FIVE
CLEANEDFROM THE blood and with a bandage around his hand, Rennie was waiting for me in the passageway after I left the medical centre. He roamed his gaze over me, but it wasn’t the heated glance he’d given me when my dress had fallen apart. It was a clinical, searching-for-injuries look.
“Are you all right?” he asked, sounding sweetly concerned for me.
“Only a bruise.” I patted my ribs. “How are you?”
He stretched out a hand, as if to squeeze my shoulder, but then he withdrew it. “I stink of carbolic acid.”
I took a sniff. He was right. His heady scent had been replaced with the acrid smell of coal tar and the Burnett’s liquid physicians used to clean wounds.
“I prefer your clean scent,” I said before I could stop my stupid mouth.
His lips parted. “Do you?”
“Oh, well...” I coughed into my closed fist. “Let’s retire. I’m rather tired.” I didn’t miss the satisfied grin pulling up a corner of his mouth.
In silence, we dragged ourselves towards our cabins. The ship had stopped rocking, and an eerie quietness filled the passageways.
“Do you think Detective Norton will catch the man?” I asked as we approached my cabin.
He shrugged. “It shouldn’t be difficult. It’s a bloody ship.”
I rolled my eyes at his rudeness. I was about to tell him that Edward had seemingly disappeared and the nurse was ridiculously confused about his features, but I thought better of it. He would ask questions and pry around, and I didn’t want him to find out the connection between Edward and Sandro.
When we stopped in front of my cabin, I faced him, a hand on my bruise. “Good night, then. And please go to the doctor if you feel sick.”
He loitered, scratching his chin and studying me with his keen gaze. “Lock yourself in and put a chair against the door. Don’t let anyone in except me. Understood?”
I wasn’t going to argue with him. I doubted the man would attack me, but the pain in my ribs was a good reminder that anything could happen. “Understood.”
“Good night.” Without adding anything else, he staggered away.
“Rennie!” I called, gripping my door.
He stopped and turned to me. “Yes?” His large green eyes widened. Lord, they were pretty.
Why had I called him? I had no idea. It’d been a moment of irrational fear as he left me alone. Blazes, what was I thinking? Being alone was what I wanted, wasn’t it?
“Yes?” he asked more gently, stepping closer. For once, the harshness was gone from his eyes. Only concern shone in their depths.
“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I don’t know why I called you. Sorry.”
He lifted a hand and traced the curve of my jaw with a silky touch that made my knees weak. “Are you scared?”
“A bit, to be honest.”
“Would you like me to stand guard here?”
“Good Lord, no.” I frowned. “You need to sleep. I got bruised, but you got stabbed. I’ll be all right.” Actually, a tremor started in my legs, but I shifted my weight. I was used to having someone close at all times. In my parents’ mansion, a maid slept in the room next to mine. I wanted my freedom, but Hades if I wasn’t scared. Yet I wouldn’t let him neglect his own health for me.
His thumb brushed my jaw, sending a warm flutter down my spine. “If you need anything, you only have to call. Don’t worry about waking me up.”
I nodded as a sudden knot blocked my throat.
“Good night, Monia.” He withdrew his hand and limped away, leaving me somewhat colder than before.
BRIGHT SUNLIGHT FLOODED my cabin the next morning. I brushed my matted hair from my face after a rough night’s sleep. Fatigue had won over my fears, allowing me to sleep. But nightmares had tormented me. Sharp teeth, a burning pain in my arm, and a strange creature. Visions of blood soaking my riding habit and the sensation of being stabbed in the arm had jolted me awake a few times. I rubbed my aching forehead, glad the sunlight made the cabin look bigger. Sweat soaked my nightgown, and I scoffed while cleaning myself up.
