“Thank you,” said Elizabeth.
It was the quietest Ann had ever seen Elizabeth, and Ann hoped a little bit of solitude might restore her mood.
“And now might I take you back to your cabin?” said Brother Wheatley as he extended an arm to her.
The man was quite thoughtful and so helpful. How could she turn him down? Ann took his arm, and despite all that had just happened, he smiled. Together they moved slowly to the edge of the lower deck and toward hercabin. Just as she removed her arm from his to open the outer door, he stepped a little in front of it and took both of her hands in his.
“Miss Fowles.” His light eyes met hers. “If I may be bold, I think it rather obvious that I have paid you special attention on this voyage, especially today.”
Whatever she’d expected him to say when he’d blocked her way, it wasn’t this. He had kissed her on the cheek, she recalled, but if one had to be reminded of such a thing, that wasn’t promising.
Without waiting for a reply, he continued. “I’ve the desire to find myself a wife on this journey, and I am quite taken by you. Your inner strength, beauty, and ability to help others is not lost on me.”
He wasn’t—he couldn’t—be declaring himself like this, right here. She had figured he was interested, but in no way did she expect his sudden declaration. She wanted to stop him, but an overwhelming tightness threatened in her throat.
“Brother Wheatley—”
“It isn’t flattery, I speak from my heart.”
She’d just reviewed his good traits, so why did she feel decidedly sick about the whole thing? “Perhaps, then, you could give me some time to search my heart. At present, I do not know what to say.”
His brow clouded for a moment, but then his countenance lightened, his eyes full of compassion and hope. “Of course. I know sometimes I am too abrupt.”
“No, it just—” she sighed. “Thank you for understanding.”
He stared into her eyes and his smile grew. With one hand he took hers, and raised it close to his mouth, his gaze not leaving her eyes. Ann waited for a feeling of excitement. Instead, strangely divergent thoughts entered her mind. If she had to classify them, most would be directed toward Mr. Boyd. Again she wondered where he had gone after the fire. Brother Wheatley bowed his head and kissed her hand.
“Ann!” Over her shoulder Ann saw her mother was hurrying across the deck, wiping her hands on her cooking apron. Ann couldn’t have been more grateful for the interruption.
“Hello, Mother.”
Only then did Brother Wheatley break his focus, though he still held her hands.
Upon seeing a young gentleman holding her daughter’s hands and standing so close to her, Ann’s mother’s eyes went wide. “Well, hello there,” she said, a smirk drawing up one side of her mouth.
“Brother Wheatley was just walking me to my cabin.”
“Yes, yes, I can see that,” her mother replied, her smile growing. Ann wasn’t sure who was more pleased, her mother or Brother Wheatley himself.
“Well, I hate to interrupt your conversation,” her mother continued, “but they need you in the sick bay. Some of the sailors sustained injuries in the fire.”
“I’ll go right away.”
Brother Wheatley’s sigh was audible, but he finally relinquished Ann’s hands. “I should wish you good day,” he said.
She managed a polite curtsy to Brother Wheatley and took off across the deck, leaving her mother and suitor smiling side by side. Hopefully the two of them would do nothing to encourage the other in their designs for Ann.
Chapter 17
March 17, 1854
24 days at sea
Brother Wheatley’s proposalclung to the air like old tobacco smoke as Ann made her way down the hatchway, and she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Once below deck, she crossed the galley and went through steerage toward a small room where she knew the sick were taken. Dim light and the smell of dirty linen, body odor, and singed hair immediately warned anyone who entered of the danger of the place.
“Hello,” she said as she stood in the doorway. She stilled her features and donned a smile. “I’m Ann Fowles. I’ve come to help.”
