It was good advice for someone with a simpler problem, but Cassandra didn’t tell her friend that. Instead, she ate her tart and waited for the butler to tell her it was time to depart.
“Goodness gracious me,” Penelope whispered against the glass pane of the carriage window when they rolled to a halt beside The Condor an hour later. “Is that it, Mama?” Cassandra peered over Penelope’s shoulder. “Is that the one we’ll be sailing on?”
“I believe so, my love.”
The carriage door opened and the driver set down the steps. Cassandra helped Penelope alight and then glanced about at the mass of people bustling to and fro. It was an interesting blend of merchants, sailors, upper class gentlemen, and tradesmen. Only a few women were present, making Cassandra feel rather like a red apple among all the yellow ones.
She clasped Penelope’s hand and turned to the driver. “Do we just go on board?” Perhaps asking Caleb to greet them on the quay so he could escort them would not have been a terrible idea. But Cassandra was used to handling things on her own, so she’d decided there wasn’t a need to trouble him.
“I think that’s your husband right now, coming to assist you,” the driver said. Cassandra turned and immediately spotted Devlin. His warm gaze was fixed entirely on her as he ate up the distance between them, striding down the gangplank as if he owned the entire country.
“Dev!” Penelope squealed and yanked her hand free from Cassandra’s so she could run toward her new stepfather. The driver chuckled, gave Cassandra a look of amusement, and went to unload her trunks and bags.
Cassandra remained where she was, unsure of how to proceed. For although she was pleased to see Devlin again, she wasn’t sure how to greet him. Their relationship was unique – something slightly more than friendship, yet significantly less than a love match. In the end, her concerns were unfounded. Having given Penelope a hug and exchanged a few words with her, he took her by the hand, crossed to where Cassandra stood, and dropped a quick kiss on her cheek.
It was chaste and very polite, yet somehow…lacking. Cassandra knit her brow and tried to focus on something besides the fact that she wished he’d done something a little more daring. Although to be fair, she had no idea what that something could have been, considering all the stipulations she’d placed on their marriage.
She sighed, fully aware she wasn’t being very fair to him and disliking herself for it more than she’d ever expected.
“You look well,” he said with the sort of bright smile that did funny things to her insides.
“As do you,” Cassandra murmured.
His eyes flashed with something akin to amusement, and then he asked Penelope, “Are you ready to see your cabin?”
“Oh yes. I can scarcely wait!” Penelope started forward, practically dragging Devlin along behind her. Cassandra hid a smile and followed.
“Have you remembered to pack enough fruit and vegetables?” Penelope asked in a rush of words.
Devlin gave Cassandra a hasty glance as if to make sure she was coming along before dropping his gaze to Penelope, “Why do you ask?”
“Well, from what I have read, eating fresh fruit and vegetables helps prevent scurvy. And since I do value my teeth, I think that’s an ailment I’d rather not have to experience. According to Captain Cook – I started reading one of his books in preparation for this journey, you know – lemon juice also works. And since Mama does enjoy making lemonade and I have never had scurvy, I suppose he must have been on to something. And also…” They made their way across the gangplank. “I’ve been wondering about the risk of falling out of bed.”
At this, Devlin started laughing. “You’ve certainly been giving a great deal of thought to life aboard a ship, Penny.” He turned to help Cassandra down onto the deck. “To ease your mind, we have plenty of fresh supplies to get us to Portugal. We’ll stop there for a couple of days in order to bring more fresh fruit like oranges and lemons aboard so we’ve got enough to get us to Cape Town.”
“Oh!” Penelope clapped her hands. “That’s the southernmost part of Africa.” Her eyes widened. “Will we disembark there? Will I be able to tell my friends that I’ve set foot on Table Mountain?”
“Yes and no,” Devlin said. He offered Cassandra his arm. “I don’t recall her being so inquisitive before.”
“She’s very excited.” And Penelope’s excitement was infectious. Within the last fifteen minutes, Cassandra had begun looking forward to sailing across the world and exploring new places in a way she hadn’t before. Standing on board The Condor made it real, and her daughter’s questions encouraged her own desire to learn more as well.
“Go ahead and descend the ladder to your left,” Devlin told Penelope, whose rapid footsteps had taken her on ahead. He nodded toward a crewman, who tipped his cap politely toward Cassandra before resuming his duties. “I’ll introduce you to everyone once you’ve gotten settled. Tonight, we’ll dine with my first mate, Mr. Montgomery Quinn, and my quartermaster, who’s also the ship’s physician, Mr. Lionel Bronswick. They’ll be the ones you’ll turn to for help if I’m not available, so getting acquainted with them before we sail in the morning is important. Now watch your head.”
Cassandra grabbed the railing and bowed her head to avoid the lintel as she clambered down the almost vertical steps. Darkness swallowed most of the light, and a warm smell of dry pine filled the air. It was quieter below deck, allowing Cassandra to hear the soft creaks and moans the ship made.
“This way.” Devlin directed Penelope and Cassandra through a narrow passageway straight ahead. He stopped at the second door on the right and opened it. “This is where you will be sleeping, Penny. It’s not as big as what you’re used to but—”
“I love it,” Penelope cried, almost stumbling over her own feet in her haste to enter the space she’d been given. Cassandra watched as she rushed to the porthole and looked out before giving the rest of the cabin her attention. “There’s a desk and a bed, which is more than I’d ever expected, to be honest.”
“You didn’t think you’d have a bed to sleep in?” Devlin asked with one raised brow.
“I don’t know.” Penelope frowned and twisted her lips. “I suppose I thought only the captain would have such luxury and that everyone else slept in hammocks.”
Devlin laughed. “I can get you a hammock if you wish it and hang it up overhead.”
“I…er… Do you think that’s a good idea?” Cassandra asked.
He glanced her way, paused for a second, then said, “Maybe we’ll stick to the bed for now, Penny. There’s a bar on the side, which should answer your earlier question about falling out.”
