Once Upon a Midnight Sea (23 page)

She pulled out of her chaperone's grip. "I'll not leave him. This is my fault."

"It isn't. You heard her, he has Malaria. There is nothing you can do. He probably won't survive."

Adriana spun around. "How can you say such a thing?" Tears blurred her vision. "He won't die. I won't let him!"

She took the cloth from the restaurant owner's wife to blot Christian's skin. An eternity passed before the young boy returned with the doctor.

Immediately Adriana didn't like him. He dressed sloppily in a dirty shirtwaist and trousers, not at all like a physician should present himself, and his breath reeked sourly of alcohol.

He leaned over Christian. "Certainly looks like Malaria. I see a lot of it down here." He turned away and retrieved a bottle of laudanum from a scarred leather attaché. "All I can do is make him more comfortable as we wait for the inevitable." He unscrewed the cap and prepared to pour it directly into Christian's mouth.

"What are you doing?" Adriana smacked his hand, sending the bottle flying. "Are you a physician or a mortician? He needs quinine, not laudanum!"

"This island hasn't seen a single tablet of quinine in six months."

"There must be some here. I'll find it myself if I have to."

"Young lady, I will have you know–”

"Henri, we must get him back aboard Lady Luck." Adriana turned her back on the doctor. "Mrs. Ling can help him."

"There is nothing you can do for him," the doctor insisted.

"Be quiet you...you
charlatan
." Adriana gripped Henri's arm. "Hurry, let us go, now."

Henri glanced at Christian's prone form. "Yes, you are right. Mrs. Ling knows her herbs." He gestured with his hand, urging the others to help him carry Christian to the boats. Adriana hurried behind.

"Take our boat. It's larger," Bernard said.

The men laid him gently on the floor of the boat and Bernard climbed in beside Henri. "Mr. Dupree I shall help you to row."

With Christian splayed out across the bottom of the tiny boat, there was no room for Adriana or Mrs. Bailey.

"Do not worry," Mr. Ranklin called. "I shall bring the ladies in your jolly."

The old man rowed so slowly they were soon separated from Tigress's shore boat. In his drunkenness, he zigzagged them across the tiny lagoon, clearly not accustomed to rowing himself. Thankfully, as they reached Lady Luck, Mr. Ling appeared to help them on deck. With Tigress's shore boat hoisted up, they had to climb aboard on the ladder.

Mr. Ranklin waited on deck as Adriana and Mrs. Bailey hurried below. Henry and Bernard had laid Christian out on the bare mattress of his bed and removed his clothing. He now wore one of her father's nightshirts. His bare legs stretched out, revealing a matt of dark hair. She moved to Mrs. Ling's side where the tiny woman sat on the edge of the bed.

"Can you help him?"

Mrs. Ling pressed the back of her hand to Christian's cheek, then pulled back one eyelid. His lids fluttered and he moaned as he turned his head to escape her prying fingers.

"If Malaria, I help him." The old cook smiled thinly at Adriana. "Maybe yellow fever."

Adriana felt as though a ball of ice had dropped into her stomach. "And if it is yellow fever?"

Mrs. Ling didn't answer. She stood and headed for the door. "I go now, prepare herbs." She stopped and pointed to the tub. "Make bath for him. Will help keep cool."

"Yes, yes. I've heard that," Bernard said. "It is important to keep his body temperature from getting too high."

Henri worked the pump to start filling the tub.

Adriana did her best to remain calm while her heart raced. "Mrs. Bailey, please get clean bed linens from the hold."

The older woman hesitated. "I, I do not know where they are. I have never been in the hold."

"They are folded in the shelving beside the extra kitchen utensils. Go now, you shall find them."

Mrs. Bailey placed her hands to her cheeks. "Oh, dear me. Yes, I shall find them." She hurried off, mumbling to herself. Adriana could see her chaperone was worried for Christian too. In her heart Mrs. Bailey was kind and gentle, and that outweighed her sternness for propriety.

