“Do you also sing?” he asked.
I turned and found him watching me.
“Aye.”
“’Tis a shame you can’t sing here on the ship.”
“Even if I could, I’m not sure I would sing for the others. I don’t like to sing for a large audience.”
He nodded, as if he understood. “Even if you only sing for an Audience of One, ’tis a joy for God to hear what He’s created.”
My hands stilled as his words struck something deep within me. Not only because he mentioned God, but because I’d never thought of singing for an Audience of One. Did it please God to hear me sing? I had only ever thought that I was somehow disappointing Him. I’d never considered that He might take joy in my voice simply because He created it. And wasn’t His opinion all that mattered?
I was still pondering this when Marcus walked to the bookshelf and asked, “Do you enjoy reading?”
“Aye.” I couldn’t hide the pleasure in my simple answer, nor the knowledge that he didn’t seem to want to leave. “’Tis a luxury.”
Marcus smiled at my response. “Read whichever books you’d like.”
My pulse sped up at the thought. “You wouldn’t mind?”
“Nay. I like knowing that someone else is enjoying them.”
“Have you read all of them?”
“Aye. Two or three times over.”
“Which is your favorite?”
He examined the shelf and shook his head. “’Tis too hard to pick a favorite. Some are weighty tomes on religion and politics, some are scientific or philosophical.” He pulled one from the shelf and set it on the table near me. “And some are just for pleasure. Start with this one.”
It wasGulliver’s Travels.
My lips parted in surprise as I looked up at him.
“You’ve read it?” he asked.
“Aye, many times over, but I’d love to read it again.”
“Mayhap we can discuss it later.”
I nodded, unable to find the words.
He finally left his cabin since he was needed on the quarterdeck.
As the morning passed, and I waited for my clothes to dry, I saton my cot and picked up where I’d left off inGulliver’s Travels, unaware of the passing time.
The storm had brought with it cooler air and carried some of the humidity away. I relished my clean body and the softness of Marcus’s cotton shirt against my bare skin. It was a rare day of idleness, which was good for both my body and soul. At lunchtime, there was a knock at the door, and when I opened it, I found Marcus holding a plate of food for me.
I took it with a glad heart.
“Are you enjoying the adventure again?” he asked me as he nodded at the book lying open on the table.
“Aye.” I grinned. “I’ll be done before nightfall.”
His smile was so sweet and eager, I felt almost giddy thinking about him joining me that evening to discuss the book.
When my clothes were dry, I slipped out of the borrowed ones I was wearing and refastened the tight binding, then put on the clothes that fit me properly, buttoning up the vest to cover any vestiges of my femininity. My hair was dry, so I secured it with a ribbon and then put on my stockings and shoes.
