“I admire your dedication and courage, Caroline Reed.” His brogue deepened with sincerity. “I will help you find her.”
“Why?”
He lifted his chin. “Because despite what you may think of me, I’m an honorable man.”
I stopped fidgeting as shame coursed through me—yet, why would I assume he was honorable? I’d met him when I was taken captive by his father. I had every right to assume the worst. Unless he proved himself different, which was what he was trying to do.
He stood and went back to the window, staring at the oncoming storm. When he turned to me, he said, “You can’t tell anyone else that you are a woman.”
“I won’t.”
“They’re a superstitious lot and would send you overboard, but not before—” He paused.
My cheeks burned with the implication of his silence.
He swallowed and looked out the window again. “’Tis best that you stick close to my cabin until I can find a way to get you free. Do your duties, when required, so as not to draw unwanted attention, but don’t interact with the others if it isn’t necessary.”
“I won’t.”
Silence filled the cabin again as I waited for him to continue. When he finally moved away from the window, he said, “I’ll be needed on the main deck for this storm, but you should stay here.”
There was nothing left for me to say, so I remained quiet.
He reached for the knob on his cabin door but turned back to me. “Is there anything you need?”
I thought of a whole list of things I needed—like a bath and a comb and a fresh change of clothes—but I shook my head instead.
“You’re doing a fine job, lass. Living at sea is one of the hardest jobs there is.” He didn’t give me time to respond before he left his cabin.
I stared at the closed door for several minutes after he was gone, wondering if my secret was safe with Marcus Zale.
And realizing I had no choice but to trust him.
8
JUNE 29, 1927
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
I had gone to sleep with the storm blowing the ship over rolling waves, and I woke up to a storm slashing against the windows of our house on Dupont Avenue. Lightning filled the dark sky, and thunder shook the earth.
My room was cheerful despite the storm, with soft white curtains, floral wallpaper, and white trim. A white canopy bed offered more delicate fabric to the room, and a plush rug softened the hardwood floors. For a moment, I savored the comfortable bed and my clean skin and hair.
But thoughts of Marcus filled my mind. Now that I knew he was aware of my identity, everything was different.
I pushed aside my covers, not wanting to think too deeply about the captain’s son. I wanted to trust him, to believe that he would help me escape, but I couldn’t be certain. Was he just trying to get me to trust him so he could sabotage me? I wasn’t sure what he would gain from it, but there might be something in it for him.
Only time would tell—and I had a lot of that.
As soon as I forced thoughts of Marcus from my mind, he was replaced with thoughts of Alice. I needed to get her out of our house before Ruth and her children arrived.
I quickly changed into a green dress with a dropped waistline, a pleated skirt, and a scooped neckline. Since I wore a hairnet to sleep at night, my marcel waves were still intact and I only had to touch them up a bit to make them presentable.
My hair reminded me of Lewis’s visit the night before and the dreaded nickname he’d given me when I was fourteen. I wouldn’t believe him when he said he teased me because he had a crush on me. He had liked to make me look foolish when we were younger, and if I started to believe him now, it would only increase my foolishness.
I finished my toilette and left my room, pushing Lewis out of my mind, too.
The guest bedroom door was slightly ajar, so I peeked inside and found that Alice was gone. Alarm filled me as I rushed down the stairs. I didn’t want Alice to have access to my parents without my presence.