"Get his legs," Henri said as he and Bernard each took his arms. Adriana and Mr. Ling lifted at his ankles and the four of them transferred Christian to the filling tub.

The thin nightshirt turned nearly transparent, revealing every inch of him in detail. She kept her gaze pinned on his face, forbidding herself to glance any lower. He was such a perfect and handsome man, it wasn't fair that his beautiful life might be so cruelly cut short. It seemed he was plagued with hardship. Had he really been so bad he deserved this punishment?

No
, Adriana willed silently.
I don't believe it. He is a good man. Deep in his soul, he only wants what is right
.

She knelt by the front of the tub and soaked a cloth in the lukewarm water. In the hot tropical weather, it wouldn't get much cooler, but it would have to do. She used the cloth to blot his face.

"Adriana..." Christian's eyes fluttered. "
Désolé, je suis. Heureux de vous connaître
."

She glanced at Henri. "What did he say?"

"He is happy to have met you," Henri's forlorn glance fell away. "And he is sorry."

Tears welled in her eyes. Adriana cupped his cheek. "Tell him I am happy to know him also."

"He is sorry?" Bernard asked. "Whatever for?"

"Er, he blames himself for the damage to the mizzen royal," Henri told a half lie. "He's just delirious." He continued in French with the words Adriana asked him to say.

"Henri," Christian mumbled. "
Mon ami. Mon bein ami
."

"
Oui
. Yes, boy." Henri placed a hand on Christian's arm. "You are my good friend also."

Mrs. Bailey returned with the bed linens and helped Adriana lay them out without even being asked. She took Adriana by the arm. "It is best we are not in here, he is not presentable."

"You may leave if you wish." She pulled her arm free and returned to the side of the tub. "I am staying."

For a moment Adriana feared Mrs. Bailey was going to insist. Finally the matronly woman let out a long, grumbling sigh and turned to go. Adriana knew she was disappointed, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered now but saving Christian. She was afraid if she left the room, he would die. She had to stay and encourage him to hold on.

Mrs. Ling returned with a strong smelling tea. They carried Christian to the bed and laid him out in the wet nightshirt. Immediately he started shivering. His brow wrinkled and he moaned.

"What is wrong with him?" Adriana turned frantic. "How could he be cold?"

"I've seen this before," Henri said. "He'll suffer chills and sweats until the fever leaves."

"Put sheet over him," Mrs. Ling said. They propped several pillows under his head and Mrs. Ling brought the cup to his lips. "This
Quinghao
tea. Made of coin grass and hare's ear to fight malaria.
Xuanshen
will make him sweat out fever."

"She knows what to do." Adriana said, as if speaking the words out loud would make them true. She turned to Henri. "Her herbs have been known for thousands of years."

Henri's expression turned pitying as he sensed her desperation. "Yes, Mrs. Ling knows what to do."

Christian seemed to regain consciousness as he resisted the tea. His face twisted in disgust as he choked some of it down. Adriana sat on the other side of the bed and wiped the dribble from his chin.

"It taste bad," Mrs. Ling said. "But cure Malaria. He very strong, have good chance." She lifted the cup to his lips again.

When he turned his face away, Adriana sat opposite Mrs. Ling and helped hold him still. "Come now, Christian," she pleaded. Her fingers pressed through the wet cotton nightshirt into solid muscle. He was strong. He would make it, he had to. "You must drink it. It will help you get well."

This time he drank with little resistance. His head lolled to the side and his body sagged on the bed.

"He must drink every hour." Mrs. Ling set the cup down on the tray with the pot and turned a reassuring smile on Adriana. "You not worry. He have much to do. Not die yet."

The woman's blunt comment brought a hot bolt of anxiety, but Adriana knew she had to keep her faith that everything would work out fine and they would soon be on their way again.

Only hours ago, the storm they'd braved seemed the hardest thing she'd ever survived. Now she knew the worst was yet to come.

