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HE WAS BURNING WITH fever. A little more than a day later, Lizzy was terrified Darcy was going to succumb to the infection raging through him. She did her best to keep his brow bathed with cool water, and she continuously cleaned the wound. She tried to keep him fed and hydrated, but she feared he was losing the battle.
She sat beside him that evening, holding his hand when he thrashed on his leaves, and she curled her hands around his. “You have to be okay, Will. I do not want to do this without you. I do not think I can. Please, fight for me.” The idea of losing him was devastating, and Lizzy realized she had done the unthinkable. She’d fallen in love with a man who was rude, condescending, and considered himself better than her.
Yet, he could also be tender, gallant, and full of passion and concern. He was a dichotomy, and she couldn’t regret having experienced the pleasure of getting to know the Will he kept private. The idea of losing him now devastated her, and she bent forward to press a kiss to his forehead. “Open your eyes. Wake up, Will.”
He continued to thrash, so she kissed him again, her mouth gradually moving down, stopping first to kiss his nose, and then shyly touching his mouth. She’d never kissed a man before, and even in the current situation, when he was practically insensate, it still sent sparks through her. For a moment, she wanted to deepen the kiss, but it struck her as wrong to do so without him aware and consenting to being kissed.
She pulled away with a sigh and laid down beside him, knowing she could do no more for him besides offer the comfort of her presence. She couldn’t bring herself to contemplate how bleak her existence would become if Fitzwilliam died, leaving her marooned alone on this island.
***
HIS FEVER BROKE THE next morning, and he seemed far more alert than he had when she was so sure she would lose him. Lizzy remained at his side, still caring for him and refusing to leave him for more than a few minutes at a time. His appetite was still poor, but she was able to coax him to eat some of the orange fruit and a few bites of fish. His cheeks were still flushed, but she dared hope he was on the mend. “You are going to be fine, Will.”
He was still weak, but he said, “I had a strange dream. You were calling for me, begging for me to come to you. It helped me find my way.”
Her heart skipped a beat as she dared consider she had kept him from succumbing to the infection with her pleas the night before. “I did ask you to fight for me.” Tenderly, she ran her fingers through his hair. “I am pleased you listened to me at least once, Will.”
His lips twitched, though he clearly had no strength to make a stronger reaction. “Perhaps one day, you shall reciprocate and do such an amazing thing as listen to me as well, Lizzy.”
Impulsively, she bent forward and kissed his cheek, though they both froze at the contact. His gaze locked with hers, and she hesitated for a moment, tempted to press her mouth to his again. Instead, she blinked and forced herself to pull back. “Let us not expect miracles, Mr. Darcy,” she said before setting out. “I am going to try to catch more fish while you rest.”