Cold April (14 page)

Kathleen stared at the picture for a moment, then began to arrange the blue puzzle pieces together. Beth, aware of children’s short attention span, added a piece now and then, and Richard contributed as well. Yet, during most of the time prior to his squash game, he simply sat and stared at Beth, as if committing her appearance to memory.

* * *

After Richard went to his squash game and Kathleen awoke from her short nap, Beth sat down near the puzzle table. Kathleen, Toby tucked under her arm, announced she didn’t want to work on the puzzle any more that day. She wanted to find her friends.

Beth tried not to reveal her disappointment at the child’s request. “But this is such a huge ship. I don’t know how we can find them. There may be hundreds of little girls on board. We don’t even know their last names.”

“
But if there are hundreds, maybe we can find some other little girls who would let me play with them.”

Beth rose from the chair. “Well, I suppose we could try.” At the very least, walking about the ship looking for children would give them both exercise.

She had an idea of where they might look. She’d found some children quite by accident the day Kathleen wandered away—in the third-class public room. Even if magician Harry Palmer wasn’t performing there that day, it wouldn’t hurt to look around inside.

They took the stairs down one level to C Deck and walked toward the stern of the ship. A few boys were playing a game of tag but stopped when they saw the visitors.

Beth stepped forward. “We’re looking for two little girls. One is named Emma and the other Josie. Do you know them?”

“
Nah,” one of the boys answered. “But they might be on deck.”

“
Thank you.” She turned about and located the exit to the deck. The balmy weather had brought lots of adults outside as well, some walking about, others sitting on benches, most keeping a close watch on their children.

Kathleen skipped ahead of Beth and ran lightly across the planking, head switching from one side to the other, searching for her former friends.

“
Stay on this deck,” Beth told her. “Don’t wander off.”

Kathleen didn’t answer, and Beth moved through the crowds as well, trying to keep an eye on the child.

When Kathleen stopped at last, it was near a group of about ten children playing their own version of shuffleboard. About half stood at one end of a long area marked off with not-very-straight chalk lines, the rest at the other. Both ends, Beth noticed, were marked with a metal device that resembled an upside-down dishpan with a piece missing, as if cut off. A child stood at the opposing side and, using a rather worn broom, gave a mighty push, sending a block of wood like a hockey puck skimming across the deck toward the dishpan. It bounced off the side, and a child at the distant side picked it up and, using a similar broom, shuffled the block of wood toward the opposite dishpan. That time it went in the slot. The children on the winning side shouted and jumped up and down, while the others looked forlorn, although not for long. Taking turns, the other group sent the block on its way again toward the opposite end of the marked-off track.

Kathleen found Emma and Josie in the group on the winning side and rushed up to them. Even from a distance, Beth could see that they were holding a conference, debating whether Kathleen might be allowed to join them. Approved by the group, Kathleen rushed to Beth and, without a word, handed over her doll Toby for safekeeping.

Beth took the doll and retreated to a less crowded and noisy area to wait. She hadn’t been there long when she recognized the tall figure with a mop of light hair and a dark magician’s coat. Harry Palmer.

Beth approached him and said, “Good afternoon, Mr. Palmer.”

Harry’s broad smile brightened his entire face. “Miss Beth. I hoped to see you again. To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“
I’ve brought Kathleen.” She pointed toward the children waiting their turns to shuttle the block of wood toward the dishpan target. “She wanted to see the friends she made recently.”

“
Jolly good of you to brave the wilds of steerage.”

Beth waited a moment before answering. “Do I detect a note of reverse snobbery?”

“
Sorry. Forget I said it. It’s grand to see you.”

“
Have you been entertaining the children this afternoon?”

“
I thought about it, but it’s too pleasant a day to sit indoors. So I have a little something to show them when they finish their game.”

Harry held a collection of long colorful sticks in his hands. He unrolled the wrapping from around the sticks, and Beth realized the object could be unfurled and the sticks assembled into a kite.

“
Can you fly a kite up here?”

“
Won’t know till I try.” He sat on a bench, the kite on his lap, and began to assemble it. “Are you enjoying your sea voyage?”

“
Yes, and you?”

“
I would be, except that I miss you. You need to come down more often to visit.”

She grinned. “I seem to recall you have no problem going anywhere on board, and you’ve already visited me up there.” She pointed a finger toward the upper decks.

“
Is that an invitation?”

Realizing that her remark might imply she wanted to pursue a romance, she felt her face grow warm. She turned her gaze to the children.

“
I can’t prevent you from going wherever you wish, but I have to warn you I’m not interested in a ... I mean, I like to make new friends, and I hope you will be one—especially during this voyage—but I doubt we shall ever see each other again when the trip is over.”

He came around to stand in front of her, blocking her view, and looked earnestly into her eyes. “The bloke you’re with—he’s spoken for you, has he?”

She felt compelled to tell the truth. “No, but—”

He interrupted her. “Then why are you going to America, if I may ask?”

“
I lived in New York for three years while I was governess to Lady Margaret Wheatly’s children, but now I’m going back to stay.”

“
You’re not English then? I thought almost everyone who wants to relocate to America travels in third class.”

“
I am English and I might have done so, but Lady Wheatly is paying my passage.”

“
I don’t follow.”

“
No reason you should.” She glanced at the children for a moment, then back at him. “In short, Mr. Graham works in Lord Wheatly’s textile firm and will manage the New York office. Since Mr. Graham’s wife is deceased and he has a daughter, Lady Wheatly suggested I act as his governess.”

“
I see. Nice to have a job waiting for you in America.”

