“Oh,” she said, sliding away from him. “Then I suppose you do not wish to be near me. I have been exposed to them all.”
“Oh, well I hadn’t considered that.” He studied her face again and couldn’t help but smile. He didn’t want her to leave. “For now, I think I definitely need help cleaning the wound, so you ought to do your duty.” He winked at her, and she hastily reached for the bottle.
“If you are sure,” she said.
“Quite, Ann.”
Her tone was suddenly all business. “All right then, please place your arm on the table.”
He complied, and since he’d still only been wearing his shirt without his jacket, it was easy for him to roll the sleeve up until it was above his elbow.
With a gentle but firm touch she began unwrapping the old bandage. “Perhaps we should allow it some air,” she said, glancing down at the ravaged skin. Though it had improved a little, parts of it were red and swollen, with some of the skin yellow and shriveled. Ann, however, did not cringe or turn away.
“I admire your fortitude,” Will said, meeting her gaze. “This wound is not pretty.”
“No, it isn’t,” she said, “but I am not so weak, Will.”
“Of course not.” He nodded, smiling toward her. “You are made of much tougher stuff.”
“Does it still hurt terribly?”
He closed his eyes for a minute. “I thought to tell you I am so strong it does not affect me . . . but it seems I cannot lie to you.” She laughed softly at his admission, and he found that it was her smile that proved to be more contagious than anything else. “It throbs a great deal, and I can feel the heat from my body working to heal it.”
She started to apply some liniment. “I hope this helps with both the healing and the pain.”
“Me too.” He wondered if he should speak the wild thought that had just entered his mind. All this proximity was making him bold, and he didn’t want to lose a perfectly good opportunity. If he were on deck, in sight of other people, he’d never have such freedom. “There ... was also a way my grandmother used to make things better when I was sick as a little boy.”
“What was that?” She finally let her eyes meet his, and he realized just how close they sat on the bench. His knees touched the folds of her dress as she carefully finished tying the bandage.
“She would, um, kiss me better. Did wonders, as I recall.”
“Is that so?” She raised a stern eyebrow at him. Perhaps his suggestion was untoward. “Seems a highly improper thing for this nurse to do,” she said.
He nodded with mock solemnity, hoping she was teasing. “Most definitely.” He inched closer to her and whispered. “I did wish, too, that I was playing kiss in the ring instead of that Mr. Weakling fellow.”
“Wheatley,” she corrected. She suddenly seemed uncomfortable, and Will wondered if he shouldn’t have brought up another man. Or maybe he was being too honest and sharing too much. For all he knew, perhaps she was interested inMr. Wheatley.
“Just tell me, Ann, so I can school myself if need be. If you prefer Mr. Wheatley, or any other gentlemen for that matter, please say so.”
A soft chuckle escaped her mouth. “I thought you and I were to have no relations beyond that of any crew member with any passenger. As I recall, you are forbidden from interacting with women, are you not?”
She wasn’t exactly answering his question, but she did bring up a valid and unfortunately true point.
“You won’t ever forget how I spoke that day, will you?”
She glanced heavenward and then met his gaze. “You do realize how contradictory you are, right?”
His eyebrows drew down in thought. “I was not the one who decided for you to come on this ship, Ann, nor did I decide that you would be so beautiful, and I did not dictate that you would happen to cross paths with me in so many diversified circumstances. So, the way I see it, I am absolved of any fault.”
Her look of disbelief at his speech was complemented by perfectly rosy cheeks, and it seemed he’d shocked her so thoroughly she had no response.
“Ann, I am not one to go against my captain’s orders. He is a smart man, and his rules have a good foundation. But it is also probably clear by now that I am quite attracted to you, and I don’t mind in the least being thrown into circumstances in which you are also present.” He tugged on the hair above his ear with his good hand and then drew another breath. “So, to remind you of my original question, if you are interested in another man, or simply disinterested in me, please let me know, and I will try to minimize the amount of time we are near each other for the duration of the voyage.”
“Well, that was an informational diatribe, Mr. Boyd.” She laughed and shook her head.
He met her gaze once again and he wished he could capture the genuine smile that drew up her perfect lips.
“Brother Wheatley does not hold a place in my heart. He already tried to ask for my hand, I am afraid.” She glanced to the side. “Painful though it was, I informed him I did not feel the same, and consequently, I did not accept his proposal.”
