An Unsinkable Love(5)
An Unsinkable Love
by Terri Benson
convenient, but not right next door. I roomed next to them one trip, and I'll tell you, it was the worst. Noisy, and it didn't smell very good either. Of course, that was a different ship.
Maxwell—he's a friend of mine from engineering—he says there'll likely be a lot of little problems to fix since this is the ship's first trip out. I hope it's nothing to do with the toilets."
Anne paused for breath, removed her apron and hung it on one of a row of hooks next to the door.
Bree followed the young woman out into the hall and around a long bulkhead. There were people everywhere. Most were busy and focused on a task, but she saw a few couples or small groups talking and laughing, and assumed they'd finished their shifts for the day. The bathing facilities, one of three on their deck according to Anne, included several private water closets in a long line, with a pair of sinks in the corner. A large mirror occupying most of the wall space reflected tired green eyes, her face even paler than usual. A hallway alongside led to private bathing chambers, each with a large enameled tub.
"You'll have to see how your schedule works out. This place can be a mess at times when there are too many girls trying to get ready at the same time," Anne said, as they headed back to their cabin.
"I can imagine." Bree nodded, trying to envision bathing and dressing with so many strangers nearby.
As they returned to their tiny room, the floor vibrated and Bree heard a dull rumble. They were leaving—no turning back now. Mr. Barton's instructions came back to her. "Anne, can you tell me how to find F Deck?"
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An Unsinkable Love
by Terri Benson
"Sure. Go right as you leave then two more rights. You'll see stairs ahead. Go down one level. I don't know where the tailor shop is exactly, but you can ask the deck stewards.
They'll know."
Bree surveyed her suit, which was a tad rumpled. Her own design, it sported an ankle-length slim skirt topped by a long, belted tunic with deep V neckline. A high-necked white silk blouse with cravat and mock pearl buttons filled the gap.
She'd have to wear the suit and her dainty lace-up kid boots until she received her uniform.
Bree followed Anne's directions and nodded shyly at other workers as they passed in the halls. She stepped off the last tread as a man dressed in casual flannels and twirling a straw boater on his finger barreled around the corner. Bree cringed, expecting to be knocked flat. With split-second reflexes, he threw his arm out, raised his shoulder and spun gracefully on his heel. He cleared the top of her head by a fraction of an inch before he fetched up against the bulkhead with a hard thump.
"Are you hurt?" Bree asked as she looked up. He towered a good foot taller, filling her vision with broad shoulders and a tantalizing V of bronzed skin framed by the open neck of his striped collarless shirt. She tipped her head back. Beyond his corded neck, she noted a firm chin. His well-formed lips stretched in a broad smile beneath a patrician nose and cobalt eyes gleaming with a combination of amusement and interest. A thatch of damp chestnut hair with pale highlights the color of ripe wheat complemented his deeply tanned skin.
24
An Unsinkable Love
by Terri Benson
Realizing she was gawking quite rudely, Bree snapped her mouth shut and felt the heat rise to her face.
He rubbed his shoulder. "I think I'll live." His cocky grin changed to chagrin after he noticed his straw hat. "Can't say the same for my boater, though." The brim hung loose from the crown, which had a jagged hole punched through it.
Bree knew her pale skin flushed deeper as his gaze traveled down to her toes and back up again, the cocky grin returning wider than ever. No one had ever studied her like that before. He was quite cheeky, but she couldn't help the shiver of excitement that flared through her body. It was far different from the fright that had plagued her when Lord Rothberry caught her in the gallery and made all those disgusting demands as his eyes fair stripped the clothes from her body.
Actually, it felt rather delightful to have a dapper young man admire her. With a start, Bree realized she'd allowed him to stare for far too long and tried to dampen her own excessive interest. She drew herself up to her full height, which put her nose one button below the fascinating bit of tanned skin. She affected her haughtiest Lady Rothberry tone and said, "Excuse me, sir," then whirled to continue on her way.
"Wait. I'm sorry. You took me by surprise. I hadn't expected to nearly run over a lovely young woman down here below decks. Please, let me introduce myself. My name is Malcolm DuMont. And you are?"