The cabin was small, with a wide bed built into the side of the wall, and a rail along the open side.“That’s to stop you fallin’ out of the bunk if we get rough weather,” Betsy said matter-of-factly.She demonstrated how it could be raised or lowered.
Tessa hoped it wouldn’t get rough enough for that!
There was also a little round window, a porthole, which was fastened shut at the moment, to stop the spray getting in.
“I hope it won’t be too rough,” Tessa said, peering out of the porthole.“I’ve never been on the sea before.”
Betsy smiled.“Don’t you worry none, m’lady.This is a grand yacht, and Captain Saunders knows what he’s doin’.I’ve sailed on the Aurora many a time and we’ve never had a problem.”
“Do you work here all the time?”
The girl laughed.“Lord love ye, m’lady, no.Only when ‘is lordship has lady passengers.Me dad and brothers are all fishermen, so I knows me way around boats.And I’m glad of the extra pay—I’m savin’ up to get married.”
“Does his lordship often have lady passengers?”
The girl shook her head.“Nah.Only when his brother comes over from Zindaria and brings his wife and the boys—she’s a princess, you know.And a couple of times Mr Delaney ‘as brought ‘is wife, only it’s always one-way with him.He won’t bring ‘is precious ‘orses onto a yacht like this.”Seeing Tessa’s confusion she added, “Every year ‘e brings seven young ‘orses over from Zindaria.”
Tessa, recalling that Marcus’s half-brother, Harry Morant and his partner Ethan Delaney bred horses, nodded.
Betsy showed her where various things were stowed and, with a certain degree of pride, showed her something she called the head, which was a small closet in which she could relieve herself.Apparently fishing boats had nothing so civilized.There was also a little alcove with a wash basin built in, so it couldn’t slip in rough weather.It drained away all by itself, Betsy told her.“Just pull this little plug, miss.”
Everything was so neat and cleverly designed.Tessa found it fascinating.
“We’re about to cast off, m’lady,” Betsy said, “so if you want to watch, you’d better go up.”
Tessa hurried back up on deck and joined Marcus by the rail. “This is exciting,” she told him.
He smiled down at her and circled his arm around her waist.They watched as the sails were hoisted up and bellowed out as they caught the wind.And in no time at all the land was growing farther and father away as The Aurora skimmed over the waves.
Entranced, Tessa watched it all—the busy sailors, the fast-disappearing shoreline, the seabirds that circled, shrieking.The wind was brisk, and the boat bounced a little as it breached each wave.
“Feel all right?”Marcus asked her.“Not feeling queasy or anything?”
“Not at all.”She actually did feel a little peculiar, but she didn’t want to miss a moment.
“The fresh air will help,” he said.“You won’t be able to see the White Cliffs from here, but if it’s clear enough, we might be able to see to France.”
“The White Cliffs?”
“Yes, of Dover.The cliffs are chalky which makes them so pale.”
“Oh.”
“Never mind, we’ll see them when we return.It’s a sight that causes a lot of people to feel emotional—especially people who’ve been away from England a good long time.The White Cliffs of Dover is the first sight of ‘home’ to them.”
Tessa nodded vaguely.She’d only ever seen them mentioned in books, so she didn’t miss seeing them.She squinted in the direction they were heading, but she couldn’t see France either.But she was enjoying herself immensely, watching the prow of the boat breach wave after wave, sending spray up, and at the other end, watching the trail where the boat had been.
After a while she got cold—the wind was very brisk and seemed colder out on the water than it had on the shore.Marcus noticed her shivering and scrutinized her face.“Are you sure you don’t feel sick?You’re a little pale.We can easily change course and head for Calais if you prefer.It’s a much faster journey.”
“No, I’m fine.I’m enjoying this,” she assured him.She didn’t really feel sick—just a little peculiar with the movement of the boat on the waves.
“Then why don’t you go to your cabin and take a nap?It will take us the rest of the day, at least, to get to Ostend.I’ll come down and join you later.”
She nodded and made her way unsteadily to her cabin.
Betsy met her there.“Feeling a mite queasy, m’lady?”
Tessa was about to deny it—she was determined not to be a bad sailor—but Betsy said, “Don’t worry m’lady, I got just the thing for you.”She produced a flask and poured out a cupful.“Cold tea with ginger and a few ‘erbs me mam swears by—just the thing to settle your stomach.Now, drink it all down.”
