With the storm raging around them, his closeness and the conversation had helped her to endure the anxiety and fear pressing in on her. More than that, for a few hours she’d forgotten who they were. In the darkness, as the waves threatened to drown them, everything else fell away and they were ordinary people without any differences or problems weighing them down.

She hadn’t wanted the time with him to end. She liked him . . . too much so, and she didn’t want to like him more and more every day. But she did regardless, and that frightened her.

What if she reached a point where she couldn’t say no to him? What if she ended up living immorally like her mum? What if she gave way to the pressure and found fulfillment in the man who made her feel beautiful and wanted?

That wouldn’t happen to her, Mercy reminded herself fiercely. She was stronger than Twiggy. And she’d make better choices, be smarter, and have greater self-control.

Mercy stared out at the longboat that was now at the dock, unloading passengers. As much as she liked Joseph, she needn’t worry. He’d vowed he had no aspirations for her, that he was saving his affections for the woman he’d one day marry.

She trusted him. After all, if he wanted to initiate more, he could have already done so in steerage when they’d spent the night together. Instead, he’d treated her with kind consideration.

Besides, why would Joseph want a woman like her when he could choose anyone he wanted? He wasn’t even interested in the wealthy middle-class women, not even pretty Miss Lawrence, one of his most frequent patients. Miss Lawrence’s comment about him had stayed with Mercy. “Joseph Colville will have his eyes set much higher—on a woman of noble birth, someone with both title and wealth.”

Laughter from one of Mr. Scott’s daughters wafted down the deck. Mercy glanced in time to see both of the young ladies smiling up at Joseph, likely admiring something witty he’d said.

Charlotte and Lavinia were the quiet sort and hadn’t mingled with the Columbia Mission Society women, not even with the fancy ladies. Even so, Mercy had seen the daughters on the deck and at the church services Mr. Scott led. They were charming enough, the type of women Joseph could admire. The way Mr. Scott was always jabbering on about his daughters, Mercy suspected that was exactly what Mr. Scott had been aiming for—that Joseph would take an interest in one of them.

“Lord Colville, we’d be most honored and grateful to have you accompany us during our outing today,” Mr. Scott said. “My daughters and wife are the most delightful shoppers and will be able to guide us quite skillfully.”