* * *

Edwina Bailey emerged on deck for a quiet moment of fresh air. The lowers were stifling and already smelling of sickness. "Why Mr. Ranklin, I didn't know you were still aboard."

The man quickly tucked a flask back into his lapel and wiped his fluffy mustache. "Er, yes, well, I'm a bit of a captive, you see."

Edwina bristled.

"My boat is hoisted to your stern and I'm sure those below are busy with more important matters than winching me to the water. I would have done it myself, but I don't exactly know how. Haw!"

"A man of your standing should not have to winch himself." She hid the truth behind a pinched smile. The man was simply too drunk.

"Oh posh. A little hardship is good for the character, I dare say. Haw!" He leaned against the railing. As Lady Luck bowed on a gentle surge of the sea, he seemed not to notice he tilted and slid several inches to the right. "I would have borrowed your jolly, but as you can see, it's drifted away."

Indeed, the smaller boat had come untied and was heading back to the beach on its own, carried by the tide.

"I am so sorry, Mr. Ranklin. I should have paid closer attention."

"Do not trouble yourself. 'Twas me who tied the knot in question. I am quite content admiring this exceptional craft. Montague certainly builds the finest ships on the sea. Ah! Here comes my man now. They saw me waving, after all."

Across the lagoon, one of Tigress's crew rowed toward them. The shore boat's white hull gleamed in the peculiar glow of twilight.

"Excuse me while I bellow for my son." Mr. Ranklin smiled broadly as he pushed away from the railing and started toward the bow hatch.

"Er, Mr. Ranklin." Edwina stopped him and carefully lowered her voice. "I must speak with you regarding a most critical matter."

Chapter Nineteen

Adriana sensed Mrs. Bailey in the open doorway. She remained where she was, holding Christian's limp hand. When he wasn't red and sweating with fever, he was deathly pale, shivering with chills. The few moments he seemed to rest comfortably were few and far between, and Adriana kept her voice low so not to disturb this one.

"Will you ask Mrs. Ling to bring my breakfast? And have her make some more tea, the pot is nearly empty."

"Adriana, take your meal in the galley this morning. It has been three days and there is no change. Surely you can leave him for a short time."

She wouldn't leave him for a single moment. Adriana was afraid if she did, she would come back to find him jaundiced and they would discover it was yellow fever, not malaria. Too tired to argue, she simply shook her head.

"It is inappropriate for you to stay in here as you do. You did not return to your cabin last night, after promising me you would."

"Then I shan't promise it," she said absently.

"Adriana that is not what I intended. Your behavior is most indecorous. Why, what if someone were to learn you spent the night in a man's bedchamber?"

"I do not care what anyone learns, or what anyone thinks."

"You do not mean that. What has gotten in to you, child? This is not like you."

No, this is the real me
, Adriana thought.
I no longer care to pretend otherwise
.

"No one shall ever hear of it, unless you tell them." She glanced over her shoulder. "I am tired of living my life in anticipation of what people I do not even know will say." She hated speaking to Mrs. Bailey in such a way, but she had to tell the truth. Adriana turned back to Christian. "Let come what may."

Mrs. Ling appeared in the doorway with a tray. The sweet smell of cinnamon bread made Adriana's stomach grumble.

"How he doing this morning?" she asked. "Look good. Face not so pale."

Adriana bristled with hope. She'd hardly left him, so gradual changes in his condition were undetectable to her. "Have you made more tea?"

Mrs. Ling poured a cup and handed it to her. She then offered Adriana a plate with two slices of buttered cinnamon bread. "I get breakfast for Mr. Dupree now."

"Send him in, and Mr. Ling, too. I wish a word with all of you."

The old woman nodded and hurried away.

"What is it, child?" Mrs. Bailey asked when they were alone.

"I wish to set out on the final leg of our journey today."

"But Adriana, we should stay right where we are. If he dies, we are this much closer to home."