Soft footsteps approached from behind me, too delicate for any of the sailors. I shook the troubling thoughts from my head and glanced around to find my dearest friend, Nora Goodwin, her excited face framed by the dark hood of her own woolen cape. Stopping at my side, she passed an arm around my waist.
“I scarce believe my eyes,” she said, looking out at the city. “Pinch me so I know it’s real and not just another of Poseidon’s cruel tricks.”
“It’s real enough. Can’t you smell it?”
She pulled a deep breath in through her nose. “Praise be the stink,” she said, gagging slightly, “if it means my wits have survived this accursed journey.”
“Praise be, indeed. I can hardly wait to get ashore. London looks a marvel from here. Do you think it is really so evil as the stories say?”
“A right Gomorrah if you ask me,” she laughed. “Though I would gladly take it over spending another night on board this over-sized bucket. Remind me again why I agreed to leave Pennsylvania to accompany you on this silly folly.”
I poked her playfully in the ribs. “For true love, my dear girl. You are too sentimental for your own good.”
Nora gave me a sideways glance. “Sentimental, my foot. I did it because you promised we could sneak into a playhouse once we got here.”
“Another compelling reason,” I said, smiling. Ever since she was a young child, Nora had dreamed of seeing a play, but as a devout Quaker the threat of being discovered, and potentially disowned was too great a risk while at home. Having yet to decide where I belonged amongst the various religions, I received more leniency than Nora from Hopewell’s Quaker population whenever I participated in activities that ran counter to their notion of plain living. In London though, we were two strangers in a veritable sea of people, and a world away from censure of any sort.
Nora’s arm tightened around my waist. “Maybe I do have a bit of mawkishness about me, to have braved this damp tub so you could be reunited with Henry. I’m sure it’s all the more romantic that we nearly sank three times and were blown hundreds of miles off course during the last storm.”
“Four times,” I corrected. “Twice from storms, once when the hull sprang a leak, and then again when the main mast was struck by lightening.”
Nora shook her head. “I wasn’t counting that last one since I assumed we would have burned to death before there was time to drown. But I guess you’re right about the ship ultimately sinking if the sailors hadn’t gotten the fire out in time. Captain Saunders swears he’s never had such a difficult crossing in his twenty years aboard the Callisto. We’ve brushed death so many times, my mother’s nerves may never recover.”
Lucy Goodwin was a fragile woman and by no means my first choice for a traveling companion. Unfortunately, she was also the only married woman willing to accompany me to England once Anne Boyle insisted I not leave the Colonies without a proper chaperone. The delay had cost me dearly as Lucy then proceeded to take a full month to prepare for the journey. Looking back, it was a wonder I had gotten her out of the Colonies at all.
“I think we both know who is responsible for your mother’s discomfort,” I said tersely. “If Anne hadn’t stuck her nose where it didn’t belong, I would have sailed with Henry in mid-July and your mother would be safely home in Hopewell. My sole consolation is that you were allowed to join me.”
“Well, now that we’ve arrived, you can stop hating Anne for making you wait. I for one believe she acted well within her rights to insist on a chaperone in light of the little charade you and Henry played last summer. Surely, your reputation is worth the brief separation.”
I scoffed at the notion for lack of a better reply. In the past months one obstacle after another had been hurled in my direction, all with the same intent of keeping me from Henry. Yet here I was, safely arrived, staring out at the landscape of that magnificent city. My heart nearly burst from how close I was to him. No longer were we worlds apart, he was out there, somewhere amidst all those people.
“You’ve gone all dreamy again,” Nora said, looking at me. “The packet boats cross so quickly nowadays, Henry should have received your letter long ago. I wouldn’t be surprised to find him waiting on the docks when we get there.”
“We’re more than three weeks overdue. With the number of ships in the river, it would take a miracle for him to know the Callisto has arrived.” I bit my lip, frustrated by the numerous delays. “Do you think he has worried overmuch about us?”
“Any sane person worries whenever sea travel is involved, though I imagine ships are too often late to have caused him any real distress yet.” Her overly bright tone undermined the intended solace in her words. “Still,” she continued, “I’m sure Henry would be grateful to receive word directly from you that you’ve indeed arrived in one piece. Why don’t you ask James to carry a note to him once we’ve settled into our lodgings?”