Mercy stood, ducked her head, and rushed to obey, feeling his wrath upon her back as though he’d struck her there.

“Mr. Scott, do not be so hasty.” Joseph’s tone became stern.

“Have no fear, my lord. I shall not leave you without assistance. I shall send one of my daughters to your aid just as soon as they have partaken of the morning meal.”

“Perhaps. But only if you wish to expose your family to a potential case of smallpox.”

Mr. Scott stiffened, and his eyes filled with horror. He backed out of the doorway until he was standing well onto the deck. “I did not realize the illness was quite so serious, my lord. I regret this intrusion.”

“I thank you for your concern, Mr. Scott,” Joseph said. “Now, would you be so kind as to inform the young women in Mercy’s cabin that they too are under quarantine until further notice? I shall be along soon to examine each of them.”

“Quarantine? Very well.” Mr. Scott swallowed hard, a visible lump sticking in his throat at his collar. “What about your own well-being, Lord Colville? You must take yourself out of the danger immediately.”

“I have been inoculated. But even if I had not, I could not skulk away to safety.”

At his emphasis on the word Mercy had spoken only moments ago, her gaze shifted to him, only to find that he’d glanced at her too. Something in the warm brown of his eyes told her that he was for her, that he wouldn’t leave her to fend for herself against Mr. Scott or against the threat of disease.

The realization loosened the fastening that had locked her heart tight, the one that kept her outside the wicket garden gate peering at something she could never have and never be a part of. He’d offered his friendship and was certainly proving it to her now. She couldn’t reject him any longer.

Mr. Scott continued to retreat from the cabin. From the panic evident in the reverend’s expression, he seemed not to have taken offense at Joseph’s comment but was too consumed with getting himself safely away from any danger.

Joseph closed the door and shut out the reverend completely. “Good riddance,” he mumbled under his breath.

Mercy stood still, hesitant, unsure if he’d meant for her to overhear him.

He crossed his hands behind his back and faced her again. “Forgive me. I shouldn’t have spoken my thought aloud.”

“No matter, sir—”

“Mercy,” he said softly. “You are no girl. And I certainly have no wish to be thought of as sir.”

Was he referring to Mr. Scott’s order to her? “Upon my word, I think nothing of it.”

“His attitude shows a complete lack of regard for you as a person.”