The glass panes rattled under the force of the wind, matching the sudden trembling of my nerves as I sat up straighter. It was one thing when he was at a distance or I was serving him, but now, with him staring at me across the table, just a few feet separating us, I felt vulnerable and exposed under his scrutiny.
He had clearly come into his cabin with a purpose tonight.
“How old are you?” he asked.
My nerves were so upended, I couldn’t remember—not even my real age.
The ship creaked as it moved through the water, and he waited for my answer.
“Fourteen,” I whispered.
For the first time, I saw a glint of humor in his gaze. It changed his entire demeanor, softening him and making him feel like my equal. “I’d wager you’re older than fourteen.”
Sweat beaded on my forehead. I wanted to run out of the room—away from his probing eyes and undivided attention. His handsome gaze and demanding presence. But there was nowhere to run on a ship, and it would only cause more questions.
I stilled my nerves and decided not to answer him directly, but with my own question. “Why would I lie about my age?”
“Mayhap to hide the fact that you’re not a boy at all.”
His sentence hung between us like a cannon suspended in air. He stared at me, waiting for me to respond. But I couldn’t. I was speechless with both surprise and fear.
“How old are you, lass?” he asked, his voice low and gentle.
I swallowed, knowing it was pointless to deny it. I had always been at his mercy, but I felt especially so now. “Twenty.”
“Does anyone else know that you’re a woman?” he asked me.
I shook my head slowly. “How doyouknow?”
The humor returned to his gaze, and his mouth relaxed. “Your movements caught my eye on that first day from up above theAdventurer. I couldn’t be certain, but I’ve been watching you closely ever since. You don’t undress in front of anyone, you wait for the head when no one else is occupying it, and you serve a table like a woman trained in etiquette and deportment.”
“I was on theAdventurerfor weeks and no one said anything.”
“You do a good job hiding the truth,” he said. “I knew I was taking a risk in asking you, because I wasn’t completely sure—but now that I know, ’tis impossible not to see.”
“What will you do about it?”
A slight frown tilted his brow, as if it was obvious. “I’ll protect you.”
Warmth burst through my chest at that simple statement, and heat climbed up my cheeks. I hadn’t felt protected since I’d left the security of Middelburg Plantation—and even then, Grandfather would rather marry me off to the highest bidder than guard my heart.
“What’s your real name?” he asked next.
“Caroline,” I whispered.
My name seemed to soften him further, and the first gentle smile tilted his lips. “Caroline.” He said my name like it was poetry or a song, something beautiful to reflect upon and admire. “And your last name?”
“Reed.”
“Caroline Reed.” He studied me in the flickering lamplight, as if he were trying to imagine me in finery and not the soiled and smelly clothes of a cabin boy.
I felt self-conscious about my appearance, especially under his scrutiny, and began to fidget. I longed for a bath, sweet-smelling soap, clean undergarments, and a dress. Though I loved the freedom in trousers, I missed feeling feminine and attractive. Especially now, with his intense eyes upon me.
I lowered my gaze, my cheeks warming further.
“And you did all of this to meet your mam?” he asked.
I nodded.
