Wink lines up his slippers under his bed, while Olly throws his in a heap by the sink. Stepping into their shoes, they start to follow Bo out the door. But before exiting, Olly squats, his attention caught by something on the floor.

Glancing up at me, his humor vanishes, like it was knocked off his face.

“What is it?” On the floor is a feather. I pick it up, a small white quill I recognize from the toque. Probably I broke one of the feathers when pinning the veil to the brim.

Olly gives Wink the kind of look you use when you’re holding a picnic hamper and thunder claps. “It was pointing to twelve o’clock,” he whispers.

I twirl the feather in front of Olly, but he nearly trips over himself backing away and out the door.

11

Wink and Olly flank me, Valora the seaman, as we follow Bo to the Dining Saloon one deck below. Jamie said an extra place setting would look suspicious. But what about a different diner? Then again, Jamie thinks it’s safe, and he’s the conservative twin. I crank my seaman’s cap lower on my head.

“We want in on the bet, too,” Wink announces. The taffies in his pocket make crinkly sounds with each clomp of his oversized boots.

“Yeah, two against one isn’t fair. And Wink and I count as another person.”

The sight of the lads’ earnest faces, turned up like sunflowers, squeezes my heart. “Well, what can you do?”

They furrow their brows as if they’re looking deep inside their heads for hidden talents.

“Wink knows how to shine shoes,” Olly pipes up.

Wink’s boots tell a different story with their scuffed tips and a crack along the side that looks glued up. “Olly knows how to do armpit chuffs on the backs of his knees.”

Stopping in the middle of the corridor, Olly snakes a hand up one of his trouser legs, then begins cupping the back of his knee, producing a symphony of musical flatulence. Wink adds harmony using the more traditional armpit.

Bo throws back a dubious glance. “Yes, do that. That will empty pockets for sure.”

“Mind your own business,” Wink growls.

“Oh!” Olly slaps his cheeks. “We can help you start a sweepstakes like they have here. You put in a shilling, and then you get a chance to earn a boatload of money.”

I snort. That would be taking the express train to the crowbar hotel. “People will think we’re shaking them down. But I do like your enthusiasm. All right, you’re hired.”

The two start jumping like two ticks. Olly even clicks his heels.

“I’ll let you know the plan after lunch. We don’t want anyone overhearing our secrets.”

Ahead of us, Bo shakes his head.