If Odetta was surprised, no less was the Earl.
He stared at her in sheer astonishment before he exclaimed,
“Odetta! What are you doing here?”
It was impossible for her to reply and after a moment he said,
“You received my note? I sent one with a footman to the place where we had arranged to meet.”
“N-note?”
Odetta’s lips seemed unable to form the words, but the Earl said,
“I explained that my grandmother had died and I had to return to England immediately, but I just don’t understand – ”
Before he could say anything more, there was a commotion all round them. The Steamer having docked, the porters had come aboard and were looking for customers.
“Porter, sir? Porter?”
One of them pushed himself between the Earl and Odetta and at that moment she realised that she was not dreaming a
