To Save a Love - Alexa Aston Page 0,43

so that they rested at her back. She rotated her wrists and then saw how clean her hands looked. The nails were still broken and jagged but her hands were free of dirt. Her arms, painfully thin, still were marred by old bruises. She supposed she couldn’t wish everything away. In time, though, she might learn how.

Smoothing the night rail she wore, she reveled in how white and pristine it was compared to the faded, gray garment given to her by Matron. She wore it until it began to disintegrate and then finally she received a new one. New was a relative word. It was new to her but it always looked old and already soiled every time Matron handed it to her.

Dez stirred in the chair and she hoped she could wake him soon. She liked this Dez. She had always liked Dez. As children, he had always protected her and Dalinda, though they were all the same age. Dalinda had been the mischief-maker. Anna had been the follower, going along with whatever her friend wished to do. And Dez had made sure they were always safe.

She watched him for several minutes until he yawned and opened his eyes. She liked his eyes. They were unique. A deep, rich brown like his hair but outlined in amber.

He smiled. “Good morning, Anna. I see you are awake.”

She nodded.

“I hope you enjoyed awakening in a bed with clean sheets. Wearing something different than before.”

Anna smiled, wishing she could say something. She couldn’t, though. Her imagination only went so far. It must take a great deal of thinking to make Dez and this wonderful cottage to exist in her mind. She would hope in time that she could make her voice return, as well. She would like to talk to him.

He pulled a chamber pot from beneath the bed and told her he would go to the lake to bring fresh water.

“I’ll also put on water for tea though you’ll still need to drink yours lukewarm because of your throat. We’ll stir honey into your cup, which the army doctors also suggested. And I want you to gargle with warm salt water. We never did that yesterday and can start today.”

She nodded eagerly, wanting to show him she appreciated his thoughtfulness. As he stood, she caught his hand and brought it to her lips. Pressing a kiss upon it, she hoped he understood how grateful she was that she was now in his world, away from the vile asylum and horrible attendants and ghastly treatments.

Dez gazed at her with tenderness, causing a lump to grow in her throat. He pulled his hand, bringing hers with it, and repeated her gesture, kissing her fingers.

“Thank you, Anna,” he said softly.

After he left, she used the chamber pot and then went to the window. She unlatched and raised it, thrilled with the view and the slight breeze that ruffled her night rail. That made her remember the pretty gowns and she went and sorted through until she found a pale blue one. She placed it on the bed and also set a chemise beside it then sat in the chair, waiting for Dez.

He returned and brought two pails in, pouring water into a small basin that rested on the table.

“Wash with this. I will be putting on the tea and getting us something to eat.”

Once he left, she used the water and splashed it on her face. It felt cool and clean. He had mentioned another bath today and she looked forward to that. Bathing at the asylum had been seldom and when it did occur, the bathwater was rarely changed from patient to patient, only growing more filthy. The attendants never cleaned the tubs, which stayed stained and dirty. The patients were made to share bath towels, as well, and she hated touching the sheets against her skin, especially when she saw skin inflammation and open sores on others.

She lifted the night rail from her and set it aside, picking up the pretty chemise. It was soft from wear but it felt good against her bare skin. She took the blue dress and held it against her, reveling in the fact that she had thought of something so pretty to wear. This had been one of her favorite dresses that Dalinda possessed. The two girls had sometimes traded dresses since they were almost the same height, Dalinda being maybe an inch taller. Mama hadn’t minded them doing so and Dalinda’s mother had died after