‘You’re most welcome. Do you want to eat here, or with the rest of us?’ He says.
‘I would eat with you, but is there anywhere I can wash first,’ she says, aware of her own body odour compared to the cleanliness of the cabin.
‘I will ask my wife to bring in a bowl, and I’m sure she will have something you can wear.’
‘Thank you,’ she says, with a gracious smile.
As he walks out of the cabin, she climbs out of the bed. The waves roll away into a calm sea. Her boat, anchors just beside the small sailing ship. There couldn’t be many aboard this vulnerable ship. Many pirates hide in plain sight, ready to attack the weak.
His wife, or so Bethany assumes, arrives with a small, porcelain bowl full of warm water. A bar of soap floats on the water like a lily pad in the middle of a pond. She doesn’t speak at first, pointing to the dress, then to the bowl.
‘Thank you,’ Bethany says.
‘I’m not sure if the dress will fit, but we are both about the same size. Charles says to meet us when you are ready. You poor thing, you must be exhausted.’
