“Update me on the crew’s health, if you please,” Nick said.
Harriet realized she had stopped thinking of him by his title long before he’d been knocked unconscious. Before they shared a bed for the night. How far back? She wasn’t sure.
“Winston is healing well,” Norton said, “but there’s been a development.” He poured a cup of tea and added milk and sugar and pushed it toward Nick. “On shore leave with his watchmates, they ran into friends of Winston’s, and a cousin. They’re in Oporto on holiday and plan to stay in Portugal for the winter.”
Nick took a long drink of tea. “I’m losing a crew member, aren’t I?”
Norton waggled his head from side to side. “We won’t know for weeks yet how well his vision will recover. He’s still adjusting to seeing with only one eye while he has to wear a bandage. It will be some time before I clear him for duty aloft. How long are we planning to stay in port?”
Harriet fought a swell of panic. She liked Winston and wanted him to be safe, but she needed to get home. The mortgage was due in a fortnight, and she still didn’t know how she was going to pay it. Being half-owner of a stallion trained in the high school airs might eventually make money come her way, but what could she do in the next two weeks?
“Miss Chase has obligations in England. We’re sailing as soon as we have supplies and our cargo onboard.” Nick drained his cup. “Possibly as soon as tomorrow afternoon. I need to review the tide tables.”
“Good thing I already did my shopping, then.” Norton refilled Nick’s teacup as well as his own, and topped off Harriet’s.
“Oh! What did you buy?” Harriet had to ask. After riding cross-country in an exotic land for the better part of three days, all she’d purchased was food. Delicious food, but still…
Norton gestured at his supply cabinet against the wall. “Usual, boring medical supplies to restock.” He got up to retrieve a box from one of the cupboards. “And a gift for Caroline.” He untied the string on the box and removed the lid with a flourish.
Inside was a tall tortoiseshell comb set with glittering jewels, nestled atop a delicate lace mantilla like the one Senhora Gomez wore last night, this one in a beautiful deep green.
Harriet couldn’t resist an appreciative “Ooh.” She glanced at the smiling surgeon as he showed it to Nick and Zach. “Who is the lucky Caroline?”
“My wife,” Norton said at the same moment Nick said, “My sister.”
Harriet’s brows rose.
Zach leaned close for a conspiratorial stage whisper in her ear. “Makes for interesting conversation at family dinners.”
Harriet fiddled with her teacup, trying not to giggle. “The sister who knits?”
Norton touched his nose. “You’ve heard about her.”
“I saw Nick’s slippers after our, uh, excursion overboard.” Her mind raced at the implications of Norton being Nick’s brother-in-law. She hadn’t really thought about Norton’s age before. He must be about halfway between Nick and Zach’s age. “But you’re at sea, gone from home so much of the time.”
Norton tied the lid back on and stored the box in the cupboard. “The secret to our wedded bliss. After I’ve been home for a while, she can’t wait to see the back of me.”
Harriet took a sip. “She trusts her husband and brother to look after each other.”
Nick and Norton exchanged a glance and shrugged.
Just then Flynn tapped on the door and poked his head in. “Usual arrangements, sir?” He held up a hammock in his hand.
Zach turned a questioning look to Norton and, at his nod, said, “Thank you, Flynn.”
Flynn hung the hammock on a hook and closed the door behind him.
As if triggered by the sight of his bed, Zach let out an exaggerated yawn and stretched.
Harriet felt an answering yawn overwhelm her. It had been a long, physically demanding day. “I bid you good night, gentlemen.” She may be dressed like a man, but she noted with a tiny thrill of feminine pride that they all rose as she left.
In Nick’s cabin she unpacked her saddle bag and hung up her clothes. Nick didn’t need to take a fix on their position. Apparently he was still chatting with his uncle and brother-in-law, or checking on his ship. Or perhaps just giving her privacy to wash up and change clothes. She meant to stay awake until he came in, but the exertions of the day took their toll.
When she awoke in the morning, the hammock hung on its hook by the door. She had no idea if she’d had company during the night.
She returned her saddlebags to the slop chest, but Smitty talked her into keeping the hat and pea coat.
“It’ll get colder the closer we get to England, miss,” he said.
