touch your brow."
"Don't fuss over me, Grace. I'm fine." She was totally unaffected by
his gruff manner. "Where have I heard that before? " "Heard what? "
"You kept telling me you were fine all through the night, but you
weren't fine, of course. Now lean forward.
" There was a thread of iron in her command, and Daniel ended up
obeying just to placate her. "You're a stubborn woman, " he
muttered.
She put the back of her hand against his forehead and frowned. "I just
can't tell, " she admitted. "If you have a fever, it isn't much. You
mustn't eat or drink anything yet, or you'll get sick again. You're
very fortunate." He leaned back against the cushions and crossed his
arms over his chest. "How's that? " "You have a mild case of
influenza. It could have been much worse.
Jessica was throwing up, off and on, for three days. I thought she was
going to die."
"I wanted to die last night, " he admitted. "By the way, thanks for
.
.
. you know."
"You're welcome." Curious, he asked, "Why did you change your
clothes?
Did I get them all wrinkled? I must have, " he added before she could
answer him. "Seems like a waste, though. No one's going to see you
but me."
"It was necessary."
"Why? " She let out a little sigh. "You threw up all over me."
"Ah, Grace, I'm sorry." She laughed. "Daniel, you didn't do it on
purpose."
"Did the porter help you . . . " He didn't finish the question because
she was shaking her head.
"I didn't let the porter come inside the compartment because you made
me promise not to let anyone in, remember? " "No, " he admitted. "I
don't remember. If he didn't come in, who cleaned up the floor? " "I
did." He looked miserable, and she was suddenly sorry she'd told him
the truth. "Why don't we talk about something else? " "Like what? "
"The weather, " she suggested.
"You're joking."
"It was all I could think of on the spur of the moment. Would you mind
if I opened the window and let some fresh air inside? " He got up and
opened the window for her. The breeze felt soothing against his
skin.
He sat down again and looked at her. "Do you want something to drink
or eat? " "Would you be able to stomach it if I ate in front of you?
" "Maybe you should wait a little while." Grace hadn't eaten anything
since yesterday morning, and even though she was starving, she nodded
her agreement. "I'll be happy to wait."
"Do you want a glass of water? I do."
"You're not going to have it, " she said in that commanding voice he