“Have you given her blood before?” Eliza asked as she tapped her foot impatiently against the wooden floors—she seemed a little surprised. Or perhaps Doris was imagining it all. It was getting harder to tell what was real.

“Yes, and she woke up an hour after I did.” William straightened his shoulders and looked down his nose at Eliza. “If you don’t mind.” He said with a gesture to the door. It was almost funny seeing him be talked down to for once. She wished she was better so she could have enjoyed it more.

Eliza glanced at Doris and squeezed her hand before she left the room, closing the...