In between breaths, he objected. “No … don’t …”
“That seems highly improper to me.” Dorcas’s voice sounded sharp.
“Please Aunt Dorcas. Under the circumstances, I believe my honor will remain intact. You can check on us anytime you like.”
She sighed with clear exasperation. “Oh, all right. Call me if you need anything.”
Hearing Dorcas exit left Maximilian feeling relieved. He would have to thank Thalia later. Whether he could credit feeling better to the steam or just knowing Thalia remained nearby, he didn’t know. Or care.
The next morning he awoke, his throat feeling less constricted. Steam poured into the tent. Obviously Thalia had kept the mist going throughout the night. How could he express his gratitude?
He lifted the sheet enough to see. Still in her party dress, Thalia had fallen asleep in the chaise lounge by the fire, which had died down overnight but still held some warmth. He tried not to awaken her, but as soon as he stirred, she moved. Her eyes opened.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.” Maximilian folded the sheet away from his face. He realized talking didn’t take the monumental effort it had the previous night.
“That’s okay.” She jumped from her seat and rushed to his side. “My prayers are answered. You made it. You made it through the night. I hardly slept a wink, wanting to be sure you were okay. You seemed to be able to breathe better in the wee hours. I was so relieved!”
Her relief scared him. Had he been closer to death than he imagined?
“Do you feel better? You look better.” Her body sagged, releasing emotional strain.
He nodded and caught the faintest whiff of tuberose perfume that still clung to her from the previous night. The sweet aroma made him think of his garden in spring. He could get used to the scent forever as long as Thalia wore it.
Not noticing the effect she had on him, she regarded his face. “The hives have gone down considerably, but you appear a bit flushed. Your cheeks are red—like a cherub’s picture on a Christmas card.” Her eyes widened and she seemed fully awake.
“That doesn’t sound so flattering since I’m not a cherub.” He sneezed.
Placing the back of her right hand on his cheek, she looked at him with less concern. “You’re not terribly hot. I think it’s probably just the steam.”
Facing away from Thalia, he sneezed again.
“Or maybe you have a cold.”
Groaning, he remembered changing the flat tire in the freezing weather. “Don’t tell me that, even though you’re probably right. I must be the worst party guest on record. Maybe I can go ahead and try to go home. I can be my valet’s problem there and not yours.” He tried to rise but realized he felt too weak to move.
She shook her head. “You’re exhausted from the stress of trying to keep oxygen in your body. You have no business traveling anywhere. Besides, the snowstorm has dropped quite a few inches on us already, and snow is still falling. It’s much too dangerous to travel. I think it’s safe to say by now that we’re in the midst of a blizzard. Josiah and Dr. Stanton are outside shoveling even though the snow is falling as fast as they can clear a path.”
Guilt visited him faster than the storm. “I should help,” he said, even though he knew he couldn’t.
“Are you insane? Of course not. They understand. Do you want me to keep the steam going?”
He took in a breath. “I think I can make do without it.”
Thalia’s voice softened from competent nurse to dainty woman. “I feel terrible that all this happened.”
“No, I should have known not to eat anything questionable after I knocked over that pepper shaker.” He took a breath.
“What?”
“Spilling pepper is a bad omen. You know that.”
“I know no such thing. I rely on God to keep me safe.” She placed her hand on top of his. “But I don’t want to argue. I’m sorry.”
“I don’t think I ever told you I was allergic.”
“Maybe not. Now that makes me feel better. You always were considerate of others’ feelings.” She smiled.
Despite her attempt at cheer, he could see tiredness in Thalia’s eyes. “Please go and get some rest yourself. There’s no way you had a peaceful night sleeping in your party dress in a chair. Your dedication to me went far and above the call of duty of any hostess. I thank you.”
She glanced demurely downward. “I—I think I will take you up on your offer to get into some fresh clothes and take a nap. I’ll see you later this afternoon.”
I’ll see you later this afternoon.
