She nodded. “Just a little.”
He quickly moved to retrieve the broth Mrs. Summers had brought, then came back to sit beside Maxey. He propped a few pillows behind her before feeding her. While he carefully placed the spoonful of broth in her mouth, she kept her eyes on him. She offered a weak smile, and his chest ached from the tenderness displayed.
“How do you feel today?” he asked.
She gave him a one-shoulder shrug. “My chest feels like a horse is sitting on it, and my whole body hurts when I cough.”
“This broth will help you become well.”
“You are so kind,” she whispered.
He shook his head. “You forget. If not for me, you would not be in this condition.”
“No, you mustn’t blame yourself.” She coughed, and her chest rattled. “It was my choice to leave the room and wander on deck to find you, even though Mr. Summers gave me your instructions to stay in the cabin.”
He fed her another spoonful. “Why did you come up on deck?”
Her smile widened slightly. “To catch you in a lie.”
“What lie?”
“The one I thought you had told Mr. Summers when he came to fetch your revolver.”
He fed her again. “Why did you think I was being untruthful?”
She shrugged. “Because I have thought that since we met. I know I told you I trusted you, and I apologize for that. But the truth is, I doubted your story.”
It pained him to hear those words. “What about now? Do you still doubt me?”
Her smile disappeared. “No.” She opened her mouth and leaned forward for more, so he fed her. She relaxed back on the pillows. “I would still like to know how you came to obtain the family ring Carolyn thinks the murderer has. However, I now believe that men were indeed trying to kill you for one reason or another.”
Inwardly, he groaned. He would explain the ring. Just not now. “They were trying to kill me.”
She coughed again. “Did you kill them all last night?”
“A few. Captain Bushwell tied up Raúl and took him away, but some of his friends were fortunate enough to escape to their ship. Sadly, the captain was too busy tying up those wounded and trying to help the ones who fell overboard at the same time.”
She lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry about Raúl. I should have known he had secrets. I should have not tried to be an investigator.”
“But, my sweet, you did know.” He touched her cheek. “You were wary about him, which is why you searched his room. That tells me you are very skilled in more than just being a governess. I am just saddened because I know you wanted to be his friend.”
She met his stare and gave him a weak smile. “I never thought I would hear you say that. I thank you for having faith in me.” She took a deep breath seconds before she had another coughing fit. When she regained control, she shook her head. “As for wanting to be his friend, you are wrong. I used Raúl to distract me, that is all.”
“Distract you from what?” He offered a glass of water, and she sipped.
“From you.”
He grinned and brought another spoonful of broth to her mouth. “Did it work?”
“No.”
He laughed, and his heart skipped a beat. He had suspected she was falling in love with him. She had practically confessed to him yesterday.
She finished eating the broth then weakly sank into the bed. “I don’t know why I feel so very tired.”
“You are sick, my sweet Maxey. As soon as the illness passes, you will return to your perfect self.”
“What does the doctor say I have?”
