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Or was it?

She pulled a chair closer to his bed and sat "It never even occurred to me until I came here to care for you That I’d never had a fever, I mean My mother says they’re dreadful"

She came for him? He didn’t knohy he found this so remarkable There was no one else at Fensmore she would have come for, and she was here, in his sickroom, but still, so, either Just

Unexpected

He tried to nudge his tiredand unexpected? Because that’s what it was He would never have expected Honoria to drop everything and come to Fensmore to care for hi at all

It felt al the ," he said softly

"You’re welcome" She tried to smile, but she could not hide the worry on her face "I’m sure it didn’t take much to convince me I don’t think I’ve ever been so hot in my life"

"Nor I," he tried to joke

She smiled then, and it was a real one "Oh, Marcus," she said, reaching forward to smooth his hair from his forehead She shook her head, but she didn’t look as if she knehy she was doing so Her own hair was falling in her face, poker-straight as always She blew at it, trying to ht back down Finally, she batted it aith her fingers, shoving it behind her ear

It fell back onto her face

"You look tired," he said, his voice hoarse

"Said the man who cannot keep his eyes open"

"Touché," he said, so to punctuate the stateer

She was silent for ato drink?"

He nodded

"I’m so sorry I should have asked the moment you woke up You must be terribly thirsty"

"Just a bit," he lied

"Mrs Wetherby left a pitcher of water," she said, reaching for so on the table behind her "It’s not cold, but I think it will still be refreshing"

He nodded again Anything short of boiling would be refreshing

She held out a glass, then realized that he wasn’t going to be able to use it in his current, supine pose "Here, let lass back down on the table She reached around hith, helped hi as efficient as a governess "Just, ehrm, we should tuck in that blanket, and have some water"