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“Mama,” I whisper.
“No, it’s all right,” Thorne answers. “As far as captains go, Iamyoung. Mrs. Abernathy is correct. I am young to be in charge of a ship of this size.” He stands, moving across the room. “The honor of becoming captain is partly because of my ability and partly because of my family name. The Rex family is very well-known in the shipping business. Once we arrive in America, I plan to expand our business to a new country.”
“Do you think I could be a captain one day?” Bertram asks.
“If that’s what you want,” he answers. “Of course you can.”
Smith walks back into the room, carrying another platter of chicken. I watch as Thorne places more food on the plates of my siblings who are still eating. “I can’t thank you enough for this meal,” Mama says, eating her second piece. “It’s been a while since we’ve eaten a meal together as a family.”
“In that case, I insist you all eat with me every evening.”
“Oh, no, we couldn’t…” Mama starts.
“Nonsense,” Thorne interrupts. “I insist.”
“Can we, Mama? Please?” Bonnie asks from the other side of the table.
“We’ll see,” she answers.
We spend the next hour listening to Thorne’s stories of growing up on the sea. The more I’m around him, the more comfortable I feel, and the more attractive he becomes. I’ve never been around someone like him before, and my emotions betray me with thoughts of spending the rest of my life with him.Don’t be ridiculous, Elsie. As soon as you have a spell, he’ll be like all the rest.The voice in my head brings me back to reality.
“Thank you for the meal, Captain,” Mama says, standing from the table. “It’s getting late, and the children need their rest.”
“Of course, Mrs. Abernathy. Thank you for the company. It’s been a while since I’ve shared my table.”
She stands, gathering my siblings. They head toward the door when Mama turns back toward me. “Elsbeth?”
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
She nods, giving me a smile of approval. I stare at the back of her head as she exits with my family in tow. Her smile brings the butterflies to life again. I’ve been around men all my life, but something about Thorne feels different.
“Thank you for dinner,” I say after they’ve left his quarters.
“My pleasure, Elsbeth. My offer is sincere. Your family needs to eat and with no father in the picture?—”
“My father is dead,” I interrupt. “It wasn’t his choice to not be in the picture.”
Thorne stands straighter. “Of course. It wasn’t my intention to infer anything otherwise.” He clears his throat. “I apologize if my choice of words offended you.”
I look down, not sure which crack in the floorboard to stare at. “No. It’s me who should apologize. My father and I were very close. The thought of his reputation being damaged isn’t something I’m prepared to think about.”
“I understand.” I look up, making eye contact. Gray eyes stare back at me, offering warmth through our connection. Thorne glances between my eyes and mymouth. “Thank you for dinner, Captain,” I repeat, suddenly feeling out of sorts.
“You said that already,” he reminds me.
“I did, didn’t I?”
Large fingers wrap around mine as he pulls my hand to his lips, kissing the back. Tingles run down the length of my spine. I don’t know whether to stand here, hoping for another hand kiss, or to turn and exit gracefully. Who am I kidding? I don’t do anything gracefully.
Pulling my hand slowly from his, I turn toward the door. Just like the last two times we’ve spoken, I feel his eyes follow me through the door. Once outside, the breeze hits me, lifting several loose tendrils of hair with it.
I move closer to the rail, overlooking the glassy sea below, hoping to make sense of the plethora of emotions I feel running through my soul. “Elsbeth,” a voice whispers from below, drawing me back to reality. I recognize it as the same voice as before.
“Where are you?” I shout over the edge. “Who are you?”
“Whoweare will soon be discovered. Until then, my dear.”
Am I losing my mind? Seconds later, a feeling that’s been hidden for the past month boils its way to the surface. The sea below forms the familiar wiggles, telling me I must sit quickly. Before I’m able to obey my body, my legs and hands become numb, causing me to lose control of my extremities.
