She had spent the entire night running between Isabelle, who had continued to be ill all night, and Maria, who lay in her tiny compartment looking as white as a ghost. She was obviously now in deep shock. ‘You look tired, Kitty,’ Josh commented sympathetically but she merely smiled. ‘Oh, I’s all right, sir,’ she responded as Isabelle pulled herself up onto her pillows. ‘But neither o’ these pair has had a very good night, an’ that’s a fact.’ ‘Oh, be quiet, girl, and fetch me a glass of water,’ Isabelle said irritably. She had a splitting headache and was dehydrated. ‘I hardly think there is any need to talk to the poor girl like that when she has spent the whole night caring for you,’ Josh told her sharply. ‘I shall speak to her any way I choose. She is only a servant.’ Isabelle then glanced towards Maria before asking, ‘And what is wrong with her? I thought it was her job to care for me, not Kitty’s.’ ‘Maria had a rather unpleasant encounter with a seaman when she was on the way back to the cabin with your meal last night.
