Melly shivered. "It seems to me if the blackguard disappeared, we'd all sleep safer in our beds."
"Not necessarily," Drake put in. "We have to assume the man attacked Thea on purpose. Until he's caught, she won't be safe."
"But no one would want to hurt Miss Thea! There's no reason to believe the rogue wouldn't have attacked any unattended lady he came across. There are wicked men in this world, Mr. Drake, that care nothing for a woman's virtue."
The look she gave him implied she just might consider him one of those wicked men. He glared at both her and Thea. "Your mistress is the one refusing to do the honorable thing, not me," he felt compelled to say.
"Nonsense." Thea bounded off the bed and stormed over to him. "Both my honor and yours are untarnished. I won't have you implying otherwise to my maid."
He met Thea's gaze with a knowing look and she had the grace to blush. She turned away and paced to the other side of the stateroom. "Let us not get off subject. We are here to discuss apprehending the villain, not my unmarried state."
"Actually, I'm here to see that you are dressed properly for dinner. We're dining at the captain's table tonight, and I thought you'd want time to prepare yourself. All this stuff about an attacker is news to me."
Thea gripped her hands together and seemed to be praying for patience. "Be that as it may, Melly, we are discussing the unfortunate incident on deck now and I would appreciate your cooperation."
"I wasn't there," Melly said, looking confused. "I don't know what I could add."
"You were there the day we came aboard. Did you notice any of the people from home talking to the ship's crew when they came aboard to see the steam engine?"
"You think someone from the island stole aboard the ship and attacked you?"
"Sacre bleu. Melly, just answer my question."
"I don't remember. Everything was in such a whirl with you wanting to sail so quick like."
Thea nodded. She rubbed her temples. "Thank you. I'm sorry I was short with you. It's been a trying time."
"Do you need a headache powder, Miss Thea, or some of Mr. Drake's ginger tea?"
Thea grimaced at the mention of the ginger tea. "No, thank you, Melly."
Drake walked up behind Thea and placed his hands on her shoulders. "It's going to be all right. I won't let anyone hurt you, Thea."
"Can you stop them from hurting Uncle Ashby?"
She whispered the comment, but he still heard. He hated the broken fear in her voice. Thea was not afraid for herself, but for the man she called uncle.
He turned her to face him, ignoring Melly's sounds of protest about appropriate behavior when two people were not engaged. Locking his arms behind her back, he pulled her close. "Let me help you, Thea."
She nuzzled into his neck and just held on for a long moment. Finally, she pulled back a little. "Yes. Please, help me, Drake. I don't want Uncle Ashby hurt."
Melly stood up and walked to the door, her face the color of boiled lobster. "It's no good being a chaperone when your presence doesn't hinder such familiar behavior."
She went out, shutting the door loudly.
He swung Thea into his arms and carried her to the chair. It was safer than the bed. He sat down and settled her on his lap.
She sighed. "She's disappointed in me."
He knew she referred to her maid. "Does that bother you?"
"Yes. Melly has always been there, and though she insists on referring to herself as a maid, she's so much more."
He understood. Thea had a tender heart toward those she loved, and she loved the woman who had helped her mother raise her. "Why is she disappointed?"
"Because I won't act like a proper lady and marry you."
"Well, there is one way you can make her happy."