Isabelle and Alexander by Rebecca Anderson (new books to read TXT) 📗

the man she had promised her life to. Had promised her love to.

Eyelids drifting closed, she let the world disappear but for where her skin met his. As she pressed her lips gently to his, she felt his response, sure and strong. When his hands caressed her hair, she felt a power bloom in her heart, her mind, her soul.

Pulling back to look into his eyes, she immediately knew a yearning for more. Leaning forward, she met Alexander’s lips once again. This time she broke away with a smile.

They stayed there, him in his chair and her kneeling before him, staring in wonder at each other’s open, eager, willing faces. She reached up and stroked his cheek, felt him turn his head into her bandaged hand.

Alexander’s burning gaze softened as he whispered, “There is so much more I cannot do. Cannot be. The unfairness of the future that stands before you . . .” he began.

Isabelle shook her head. “The future is before us. Both of us. Together. And,” she said, linking her arm with his, “if we can face it like this, we already have a strong foundation.” She felt a catch in her throat. “Say you will stay. Say you believe we can be strong enough to cover each other’s imperfections.”

“I want to believe,” he said.

“That is enough,” she replied.

Doctor Kelley gently cleared his throat, and at the sound, they both looked to him. It had felt completely comfortable to share this intimate moment while he stood over them, protective and caring. His voice, choked with tears, held all the tenderness of the love he felt for Alexander. “My dears, it appears you have begun to arrive at a decision.” He stepped over to Isabelle and helped her to her feet. “It is precisely the direction I hoped you would take, and I wish to offer my services as long and as often as I can be useful.”

Leading Isabelle to sit in the chair beside Alexander, the doctor bowed over her hand. He raised his head and looked from one to the other. “I believe, however, that nothing I can do at present will be as worthwhile as taking my leave. I shall return in one hour, at which time we can begin to train our Isabelle to refine her nursing skills.”

Happy for Isabelle was the day she regained her dressing room by the evacuation of Nurse Margaret from the home. Doctor Kelley had made all the necessary arrangements with Doctor Fredericks, using his professional skill and his natural kindliness to excuse both the doctor and the nurse from their contracts without creating any offense.

Doctor Kelley took a room in town after graciously rejecting Isabelle’s offer of a place in Alexander’s dressing room. “A bit of professional distance is something I will need help in achieving,” he said. “I shall be nearby, but not to the eradication of your privacy.”

The new arrangement of their lives moved forward with very little disruption.

Early the next morning, upon waking in her parlor chair, she watched Alexander stretch his hands and bend his elbows in the candlelight, growing stronger before her watchful gaze.

“Am I dreaming?” she asked.

“Perhaps,” Alexander said, pushing on the wheel of his chair to come closer to her and gently wrapping her wrists in his fingers. “What do you imagine?”

“In my dream, you are beside me as I wake.” She stretched one leg on the footstool. “You seem, if I may be so bold, to rather fancy me.”

Alexander breathed a laugh. “Oh, indeed. This does sound like a dream.”

Isabelle closed her eyes again. “I believe I shall continue to sleep so I can hold this dream awhile longer,” she murmured.

“My dear Isabelle,” Alexander said, tracing his finger along her hairline, soft as a whisper, “if you so desire, I shall be at your side every time you wake. I shall prove to you beyond any doubt that you are more precious to me than anyone or anything. I shall strengthen my arms to hold you close. You shall never need wonder nor worry. I shall do all I can to make your every waking moment better than a dream.”

Isabelle sighed and reached for him. With bandaged arms, she pulled his hands to her heart. “Can it be true? I do so hope I am truly awake.” She sat up further and faced Alexander. “I don’t mean to doubt you, but I am afraid. It is difficult for me to believe.”

“How can I prove to you that it is all true?” he asked, his voice filled with hope and longing. “You have suffered, worked, and cared for me, and all the while I was the most difficult patient.”

She stroked the side of his face with her cloth-bound hand. “I only hoped to win your love.”

“And I hoped nothing more than that I could grow to deserve you,” he whispered.

“Just as you are,” she said, eyes shining with love and with an emerging confidence. “Just exactly as you are.”

Isabelle rose and stood in front of his chair. “May I?” she asked as she climbed into his lap.

Curled up in his arms, she felt him enfold her. “How it is possible that you fit so perfectly?” Alexander whispered into her hair.

She nuzzled her face into his neck, absorbing his increasing strength. “I believe perhaps we have always fit together so well. We simply needed some time to discover the truth,” she said.

He placed a gentle hand beneath her chin and tilted her head toward his. “Isabelle,” he breathed, “my dearest Isabelle. How can I say it? You have saved my life, my work, and my heart. I will spend every remaining day proving my love to you.”

She turned her head to meet his eye. “Mr. Osgood, did you say love?”

“Oh, Isabelle,” he said. “I love you more than I would have ever thought possible.”

“And I love you, Alec.”

Before she could finish speaking his name, his lips touched her own in a tender and tentative kiss. As she rose to meet him