She laid a cool hand against his forehead as she waited for his answer.
“Tired,” he said honestly, his voice raw from not speaking for so long. In fact, he realized he could lie down and go right back to sleep.
“I imagine so.” She smiled at him. “You’ve had a fever for three days, but it’s finally broken.”
“Three days.” He winced at all of the time lost.
“Yes.” Deirdre rose from the bed. “I called in the doctor yesterday. He said there wasn’t much to do beyond what I’d been doing to make you comfortable. I sent him up to see your parents too.”
“My parents?” If only he didn’t have this foggy feeling in his head. Jeremiah rubbed at his forehead, trying to clear it.
Deirdre had crossed to the wardrobe, and pulled out clean clothing. “The morning after our dinner, I went to tell them that you were too sick to meet them at the livery only to find that they’d fallen ill too. I entrusted their care to Mrs. McFarland at the hotel, and she’s done marvelously by them.” She turned to face him, frowning as she clutched a dress to her chest. “I hated to leave them, but I had to be here with you. Mrs. McFarland has been sending me regular messages, though. The last I heard, they were still sick but none the worse.”
Jeremiah’s heart swelled as Deirdre disappeared behind the dressing screen. Not only had she thought to inform his parents of his illness, she’d also ensured they were cared for during their own.
“Thank you,” he said when she emerged, looking bright as day in a yellow sprigged dress.
“For what?” She looked genuinely confused at his question.
“For everything you’ve done.”
She smiled and shook her head as she approached him. “Jeremiah Wiley,” she said as she poured a glass of water from a pitcher on the night table. “I don’t believe you fully understand what marriage means.” She held out the glass, and he took it gratefully.
The water slid down his throat, giving him a moment to think through her words. He was giving her an annulment after his parents left, wasn’t he? The thought of it felt as if he were slicing off a corner of his heart, and he found himself grasping for the reasons again.
Especially as Deirdre gave him that sweet smile when she took the glass back from him. “Why don’t you lie down again? I’m going up to the hotel to see about your parents, and then I’ll ask Miss Darby for something that will be easy for you to eat.”
His stomach rumbled at those words, but the desire to close his eyes was stronger. Deirdre set the glass down and helped him ease himself back down into the bed. Her hand was warm and sure against his arm, and her hair brushed his cheek.
She laughed. “I suppose I ought to pin up my hair before I go. Else I’ll look awfully scandalous running up to the hotel.”
He smiled at the joy in her voice as his eyes closed. His being well again was the cause of that joy, and something about that made his heart sing.
Chapter Twelve
THE MORNING AIR HADgrown more crisp, signaling that fall was upon the valley. Deirdre pulled her coat closer around her as she made her way to the depot. Liam was due to arrive on the next train, and she figured it was best to tell him about her marriage immediately before he learned of it from someone else.
