“Good afternoon. How are you?” Alexander said, eyeing the wheelchair.
Saffron brushed off his concern, saying, “I woke up feeling almost normal, but they’ve insisted I be carted around.” She held up a hand and wiggled her fingers. “I’ve been line-free for ages, but they’re being cautious. I actually had movement in my fingers when they were still a little blue. I wonder if it’s related to dosage or secondary exposure or perhaps some chemical interaction—”
With a grimace, Alexander said, “Let’s not discuss poisons.” He took her hand in his. His grip was a little weak, but his eyes were earnest and open, the usually dark color a striking mahogany in the sun. “I’m glad you’re all right.”
Saffron swallowed, guilt eating at her. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I put you in danger—”
Alexander shook his head. “I’msorry. I did nothing to protect you, and … I wouldn’t have been able to protect you, had Blake not come back.”
Saffron sensed his hesitation and what he was reluctant to say. She squeezed his hand. “But he did come back. And nothing did happen.” Saying the words helped reassure her as well as Alexander.
They began discussing Elizabeth’s latest complaint about her boss since it was the furthest thing Saffron could think of from their misadventure.
“Elizabeth said she’d stop by after work, shall I bring her round?” Saffron added. She really wanted to ask whether Alexander was expecting any visitors. She didn’t know anything about his family, if they were in town or if they’d been informed. She didn’t like the idea of him sitting all alone until he was released.
As if he read her thoughts, he shook his head, looking uncomfortable. “I’d rather not have visitors.” He glanced at her, his mouth tense. “Unpleasant memories, you understand.”
Recalling the story of his injury, Saffron bit her lip. “Am I intruding, then?”
“Considering the unpleasant aftermath of the xolotl”—Alexander cocked an eyebrow—“I rather think we’re beyond that, don’t you?”
“Yes, vomiting side by side, even if the other was unconscious, certainly made close friends of us.” Saffron rolled her eyes. “And now you’re going off to parts unknown, likely to be surrounded by plants like xolotl. Have the doctors given you the all clear to travel?”
“If the university is able to recover or replace whatever money Blake and Berking stole and the trip moves forward, I’ll be leaving with the rest of the team. Unless my recovery takes much longer than expected.”
Saffron looked up to see him looking out the window somewhat despondently. “I’m sure you’ll be back to normal in no time at all,” she said brightly. His color was already returning, and she was certain he’d be allowed to try walking soon. “You were given a higher dose than I was, so it’s natural that you’ve taken a bit longer to recover.”
He shook his head as if to banish a thought. “It’ll be even harder to leave now,” he said, then added, “I’ll have to clear it with Inspector Green. In case I’m needed for the trial.”
She hadn’t thought about the trial. She would likely have to testify, and the fuss that her family would raise would probably be just as distressing as actually giving her testimony. She sighed. It would have been less daunting if Alexander was there too, but she had to hope, for his sake, that he would be able to go on the expedition, as planned.
As if sensing her apprehension, Alexander’s tone lightened. “Now that the investigation is over, what will you do? I’m off to get lost in a jungle; what shall you do to shock the university?”
Saffron stood, walking to the window. Her feet were completely steady, even if her feelings weren’t. “I’m not sure.Dr. Maxwell will be coming back soon, so I suppose I’ll continue on with him. Or …”
“Or?” Alexander repeated.
“Or I could stow away on the ship to Brazil, as Elizabeth suggested,” Saffron said, shooting a rueful smile over her shoulder.
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t mind.”
“I might see if I can find something more relevant to work on. The investigation was so urgent, you know, so pressing and important. Chlorophyll is important, but no one is waiting with bated breath to find out the exact chemical composition of the pigment of a leaf. I rather liked feeling like my work was important.” Saffron hadn’t put it to words yet, but she realized as she said it how true it was. She wasn’t sure she could happily go back to how things were before, plodding through Maxwell’s research. She sighed at the windowpane. “I’m sure I won’t be able to carry out my study, considering Dr. Berking only agreed to it as some sort of inducement for betraying Dr. Maxwell.”
“It could be approved by your new department head.” Behind her, there was the shush of fabric and the creak of the bed. She turned to see Alexander was very nearly standing, a grimace on his face.
Worried he’d topple over, she started forward. “Are you sure you should—”
Alexander put a finger to his lips. “Don’t—you’ll send the nurses stampeding in.” Slowly, he eased his weight onto his bare feet and smiled broadly when he managed to stand steadily.
“Well done,” Saffron said, only slightly sarcastically.
They stood, looking at each other, smiling. Surely it was the heat from the sun coming in through the window that made Saffron feel so warm.
Alexander took a slow step forward, testing his balance, and Saffron’s hand shot out to offer support. His took it, but not for support, she realized with a flush of pleasure.
The excitement faded when her thoughts returned to Berking. “Berking said that he used some of my father’s work to create his poison,” she said.
Alexander frowned. “He did?”
