I laughed. “I don’t have much of a coiffure to worry about. My hair refuses to be tamed.”

“Like its owner, perhaps?” and he gave me a most flirtatious look, which should have outraged me and prompted me to tell him I was a married woman. Actually it raised my spirits.

“I was looking for icebergs,” I said. “Do you think we’ll see one?”

“I sincerely hope not,” he said. “They have been a constant worry this spring, coming further south than is normal. The captain has decided to take a more southerly course than normal. We would have sailed close to Newfoundland, but that puts us in the path of stray icebergs. So we cross the open Atlantic and risk more storms and high seas. But that is surely better than meeting an iceberg during the night.”

“Are we in for a stormy crossing, do you think?”

He shrugged in that Gallic way. “The signs are not good. But do not worry. This ship can handle the worst of seas. I have seen waves like mountains…”

Somehow I didn’t find this comforting. “Will it not make our voyage quicker if we sail directly across the ocean, rather than going so far north?” I asked.

“The opposite,” he said. “You see, the Earth is like an orange, no? If we make an arc like this”—and he drew a rainbow shape with his finger in the air—“it is actually a shorter distance than traveling like this. You understand?”

I didn’t really but I nodded. “So will we arrive on schedule?”

“Let us hope. I suspect we will be a little late, unless the wind moves to the west and drives us along with the waves. But we will get you there safely, have no doubt.” He saluted, gave me another saucy grin, and went on his way. I continued my walk and when I reached the leeward side of the ship out of the worst of the wind I paused to catch my breath. It was then that I noticed I was not alone. The mysterious girl was standing at the railing, staring out to sea, her light hair streaming out in the breeze.

I went to join her at the railing. “I’m glad the wind isn’t quite as fierce on this side,” I said. “I thought I was going to get blown away.”

She turned and looked at me, then she grinned. “You look as if you almost were blown away.”

I put my hand up to my head. “My hair must look a frightful sight. It won’t stay pinned up at the best of times.”

“I don’t put mine up,” she said. “I like the feel of it around my shoulders. I don’t think one should have to conform, do you?”