He hadn’t imagined such words when he arrived for the party. Regardless of what Norma had said so long ago, he yearned to see Thalia again. Her sweet face had not disappointed. And now he would be staying even longer. The miserable illness was almost worth it. Could it be a sign he was supposed to remain in Colorado after all? Confusion left him feeling disconcerted.
Lord, help me figure this out.
Bored yet restless, he took a few moments to appreciate his surroundings. As might be expected from the fine furnishings in the rest of the house, Thalia’s guest room was well appointed. The cherrywood dresser, vanity, and wardrobe, each mellowed to a reddish brown with age, featured carved magnolias that told a bit about the Bloom family’s history.
Snow still fell outside, but inside the steam kept him warm.
“Thank you, God, for Thalia,” was the last thing he muttered before falling asleep.
Chapter 5
After a long nap, Maximilian awoke in a strange room. Within a flash, he remembered everything that happened—the party, the tart, the violent illness, and Thalia. Thalia. She had been there for him, nursing him throughout the night. If only he didn’t still feel so wretched. Sweating despite the cold, he threw off the coverlet. Ah. Relief.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” The questioning voice didn’t belong to sweet Thalia but to her aunt, Dorcas.
“Where’s Thalia?”
“Where’s Thalia indeed? In bed where she belongs. She stayed up all night with you. She’s getting some rest now. I’m taking over.” Dorcas pulled the coverlet over him. “Do you want dinner? You missed breakfast and lunch.”
He shook his head.
“Well, that’s too bad, because you’re getting it anyway. Eliza is bringing in warm broth.”
“Warm broth? That doesn’t sound too appetizing, but I suppose it’s best since it seems I’ve picked up a cold.”
“True. Dr. Stanton said to force fluids. You must drink some broth. You need the nourishment in it for energy.” Dressed as she was in a no-nonsense gray house frock and wearing a stern expression, Maximilian didn’t doubt she knew exactly what she was talking about.
“Thalia? Where is Thalia?”
“Now don’t get too attached to the idea of Thalia being your nursemaid. I’m up for the task, and she has other guests to attend to. They’re in the drawing room piecing together a jigsaw puzzle now. Never liked puzzles much myself. Besides, I’m old, and no one will miss me. Tending to you is the least I can do for poor little Norma. She would have wanted me to take care of you, I know.”
Maybe so. But he liked his other nurse much better.
If he had to get sick and be embarrassed, now that he was out of the makeshift tent, at least he couldn’t have chosen a more comfortable place. He looked through a window framed by brocaded draperies at snow still falling outside. From all appearances, the blanket of snow had grown deep enough to cause considerable trouble walking through it.
“Looks as though there’s no letup on the snow. I guess we’re shut in today,” he speculated.
“Yes, I suppose anyone can look outside and see there’s not much traveling today. I just pray that those who left last night got where they were going.”
“Me, too. I’m sure they did.” He heard voices coming from the dining room. “Apparently not everybody left.”
“You really are out of it, aren’t you? Rose and Dr. Stanton are here. And Jo
siah.” Dorcas sat on the nearby chair and took up some knitting.
He held back a grimace. Of all the people he wished had gotten out in time, Josiah was top on his list.
“I’m glad Josiah stayed,” Dorcas said as though she had heard his thought and wanted to debate. “He’s the perfect match for Thalia, don’t you think?”
“The perfect match? What, has one of Thalia’s hands turned into a baseball mitt?”
“Don’t be silly. All men have interests that don’t relate to women. She can’t expect to love everything he does. For comparison, I wouldn’t expect you to be interested in my knitting project.” She held up a square of green yarn with two needles wrapped up in it. How those needles and thread ended up in a sweater or whatever garment the women wanted, he would never know.
“There’s interest in a subject, and then there’s obsession. I don’t think Thalia likes to be bored.”
“She won’t be bored long. The Billings family has plenty of money, and she will be happy and secure. And she’ll have plenty to do, especially once the babies start coming. Can you just imagine redheaded little imps?” She chuckled and kept knitting.
