“It was. Luckily it was just in his arm or perhaps he might have bled out before I reached him.”
“Well, you managed to save him clearly, and now you’ve managed to bring him back.” He looked to her for confirmation and she nodded. “So you must not have sunk your boat, unless you used his.”
“No, I did not sink my boat.” She smiled. “One might almost think that’s all you care about.”
“Oh Daria, if you knew how long I labored on that boat, how many nights by candlelight I had so I could get it to you promptly, you would not be smiling like that.”
“Was it really so difficult?”
“It was. In fact, I’ve already started your next one so it will not be so intensive.”
“You have not!” she laughed.
“No, perhaps not. But I have just added it to my mental to-do list now. I can work on it in my spare time so I never have to push quite like that again.”
“I don’t intend to keep sinking boats. I’m not sure how many times I can survive that.” Even if she did have a magical helper in the water.
“Yes, please let it never happen again.”
There was a pause and then he said, “I’m afraid that doesn’t explain why you’re here. In town, yes. But not here. Because as much as it pains me, I doubt you’re here just to see me.”
His smile was so sad, but she supposed yes, it was true. She had never come to visit him without a question or purpose. Even if she did visit him on her every trip to town, she usually came with a purpose other than just coming to chat. There was always something to ask when one was stuck away for so long, and he knew so much. “What a terrible friend I am,” she muttered.
“No, perhaps you’re all the better. There are never any games, never any pretending.”
Was that really true when she was hiding a mermaid? But shesupposed she had been honest from the beginning with both these human men that she had no interest in suitors.
“So what is it, Miss Daria?”
She frowned. It felt shameful to even admit it but…she sighed. “I do not trust the man I saved.”
Mr. Wilson jumped to his feet. “What in heaven’s name do you mean? Did he try something on you?”
She had found the way he charged toward her with that look quite intimidating, but that probably sounded ridiculous. “No, not like that. But well, he was very adamant that I go to the city with him, thatIdidn’t belong in the lighthouse—for more than one reason—and when I said no, he threatened to have me fired to force my hand.”
“What?” he exploded.
She could not look at him for her request, and in her heart, she wished that it was Kallias who could stand beside her. “He says he wishes to thank me and will come to the lighthouse Tuesday. I was hoping…well, if you are not too busy, though I imagine you might be if you’re assisting with their ship’s mast—they must have asked for your assistance, no?”
“Daria.” He took both her hands in both of his, cupping them. “This is about your safety. I could never be too busy for that.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wilson.”Thank you for not holding anything against me,she almost said. But instead she said, “I am so blessed to have a friend like you.”
CHAPTER 69
“Miss Wains! Miss Wains! Please wait!”
His very voice made her blood want to flee, but she spun around, forcing a smile lest she scream. “Mr. Runington, shouldn’t you be at the doctor?”
“Yes, I am. Or I was. I just saw you from the window. Tell me you’re not going back to that dreadful lighthouse. I asked around. Others have seen the ghost.”
She froze; her breaths felt sharp and painful, but she tried to act natural as she said, “Mr. Runington, that can’t be possible. I have lived there all my life andIhave never seen it nor did my father ever speak of it.” Except that she did and he had. How often had he told her of long-haired ghosts and the monsters that owned the sea?
“No, I had my crew ask the fishermen and they’ve seen a white-haired specter. With hair long and like the moon, and lips like ruby blood.”
“Mr. Runington! I think you’re just trying to scare me!” She meant out of the lighthouse or she hoped he would take it that way. But it was more true in other ways. She was terrified, so terrified she was sure each next breath would not come.
“No, no, I do not mean to frighten you. I speak the truth. The men have seen it as of late. Ever since you failed to save those men. They say it must be the ghost of one of them.”
