A bubble of nervous laughter arose. This was something of an adventure! She stroked the cat, wishing she could be up on deck to see all the excitement, but she’d have to be patient.
She nibbled on a stick of salami she’d brought, sharing bits with the cat as preparations continued above. She nearly jumped out of her skin at the mightyboomof a foghorn. So loud! Two long blasts sounded, and a moment later a dip and a lift of the ship signaled they were leaving port. They were moving! Oh, how she wished she could be up above to see, but just knowing this huge ship was actually on the move was one of the most oddly thrilling experiences of her life.
She settled against the wall, hauling the cat back onto her lap. “Just a few more hours, Sweetie Pie.”
The wait was going to be long and boring, and at the end of it, she’d have to test the limits of Gray’s temper. For all her earlier bravado, weathering the storm ahead was going to take nerves of steel.
Twenty-Seven
By five o’clock, Annabelle was tired and sore from huddling in the cargo hold, but it was time to brave Gray’s wrath and let him know she was aboard the ship. Her legs felt weak as wet straw as she pushed to her feet.
“Come on, Sweetie Pie,” she urged the cat, scooping it up into her arms. It would be comforting to have something to cling to as she faced Gray.
She peeked out into the hallway, which was empty and lit by strange lamps anchored high on the walls every few yards. The noises of the ship were different now, like a low, rumbling hum. Thank heavens those awful clanking chains weren’t rattling anymore. She’d probably hear that sound in her sleep for weeks.
Caroline had told her to climb the stairs until she reached the top deck, then head toward the front of the ship, where she’d encounter either Gray or a man named Captain Haig. She found the compartment with the staircase inside, but it was so steep, it was almost like climbing a ladder. Holding the cat was awkward as she climbed, and it twisted out of her arms to scamper away. She missed its comforting weight.
All too soon she arrived at the top deck. The door leading out was surprisingly heavy, but she got it open and poked herhead out. Wind hit her in the face, and the glare of sunlight on the ocean made her squint. They were far out to sea—much too far to turn back now.
There was no one on deck, so she headed toward the bow while the powerful winds buffeted her hair and skirts. A covered room was near the front of the ship. A wheelhouse? A bridge? She didn’t know anything about ships, but a man was inside. It was probably Captain Haig, for he looked exactly like Caroline had described, with long white hair tied back to reveal a leathery face.
Annabelle tapped on the glass, and the old man glanced over, his eyes growing wide. In two steps he jerked the door open.
“Who are you?” he demanded.
“I’m Annabelle Larkin, and I need to speak with Gray Delacroix. Can you call for him?”
“Well, Annabelle Larkin, I’d like to know what you’re doing on my ship.” There was no mercy in his eyes, but she couldn’t afford to be timid.
“It’s actually Gray Delacroix’s ship, right? I came aboard on business, and it’s probably time to discuss it with him.” She gave him a tentative smile despite the nerves shaking her entire body. The next ten minutes were going to be thoroughly awful, but she needed to confront it head on. “Can you send for him?” she prompted when the old man continued to do nothing but glare at her.
Captain Haig finally tugged on a cord near a control panel, and a young sailor appeared moments later. “Go get Delacroix,” he bit out. “Tell him we have a stowaway.”
The young sailor disappeared down the hatch, but the old one went back to staring stonily into the distance.
“Thank you,” she said.
Captain Haig didn’t say anything, just kept staring straight ahead as though he hadn’t heard her. She refused to let his rude behavior unnerve her. She deserved every bit of it, and things were only going to get worse soon.
The thud of footsteps heralded Gray’s arrival. He appeared on the opposite side of the bridge, his brows narrowed in concern and the white cat draped over one of his arms.
“What’s going on?” Gray asked the captain, who sent a pointed glance her way.
Gray’s face darkened like a thundercloud when he saw her, and he dropped the cat, which ran for cover. She wished she could do the same, but she squared her shoulders and met his gaze.
“This is a little awkward—”
“This is an outrage!” he roared, stepping forward to tower above her. “What are you doing on this ship?”
“Caroline sent me.”
It was the only thing she needed to say. Gray’s eyes morphed from shock to disbelief to anger. He turned away and let out a stream of curse words. She’d never even heard some of them but figured they were pretty bad.
“She thought you should change your mind about teaming up withGood Housekeeping,”she said,“and that I’d have a better shot at persuading the editor to your cause. I know you’re angry. You have every right to be.”
“Thanks, Annabelle, that’s very generous of you.” Emotions continued flashing across his face as he struggled to control himself. Finally he turned to Captain Haig. “Turn this ship around. I’m not sailing with her.”
“You can’t!” she gasped.
