A Bouquet of Thorns by Tania Crosse Page A

in her arms, rocking her like a child until she appeared to calm, and then carefully settled her back in the bed where her sobs slowly faded and her mind was lost in sleep once more.
    Florrie glanced up in despair to see Charles rise to his feet, his face rigid, and walk silently from the room.
    â€˜Right, you can sit back now.’
    Dr Power put down his stethoscope. He had been listening to Collingwood’s lungs having first examined the healing wounds on his back. With careful nursing, he had managed to avoid infection to the lacerations. Nature would take over now, and though permanently marked, the scars wouldn’t be as horrendous as they might have been. The sounds the doctor had heard from the felon’s chest, too, were encouraging, and in a few weeks’ time, he should be able to leave the prison hospital and be set to some light tasks until he recovered fully.
    The physician secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had taken a huge risk, and it had paid off. He watched Collingwood pull the nightshirt back down over his torso, which was thin now from his illness, but which the doctor’s experienced eye could see was normally finely muscled. The fellow’s light hair had grown somewhat and he had handsome, hazel eyes. Mrs Rose Chadwick couldn’t have helped but be attracted to him. It would have helped her to believe his story. But from the limited conversations Dr Power had held with him, he knew him to be refined, educated and intelligent – certainly not the kind of convict he usually had to deal with!
    â€˜Well, it’s about time that plaster cast came off,’ he announced gravely, drawing back the blankets from Collingwood’s legs. ‘It should be healed by now. Just keep still while I take it off.’
    He noted that Collingwood merely looked at him without saying a word. Just as well. He didn’t want any discussion over the plaster. It was obvious to him that it had been applied professionally, by his colleague, Dr Seaton, so the least said the better. Thankfully Collingwood remained silent while the doctor worked, but the moment his leg was freed, he was giving it a good scratch and his eyes opened wide.
    â€˜It looks so thin,’ he observed in evident surprise.
    â€˜Wasted muscle. Tense your calf and relax it. That’s it. Now push against my hand. Good. How does that feel?’
    â€˜A little strange.’
    â€˜No pain? Good. Let’s try you on your feet. Take it easily.’
    Collingwood swung his legs over the side of the bed and gingerly raised himself upright. Dr Power took his arm as he put his weight on his injured leg and took a few steps, but he seemed to manage without any problem.
    â€˜All right?’
    Collingwood nodded, appearing pleased. ‘It feels weak and a little sore, but so much better than before. He did a good job.’
    The doctor flashed him a warning glance. ‘Keep your mouth shut, you fool,’ he hissed at him, ‘unless you want to get Dr Seaton
and
Mrs Chadwick into trouble.’
    â€˜Oh, God,’ Collingwood groaned under his breath. ‘What an idiot.’ His eyes swept nervously about the infirmary, but it seemed that no one had heard. He dipped his head, lowering his voice to a whisper. ‘I can trust you, can’t I? Is she all right, do you know? No recriminations?’
    â€˜No. Not from the governor, anyway,’ the doctor mouthed back, perspiration prickling at his collar.
    â€˜And has she had the baby yet? Dear God, I hope she comes through it safely.’
    â€˜I won’t tell you again. I don’t want to hear another word about it. Now we’re going to walk up and down a few times, and then my assistant will get you an inhalation. You may have stopped coughing up blood and infected matter, but you’re not entirely out of the woods yet. But you’re supposed to be doing some sort of work, even in here. In my opinion, you’re not up to oakum picking