âMathematics.â
âReally.â
âReally,â she said, repeating his intonation precisely. âStatistical calculation and analysis. Probability. The evaluation of risk. Applications for business, economics, and engineering. My degree says liberal arts, but all of my concentrations were in math.â
âRemarkable.â
Comfort felt another warning was in order. âItâs just that sort of condescension that contributed to you lying on that chaise.â
Bode arched an eyebrow at her but said nothing. He sipped his tea.
Comfort took another dainty sandwich, cucumber this time. âYour eye looks worse than it did last night.â
âI know.â
âDid someone give you ice for it?â
âIce. Beefsteak.â He pointed to the plate of sandwiches. âCucumber slices.â
Comfort regarded her sandwich uneasily.
âA different cucumber entirely, Iâm sure.â
Hungrier than she was skeptical, she plopped what was left of the bite in her mouth. âWhat about your back? You couldnât rise when I came in.â
âIt will be fine. Iâm going to work tomorrow.â
âDo you think thatâs wise? It doesnât appear that you were able to sleep in your own bed.â
âThatâs not my bed. At least it hasnât been for years. My bed has some support, like this chaise.â
âThen itâs true what they say about you?â
âEnlighten me.â
âYou sleep on a bed of nails.â
âI eat them, too. And spit rust.â
She laughed and realized quite suddenly that she was enjoying herself. Perhaps it was that he only had one steely eye. The intensity of the blue-violet glint had been reduced by half, and he hadnât so much as turned it on her once.
âWhat do you do at your offices?â she asked.
âAs little as possible,â he said. âI prefer being away from them. My interest is the ships. Talking to the masters. Inspecting. Looking over the cargo.â
She was certain he had employees for those things, so if he did them, it was because he really wanted to be out of doors.
âThere are meetings, I suspect.â
âMm. Too many. Deals. Contracts. Agreements to be settled with a handshake.â He felt his jaw tighten. âOr with the turn of a card.â
âThat really happens?â
âSometimes.â He wanted to shrug, but his shoulders were suddenly too tight to make it appear careless. He sought a neutral tone instead and was glad to find it. âItâs San Francisco.â
She nodded, understanding. Sheâd seen lots of valuables traded or sold in the gambling tents and mining camps, and sheâd been witness to what never should have been bought or sold in the cribs and whorehouses.
âBram told me you used to be master on the Artemis Queen ,â she said. âDo you miss it?â
âSometimes.â Almost always, he could have said. Admitting it would have been indulgent. âWhat do you know about the Artemis ?â
âWhat everyone knows, I suppose. Sheâs your flagship. The most beautiful ship in the fleet. At least I think sheâs the most beautiful. I donât know if thatâs what makes her a flagship.â
Bode wondered if sheâd accept an invitation to go aboard. He didnât extend the offer, though it would have been interesting to see her reaction. The Artemis Queen was weeks out from completing her China run. There was still plenty of time to consider it. âWhat do you do at your offices?â he asked. âBesides learn the name of every person who has an account at Jones Prescott.â
âI review the city papers from the previous day so I can follow up on the important stories. News out of the legislature and governorâs office, for instance. Railroad expansion. Who is getting federal land grants. All of the things that influence interest rates and
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