into almost instant sleep.
Seconds later, as Lilli climbed into her own bunk, there came the sound of Lottie quietly saying her prayers, her feet curled up to her chest so that she wouldnât crush her precious sailor-hat. âAnd God Bless Leo and Lilli and Aunt Gussie and Lettie,â she finished, âAnd may we all reach Alaska safely.â
In the now thick darkness there came a suspicious sound from Lettieâs bunk. It was almost like a stifled sob. Lilli leaned over the edge of her bunk and looked down but Lettie was laying on her side, facing the cabin wall, and all she could see was the shadowy outline of her back. She lay down again, succumbing to exhaustion. It probably hadnât been a sob. It had probably only been a stifled sneeze. She closed her eyes, trying to acclimatise herself to the movement of the boat, every muscle in her body aching. How many miles had she walked since getting out of bed that morning? It must have been well over twelve for she had visited every single employment agency listed in the Examiner and more houses with rooms to rent than she cared to remember.
Image after image burned the backs of her eyelids. The spilt milk running in rivulets onto the Turkish carpet; her uncle demanding that she be out of the house, for good, before he returned to it; the abortive hunt for a suitable job and a room; her auntâs anguished face when she had told her she was leaving and taking Leo and Lottie with her; the frantic dash for the cable car and the even more fraught hackney carriage ride. There hadnât been time to think. From the moment she had entered the Peabody Marriage Bureau she had acted on instinct and instinct alone.
There was a gentle snore from the direction of Lettieâs bunk. Leo murmured in his sleep. Lottieâs rhythmic breathing indicated that she, too, was deep in dreamland. With her every nerve and muscle longing for sleep Lilli remained awake. Had she behaved with crass rashness? And if she had, was the situation she had plunged herself into one from she would be able to extricate herself?
Of all the images that burned against her eyelids, one, grey-suited and Homburg-hatted, predominated. Was he a gold-rich miner returning to his strike? Was he, perhaps, one of the men who had approached the Peabody Marriage Bureau in the hope that the bureau could find him a wife willing to endure the rigours of the pioneer north? Lilliâs tummy muscles tightened with fierce, desperate hope.
She remembered the way he had looked at her when he had cautioned her to take more care crossing city streets. There had been amusement in his amber-brown eyes and there had been something more; an expression of open admiration. Merely remembering it sent the blood racing heatedly along her veins. No-one had ever looked at her in such a way before and even if they had, she was certain they wouldnât have aroused such an extraordinary response in her.
When she had seen him on deck she had felt as if Fate had directly intervened in her life. What other explanation could there be for the bizarre events of the last fifteen hours? Destiny had ensured she walked into the Peabody Marriage Bureau and destiny was responsible for their travelling on the same ship. Tomorrow he would see her as she leaned against the deck rails, watching the coast of northern California slide by; tomorrow he would speak to her and introduce himself to her; tomorrow would be the most momentous, most memorable day of her life. Happy anticipation replaced tension and Lilli fell into a deep, but not a dreamless, sleep.
She woke to stark reality. âIâm going to be sick!â Leo announced as morning light streamed through the porthole into the close confines of the cabin.
Lilli swung her legs over the edge of her bunk and dropped to the floor. âNot yet!â she said peremptorily. âWait till Iâve got some clothes on!â
Minutes later she was up on deck and Leo was
Seconds later, as Lilli climbed into her own bunk, there came the sound of Lottie quietly saying her prayers, her feet curled up to her chest so that she wouldnât crush her precious sailor-hat. âAnd God Bless Leo and Lilli and Aunt Gussie and Lettie,â she finished, âAnd may we all reach Alaska safely.â
In the now thick darkness there came a suspicious sound from Lettieâs bunk. It was almost like a stifled sob. Lilli leaned over the edge of her bunk and looked down but Lettie was laying on her side, facing the cabin wall, and all she could see was the shadowy outline of her back. She lay down again, succumbing to exhaustion. It probably hadnât been a sob. It had probably only been a stifled sneeze. She closed her eyes, trying to acclimatise herself to the movement of the boat, every muscle in her body aching. How many miles had she walked since getting out of bed that morning? It must have been well over twelve for she had visited every single employment agency listed in the Examiner and more houses with rooms to rent than she cared to remember.
Image after image burned the backs of her eyelids. The spilt milk running in rivulets onto the Turkish carpet; her uncle demanding that she be out of the house, for good, before he returned to it; the abortive hunt for a suitable job and a room; her auntâs anguished face when she had told her she was leaving and taking Leo and Lottie with her; the frantic dash for the cable car and the even more fraught hackney carriage ride. There hadnât been time to think. From the moment she had entered the Peabody Marriage Bureau she had acted on instinct and instinct alone.
There was a gentle snore from the direction of Lettieâs bunk. Leo murmured in his sleep. Lottieâs rhythmic breathing indicated that she, too, was deep in dreamland. With her every nerve and muscle longing for sleep Lilli remained awake. Had she behaved with crass rashness? And if she had, was the situation she had plunged herself into one from she would be able to extricate herself?
Of all the images that burned against her eyelids, one, grey-suited and Homburg-hatted, predominated. Was he a gold-rich miner returning to his strike? Was he, perhaps, one of the men who had approached the Peabody Marriage Bureau in the hope that the bureau could find him a wife willing to endure the rigours of the pioneer north? Lilliâs tummy muscles tightened with fierce, desperate hope.
She remembered the way he had looked at her when he had cautioned her to take more care crossing city streets. There had been amusement in his amber-brown eyes and there had been something more; an expression of open admiration. Merely remembering it sent the blood racing heatedly along her veins. No-one had ever looked at her in such a way before and even if they had, she was certain they wouldnât have aroused such an extraordinary response in her.
When she had seen him on deck she had felt as if Fate had directly intervened in her life. What other explanation could there be for the bizarre events of the last fifteen hours? Destiny had ensured she walked into the Peabody Marriage Bureau and destiny was responsible for their travelling on the same ship. Tomorrow he would see her as she leaned against the deck rails, watching the coast of northern California slide by; tomorrow he would speak to her and introduce himself to her; tomorrow would be the most momentous, most memorable day of her life. Happy anticipation replaced tension and Lilli fell into a deep, but not a dreamless, sleep.
She woke to stark reality. âIâm going to be sick!â Leo announced as morning light streamed through the porthole into the close confines of the cabin.
Lilli swung her legs over the edge of her bunk and dropped to the floor. âNot yet!â she said peremptorily. âWait till Iâve got some clothes on!â
Minutes later she was up on deck and Leo was
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