Today's Reading

'Probably. Can't she hold down some laudanum?'

'No, but even if she could, she doesn't wish to. She told me her mother died an opium addict.'

His brows rose, rumpling the wrinkles on his forehead. 'She told you that?'

She shrugged. 'She knows I'm here to help her. She's not loose-lipped if that is what concerns you.'

'Oh, I know she's not. That's why I was surprised...' His brow knitted as the moaning from the cabin penetrated the parlour door.

'Well, she'll just have to brave it out, then. It does get better. You're not ill yourself?'

She shook her head, but his gaze moved over her, noting her pallor. 'You're doing no good here. Leave her to Mrs Oakes and take a turn in the fresh air. Best thing for being a little green about the gills. There's a brisk wind and no rain yet. Off you go.' He pulled a coat from the hooks by the door and before she could point out it was Eliza's, he had coaxed her into the corridor, draped the coat over her arm and aimed her towards the stairs. 'Off you go,' he said again, and closed the door.

Mina stood for a moment, unsure whether to laugh or be annoyed at being shoved around like a piece of furniture. She stroked the fine cashmere of the coat. It was a lovely shade of dark wine and Mina slipped it on and gave a sigh of pleasure. It had been a long, long while since she'd worn anything so fine.

Her plain straw hat was still in her room, but she didn't want to reenter the state room, so she tucked the flying tendrils of her unruly tawny hair behind her ears and went out into the immensity of the sea and sky.

There were fewer people than she'd expected on the deck. Probably because Septimus Cavendish had grossly overstated the state of the weather.

The Atlantic Ocean itself looked a little seasick.
 
She walked to the farthest end of the promenade deck and leaned over the railing to watch the churned wake.

'It's a single screw.'

Mina turned in surprise at the gruff voice beside her. A girl, probably no older than ten, had come to lean on the railing and was frowning at the ship's wake.

'I beg your pardon?' Mina asked, a little annoyed to have her quiet moment so swiftly interrupted.

'The propeller. Single screw. This is the longest liner on the Atlantic line. Length to beam of eleven to one. Did you know that?'

'I didn't. Is that a good thing?'

'It is neither good nor bad. It is special.'

'What else is special about it?' Mina asked, more curious about the child than the ship.

'Two-cylinder compound steam engine. That's not special, but she can reach fifteen knots and hold it. That's special. That is why she has a blue riband. Did you know that?'

'I didn't. I'm afraid I don't even know what that is.'

The girl turned to face her. Her gaze was very direct and unblinking, but rather than meet Mina's eyes it seemed to settle on a spot on her forehead, just a little to the left. Mina resisted the urge to reach up and see if there was some smut on her brow.

'Most people don't,' the girl answered, still addressing Mina's hairline. 'Fastest voyage time. Seven days, eighteen hours, two minutes. That was to Queenstown in Ireland.'

'That is very accurate.'

'It is important to be accurate in order to win a blue riband. That is more than fifteen knots on average.'

'Are we travelling that fast now?'

'No.'

'I see. Perhaps that is best. It is already quite choppy.'

'Less than usual at this season, but there is a storm expected on our route. I heard the stewards speaking. At the current speed and if the weather patterns are true to the season I calculate a voyage time of eight days and twenty hours...' The girl appeared to struggle to hold back, but then the words rushed out nonetheless,
'and fourteen minutes.'
 
'What is your name?' Mina inquired, forestalling a possible inundation of more sailing statistics.

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