“I should hope so.” I couldn’t stop replying with sarcasm. Perhaps my brain had been affected by the fever.
She scoffed. “Yer just fine now, aren’t ye?”
I smiled, then felt how dry my lips were. And my mouth. “Water,” I whispered.
A cup touched my lips and I drank slowly. Once I’d had enough, I leaned back. “Thank you,” I said.
“I’ll get Mr. Ashby.”
Patrice returned, but merely smiled at me as she led Mr. Ashby to the room, then left. He came in, his face bright. He didn’t seem rested,just like Patrice. They should have slept, for goodness’ sake. I would have said so, but it would not have shown much gratitude. And I was grateful for their care. I squeezed his hand when he took it.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better.” I took a deep breath. “And you?”
“If you are better, so am I.” Despite the wound, butterflies danced in my stomach. But they didn’t hurt at all. In fact, it seemed like they were healing me instead.
I grinned. “You should be a poet.”
His head tilted. “That didn’t even remotely rhyme.”
“Poems don’t need to rhyme. They just have to convey something meaningful…” I pressed my lips together, realizing what I’d said.
He showed a wisp of a smile. “I’m glad you’re recovering. We were all so worried—Mr. Ward said you might not make it through.” His eyes glistened and he looked down. “I don’t know what I would do if I lost you.”
My heart hammered in my chest. I wanted to reassure him, tell him that he would never lose me. But someday, we would be separated. Once I married Graham. After everything, I could not forget my goal. Even if the man before me held a piece of me I wasn’t sure I’d ever get back. When he looked at me, I wondered if his thoughts were similar.
I sent him a reassuring smile. It took him a moment to mirror it, but he did.
“Tell me everything that has happened while I’ve been asleep.” If it had been almost a week, so much must have occurred it would probably take hours to review it.
“I don’t want to tire you.”
“I need to know everything.” I furrowed my brows, wondering if he’d forgotten who he was talking to.
He nodded. “Of course you do.”
That was more like it. “First, how is Graham?”
An expression I couldn’t catch passed over his features, but it faded as soon as it came. “He sustained minimal injuries. He has been tirelessly helping rebuild and take care of everything. It is exhausting watching him.”
“Typical. But I’m glad he’s keeping busy.” I waved a hand, indicating I’d like to hear more.
He shifted in his seat and continued. “Graham and Eliza were the ones who stopped the pirates. They carried Captain Cosaire around the estate, shouting that they had killed their captain. The pirates turned tail and ran back to their ship. After that, all the fires were put out. The damage is…substantial. Three sugarcane fields were destroyed, but that doesn’t signify, because the sugar mill itself is beyond repair.”
“What about the mission?”
“Everyone is safe. Mr. Weiss was injured, but he’s recovering now in his own bed. The children were unharmed. Mrs. Bowers is fine, and those brutes were taken into custody by the Royal Navy.”
“The navy? How—and when—did they get here?”
“We don’t know the whole story, but Whisper said the navy captain was staying with a planter in Cayon, who heard of the Assembly meeting without him. The navy captain apparently took a stand with the owner and arrested the men. They will stand trial for their crimes. Attacking a mission is beyond unconscionable. They will be punished.”
“I’m so glad things worked out well for the mission. What about theMaelstrom? Is it…gone?”
Mr. Ashby nodded. “I’m afraid so. Eliza doesn’t seem to be taking it well. From what Graham told me, she has always felt that theMaelstromwas her home. Imagine your home being ransacked and burnedby pirates. He said it is taking all of the crew to keep her from seeking revenge. Mrs. Bowers has been called in to speak with her several times as well.”
“Poor Eliza.”