“
Oh, my role as governess ends upon our arrival. Mr. Graham is an American and has family members in the country who will take over the care of Kathleen.” She stared out at the ocean. “Forgive the long explanation, but you see, I, too, must look for a new position in the so-called new world.”

He grinned. “Graham is willing to let you go, is he?”

“
But I don’t want to be a governess any longer. I intend to learn typewriting and get a job in an office.”

After her announcement, they stood together in silence. She wondered why she felt comfortable telling so much to Harry. He, too, seemed lost in thought. Finally he said, “This Graham fellow then, is he a Lord, too, or just someone with pots of money?”

“
No, being American, he’s not a Lord, but I believe he has done well in business.” She paused. “I’m afraid I’m not being very circumspect. I shouldn’t be divulging so much about my employer.”

“
Well, then, seeing as you’re not attached, I’m eligible, aren’t I?”

“
You would be, if ... Excuse me. I’m not saying this at all well. I do like you. Only not in the way you might wish. As I said, I merely want to be friends.”

Before Harry could answer, a group of children rushed up, the shuffleboard game having ended. Kathleen retrieved her doll from Beth’s hands. “We won!”

“
Good for you.” Beth hugged the child and then looked over at Harry.

He knelt on the deck and finished assembling the kite, the youngsters crowding around him. She didn’t hear what he said to them, but the children began to form a wide circle.

“
Stand back, now,” he shouted. “I’m going to let her loose.” He held up the kite, keeping tight hold on the line that was attached to a thick ball of string. Then he pulled out the bright tail, made from small strips of colored cloth. The children oohed and aahed.

Harry took long strides toward the bow end of the deck, and the wind quickly hoisted the kite high above their heads. It floated up and back toward the wake of the ship, and Harry seemed to have a hard time holding on to it. More and more line ran through his hands until the kite was almost fifty yards behind them.

He turned his head and grinned at Beth. “Wind’s a bit brisk today. I’d best reel her in or she’ll get away from me.”

As they watched the red and yellow striped kite bob in the air currents, some children ran to the stern railing, and others climbed on it to get a better look.

“
It’s flying! It’s flying!”

A small boy tugged on Harry’s coat sleeve. “Can I hold it?”

“
I don’t think you’re strong enough. The wind is very stiff today.”

Since they were sailing at possibly twenty knots, Beth could easily understand the problem. However, as he spoke, Harry reeled in the kite so that—although with obvious strain—he kept it flying above their heads.

Another boy, taller, rushed up. “I’m strong. Let me do it.”

“
Me, too. Me, too.” Kathleen tugged on Harry’s pants leg, and he looked down at her and then at Beth. He shrugged, and Beth wondered if he wanted to let Kathleen hold the kite just because she was Beth’s ward.

“
No,” Beth said. “The wind’s too strong. She’s too small.”

The two boys who wanted to fly the kite jostled one another; other children rushed up, and soon Harry was surrounded by a noisy mob. Beth backed away.

“
All right,” she heard Harry yell at last. “But you have to hold really tight.”

He managed to wrap the line around the hand of the taller boy, who, face flushed with victory, immediately pushed his way out of the crowd of children and ran toward the railing on the port side of the ship. Harry and the others followed, but before anyone could reach him, the boy held his arm up as high as he could in triumph and the wind pulled the kite up and away. The boy was almost pulled off his feet by the sudden force of it. Harry leaped forward, trying to grab the line again, or even the ball of string, but they were gone in seconds. He fell backward onto the deck.

A hush fell over the crowd.

While Kathleen rubbed tears from her cheeks, Emma and Josie came up to her. “Come and play with us some more,” Emma said. After receiving Beth’s nod of approval, she joined the three little girls in a game of ring toss.

Harry got to his feet and came over to Beth again. “It was fun while it lasted.”

“
You did your best.”

“
And what have I to show for it? A ruined coat.” He showed her a long tear from under one arm almost to the bottom.

“
Oh dear, that’s too bad. Do you have another?”

“
No, and I need to do my magic act tonight. We’re having a concert and dance in the social room and then amateur entertainment.” He gave her a sly smile. “You really ought to come.”

“
I don’t think I could do that, but I’m sorry about your coat. Can you mend it?”

“
Perhaps. I sew a little.” He laughed. “Matter of necessity sometimes. I’ll manage.”

“
May I help? I’m probably better at sewing than you.”

He paused a moment, brow furrowed. “I’ve a needle and thread in a kit in my cabin. I’d invite you there, but ...”

Beth shook her head. “I couldn’t do that. Besides, I need to keep an eye on Kathleen.”

“
O’course. I’ll just run up and get the kit and you can do it right here. If you don’t mind, that is.”

He removed the coat, tossed it to Beth, and ran off almost before she could agree. He returned quickly, and they sat next to each other on a bench, Beth with his coat spread inside out on her lap. She lined up the edges of the tear, threaded the needle, and went to work, making tiny stitches and then back-stitching over them to give it extra strength.

The sky had begun to darken when Kathleen returned from play. Plopping down next to Harry, she rested her head against his chest.

He put his arm around her. “Getting tired, are you, luv? Well, it won’t be long now before Miss Beth takes you back to your own cabin.”

With that, Beth finished the task, bit off the end of the thread and stood. “Here, try this on so I can see if it looks all right.”

Harry lifted Kathleen gently onto the bench and rose to slip into the coat.

Beth examined it carefully. “Turn around, so I can see how it looks from the back.”

She had her hands on his shoulders when she heard a voice behind her.

“
So this is where you’ve been all afternoon,” Richard Graham said.

Chapter 14

Richard felt ill. Beth held Palmer’s shoulders, as if emerging from his arms. His gut knotted and his eyes glazed over.