to return home, I contacted my cousin. She had agreed to care for Kathleen even before I met you. She plans to meet me when the ship docks in New York.”
Beth straightened in her chair and smoothed her skirt with unsteady hands. “I think that’s a splendid outcome. A relative who will care for your child is so much nicer than a stranger.”
He sensed her ambivalence. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have told you that. Now you’ve become distant again.”
“ It’s only that I’m still uneasy about our ... er, friendship.” She looked up at him through eyelashes that were collecting moisture. “If I’ve seemed distant and cold, it was because I’m your employee, not your equal ...”
Richard grasped her hand. “Don’t say that. Of course you’re my equal. You’re a human being, and I admire you. Your excellent qualities are far more important to me—as they should be to any thinking man—than an inherited fortune tied to a woman with little else to recommend her. I am perfectly able, and willing, to provide for myself and a family without any such inducement.” As he finished his rather long speech, he dropped her hand and rose from his chair.
Beth couldn’t help smiling at his recital. She had admired his looks from the start, was impressed by his gentlemanly demeanor, and now, best of all, felt his intention to marry for love rather than money to be most admirable.
He turned suddenly, pulled her to her feet and leaned close, as if about to kiss her.
She backed away. She wasn’t ready for such a show of affection. They had known each other a scant three weeks. She couldn’t—she simply couldn’t—allow herself to be kissed. Not yet. Then her common sense returned. He probably hadn’t intended to kiss her at all. Like her, he no doubt realized they needed to know each other better.
“ Excuse me. I believe it’s time I ... changed clothes.” She escaped to her own cabin, where Kathleen still lay sleeping, and closed the connecting door. Then she leaned against it, her heart continuing to pound and her face fixed in a silly grin.
Chapter 6
Hearing a noise from the adjoining room, Richard put his book on the desk. In fact, he’d read little; his mind was so preoccupied with thoughts of Beth that words on the page held no meaning. He glanced at his pocket watch. It was still afternoon, too early for dinner.
Then the connecting door opened and Kathleen, refreshed from her brief nap, bounced into the room. “Pa-pa? Are you here?”
“ Yes, my dear.” He rose and came forward to embrace her. He picked her up and swung her around before setting her on her feet again. She squealed and laughed.
He saw Beth standing just inside and gestured to her. “Do come in.”
He looked down at Kathleen. “Would you like to do more sightseeing with me? Perhaps we can find a children’s playroom or see the gymnasium or the swimming bath.” He looked over at Beth. “What we in America would call a swimming pool.”
She came into the room. “I looked through the brochure quite thoroughly. There don’t seem to be facilities just for children, although they’re allowed in the gymnasium between one and three o’clock.”
“ We’re too late for that. I don’t think Kathleen would have much interest in exercise machines anyway.”
“ Is there a puppet show?” Kathleen asked. “I like Punch and Judy.”
“ We’ll see.” He turned to Beth again. “And will you come with us again?”
“ Not this time. The ship is so large; I don’t think you could see all of it even if you spent every minute of every day we’re at sea exploring.”
He grinned. “One can but try.”
She laughed, then became more serious. “I believe I’ll need to ask the steward about having clothes pressed.”
“ That sounds awfully dull.” He shrugged and looked at Kathleen, who laughed with him.
“ Do go off together and enjoy yourselves. I’m sure Kathleen is thrilled to have her father all to
Beth straightened in her chair and smoothed her skirt with unsteady hands. “I think that’s a splendid outcome. A relative who will care for your child is so much nicer than a stranger.”
He sensed her ambivalence. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have told you that. Now you’ve become distant again.”
“ It’s only that I’m still uneasy about our ... er, friendship.” She looked up at him through eyelashes that were collecting moisture. “If I’ve seemed distant and cold, it was because I’m your employee, not your equal ...”
Richard grasped her hand. “Don’t say that. Of course you’re my equal. You’re a human being, and I admire you. Your excellent qualities are far more important to me—as they should be to any thinking man—than an inherited fortune tied to a woman with little else to recommend her. I am perfectly able, and willing, to provide for myself and a family without any such inducement.” As he finished his rather long speech, he dropped her hand and rose from his chair.
Beth couldn’t help smiling at his recital. She had admired his looks from the start, was impressed by his gentlemanly demeanor, and now, best of all, felt his intention to marry for love rather than money to be most admirable.
He turned suddenly, pulled her to her feet and leaned close, as if about to kiss her.
She backed away. She wasn’t ready for such a show of affection. They had known each other a scant three weeks. She couldn’t—she simply couldn’t—allow herself to be kissed. Not yet. Then her common sense returned. He probably hadn’t intended to kiss her at all. Like her, he no doubt realized they needed to know each other better.
“ Excuse me. I believe it’s time I ... changed clothes.” She escaped to her own cabin, where Kathleen still lay sleeping, and closed the connecting door. Then she leaned against it, her heart continuing to pound and her face fixed in a silly grin.
Chapter 6
Hearing a noise from the adjoining room, Richard put his book on the desk. In fact, he’d read little; his mind was so preoccupied with thoughts of Beth that words on the page held no meaning. He glanced at his pocket watch. It was still afternoon, too early for dinner.
Then the connecting door opened and Kathleen, refreshed from her brief nap, bounced into the room. “Pa-pa? Are you here?”
“ Yes, my dear.” He rose and came forward to embrace her. He picked her up and swung her around before setting her on her feet again. She squealed and laughed.
He saw Beth standing just inside and gestured to her. “Do come in.”
He looked down at Kathleen. “Would you like to do more sightseeing with me? Perhaps we can find a children’s playroom or see the gymnasium or the swimming bath.” He looked over at Beth. “What we in America would call a swimming pool.”
She came into the room. “I looked through the brochure quite thoroughly. There don’t seem to be facilities just for children, although they’re allowed in the gymnasium between one and three o’clock.”
“ We’re too late for that. I don’t think Kathleen would have much interest in exercise machines anyway.”
“ Is there a puppet show?” Kathleen asked. “I like Punch and Judy.”
“ We’ll see.” He turned to Beth again. “And will you come with us again?”
“ Not this time. The ship is so large; I don’t think you could see all of it even if you spent every minute of every day we’re at sea exploring.”
He grinned. “One can but try.”
She laughed, then became more serious. “I believe I’ll need to ask the steward about having clothes pressed.”
“ That sounds awfully dull.” He shrugged and looked at Kathleen, who laughed with him.
“ Do go off together and enjoy yourselves. I’m sure Kathleen is thrilled to have her father all to
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