Champagne and Candlelight

It took some doing, but Jarrod was finally convinced to go lie down and get some rest, with assurances that someone would get him immediately if there was any change to Amber’s condition. Victoria offered to stay and sat beside Amber, using a cool cloth to bathe her brow. Amber had a slight fever, nothing more than was expected, but Victoria felt the need to do something to ease her niece and daughter-in-law’s suffering. Amber shifted and moaned, her eyes slowly blinking open.

“Jarrod?” she whispered hoarsely.

“He’s resting, dear,” Victoria assured her. “Do you need me to get him for you?”

The shake of Amber’s head was almost imperceptible. “No,” she managed, “just thirsty.”

Victoria poured a glass of water and held Amber’s head to help her drink. She noticed the look of pain on the young woman’s face as she rested her head back on the pillow. “If you’re in pain, I have some laudanum here that might help.”

“Please.”

Victoria gave Amber a spoonful of the sticky syrup and another drink of water to wash away the taste. It was then Amber’s eyes focused enough to let her see who was tending her. Victoria didn’t miss the look of surprise and patted Amber’s hand affectionately. “We’ll talk later, Amber, when you’re better. But just let me say I’m sorry for any grief I’ve caused you.”

“Why…change your mind?” Amber asked, trying to hold off the sleep the medicine brought.

“Like I said, we’ll talk later,” Victoria assured her. “Now just rest and get better so you can love my son the way he deserves.”

“So sorry for hurting…” Amber drifted off to sleep, unable to fight it any more.

Victoria smoothed back the blonde hair. “You didn’t hurt anyone, Amber. I did that all by myself.”
She kept her vigil by Amber’s bedside until Jarrod came in an hour later.

“How is she?”

Victoria stood and motioned Jarrod to sit in the chair she just vacated. He looked haggard and worn and Victoria doubted he had any rest at all. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I think she’ll be fine, Jarrod,” she assured her son. “Her temperature hasn’t risen and she woke briefly and took some water and laudanum.” Victoria looked at him critically. “How about you? How are your hands feeling?”

Jarrod held them up. “Audra just cornered me and washed them out and rebandaged them. They’re a little sore, but I’ll be fine.” He lay a bandaged hand on Amber’s cheek. “I came so close to losing her.”

“But you didn’t, Jarrod,” Victoria reminded him. “She’s still here and I think she’ll be very happy to see you beside her when she wakes. Now let me fix you something to eat.”

“I’m not hungry,” Jarrod replied, not taking his eyes off his sleeping wife.

Victoria shook her head at the Barkley stubbornness. “I’ll have Silas bring you up something,” she said firmly.

When she returned a while later, Victoria found the remains of Jarrod’s half-eaten meal on the bedside table and smiled at the sight of her son fast asleep, stretched out on the bed beside his beloved Amber, her hand still gently cradled in his. She quietly pulled a quilt to cover him and left again, truly happy for the first time in weeks.

*

Amber drifted in and out of sleep for the next few days, waking when she got too thirsty or the pain became unbearable. She sensed Jarrod’s loving presence at her bedside, occasionally replaced by one of the other family members. The time she was awake grew longer and longer every day and her strength began to return, albeit slowly. Grateful for the care she was receiving at the hands of her and Jarrod’s family, Amber was especially thankful for Victoria’s change of heart. She knew how much his mother’s rejection hurt Jarrod and how much this reconciliation meant to him. Finally, maybe everything was worked out and the family could be happy together again.

Dr. Merar was pleased with the way Amber’s wounds were healing and removed the stitches from all but the large gash on her abdomen and one on her left thigh.

“If you feel up to it,” the doctor told her, “you can get out of bed and go sit in the library or the parlour for a change of scenery. But only if someone accompanies you. The last thing you need is to get dizzy and fall down the stairs.”

“I’ll make sure she’s careful,” promised Jarrod, looking sternly at his wife.

Dr. Merar smiled as he packed his bag. “I think you’re healed enough to have a real bath as well, again, as long as you have help getting in and out of the tub. I’ll be back to check on you in a couple days and by then I think I’ll be able to let you go home.”

