Read Online Before the Scarlet Dawn by RITA GERLACH - Free Book Online Page A

to comfort her. But he determined he should not spoil her in that way. Tears were a woman’s tool, and he refused to be persuaded by them. If he gave in, and the fever took hold of her and she died, he would be responsible.
    Fearing for his wife’s health, Hayward approached the captain and demanded other quarters away from the sick. The captain stood on the quarterdeck, his feet set firm with the rise of the ship over another wave.
    He refused with a shake of his head. “No, sir. You’ve paid your fare, and that is what you get for it.”
    Hayward, too, set his boots firm and stood his ground. “There must be something else besides that hellhole you call a cabin, sir. I insist you remove my wife away from the infection immediately, preferably with large windows so she may have the air.”
    Annoyed, the captain glanced at Hayward and lifted his face to the wind. Tufts of steel-gray hair blew away from his ears beneath his black cocked hat. His face looked tough as boot leather, weathered and heavily lined from the sun and sea. He smelled of sweat and brine, and rubbed the stubble on his chin.
    “What if every passenger demanded new quarters, Mr. Morgan?” Eyes fixed straight ahead, he went up and down on his toes, hands folded behind his back. “What would I do then? And why should I give your wife preference?”
    Determined, Hayward dug his hand into his breast pocket. “Because I have the extra coin to make it happen, sir. A gold piece should suffice. Now, will you find her other quarters or not?”
    The captain lifted his wispy brows and looked down at the shiny coin in Hayward’s palm. “I believe I might. If you would follow my steward, he will show you what we have.”
    He waved the steward over, leaned to his ear, and gave him an order. “We shall do this quietly, Mr. Morgan. I do not want the other passengers knowing. It would cause unpleasantness. Your wife is favored, sir—the quarters next to mine are reserved for dignitaries.”
    Hayward thanked the captain and dropped the coins into his hand. He then followed the steward through the door and down a set of steep stairs into the gloom. The lad carried a large iron ring of keys and shoved one into the lock. It clicked, and he pushed open the door. A bed with room enough for two, a table, two chairs, a writing desk, and a washstand, were more than adequate. Windows lined the rear of the cabin, and the steward opened them to air the quarters out.
    Pleased he had made such excellent progress in convincing the captain to move Eliza, and that he could share the cabin with his wife, Hayward stepped out and ordered the steward to fetch Eliza’s belongings. He found her up on deck.
    “I have a surprise, Eliza. I think you will be pleased.” He drew her away from the ship’s rail where she gazed out at the choppy waves and the seabirds that whirled in the sky.
    “What is it?” She looked at him, intrigued.
    “You will see.” He held out his hand and took her down the steps to the corridor.
    When he opened the door and brought her inside to her new lodgings, her face blushed from her throat to her hair.
    “We will be together for the remainder of the voyage.” He closed the door.
    She turned to him, her skirts whispering along the cabin floor. “How were you able to get this? I thought there were no others.”
    He set his hand on the table and settled back. “Money can buy almost anything.”
    The sea air that ruffled the ends of her hair drew her to the windows. She knelt on the cushioned seat, and he watched her while she gazed out at the roll of waves that foamed behind the ship. “I feel guilty I have been moved when others are still cramped below.”
    He sat next to her and picked up a lock of her hair between his fingers. “I do not want to hear about the others. You mustn’t run to every problem that arises and try to fix it. Let the ship’s surgeon do his job.”
    Taking his hand into hers, she touched the ring around his finger. “I only