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“Coming in,” she warns, bringing the hot cauldron with her. “It doesn’t take long in this pot. Pull your feet back so ya don’t get burned.”
I do as she suggests, and she pours the water into the tub. The moment the heat hits me, my muscles relax almost instantly. The water stops at my waist. “I’m going to get a bit more,” she says, disappearingfrom behind the screen. I lie back in the tub, relishing the heat as it passes through my body.
Cora returns quickly, pouring more water and bringing the level to my neck. “Thank you.”
“Aye, you keep saying that.” She laughs as she speaks.
“It’s because I’m grateful.” I laugh with her.
“I’ll give you some privacy. Captain Rex requested soup for ya. I’ll bring it back after you’re clean.”
“Than—”
“Don’t thank me, Elsbeth. It’s my job.” She disappears, leaving me alone in the room. Sinking into the tub, I lower my head under the water. It takes three scrubs with the soap before I begin to feel like my hair is clean. I scrub the rest of my body, not surprised that the water turns cloudy almost instantly.
“I brought you some soup and a clean dress,” Cora announces, coming back into the room.
“A clean dress?” I’ve worn the same dress for the past month.
“Aye. It’s got a few mended holes, but it’s clean and smells better than the one you’re wearing.” She sets the clean clothes behind the screen. “You’ll find a cloth to dry yourself with there as well.”
I climb from the now cold water and find the clothes and drying cloth she left for me. The fabric of the cloth is rough but feels good against my skin. The dress is worn but she’s right. It smells good and is soft. I put on the different layers, relishing the cleanliness.Several minutes later, I slide back the screen, finding a steaming bowl of soup waiting on the table.
“It’s not much,” Cora says, picking up the rags of my original dress. “I hope you like mushrooms.”
“It smells wonderful,” I answer, taking the spoon into my mouth. After a hot bath and a warm meal, I feel better than I have in a while.
“I’ll leave you to it,” Cora says, leaving me alone again.
I finish the soup, making sure to clean up the mess from my bath. “You look beautiful,” Thorne says, coming back into the room.
“Thank you. I smell better.” I laugh.
“Shall we go for a walk on deck, Miss Abernathy?” His thick Scottish brogue turns into formal English as he offers me his arm.
“Aye, I’d like that.”
He loops my arm through his, and we exit the main door, heading toward the helm. “Captain on deck!” Smith yells from behind the wheel. I watch as the men stop what they’re doing and salute Thorne.
“Do they always do that?” I ask.
“Aye. It feels a little too formal to me, but it’s required, so I deal with it.”
“Captain?” Smith says from the helm. “The lookouts have spotted a ship in the distance.”
“What kind of ship?” he asks.
“Too far away to know. She’s got four sails.” The two men share a look.
“What does that mean?” I ask.
Thorne turns back toward me. “It’s too early to know. Most likely a cargo vessel on its way back home.” He turns back to his first mate. “Keep me informed.”
“Aye, Captain.” We walk toward the bow of the ship, allowing Thorne to get a better view of the approaching vessel.
“Should we be worried?”
“We’ll soon find out. They’re clearly moving in our direction.”