Jarrod rose and escorted the doctor to the door. “I’ll walk you down,” he offered, but Dr. Merar waved him away.

“I think I know my way around here well enough to see myself out,” he assured Jarrod.

Jarrod closed the door behind him and turned back to Amber. “So would you like some help with that bath?” he asked, a devilish grin on his face.

In spite of still being sore, Amber felt a welcome tingle start between her legs, but knew she wasn’t ready for anything too amorous quite yet. “As much as I’d love that, Jarrod, I don’t think I’m really up for your kind of help,” she replied with a knowing smile.

Chuckling, Jarrod leaned over and kissed her warmly on the lips. “Well, why don’t I get the water started and see if Mother or Audra are around to give you a hand?” he suggested instead. Amber wrapped her arms around him and pulled him down next to her and Jarrod drew her close, careful not to cause any pain.

“That sounds fine, Jarrod,” she breathed in between kisses, “and I’m sure I’ll be ready for you to help me very soon.”

Jarrod just continued to caress her, kissing her face and neck, enjoying the feel of her in his arms and the tightness building in his groin, even though he knew she wasn’t able to give him any release. But Amber had other ideas and Jarrod inhaled sharply when Amber’s hand started undoing the buttons of his pants.

“Just because I don’t feel up to it,” she whispered, “doesn’t mean you have to suffer.” Amber’s hand reached into his pants and grabbed his stiffened member, enjoying the silky hardness beneath her fingers. She rubbed her thumb over the glistening tip and used the fluid already gathered there to aid her movements.

With the last few days so full of tension and worry, Jarrod’s need for relief was overwhelming and it only took a few hard strokes for his shaft to swell and his seed to explode into her hand.

“Oh, God, Amber,” he moaned, resting his head on her shoulder as she wiped her hand on the sheets and refastened his pants. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she replied, “now how about that bath?”

Jarrod returned in a few minutes. “Mother will be right up,” he informed Amber as he helped her out of bed. “I’ll give you a hand to the bathroom.” Holding her securely around the waist, Jarrod supported Amber on what seemed to her like an endless trek down the hallway that left her shaky and breathless. Jarrod sat her down and checked the water as his mother came in.

“I’ll take it from here, Jarrod,” Victoria informed him.

“Why don’t you go read the paper and relax?” Amber suggested. “Take a little break from worrying about me. We’ll be fine.”

Jarrod gave her a kiss on the cheek. “All right, sweetheart. Behave yourself.”

Victoria helped Amber off with her nightgown and removed the few bandages that still remained before steadying her niece as she lowered herself down into the tub. Amber breathed a sigh as the warm water engulfed her.

Victoria smiled. “Why don’t you just relax while I get some towels, and I’ll come back and help you wash your hair?”

“Mmm,” Amber assented as she leaned back and closed her eyes. She lay there for a few minutes, enjoying the feeling of the water on her skin, then flinched when she shifted and some of the remaining stitches pulled.

Amber looked down and her eyes widened in dismay at the angry red marks criss-crossing her torso and legs. This was the first time she was able to truly appreciate the damage the wire had done and she gulped at the size of the largest gashes, particularly the one that started under her right breast and made a jagged line almost to her left hip. Amber bit back tears of remorse at the ugliness that would likely mar her body forever. She was very glad Victoria was helping her with the bath; she didn’t think she could handle the look of revulsion that was sure to be on Jarrod’s face when he looked at her.
Amber regained some of her composure by the time Victoria returned to help her wash her hair. She supported Amber as she gingerly stepped out of the tub and Amber was relieved when her aunt replaced the bandages and helped her into a fresh nightgown, covering up her damaged body.

“Would you like to go back to your room or head downstairs?” Victoria asked. “Nick and Heath are out, but Jarrod took your advice and is relaxing in the parlour and Audra’s doing some needlepoint. I’m sure they’d be happy for you to join them.”

Amber was getting a bit tired of lying in bed. “Downstairs, as long as you don’t think anyone will mind me being in my nightclothes,” she answered with a smile.

