide with horror.
Judith took her shoulders into her hands and shook her lightly.
“Amy, what is the matter?”
Amy wouldn’t speak; she couldn’t. Instead, she stared at her feet, causing Judith to look down.
That was when Judith saw it—the thing that had caused Amy to scream.
She covered her mouth as a gasp broke free, stopping the scream that might have followed in its tracks.
At Amy’s feet was Mr. Giraud. He looked badly injured. His wet clothes were covered in blood. His leg was visibly broken, and his eyes were shut tight.
“Dear Lord!” she exclaimed as she recovered from the initial shock. She knelt, pulling Mr. Giraud into her arms.
Amy joined her. “I stumbled upon him,” she explained. “I didn’t know he was here. I didn’t think we would find him in such a condition. Heavens … what do you think might have happened to him?”
Judith looked up at the tree beside them, then down at Mr. Giraud. His head was badly bruised, too. He seemed to be bleeding everywhere.
Although he was still breathing, she feared he would not survive.
“I think he was thrown off the carriage and landed against the tree. Look at its bark … it has blood on it. Mr. Giraud’s blood.”
Amy began to weep uncontrollably, shaking Mr. Giraud as she did.
“Come back, Mr. Giraud. Come back to us. Oh, heavens! This is terrible. Please, Lord … help him. Save him.”
Judith said nothing as she watched Amy cry and pray.
Mr. Giraud wasn’t entirely gone yet. She could hear his labored breathing, but he wouldn’t open his eyes.
All she could think of was that she had caused this. The storm was not responsible—only herself. It was her stubbornness, pride, and foolishness that had left Mr. Giraud now barely grasping on to life.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, so hot they burned into her skin, before turning cold with the rain.
She shut her eyes tight and sent a desperate plea up above. She had no inkling of how to care for the injured man, to nurse him back to life. They could not carry him, hoping to find help.
They were lost. Tired. Hungry. Cold. They were completely helpless, and it would be Mr. Giraud who was now paying the price for her own sins.
Her mother was wrong. Her heart wasn’t special: A special heart wouldn’t commit such a grave, selfish deed.
“Mr. Giraud, Mr. Giraud!” she cried desperately.
She continued to tap his face softly, hoping he would wake up.
“Mr. Giraud! Please, stay with us!”
His eyes fluttered open then. She could see he was in great pain. When he spoke, his voice was a broken whisper.
“La … dy Jud … ith, you … are … safe.”
“Yes, Mr. Giraud. I am here. I am so sorry. This is all my fault. I am so sorry. Please, forgive me. Don’t go. Stay with us until the rain passes, and we will get you to safety.’
Mr. Giraud tried to smile at her but ended up grimacing in pain.
“No, m-m-m … m-my … lady. You … you are young and know n-n-n … no better. You did n-not force my hand. M-my greed got the best of me. P-please do not blame yourself.”
Judith’s soul was pained to see him so broken. He was a far cry from the strong man she had squabbled with that morning over breakfast.
“Please, Mr. Giraud, don’t … don’t speak again. You must keep your strength.”
He tried to smile again, succeeding this time, though it was a very sad smile.
“I can … I cannot make it. I will not...”
“Don’t say such things! Yes, you will!”
He shook his head, still smiling. “Promise me … one thing, get my body to my fam … family. Tell my Marie that I l-love her. And the girls … tell them I will always love them. Tell them to forgive me.”
He stopped to heave a gurgling breath.
“And you … my lady … must get to safety. Head east. Keep heading east. You’ll find a v-village. There you can stay and send ... for your family.”
“We shall go together, Mr. Giraud. Stay with us, please.”
His eyes began to flutter closed, and Judith grew even more desperate, shaking him harder, as her tears fell uncontrollably.