Maximilian could imagine them, but he didn’t want to. The combination of red hair and imps conjured up little devils in his mind. The thought of Thalia having Josiah’s children made his fever rise. Too distressed to pay attention to his breathing, he coughed.
Dorcas dropped her knitting and rushed to his side. She slapped him on the back. “Now, now. Let’s not make your cold worse on top of everything else.”
Her worried look concerned him. Still, he desperately wanted to return to Aurora, but how could he with snow falling so hard one could hardly see the sky? He tried to rise, but apparently his motions caused a stir, as Thalia entered, leaving the door open behind her. “Maximilian, what are you thinking? Don’t you dare try to get up!”
“But I feel so much bet—” His spinning head forced him to realize that indeed he did not feel better. He lay back.
Thalia set a tray on the bedside table.
“Thalia, what are you doing with that tray?” Dorcas asked. “You’re supposed to be in bed yourself.”
“I couldn’t let my guest go without a bite to eat.”
“Eliza can bring his meals to him.”
Maximilian wondered why Dorcas’s tone was so grumpy. “She was just trying to do me a good turn. Thank you, Thalia.”
“You don’t look so good, but the hives seem to be gone,” Thalia answered. “If you have a cold—and I think you do—Dr. Stanton will try his best to keep you comfortable.”
“Thank goodness for him.”
“It’s fine that you want to be a good nurse, Thalia,” Dorcas interrupted, “but you’re not being a very good hostess, are you? You should be tending to your other guests.”
“But Maximilian is a guest, too.”
“You shouldn’t argue. It’s not becoming of a lady,” Dorcas cautioned. She turned to Maximilian. “You must excuse her, dear. She’s been in a state with this party.”
“No doubt.”
Thalia blushed and, without a word, excused herself. Maximilian wondered what had gotten into Dorcas for her to be so willing to reprimand her niece in his presence.
Putting down her knitting, Dorcas got up from her chair and approached the patient’s bed. “I’m so sorry this party had to be spoiled by a horrid fruit tart. After all, this was your first time out socially since Norma’s death, wasn’t it?”
He swallowed. “I—I suppose so.”
“Dear, dear Norma.” Dorcas clucked. “She was a jewel, one of a kind. No one can ever replace her. Her death was so tragic.”
“Yes.”
Dorcas placed her hand on his. “I know life alone will be hard. I’ve lived as a spinster all these years, and though it gets lonely at times, it’s never too much to bear. But keeping Norma’s memory enshrined, as if it were a pearl set in prongs of gold, will honor her and your marriage.”
Maximilian wanted to point out that he never said he wanted to live life alone, but considering Dorcas’s wistful demeanor, decided against it. He thought back on his brief marriage. Norma had been one of a kind, with many good qualities. If only she’d been as perfect as Dorcas thought. Maximilian had been taken by her charm and beauty, but as soon as they married, Norma’s pettiness and jealousy revealed themselves. He wondered if she loved him at all. If only he had chosen Thalia when he had the chance. But Norma had said that Thalia didn’t love him—that her true love was elsewhere. And Thalia never did anything to dispute Norma’s claim. If only Thalia had loved him, things would have been so different. Sure, she’d been a wonderful nurse the previous night, but a display of sympathy to an ill guest wasn’t the same as giving the commitment of a lifetime love.
“Even once you’re better, I hope you’ll avail yourself of our hospitality as long as possible. We enjoy having you around. It’s been too long. Having you near reminds me of my dear Norma.”
Maximilian couldn’t bear Dorcas’s reminiscences much longer. Cold or no cold, he would rise out of his sickbed and leave as soon as he could. Thalia had already told him that she couldn’t bear to lose Dorcas’s love, and the more Dorcas spoke, the clearer it was that he could never have Thalia and her aunt’s approval at the same time.
The sign he had asked for had happened. He would be heading for California as soon as the snow cleared the mountain passes on the Union Pacific Railway.
Chapter 6
The next afternoon, Thalia, wearing a fresh dress with a pattern of roses, entered the drawing room.