Victoria took her arm and helped Amber negotiate her way to the top of the stairs. Jarrod caught sight of them and put down his paper to come help.

“Are you sure you feel up to this?” he asked as he took Victoria’s place.

Amber leaned into him, knowing Jarrod would never let her fall. “If I don’t, I’m sure there’s some big, strong man around here who’ll offer to carry me,” she teased as they made their slow way down the stairs.

“Ever at your service, lovely lady,” Jarrod replied gallantly as he helped her sit on the sofa. He sat beside her and arranged himself so he was behind her and she was leaning against his chest. He opened the paper in front of them, holding it so Amber was encircled by his arms and able to read as well.
Their arrangement looked so natural that Victoria and Audra didn’t feel a bit of awkwardness at Jarrod and Amber’s unashamed display of affection, they just shared a smile, the couple’s obvious contentment infecting them as well.

It wasn’t long before Amber fell asleep and Jarrod carefully folded the paper and set it aside, trying not to wake the sleeping woman in his arms. He looked up and saw Victoria and Audra watching him and a sheepish smile came over his face.

“I guess we’re just used to being in our own place,” he said by way of apology for the close position.

“We don’t mind, do we, Mother?” Audra said with a laugh. “After all, she is your wife, Jarrod.”

Victoria smiled and gave him a kiss on the forehead. “Of course you’re allowed to put your arms around your wife in our house, dear,” she told him, glad she had made her peace with their relationship so she could observe firsthand how happy Amber made her son. “But don’t you think Amber would be more comfortable sleeping upstairs?”

Jarrod gazed down at his beloved. “Well, as long as you don’t mind, I’d rather not disturb her. Dr. Merar might have given his permission for her to be up, but I still think rest is the best thing for her right now.”

“I agree.” Victoria turned to Audra. “Why don’t we go see if Silas needs any help with dinner? And Jarrod, if Amber’s not feeling up to joining us in the dining room, you can certainly take a tray up to keep her company if you wish.”

Jarrod smiled his gratitude and adjusted Amber slightly so she was more comfortably settled in his arms. Amber slept, contentedly nestled against Jarrod’s chest until she was rudely awakened.

“Mother! Audra! Oh, hey, Jarrod! Amber, you’re out of bed! Doc’s given you the all clear?”

Jarrod just sighed and rolled his eyes, sending up a quick prayer to save him from overenthusiastic brothers. “Could you keep it to a low roar, Nick, if you don’t mind?”

Nick ignored him and strode over to kiss his cousin on the cheek. “Glad to see you’re feeling better, Amber. Joining us for dinner tonight?”

Amber considered for a moment, then nodded. “I think so. It’ll be nice to have a meal at a real table and feel like a human being again.” She winced as she tried to stand and Nick supported her elbow while Jarrod grabbed her around the waist.

“Dr. Merar said take it easy, remember?” Jarrod chided. “Let’s get you upstairs and I’ll help you get ready.” His blue eyes twinkled as he said, “Maybe Mother has a dress she can lend you.”

Amber returned his gaze with a playful one of her own, thinking of the blue dress she wore the first night she was there, but quickly looked away when she remembered what she now looked like. The last thing she wanted right now was for Jarrod to see her unclothed. “If you could ask her,” Amber replied as they slowly made their way up the stairs, “but you don’t need to stay, Jarrod. I’ll be able to manage.”

Jarrod started to protest, but the look in Amber’s eyes stopped him. He was a bit puzzled, but then, knowing full well the intensely physical relationship they shared, realized it was probably for the best if he didn’t help his wife undress. He wasn’t sure if he could keep his hands to himself and if Amber didn’t feel ready for that yet, it was prudent to just stay clear of the temptation.

Jarrod and Nick guided her to the chair in her room and carefully sat her down. Kissing her cheek, Jarrod said. “I’ll let Mother know you want to join us downstairs for dinner.”

Amber silently watched the two men leave the room then let go of the tears she’d been struggling to hold back. Loving Jarrod was one of the most incredible experiences of her life, but how could that go on once he saw the hideous marks that now covered her forever?