The booming crash shook the vessel then. Sara grabbed hold of the door to keep herself from pitching forward to her knees. 'Heavens, the wind is fierce today, isn't it, Matthew?'
The seaman was already running toward the steps. 'That wasn't the wind,' he shouted over his shoulder.
Sara shut the door to Nora's cabin just as Nathan came charging out of his quarters.
Her aunt was once again propped up with pillows behind her back. Sara thought she looked a little more rested and said so. 'The color's back in your cheeks, Nora, and your bruises are beginning to fade to yellow now. You'll be strolling around the decks with me in no time at all.'
'Yes, I do feel better,' Nora announced. 'How are you faring, Sara?'
'Oh, I'm just fine,' she answered. She sat down on the side of the bed and took hold of her aunt's hand.
Nora frowned at her. 'I heard about the soup, child. I know you aren't doing fine.'
'I didn't eat any of the soup,' Sara blurted out. 'But I do feel terrible about the men. I didn't mean to make them ill.'
'I know you didn't mean to,' Nora soothed. 'I told Matthew so. I took up your defense, Sara, and told him you didn't have a malicious thought in your head. Why, you'd never do such a terrible thing on purpose.'
Sara's frown matched her aunt's. 'I think it's horribly rude of my staff to think such evil thoughts about their mistress. Yes, I do. Why, they're as contrary as their captain, Nora.'
'What about Nathan?' Nora asked. 'Is he blaming you, too?'
Sara shrugged. 'He was a little upset about the soup, of course, but I don't believe he thinks I poisoned the men on purpose. He's probably being a little more understanding because he didn't eat any of it. Anyway, I've decided I don't care what the man thinks of me. I'm more upset with him than he is with me. Yes, I am,' she added when Nora began to smile. 'He isn't treating me at all well.'
She didn't give her aunt time to respond to that dramatic statement. 'Oh, I never should have said that. Nathan's my husband, and I must always be loyal to him. I'm ashamed of myself for-'
'Has he harmed you?' Nora interrupted.
'No, of course not. It's just that…'
A long minute passed while Nora tried to guess what was the matter and Sara tried to think of a way to explain.
When Sara started blushing Nora surmised that the problem had something to do with the intimate side of their marriage. 'He wasn't gentle with you when he bedded you?'
Sara looked down at her lap before answering. 'He was very gentle.'
'Then?'
'But afterwards he didn't… that is, the second time-well, after-he just left. He didn't say a single tender word to me, Nora. In fact, he didn't say anything at all. A whore is treated with more consideration.'
Nora was too relieved that Nathan had been gentle with Sara to take issue over his lack of thoughtfulness. 'Did you say any tender words to him?' she asked.
'No.'
'It would seem to me that Nathan might not know how to give you what you want. He might not know you need his praise.'
'I don't need his praise,' Sara countered in a disgruntled voice. 'I would just like a little consideration. Oh, heaven help me, that's not the truth. I do need his words of praise. I don't know why I seem to need them, but I do. Nora? Do you notice how the boat is tilted to one side now? I wonder why Nathan doesn't straighten it out.'
It took her aunt a minute to make the switch in topics. 'Yes, it is at an angle, isn't it?' she responded. 'But you did say the wind was brisk today.'
'We don't seem to be clipping along either,' Sara interjected. 'I hope we don't topple over,' she added with a sigh. 'I never did learn how to swim. That shouldn't signify, though. Nathan can't let me drown.'
Nora smiled. 'Why can't he?'
Sara seemed surprised by that question. 'Because I'm his wife,' she blurted out. 'He promised to protect me, Nora.'
'And you have ultimate faith that he will?'
'Of course.'
The vessel suddenly shifted again, pitching them even further toward the water line. Sara saw how startled Nora was; her aunt was gripping her hand. She patted Nora and said, 'Nathan is the captain of this vessel, Nora, and he wouldn't let us fall over into the ocean. He knows what he's doing. Don't worry.'
A sudden roar filled the cabin. It was her name being bellowed. Sara grimaced in reaction, then turned to give Nora a thoroughly disgruntled look. 'Do you see what I mean, Nora? The only time Nathan says my name, he screams it. I wonder what has him in a snit now. The man has such a sour disposition. It's a wonder I can put up with him.'
'Go and see what he wants,' Nora suggested. 'Don't let him frighten you with his shouts. Just remember to look below the bluster.'
'I know,' Sara said with a sigh. She stood up and brushed the wrinkles out of her gown. 'Look below the surface, and I'll find myself a good man,' she added, repeating her aunt's suggestion of the day before. 'I will try.'
She kissed Nora and hurried out into the corridor. She almost bumped into Jimbo. The big man grabbed hold of her to steady her. 'Come with me,' he ordered.
He started to lead her toward the steps that led down to the lower level. She pulled back. 'Nathan is calling for me, Jimbo. I must go to him. He's up on deck, isn't he?'
'I know where he is,' Jimbo muttered. 'But he needs a few more minutes to calm himself down, Sara. You can hide down here until he-'
'I'm not hiding from my husband,' Sara interrupted.
'Damned right you're not.'
Sara jumped a foot when Nathan's booming voice sounded behind her. She turned around and valiantly tried to manage a smile. After all, there was a member of her staff standing right beside her, and for that reason personal irritations should be placed aside. The scowl on her husband's face changed her inclination, though. She no longer cared that Jimbo was watching. She scowled back. 'For heaven's sake, Nathan, must you sneak up on me like that? You gave me a good scare.'
'Sara,' Jimbo began in a whisper, 'I wouldn't be…'
She ignored the seaman's mutterings. 'And while I'm on the topic of your bad habits, I might as well point out that I'm getting mighty sick of your shouting at me all the time. If you have something you wish to say to me, kindly speak in a civil tone of voice, sir.'
Jimbo moved to stand by her side. Matthew suddenly appeared out of the shadows and took up his position on her other side. In the back of Sara's mind was the astonishing fact that both men were actually trying to protect her.
'Nathan wouldn't ever hurt me,' she announced. 'He may want to, but he would never touch me, no matter how angry he is.'
'He looks like he wants to kill you,' Jimbo countered in a low drawl. He actually grinned, for he found Sara's gumption worthy. Wrongheaded, he added to himself, but worthy still.
Nathan was trying to calm down before he spoke again. He stared at Sara and took several deep breaths. He counted.
'He always looks like he wants to kill someone,' Sara whispered back. She folded her arms in front of her, trying her damnedest to look irritated and not worried.
Nathan still hadn't said a word. The look in his eyes made her skin burn. In truth, he did look like he wanted to throttle her.
Look below the surface, her aunt had suggested. Sara couldn't manage that feat. She couldn't even hold Nathan's gaze for more than a heartbeat or two. 'All right,' she muttered when she couldn't stand his hot glare any longer. 'Did someone else have some of my soup? Is that the reason you're in such a state, husband?'
The muscle flexed in the side of his jaw. She decided she shouldn't have asked him that question after all. It only reminded him of the confusion she'd caused the day before. Then she noticed he was holding her parasol.
