“Good,” Sarah said with a smile. “Ann is right, you know. You’ll be ‘got over’ by some handsome fella soon enough.”

Mercy didn’t respond except to squeeze the girl’s hand again.

Joseph exited Captain Hellyer’s quarters and let the scent of salt and sea greet him like an old friend. He took a deep breath and basked in the early June sunshine. According to the captain, they would be boarding passengers for a couple more days before weighing anchor.

“Lord Colville.” The diminutive Mr. Scott was walking briskly toward him, a retinue of women following behind, attempting to keep up. “You are just the person I am seeking.”

Joseph considered retreating into the captain’s stateroom on the quarterdeck. He had no wish to engage in small talk with Mr. Scott—which always seemed to devolve into lengthy one-sided discourses—but he could see no way to politely avoid the encounter.

“Mr. Scott,” he said in greeting.

The man halted abruptly and bowed low, almost as if Joseph were a king. The women curtsied and held their bows too, watching Mr. Scott, clearly taking their cues from him.

Finally Mr. Scott straightened, his back looking as stiff as the mainmast. “My lord, permit me to introduce my family. They came aboard the Tynemouth earlier today. The moment they stepped foot upon the ship, I informed them all of your presence, and they are as eager to meet you as I am to make the introductions.”

Joseph bowed slightly at the women, noting that there were three of them.

“My wife, Mrs. Scott, along with our daughter, Miss Charlotte Scott, and our other daughter, Miss Lavinia Scott.”

Again the ladies curtsied. As they did so, Joseph caught sight of a woman in blue farther down the deck. Although she wore a bonnet, her pale golden hair couldn’t be contained. Tendrils blew in abandon, apparently having come loose from her long plait.

Mercy Wilkins.

She stood at the railing, surrounded by several younger girls. With their faces raised to the sunshine, Joseph guessed they were enjoying the warmth of the afternoon after the past cloudy days. He hadn’t seen her since Mrs. Robb had marched her out of his cabin yesterday morning. In the ensuing hours, he’d considered visiting her and checking on Sarah. But he’d pushed aside the strange urge. Sarah was suffering from a mild case of seasickness, not scarlet fever.

“My daughters and wife are delighted to make your acquaintance, Lord Colville,” Mr. Scott said. Once more, his starched collar pushed his chin upward, almost as if it were strangling him. “We are all quite relieved to have such an esteemed man such as yourself serving in so lowly a position. I’m sure we shall rest much easier knowing you are accompanying us on so arduous a journey.”