“People have been killed?”

“Aye, at Lexington and Concord. Just to our north, at Sullivan’s Island. Those were military actions, but innocents have suffered as well.”

I gazed at South Carolina’s coastline through the window, trying to imagine a battle, but everything seemed so peaceful, even cheery. For the past hours, boats had brought over supplies from the little town that glowed in the distance. Rather than risk losing the ship’s crew to press-gangs, Asa had told me earlier, Captain Jansen had brought the shore’s enjoyments to the Ambrosia—the “shore’s enjoyments” being libations and women, by the sound of things. Laughter, the song of fiddles, and the clomping of dancing feet made a happy noise on the deck above us.

“This war, Asa. Do you truly think it’s right?”

“I do, with everything in me. Access to life, liberty, and happiness should be equal to all. We should all have a say in deciding our own fates.”

“Well, I never will.” I drew a breath, pushing against the tightening in my chest. “Decide my own fate, I mean. Neither will Izra, nor my friend, Mercy. My mama never had much choice….Liberty’s not for anyone with a master or a husband.”

Asa’s gaze fell to the candle between us, which had begun to flicker. “I won’t deny the world is unfair. It is. Often horribly. But I believe we can change it for the better. I have to believe that.”

“You can change it. Not me.”

“Why not you?”

“You know why.” He watched me, waiting. “I just said why, Asa. ’Cause of this.” I tugged on the sleeve of my gown.

“And you’ll allow that to stop you?”

“It’s not up to me. That’s the point.” I stood and went to the window. He would never understand. He couldn’t. Even as Miss Coates, I could never go wherever I wished nor do whatever I wanted. I’d never have what he had just ’cause he’d been born a he.

A woman’s giggle drifted down from the deck above. It sounded forced and a little hysterical. Edged with fear. It only seemed to prove everything on my mind.

I heard the scrape of a chair behind me. Asa came over and stood before me. Tiny spots of moonlight dashed his nose and bottom lip. “Some help I’ve been today. Putting treasonous ideas into your mind. Angering you.”

“That’s not what you were doing.”

“Wasn’t I?”

I stared into his eyes. He’d made me think. “I never thought about changing the world before, Asa. I never even thought I’d see any of it.”

He tipped his head. “There you are, Miss Tasker. The world.”

I looked through the window, at darkness and moonlit clouds. I couldn’t actually see the world, but I felt it out there. Waiting for me. All that I’d never thought possible.

“I’d thought to teach you the minuet, but I think I’ve done enough damage for tonight.”

“You haven’t.”

He smiled. “That’s good.” We stood a few moments, saying nothing. The space between us drawing me in like the warmth of a fire. Asa cleared his throat and dropped his gaze. “I don’t know why I’m still standing here.”