Page 104 of Haunting the Deep

The unshaven man and I make eye contact, and my heart beats a little faster.Why am I nervous? Everything is wonderful.He looks from me to Alexander. He says something to Ismay, and they turn around and walk away.

“Wait,” I say. I lift my dress in one hand and run up the stairs.

When I reach the higher landing, they’re gone.

Alexander rushes up the stairs behind me. “What happened? Are you well?”

“I know that man,” I say, not sure how to explain the odd feeling that I need to talk to him.

I walk to the nearest door and open it. It leads out onto the boat deck. The air is only lightly chilled, and there’s a warm breeze. The water laps in the distance. No Ismay. No unshaven butler.

Alexander steps in front of me. “I must insist that you tell me what is going on here. You are acting as if something is wrong, of which I can see no cause.”

I look at him. “You’re right. I don’t know why I did that. I just felt this strange urge to talk to that man.”

“I am that boring, eh?”

I smile at him. “You’re not boring at all and you know it. How many other passengers bribed their way onto the ship to get away from their horrible aunts?”

“Well, when you say it like that…” He grins. “So, Miss Mather. Shall we take that stroll? Or would you like to continue to chase unknown men around the ship?”

I laugh. “You make me sound like a lunatic.”

“Your words, not mine.”

I push him playfully. “I do want to take that stroll, but…You know Bruce Ismay, right?”

He laughs loudly. “Of course. Everyone does. You want tostrollwith Bruce Ismay?”

“Obviously not. I just want to talk to him or, well, someone he’s with. Do you know where he’d be?”

“Most likely the lounge or smoking room. Unless he retired for the evening.” Alexander sighs. “Come, I will take you to look for him. But if he is not there, you owe me not one stroll, but two.”

I smile. “Agreed.”

He offers me his arm and I take it.

A crew butler opens the lounge door for us and we walk inside. I scan the happy socializing people.

“There, Samantha,” Alexander says, and nods toward a group near the large fireplace. Aunt Myra, Mrs. Brown, and someone I’m pretty sure is the Countess of Rothes sit on plush couches. Standing by their table are Bruce Ismay and the unshaven butler.

I stop short. Seeing them with my aunt feels wrong, uncomfortable.

Alexander stops with me. “Now that we have found him, you look positively glum.”

“I don’t know. I just have this bad feeling.”

He squeezes my hand. “Nothing bad is going to happen to you while I am here.”

I nod at him and start walking again.Why am I acting so strangely? Alexander probably thinks I’m neurotic.

Aunty Myra spots me and waves me over. “Samantha, come join us. Mr. Ismay was just telling us some fascinating facts about this ship.”

I approach the group with Alexander at my side. “Oh?”

Aunty Myra smiles.

Alexander bows to them. “Ladies. Ismay.”