Page 18 of Only By Grace
Paddy’s eyes shifted nervously, but she didn’t press him. He scooped up Theo and began to leave.
Paddy tilted his head, his curiosity evidently outweighing his hesitation. “Aye, strange is one way to put it, but I don’t think I’d let the crew get a look at ye.”
Too late for that, she mused. Is that what had angered Carew so? “Is it still raining?”
“Cats and dogs, miss. Do you need me to take Theo out?”
“Indeed, if you have a few moments to spare. I’ve been forbidden to leave the cabin.”
Paddy’s eyes shifted nervously, but she didn’t press him. He scooped up Theo and began to leave the room, then stopped and turned around. “I almost forgot. Here’s the string and featherthat you asked for. I still need to bring the stick.” He turned his pocket inside out and deposited the items on the table.
“What kind of knot will hold the string to this feather, Paddy?” Grace had sewn long enough that she was confident in her abilities, but thought the boy would enjoy being asked for his opinion.
As expected, he considered the two objects. “I’ve been learning my knots. All good sailors must know knots, you know. If you look at the ship closely, all of the sails and rigging have them,” he said with amusing authority. “May I try?” he asked.
“I would be much obliged,” she answered.
He handed the kitten to her, who immediately went for the bowl of food for himself. Paddy considered the two objects, then began to tie the string around the end of the feather. He must not have liked that one because he unravelled it and then started again. Grace did not interrupt him.
His tongue protruded as he performed his task, then he smiled hugely when he had finished. He held it up for inspection. “I used a reef knot.”
“Well done,” she commended, recognizing a simple square knot. “Once you find the stick, you may tie the other end of the string to it for me, and we will have a perfect toy for Theo.”
He scooped the kitten up. “I’ll bring him back in a bit, miss. I do not know why everyone is so afraid of you. You’re not bad at all.”
With that revelation, he left the room, leaving her dumbfounded. “Why are they afraid of me?”
She pondered the question at length, but would have no answers for several hours. Paddy had come and gone with Theo and after reading several chapters, Grace had taken a long nap.
When she woke, it was to a pair of deep blue eyes looking down at her softly. Blinking away the sleep, it took her a moment to remember that he had yelled at her but a few hours ago.
“Forgive me, lass. I did not mean to shout at you.”
“Is it because the men are afraid of me?”
His eyes narrowed.
“Paddy let it slip.”
“Aye. They are convinced the calm seas are because of bad luck.”
“Bad luck?” she repeated in disbelief.
“There’s an old belief that having a lady on board will anger the sea gods.”
“Sea gods?” she whispered and pulled herself up on her elbows.
“They wanted me to row you back to England and ’twas why I called them up to do hard labour. They will be too tired now to worry about any superstitions. Just pray the winds begin blowing again by morning.”
“At least they didn’t demand I walk the plank.”
“That a girl,” he said gently, chucking her under the chin.
“You could row me back to England, you know. It would solve at least one of your problems.”
“Have you any idea how long it takes to row twenty miles? Because we are at least that far from land.” He began to pace across the cabin.
“Oh.”
