“That’s good. It takes awhile to get one’s sea legs.”
“Have you ever visitedIreland, Harry?”
“Yes, once. Some yearsago.”
She turned to him. “Before you joinedthe army? You can’t have been very old.”
“I was eight. My fathertook me there after my mother died.”
“Do you have Irishrelatives too?”
“No. I think he just wantedto get away. It wasn’t a pleasant trip. We were both verysad.”
Erina understood. She’d been a childwhen she’d lost her mother. Her heart throbbed in distress for him.No wonder he didn’t want to go to Ireland again. “I wish you’d toldme. I feel awful taking you back there.”
“It may lay some ghosts torest.” His brown eyes met hers. “In more ways than one.”
“I do hope so.”
He turned away. “Look Erina, on thehorizon, another ship. A big one, probably on its way toAmerica.”
“Yes! I can see it.” He hadchanged the subject. For once she didn’t pursue it. Perhaps she waslearning patience.
The swell increased. The boat began torise and fall as it plowed through the waves.
She began to feel sweaty and cold, andglanced around searching for the way to the water-closet, but thenher stomach clenched and churned, and she daren’t move far from theside.
Another lurch of the ship and thecontents of Erin’s stomach rushed into her throat. “Ooh.” Hangingonto the rail she vomited over the side. She gasped asembarrassment heated her cheeks
Harry’s arm came around her waist tosteady her. “Oh, go away, Harry. I’m sick,” she murmured. Her hatfell forward over her forehead almost blinding her and she daren’tlet go of her grip on the rail to push it back.
A steady hand removed her hat andsmoothed her hair away from her face. “You’ll feel better when wereach calmer waters.”
“No.” She moaned. “I’mgoing to die!”
“Nonsense,” came the sternreply. He offered her a large spotless handkerchief.
With the suspicion there was nothingof her breakfast remaining, she carefully pushed back away from therail and dabbed at her lips, a sour taste in her mouth. She tuckedthe handkerchief into her reticule “Can you help me to the ladies’convenience?”
“I believe it’scommunal.”
She gasped and stared at him inhorror.
“I’ll take you as far asthe door, and then you are on your own.”
A half hour later, Erina emerged,feeling slightly better. She’d rinsed her mouth, washed her face,and tidied her hair. Either the sea had calmed, or she was growingused to it, she wasn’t sure.
Harry waited, leaning his elbows onthe rail, her hat in his hand. “All right now?”
“I am, thank you.” She eyedhim suspiciously. “You aren’t going to say you told me so, areyou?”
He settled her hat on her head.“You’re a better color.”
She knew she looked bedraggled. “I’msorry, that wasn’t very generous of me.”
“Never mind. Not a pleasantthing to cast up one’s accounts, and I’m sure you’re tired. Look,”He pointed to the misty gray shape a few miles ahead. “Land! Weshould dock in an hour.”
“Oh, that isgood.”
