Page 60 (1/2)

"Are you a harlot?"

Cecilia whirled around, nearly losing her footing on the ladder "What did you just ask?"

"Are you a harlot?" Miss Finch repeated, punctuating each ith a dramatic pause "I can think of no other reason--"

"No, I am not a harlot," Cecilia snapped, well aware that the odious woree if she knew the events of the past month

"Because I won’t share a room with a whore"

Cecilia lost it She sih the death of her brother, through the revelation that Colonel Stubbs had lied in the face of her grief and worry She’d eventhe onlya bloody ocean between the to hate her, and this aretched wo her a whore?

She jurabbed her by the collar

"I don’t knohat sort of poison you ingested this ood money for my half of this cabin, and in return I expect a ! From a woman who does not even possess a trunk?"

"What the devil does that mean?"

Miss Finch threw up her arms and screeched like a banshee "And now you invoke the name of Satan!"

Oh Dear God Cecilia had entered hell She was sure of it Maybe this was her punish to Edward Three weeksmaybe even a full month with this shrew

"I refuse to share a cabin with you!" Miss Finch cried

"I assure you I would like nothing rant your wish, but--"

A knock sounded on the door

"I hope that’s the captain," Miss Finch said "He probably heard you screausted look "Why on earth would the captain be here?" They lacked a porthole, but she could tell from the movement of the ship that they had already left the dock Surely the captain had better things to do than arbitrate a catfight

The crisp rap of knuckles on as replaced by the pound of a fist, followed by a bellow of "Open the door!"

It was a voice Cecilia knew quite well

She went pale Truly, she felt the blood leave her face Herflat of the door

"Open the daasped and whirled to face her "That’s not the captain"

"No"

"Who is it? Do you knoho it is? He could be here to attack us Oh dear God, oh dear heavens" Miss Finch ility as she leapt behind Cecilia, using her as a hu to co to attack us," Cecilia said in a dazed voice She knew she should do so--shake off Miss Finch, open the door--but she was frozen, trying to make sense of as clearly an impossibility

Edas here On the ship On the ship that had left the harbor

"Oh asped

"Oh, now you’re worried," Miss Finch snapped

The ship wasCecilia had watched the crerap the thick ropes fros as she made her way across the deck She’d felt thenized the familiar pitch and sway as they set out across the bay and into the Atlantic

Edas on the ship And as he was hardly likely to swim back to shore, that , louder this tiht now or I swear I will break it down!"

Miss Finch whi about her virtue

And Cecilia finally whispered Edward’s name

"You know him?" Miss Finch accused

"Yes, he’s my" What was he? Not her husband

"Well, then open the door" Miss Finch gave her a hard shove, catching Cecilia sufficiently off guard to send her tuainst the far wall "But don’t let him in," she barked "I won’t have a man in here You take hiusted piano-like motions in front of her "Your business," she finally finished "Do it elsewhere"

"Cecilia!" Edward bellowed

"He’s going to break the door!" Miss Finch shrieked "Hurry!"