Love Under Fire

THE STOWAWAY

Elvina stood before the ship's captain feeling more afraid than she'd guessed she would. She watched him appraise her black hair, dyed the night before her skin darkened with berry juice, her skinny frame of a figure. She could see that he believed her story--that she was an orphaned Portuguese child. "What is your name?" he asked. "Elvina?" she said. "What is your surname?" "I haven't one," she lied. "Everyone has a surname," he said patiently. "Come child, why can't you answer my question?" "It is a lady's privilege," Elvina said with a toss of her head, "to be unpredictable." With that Lord Wye laughed heartily. "I am ashamed to admit it," he told her frankly, "but I think I shall enjoy having you aboard..."