Page 15 of The Lord's Compass
“Very well,” the captain said, apparently tired enough that he didn’t overly care about this situation any longer. “I hope you now understand that there are dangers on every ship. And that it is not my men to be concerned about.”
“We understand,” Eric said with a nod. “We do wonder what will happen to Mr. Smith here.”
“Well,” the captain said with a shrug. “He paid for a cabin like everyone else. Nothing actually happened to your… wife, now did it? It was Mr. Smith who came away from the exchange injured. So I suppose it was as he said – he had his cabins mixed up.”
Faith stepped forward, ready to tell the captain exactly what she thought of his insinuation that she had practically invited the man to come attack her, but Eric placed a hand over her good one, gripping it tightly.
“Very well,” he said, although his jaw was taut, as though he also didn’t appreciate the captain’s reaction. He nodded to the returning crew member who had retrieved a bucket of water for them. “Goodnight, Captain.”
The captain ushered his crewmen and Mr. Smith out, the latter looking behind him with a lecherous grin that had Faith’s skin crawling and her anger boiling.
When the door closed behind them, she turned to Eric, unable to contain herself for any longer.
“What was that about?” she hissed. “Not only did you allow the man to get away with attacking me, but the captain insulted me with no repercussion and you named me as your wife on top of it!”
He led her to the bed, lifting the bucket onto the small table beside them. She allowed him to guide her hand into it, closing her eyes at the relief the icy water provided, which overcame the sting of the salt water when it hit the small cuts on her knuckles.
“I am aware that the situation is less than ideal,” he said, pacing back and forth, although the size of the room only allowed him two to three steps in either direction, which meant that Faith was becoming dizzy just watching him. “But the entire point of this journey is to make it surreptitiously. San Sebastian is not a big city. If we arrive with any scandal or question attached to our names, the locals will be distrustful, which is the exact opposite of what we want. We cannot have them knowing who we truly are.”
“Wedo not even know who we are supposed to be at this point,” she said with a sigh, and he nodded.
“You’re right. Well, I’ve said we’re married now?—”
“Without consulting me.”
“What was I supposed to do, Faith?” he said. “I hate to say it, but the captain has a point. The other passengers were aware that you were staying alone and unchaperoned. It was only a matter of time until something happened. Which is unfortunate, but it’s the way it is. And, as it happens, a married couple will attract far less attention than a single woman.”
She snorted, looking away. She hated that he was right. She hated that this was the way of it.
“At least now, I have a reason for keeping an eye on you, for ensuring that you are safe,” he continued.
“And just how are you going to do that?” she asked.
“You will come and stay in my cabin.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“Absolutely not.”
“There is no other option,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest, his thin white nightshirt doing nothing to hide the straining strength of his arms and shoulders. “Besides, my cabin is bigger than yours.”
“The size of the cabins is not the cause for my objection,” she said wryly.
He ignored her, walking over to the wardrobe.
“What are you doing?” she asked indignantly.
“Packing your things,” he said, finding her valise at the bottom and beginning to throw her dresses into it unceremoniously.
“Have you never packed before?” she asked nearly incredulously.
“Not really,” he said without any shame. “Have a valet for that, usually.”
“I shall do it myself,” she said, and he shook his head.
“Not with that hand,” he said. “Not tonight.”
“Tomorrow, then.”
