The instant I stepped out into the sunshine, the crew’s singing died. Everything stopped like the moment after I dove, when up became down and air became water.

My knees locked. My mind filled with one thought.

They knew.

Someone had discovered me for an impostor.

Now what? Would I be tossed off this ship?

“Captain, Captain!” The little cabin boy, Izra, darted past, his feet slapping the deck, his cries shattering the silence. “She’s awake, Captain! Miss Coates is here!”

He tore up the quarterdeck stairs and joined Captain Jansen, who appeared at the top. As they came down to meet me, the men turned back to their tasks, but without singing anymore. My presence had brought a strangeness.

“Good day, Miss Coates,” the captain said, folding into a bow. Beside him, the tiny cabin boy scratched off his cap and copied.

I dropped a curtsy, twitchy and quick, too shaky to slow down.

“Heartening to see you about,” the captain said. “Very heartening indeed. Will you join me? I have a good place for us to sit just over here.”

The good place was by the nested boats amidships, where two crates sat side by side. They were covered with fine Turkish carpets such as I’d only seen in Nassau, left to fade under the sun like nothing special.

I kept ample distance from the captain, sitting so he wouldn’t see the blood oozing from my cut. He sent Izra darting off to fetch a drink for me. Thank heaven. Then he gazed across the sea, his breath whistling through his nose. In daylight I could see that his better eye was also a little clouded, as if slowly going blind.

“Beautiful waters, are they not? The sight never tires.”

I pretended to observe the beauty as well, but blood was rolling down my cheek like a tear and I had no mama anymore, nor a home, and those seemed more terrible, just then, than the ocean seemed beautiful.

“Allow me to assure you once more that you shall be safe on the Ambrosia, and that you may depend upon me as a most devoted guardian. Regarding the matter of your quietude, Mr. Withers tells me there’s no cause for concern and that you shall be restored to rights in healing time.”

My quietude wasn’t going anywhere. I’d heard how the fine ladies in Nassau talked, their voices like perfume floating through the air. I did not sound like them. Only trouble was I didn’t see how I’d get answers if I couldn’t ask any questions. The Ambrosia was a British merchant ship sailing north, that much I’d gathered, but I needed to know more.

“Miss Coates, I beg you not to fret about that.” I blinked at the captain. Then I realized I’d slipped the watch from my pocket and was running my finger over its tiny hands. “Consider it yours—a gift from me to you. There, see? How easily a mishap becomes a blessing if one only has a bit of faith.”