Chapter 4
BY THE TIME Roald and Johanna finished their meal and Johanna went up to the deck, the sun had well and truly disappeared behind thick clouds. The sky towards the west had darkened to the colour of ash, leaden, almost dark blue. Gusts of wind whipped at Johanna’s hair. Nellie rushed across the hold covers behind the cabin, where she pulled flapping sheets and shirts off the washing line before they blew into the water.
“It’s sure going to rain, mistress.” Her cheeks were red with the effort.
Nellie had to give up wearing a bonnet when her only one became too torn and dirty during their foray with the bandits and now wore her flaxen hair in a bun.
“I look like a peasant girl,” she had complained.
That might be true, but a very healthy and good-looking peasant girl. Her skin w
