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Chapter 4: Within

Iris reached his side. The joy and excitement on her face wiped away all of the minor irritation he might have felt at her, and caused him to internally chastise himself for harboring ungenerous feelings. “Smell the air!” she exclaimed, beaming, gesturing to the sky above, where the sun shone down from between the clouds on the men and cordage aloft. “What a beautiful voyage we’re sure to have. I can’t wait, it’s been too long since I’ve been out at sea, and I feel so at home here. How I adored my voyage over from England.”

“Well,” he said, smiling now as well, a victim of her infectious enthusiasm. “I hope I won’t be too much of a burden to you. Confirmed landlubber, I am.” He attempted to mimic the rolling speech of a sailor.

“So far,” she replied, “Just so far. You’ll see, give you a few days, you’ll get your sea legs on, and you’ll crave the open air. I can’t wait to see you.” She leaned back, smiling at him, taking him all in with her bright blue eyes.

He returned the smile, feeling a little uncomfortable, scrutinized by her. It was a feeling he longed to shake, but when she gazed upon him in that manner, he felt the creeping sensation that she found him wanting compared to other, more outwardly virile men—the type of which they were now surrounded. He saw her still looking at him, nodded to her once more, smiling, and looked nervously away.

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