Ellis slid into his chair and took Renard’s bowler hat. “There, now we’re both in disguise. Shall we?” He offered Nyssa his hand.
She smiled. As awkward as this situation was, it would be good to go on a walk with Ellis. “My pleasure,” she said.
Chapter Six
Dots danced before Nyssa’s eyes as they entered the observation deck from the dimly lit corridor. Sun flooded the open space through large plate-glass windows.
Ellis whistled. “Posh, isn’t it?”
She blinked a few times. Polished cherry-wood floors gleamed. A wrought-iron railing fenced off the long, rectangular window in the deck’s floor. Only a thin barrier of glass stood between Nyssa and a five-hundred-foot drop to the sea below.
Her fingers tightened on Ellis’s hand.
He gazed up at her. “We don’t have to be here if you don’t want. Perhaps we could try the library or the lounge?”
“No, it’s fine.” She drew a steadying breath. “It isn’t as if I’m going to topple over the railing and fall out of the airship. I’m not that clumsy.”
“Even if you did, the glass would most likely hold you. That’s at least three inches, reinforced, too. You can tell if you look closely.”
Yeah, I’ll just cling to the glass like a fly on a window. Great idea, Ellis.
“No, I think I’m fine looking from here.”
Ellis laughed and led her to a bench, one of many lining the room. She supposed the benches were so people could look out the windows or down through the glass-bottom.Crazy people.Nyssa chose to face the back wall.
“So much for pushing yourself out of the comfortable,” Ellis teased.
“Give me a few minutes.” Her stomach grumbled. “Maybe the dining car would be a good choice.”
“I’m hungry too. However, I think the majority of passengers will be eating right now. We don’t want to parade ourselves before that many eyes.” He looked around. “There was a vending machine in the hall. Nothing fresh, but I should be able to get a box of crackers out of it. When we get back to the room, I can summon the steward and tell him we’ll be eating in.”
“A nice roast beef sandwich would do me wonders right now.” Nyssa’s mouth watered. “With a bit of mustard.”
“I’ll go see about those crackers.” He squeezed her shoulder before rolling away.
Nyssa closed her eyes and took several breaths. It’s not like I’m going to go flying off the deck. Come on, Nyssa, don’t be a chicken. Take a peek.
She walked over and placed both her hands on the railing. The sun glittered on the water beneath her, the sea bluer than an evening sky. A ship chugged through the waves. Steam puffed from its smokestacks, leaving a trail along with its fading wake.
“Next time maybe we should go by water rather than air,” she whispered to herself.
Footsteps echoed against the wood floors. An older man with a white beard strode onto the deck and stopped several feet away.
Nyssa ignored him, hoping he’d take little note of her. From her periphery and under the protection of her veil, she sized him up. He wore a chocolate brocade vest with golden embroidery and a gold chain that suggested an expensive watch on the other end. An impeccable brown-felt derby perched atop his snowy locks, shadowing a metallic device fitted into his ear, perhaps a hearing-aid of some sort. He grasped a bronze-tipped cane in one hand.
His eyes flitted to hers, and his mouth curled into a triumphant smirk. Cane extended, he strode towards her.
With nowhere to run, Nyssa faced him. She drew back her shoulders. A few steps from her, the man faltered. His confident smile faded, and confusion clouded his eyes.
“I’m … sorry. For a moment I mistook you for someone else.” He had an educated inflection.
“I’m certain we’ve never met,” Nyssa said, instinctively matching his tone. One thing she’d learned on the streets, if you could fool people into thinking they had something in common with you, they were much less likely to be trouble.
“Yes, well, your manner of dress reminds me of a young woman who I am quite familiar with.” He tilted his head. “If I may say, that is a charming frock. Who is your tailor?”
“G … G … George,” Nyssa stuttered out the first name that sprang to mind.
“George?” The man’s eyebrows melted together like two angry pussywillows. “First or last name?”
“Both,” she said, hardening her expression. “Why do you ask?” She arched an eyebrow. “Did you want him to make you one?”
The man flushed. He brandished the cane like a wagging finger in Nyssa’s face. She stiffened.
Oh, just try and hit me, old man. I’m not the delicate flower this dress makes me out to be.
“Look, missy, play all the games you want, but I know that dress. I paid for that dress. Now you tell Amara—”
“I’m sorry, am I interrupting something?” Ellis had returned, a box of crackers in one hand, a scowl on his face.
The man glanced from Nyssa to Ellis and back again. “No, nothing of importance. I was just complimenting the young lady on her exquisite taste.”
“Good, I’m glad to hear it was civil. From the young lady’s expression, I was concerned I might need to call ship security.”
The man’s posture straightened. “No need for that. I assure you.”
Ellis nodded to her. “Would you like an escort to your room?”
“I would.”
Nyssa clutched the back of Ellis’s chair as he wheeled away. She could feel the man’s eyes burrowing into the nape of her neck.
Chapter Seven
Nyssa pushed open the door to their room.
Renard jumped from the bed, where he and Amara had been, entwined like a pair of amorous octopi.
Amara blushed, though Renard’s face moved quickly from surprise to his characteristic glare. “You couldn’t knock?”
“We need to talk.” Nyssa moved aside so Ellis could enter then shut the door behind him.
Amara sat up and ran her fingers through her hair, smoothing several stray locks into
