Tobias glanced over at her and couldn't resist that smile. "Aye, we've flown it more than once."
"My mother was American."
Tobias watched her thoughtfully. So, this was something about Miss Winslow he hadn't known before.
Elyse turned, leaning casually back against the railing, her hair catching in the wind. "My grandmother still calls the United States, the Colonies, even though they haven't been colonies for over a hundred years.
"I was born there, but I don't remember very much about it. I came to England when I was very small. My parents died, and I've lived with my grandmother ever since. England is the only home I've ever known. It's easy to love something when you've never known anything different. People often think of me as a foreigner."
She didn't mention that Jerrold once suggested he was making a great sacrifice in marrying her. He'd quickly dismissed her American-born mother, emphasizing her father's side of the family when introducing her to family and friends as if it was something to be looked down on.
It was late afternoon. A shadow swooped across the deck and Elyse looked up.
"Gulls," Tobias informed her.
She frowned. "But I thought they stayed close to shore."
"Aye, they do." He nodded to her.
Her gaze met his. "But I don't see land."
"You won't for a few hours. But the wind has been good, and we'll be there soon enough."
Elyse turned. Shading her eyes, she strained to see something other than rolling ocean on the horizon. Tobias pointed over her shoulder. "You'll be able to see it there first. The Spanish coastline. We should make it by tomorrow if the wind holds."
Zach adjusted the wheel of theRevengewith the subtle change of the wind. He should have insisted that Elyse stay below decks. But Tobias’ request that she be allowed some freedom had seemed harmless enough.
He was surprised at how much he knew about her. She loved the freedom of a stolen ride in the early morning hours, dressed as a man so as not to draw attention. He could envision her riding in the Woods, perhaps in search of Jane's Folly, her hair whipping out behind her. Or, sneaking through backstreets and alleys with him, in nothing more than a man's shirt and coat.
She loved her freedom, and he could imagine her frustration at her imprisonment in the small cabin measuring no more than ten feet square. She'd managed to let them all know just what she thought of her situation.
He looked for her, his gaze searching the deck where she'd just been with Tobias. Her long dark hair streaming in the wind. Earlier, he'd allowed Tobias to convince him that she would be perfectly safe up on deck. He now realized that had been foolish on his part.
She was the only woman aboard a ship with a full crew of men. They were good men to the last of them, but still they were men and a woman, even one dressed in long pants and a shirt could mean trouble.
Zach cursed under his breath as he turned the wheel over to his second mate.
He had several matters he wanted to discuss with Miss Winslow, and it was better done below decks. It was best to establish that now.
She made a beguiling sight, her face turned toward the sun, the wind in her hair. Too beguiling, Zach thought as he joined her and Tobias.
"I'm certain you find all this quite enjoyable, Miss Winslow," he commented. However, this is not a pleasure cruise. You will go below."
Her mouth dropped open. She'd felt him before she'd heard him, known the exact moment he came up behind her, and had sensed something in his hesitation. She was grateful that he'd kept his distance from her and hoped it would continue. Apparently not.
The picture Tobias had painted was certainly not of a ruthless, unfeeling man. He was responsible and caring toward his men. She'd seen it in the easy camaraderie they enjoyed as he spoke to them and worked alongside them. Why was the anger so easy with her? What did he want from her?
It was Tobias who broke the emotionally charged air. "There's no harm, and it's beastly hot in those cabins."
"Nevertheless, she's to return to her cabin," Zach replied.
Elyse stiffened. So, now she was a prisoner again.
"If you object to my request, Miss Winslow," he continued, "I can always have you removed, forcibly if necessary. One way or the other you will go below."
Why was he being so hateful to her?
Tobias muttered under his breath, out of earshot of the crew. "There's no need for this. She wasn't doing anything wrong."