Josiah shuffled Flinch cards for the group at the game table. “Good. Now we have a foursome.”
“I’m afraid not. I’ll be taking care of Maximilian today.”
“Aw, come on, Thalia, you don’t have to stay by that baby,” Josiah chided. “You’ve been with him all day. Stay with us awhile.”
The last thing Thalia wanted to do was play, even the most popular card game of the day. “Aunt Dorcas is much better at cards than I ever could be.”
“He doesn’t need you to watch him sleep.” Josiah grimaced. “You should have some fun.”
“I think it would do you good to play,” Dr. Stanton suggested.
“Can’t argue with doctor’s orders, can you?” Josiah gave the physician a satisfied grin and shuffled the deck of cards once more.
Recalling how groggy Maximilian had been when she last checked on him, she reconsidered. “Oh, all right. I suppose I can join you for a few hands.”
She sat at the table with the others and took a hand. Before long, she got caught up in the spirit of fun competition and for the first time since Maximilian had taken ill, enjoyed her own party. Even the snow falling outside no longer bothered her.
“Beat you again!” Josiah said after a particularly lively and close round.
“You are demonstrating talents beyond baseball,” Dorcas observed, knitting in the corner.
Thalia knew the remark was aimed at her but decided not to comment as she dealt the next hand. She created the stockpile, dealt the hands, and set the stack. The players organized their cards, and Dr. Stanton started the play.
“Flinch!” Maximilian cried as he entered the room.
Thalia’s heart jumped upon hearing the now familiar voice. Without rising from her seat, she swiveled to see that her patient not only stood before her, but had shaved and dressed. The hives had disappeared, and he looked like his handsome self.
“May I join in the fun?”
“Maximilian, what are you doing out of bed?” Thalia scolded.
“I felt better, so I decided it was high time for me to join in the fun.” He stifled a cough.
“Are you sure you’re well enough to be up?” Rose queried.
“Yeah, maybe you should go back to bed. We have enough hands to play Flinch,” Josiah urged. “Isn’t that right, Doc?”
“We have enough to play, but if he feels like staying up, it would be better than becoming we
aker by lying in bed so long.” The doctor smiled. “I’m glad to see you up. For a while there, you were in grave danger.”
“Not anymore. I’ll join you, then.” Maximilian pulled up a chair to sit by Thalia.
“Here,” Josiah intervened. “Sit here instead.” He made a dash to occupy the seat by Thalia and left Maximilian with the empty spot between him and Dr. Stanton.
Thalia waited for Maximilian to comment, but he acquiesced without a murmur. As she dealt cards, she resolved to thank him later for letting Josiah get away with his childish behavior. Josiah would never change, so there was no alternative but to give in so they could keep the peace.
She stole a furtive glance at Aunt Dorcas. The older woman, rather than pursing her lips in disapproval, smiled at what she must have perceived as a victory for Josiah. Would she ever get through to her well-meaning but stubborn aunt?
During the game, Thalia noticed that Josiah was more competitive than he needed to be, especially with Maximilian. The fact that Maximilian showed good sportsmanship and gentlemanlike conduct, in spite of holding back coughs and sniffles, did not escape her notice.
“Everyone ready for a bit of cocoa?” Thalia asked after several hands.
Maximilian peered out the window. “I think more shoveling might need to be done before dark. Then cocoa would be more than called for.”
“That’s a fine thing for you to say,” Josiah scoffed. “You haven’t had to do any work.”
He stood. “That’s where you’re wrong. I plan to shovel right along with you and Dr. Stanton.”
“We only have two shovels,” Aunt Dorcas pointed out.
“In that case, I’ll take a short turn since I still haven’t totally shaken this cold. But I do want to contribute. After all, I owe the doctor a break after he took such good care of me.”
His firm resolve worried Thalia. Maximilian always struggled with pride, and now it looked as though he wasn’t going to let a cold keep him from facing hard work in freezing, snowy weather. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.” She looked to the expert for help, making sure a pleading light showed in her eyes. “Do you, Dr. Stanton?”
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