“Serving alongside you and Miss Whipple among the poor in Oxford convinced me of my calling. I do not seek a husband, as you supposed, but a life of service.”
Snowe looked to Miss Whipple as though for help. She crossed her arms and smiled. “She wants to join us in China,” she said.
“You know very well that is not possible,” he said to her.
“But why?” I asked, bewildered that I was summarily dismissed from the conversation. “Surely you have seen that I am resourceful. Despite my upbringing, I am not afraid of hard work. I am also most learned. I can read the Bible in Greek and Hebrew, I speak several languages, and I even brought the Gospel According to St. Luke in Chinese that you gave me, Mr. Snowe. I am certain that if Miss Whipple is willing to serve, that I can accomplish the same.”
“I believe she means it, Phineas,” she said.
He glared at her. “Julia, why don’t you remove the bowl of water from this cabin. I will speak to Miss Goodrich alone.”
Still grinning, she retrieved the bowl and held it against her hip, water splashing her green satin dress. “What are you going to tell her?”
He glared at her again, and she retreated for the door, laughing. When she was gone, he turned to me. “Miss Goodrich, your decision to follow me was most ill-advised. I am certain that your uncle must be heartsick.”
At the mention of Uncle Toby, my own heart felt ill. “I left him a note explaining my intentions. He will know that I am in your good care since he approved of your work. You have already shown me great kindness by bringing me to restored health.”
“Nevertheless—”
“Though why you wanted me to agree to your ruse that we are brother and sister is yet unclear. As I seem to have more of my wits about me than the last time we spoke of the matter, please explain.”
“You are aware that this is an East Indiaman—a ship belonging to the East India Company?”
I nodded.
“Then you are also aware that it is populated primarily by sailors.”
I clasped my hands. “You have only managed to state the obvious, Mr. Snowe. I assure you that I can handle much more information and certainly in a more timely fashion. I fear that we may be in China soon at the rate you are explaining yourself.”
He raised a brow over one dark brown eye. Where had the spectacles gone to? “You prize directness, do you?”
“Yes, and I—”
He took a step closer. “Then let me be perfectly frank. I will have you put off this ship at the first available opportunity. Until that time, the sailors will be eyeing any unattached female, some with courtesy but some with less than Christian thoughts. Perhaps backed by less than Christian deeds, as well.”
I thought of the sailor I had met when I boarded and nodded.
“I have explained your presence as my sister so that I may see to your safety. They will respect you if they believe us related.”
“And what of Miss Whipple? Will they respect her too?”
His eyes leveled with mine. “Julia Whipple does not seek their respect. Only their coins. At least once we reach China.”
“I do not understand.”
“Julia is going to China for one reason only.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “She hopes to set up trade with the Englishmen working in Macao.”
“Then she is quite enterprising. A tradeswoman! Such a thing is practically unheard of in England. Is it easier in China for a woman to do so?”
“No easier than in England. She is involved in the trade at which women naturally excel.”
Understanding dawned in a rush. “Oh!” I felt my face warm. “I . . . I understand now. But you . . . surely you do not approve? Why do you sponsor her?”
He paced a few steps, hands still behind his back. “She cannot have a good life in London as she was not born into society. I hoped that a change of continents might precipitate good fortune for her. Women, decent or otherwise, are in short supply in China, and who knows but that one of East
Snowe looked to Miss Whipple as though for help. She crossed her arms and smiled. “She wants to join us in China,” she said.
“You know very well that is not possible,” he said to her.
“But why?” I asked, bewildered that I was summarily dismissed from the conversation. “Surely you have seen that I am resourceful. Despite my upbringing, I am not afraid of hard work. I am also most learned. I can read the Bible in Greek and Hebrew, I speak several languages, and I even brought the Gospel According to St. Luke in Chinese that you gave me, Mr. Snowe. I am certain that if Miss Whipple is willing to serve, that I can accomplish the same.”
“I believe she means it, Phineas,” she said.
He glared at her. “Julia, why don’t you remove the bowl of water from this cabin. I will speak to Miss Goodrich alone.”
Still grinning, she retrieved the bowl and held it against her hip, water splashing her green satin dress. “What are you going to tell her?”
He glared at her again, and she retreated for the door, laughing. When she was gone, he turned to me. “Miss Goodrich, your decision to follow me was most ill-advised. I am certain that your uncle must be heartsick.”
At the mention of Uncle Toby, my own heart felt ill. “I left him a note explaining my intentions. He will know that I am in your good care since he approved of your work. You have already shown me great kindness by bringing me to restored health.”
“Nevertheless—”
“Though why you wanted me to agree to your ruse that we are brother and sister is yet unclear. As I seem to have more of my wits about me than the last time we spoke of the matter, please explain.”
“You are aware that this is an East Indiaman—a ship belonging to the East India Company?”
I nodded.
“Then you are also aware that it is populated primarily by sailors.”
I clasped my hands. “You have only managed to state the obvious, Mr. Snowe. I assure you that I can handle much more information and certainly in a more timely fashion. I fear that we may be in China soon at the rate you are explaining yourself.”
He raised a brow over one dark brown eye. Where had the spectacles gone to? “You prize directness, do you?”
“Yes, and I—”
He took a step closer. “Then let me be perfectly frank. I will have you put off this ship at the first available opportunity. Until that time, the sailors will be eyeing any unattached female, some with courtesy but some with less than Christian thoughts. Perhaps backed by less than Christian deeds, as well.”
I thought of the sailor I had met when I boarded and nodded.
“I have explained your presence as my sister so that I may see to your safety. They will respect you if they believe us related.”
“And what of Miss Whipple? Will they respect her too?”
His eyes leveled with mine. “Julia Whipple does not seek their respect. Only their coins. At least once we reach China.”
“I do not understand.”
“Julia is going to China for one reason only.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “She hopes to set up trade with the Englishmen working in Macao.”
“Then she is quite enterprising. A tradeswoman! Such a thing is practically unheard of in England. Is it easier in China for a woman to do so?”
“No easier than in England. She is involved in the trade at which women naturally excel.”
Understanding dawned in a rush. “Oh!” I felt my face warm. “I . . . I understand now. But you . . . surely you do not approve? Why do you sponsor her?”
He paced a few steps, hands still behind his back. “She cannot have a good life in London as she was not born into society. I hoped that a change of continents might precipitate good fortune for her. Women, decent or otherwise, are in short supply in China, and who knows but that one of East
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