Veronica was a bit under the weather the next day. Finn didn't help much, although she tried, coming in with warm drinks, warming blankets by the fire and covering Veronica with them, coming in and asking questions about what she needed to do with the seeds so they wouldn't spoil. Her restless energy was back, and all of it was focussed on attempting to make Veronica feel better.
Veronica phased in and out of naps through the day, and she heard Finn approach and fill the container of water by her bed as well as the glass, she felt the cold cloth Finn used to wipe her warm forehead, woke when Finn gave her willow bark tea. The recipe was in one of her books, and when her fever went down she was a little relieved that she'd helped Finn learn how to read. She heard Roxton and Challenger ask about her, heard Finn firmly declare herself capable of taking care of Veronica by herself. She heard Marguerite slip in past Finn, feel for herself Veronica's forehead and tut in frustration.
"You're nowhere near as bad as I thought, with all her fussing and clucking around you like a mother hen," Marguerite said. "She almost had me worried for a moment, but you're nearly indestructible." Marguerite took Veronica's hand, held it in what Veronica suspected was supposed to be a comforting way. "Still, the attention she's paying you... I thought it was all one-sided but she's beside herself. You might be in luck." With that, Marguerite pressed a kiss to Veronica's knuckles and stood. "Oh. Finn. I thought I'd check on her while you watered the corn."
Veronica didn't open her heavy eyes to watch what happened, but whatever happened was silent until Finn was back at her side, replacing the cold cloth on her forehead. Part of her wanted to object, to say Marguerite was right, but the rest of her was exhausted. The stress and worry of keeping her family safe and alive must have been wearing her down. Finn's fingers smoothed her hair back from her face, and Veronica drifted off again.
That night Finn came in and lit the lamp, holding the Jules Verne. She read slowly, but with more surety than before and Veronica found herself getting caught up in the familiar story, found herself drifting to sleep.
She woke to lips pressed against her sweaty forehead and the sound of the book being left on her shelf, and she was disappointed for a moment that Finn hadn't decided to slip in beside her for the night.