She fell asleep with an attractive flush highlighting her features.
From that day on Alexis was permitted a few visitors each afternoon, and to insure that she received enough rest Sally gave her laudanum. Alexis took the drug but complained bitterly until it had its desired effect.
It was not until Alexis had been improving steadily for six days that Cloud enjoyed his first restful sleep. During the night he turned on his side, dreamily thinking his room had never been so warm or his bed so comfortable. He was asleep again before he could question the difference. When he woke to discover Alexis curled in his arms he was unhappy that she had left her room. Then she turned in his embrace and he wanted only to kiss the parted lips she presented.
“You shouldn’t be here with me,” he said gently. “Why did you leave your bed?”
“Do you really want me to answer that?”
Cloud sighed. “No, I guess not. It was all I could do to keep from joining you.”
“You should have. I’m much better.”
“You won’t be if Sally finds you here.”
“Oh, she’s pampering me too much. Don’t let her give me any more of that drug. I’ve missed so much already.”
“She pampers you because she cares and she’ll be here any minute looking for you. And it’s just as likely she’ll have my head as yours.”
She traced his mouth with her finger. “I couldn’t bear that. Help me back to my own room.”
Cloud washed and dressed quickly then carefully gathered Alexis into his arms and carried her down the hallway to her bed. “Let me look at your wound. If you opened it because you got out of bed then I won’t stop Sally from drugging you.” She consented wearily and he lifted her shift to remove the bandages. “No harm done,” he said after inspecting the livid gash. “She’ll be able to remove the stitches in a few days. You’re going to have to be more careful, Alex. You were very, very ill, and you can’t pretend you weren’t.”
“Promise you’ll stay here tonight.”
“I won’t promise, and if you don’t obey Sally I won’t even sleep in this house.”
“All right. You win. Do you suppose Sally will allow me to have a bath?”
“No, she won’t. She’ll give you a sponge bath later.”
“Please ask her to come here, Cloud. I can’t stand another day of being fawned over.”
“Most people enjoy it,” he said as he left the room, ducking to precisely the right moment to avoid the feather missile she threw at his head. In a few minutes he was back with Sally only a step behind him.
“If this is about getting out of bed you can think again, Alexis Quinton,” Sally said sternly as she smoothed her patient’s sheets.
“I will never understand how someone with such a round chin can be so stubbornly set in her ways.”
Sally looked at Alexis askance. “On this island stubborn and Alex Danty are synonymous.”
Cloud laughed and Alexis sighed to keep her mouth from curling at the corners. “When will I be able to take out my ship, Sally?”
“Give it some more time, Alexis. You’ve waited this long for Travers; another week won’t matter.”
“One week. Then we’re sailing. May I visit my ship today, perhaps review the repairs that were made?”
“You’d fall over before you reached the front door. I will not hear of it.”
“Then what will you hear of?” she demanded, frustrated at being under someone else’s supervision. “May I have a real bath?”
“No. You cannot get your stitches wet.”
Alexis dared Cloud to say I told you so. “May I work with Frank on the company books?”
“Yes, but in bed.”
“Am I allowed to get up at all?”
