Page 18 of Valour

Hester laughed. “Aren’t you a bunch of nosy curs, creeping up to take a look at our Boss?”

Boss. Charlotte couldn’t help but smile. That was the nickname Ernie’s crew had for him, too.

A woman with jaw-length tightly curling brown hair inched forwards. “Forgive us, we are eager to meet Mrs Bailey.” She stuck out her hand. “I’m Peggy, the navigator.”

A woman next to Peggy with unruly hair tied back with a red and white spotted kerchief grabbed her hand next. “I’m Betty, deckhand.”

“Rufus, deckhand,” a burly man with chestnut skin and salt-and-pepper hair and beard said, gripping her hand tightly.

The final man leant forward, tanned, with floppy dark brown hair falling into hazel eyes. “Arnold Miller, chief engineer.”

When she set her hand in his, it was large, rough, and a vague heat rose to her cheeks, blazing when he lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it, his lips warm and soft. Oh. He was…charming. Too charming. She’d met a man so charming once before, on that night, and it had not ended well. She took a deep breath. Ernie was no longer there to save her, and she must be brave. She managed to squeak out, “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr Miller.” Charlotte cringed. God, she sounded like a meek little wallflower.

“The pleasure is all mine,” he said with a wink, releasing her hand.

Peggy rolled her eyes and knocked him out of the way. “Less of the charm, Arnold,” Peggy drawled. “The Boss isn’t interested. She’s too highly bred for the likes of you.”

Arnold puffed out his chest. “I went to university, I’ll have you kn⁠—”

“Oh, here we go again.” Fliss had wandered over. “Don’t mind Arnold, he can be a devil, but he means well.”

Arnold flashed a smile at Charlotte. She studied her feet. Fliss pinched his ear and growled, “Stop that.”

They were all so familiar with each other. Was Fliss jealous? Was there something between her and Arnold? Charlotte looked beseechingly at Hester.

“Come, children, don’t you have important work to do?” Hester said, waving them off.

Arnold held up a hand. “Before we attend our important work, I have a question for Charlotte. I saw the camera boxes with your luggage. I wondered whether I might look at the equipment. I’m partial to a spot of photography.”

Fliss gave Arnold a shove. “You shouldn’t be looking through the Boss’s luggage, Arnold, whatever is the matter with you?”

“It’s not like that! I carried the trunks on board and spotted the camera cases,” he said, glaring at Fliss.

“It’s quite alright,” Charlotte said. “They were Ernie’s cameras. I brought them along hoping someone might know how to use them.” She would love some photographs of the trip. Photographs she could hang on the walls of Amery House once they had returned.

“I only dabble, but yes, I know how they work.” Arnold no longer wore that air of charisma, but something softer, more boyish and earnest came over him. Charlotte’s stomach flipped.

“Arnold is being coy. He’s very good. He took the photographs of the Northern Lights on our previous expedition,” Hester said.

Charlotte sighed. “I should love to see the Southern Lights. Would you take photographs of this expedition? We ought to have a record. Photographs as well as the scientific measurements.”

“Ah, yes. Valerie and Peggy will take charge of the scientific operations, but our main focus will be stepping into uncharted territory, mapping the continent.” Hester said. “And Mei will be the resident artist. When she’s not cooking.”

“I’d be delighted.” Arnold flashed her a dazzling smile, charisma turned back on. “Now. I’m eager to see the dogs. On the way to my important work in the engine room, of course.”

“Do you like dogs?” Charlotte could always judge a person on their love of animals, especially their love of dogs. All the best people loved dogs.

“Like is a poor word for how Arnold feels about dogs. You’d think an engineer would only have eyes for his machines.” Hester looked around the upper deck. “Where is Marjorie this evening? She’s usually stuck to you like glue.”

Yes, where was Marjorie? She hadn’t seen her all evening. “Do you know, I haven’t seen her.”

Arnold offered his arm. “Shall we go and see them?”

Fliss batted him away. “Stop it, you charmer.” She draped an arm over Charlotte’s shoulders. “Come, we can all go and see the dogs.”

Charlotte couldn’t contain her smile. “I’d like that.”

They made their way from the deck, down the steps of the companionway and along dimly lit corridors, the smell of wood and oil and—was that stew? Whatever it was, it smelt delicious.