Quicksilver Passion (173 page)

I understand,” she said slowly.
You thought I was mixed up with Dallinger?”

No, I knew you could never be.” He kissed her face.
I just jumped to conclusions when I heard he was somehow involved with the Palace.”

Why don’t you bring the law in on this?”

I’m not sure anyone would believe me. I have to think about a plan.”

Of course.” Her voice sounded cool and distant. No, he couldn’t make personal commitments now. He shouldn’t have blurted that out about marriage. She might feel pity enough to marry him, but he wouldn’t be a burden to the beauty. There had always been men aplenty who wanted her. He wouldn’t saddle her with the responsibility of a blind man, or at least one who could barely tell daylight from darkness.

I love you,” he whispered and snugled her down in his arms. Finally they both dropped off to sleep.

When he awakened, he knew immediately it was past dawn, and then he almost shouted, for the reason he knew this was because he could see the morning shadows that the sun threw against his wall.

He could see! Not perfectly yet, but much better than yesterday. Maybe the doctor had been right. Hope rose in Cherokee’s heart. Maybe there was a chance for happiness between Silver and himself. Maybe ...

He felt her asleep in his arms and looked down to kiss her. He stared at the drab hair, wondering what she had done to it, and then his gaze went to her face.

For a moment, he stared, unbelieving. She was still pretty, but her flawless face had a few small scars. When he pulled the sheet down, he saw that scars marked her ripe body, too. He knew now what it was that Doc had been trying to tell him and had hesitated about. Smallpox. Of course his brave love had tried to help and had come down with the dread disease herself.

He wanted to gather her into his arms, kiss her awake, tell her it didn’t matter, that he would always love her. Then he recalled her remarks about his not being able to see her fade like an aging rose. She had only come into his life again because she thought he would never see her destroyed beauty. If she knew his sight was returning, that he could see her scars, would she run away from him forever, unwilling to believe that he loved her still? He might lose her.

He would rather lose his sight than the woman he loved. For a long moment, he held her close and almost wished he were truly and forever blind.
What to do now?

Silver stirred and sat up. Quickly, Cherokee closed his eyes.

Dearest,” she whispered and kissed him.
It’s morning.”

Is it?” He didn’t look at her.

I’ll be your eyes from now on,” she whispered, and hugged him to her.
But right now, I have to go.”