“We cannot be talking, sir.” She rose to her toes and peered beyond him. “Cannot at all.”

“Please—”

“’Tisn’t prudent, sir.”

He glanced over his shoulder. Who was she looking for? She was clearly afraid someone was watching her. He lowered his voice. “Pray, did someone discover our meeting together?”

She shook her head. “No. Maybe. I don’t know.”

“Then why? Why won’t you see me? Did I offend you?”

“It’s not on that score, I assure you.” In the shadows of the doorway, her features were pale and tight with anxiety.

“What happened, Mercy?”

“Nothing to speak of. But it’s what may happen by and by.”

Something had definitely occurred to frighten her from meeting with him anymore. Whatever it was, surely she knew she had nothing to fear from him. He pulled the oranges from his pockets. “These are for you and the others.” He nodded behind her to the young women watching him with open curiosity.

“I can’t—” The excited whispers from behind halted her refusal.

He thrust the oranges into her hands, giving her no choice but to take them. “I shall bring you and the girls more. Tell me what you want and I shall be your humble servant.”

Mercy paused and looked at the others as they bombarded her with their instructions. Finally, shaking her head, she faced him. “We’ve got no way to repay you, sir.”

“I’m not asking for payment, Mercy.” His voice dipped even lower so that only she could hear it. “I only wish to see you happy.”

She ducked her head but not before he caught sight of the pleasure his words brought her. “You’ve been kind enough. No more is needed.”

“You cut me to the quick and shall make a wretched man out of me if you don’t allow me to bring you something more.” He’d adamantly opposed Mr. Scott and Mrs. Robb’s decision to keep the brides aboard the ship. He’d even gone to Captain Hellyer with his protests.

The captain had warned Joseph not to get involved and revealed that Mr. Scott and Mrs. Robb were under a great deal of pressure from the Columbia Mission Society to make sure all the women arrived to Vancouver Island. Apparently, the Seaman’s Bride, another bride ship from Australia, had shown up in the Vancouver Island capital city of Victoria without any brides, because the eligible women had all jumped ship in San Francisco and made off with Yankees.

As much as Joseph wanted to sneak Mercy off the ship and let her explore Port Stanley in spite of her chaperones’ protectiveness, he knew there was very little chance of such a move going undetected and subsequently causing upheaval.

For now, it seemed the only way to help her was by sneaking some of the island to her.