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likely would have noticed.”
    Sophie heard the ring of condemnation in Amanda’s words. “If that be the case, then why didn’t you notice Fanny’s absence? Perhaps because you were distracted by Paul Medford’s attentions?”
    Amanda’s lips tightened into a thin seam, and her eyes shone with anger. “Paul is nothing more than a social acquaintance. You very well know I have no interest in him, but we have no time to argue that. We must find Fanny.”
    “I agree, but you’re the one who made the first accusation, Amanda. Let’s put aside our differences and—” She grasped Amanda’s hand. “There they are in the salon, and it appears Daniel has literally cornered her. She couldn’t escape if her life depended upon it.”
    Amanda peered around Sophie’s shoulder. “Dear me! We must rescue her. We should approach from the far side. That way Fanny will see us coming, and Daniel will be none the wiser.”
    “Excellent plan.” Both of them realized Fanny was in no mortal danger. She was, after all, in a large room surrounded by dozens of other passengers. However, Daniel had chosen a small corner table that had been pushed against the wall and blocked Fanny on one side while his chair blocked the other. The arrangement was perfect—for Daniel. Sophie didn’t doubt for a minute that he’d been attempting to woo Fanny. Why wouldn’t Paul and Daniel content themselves with some other unattached female passengers and permit the Broadmoor women time to enjoy themselves?
    Sophie pointed Amanda to the left, and she stepped to the right. They would flank Daniel and, if necessary, push him out of the way. “Fanny! Where have you been? Do move aside, Daniel. Fanny must join us in our cabin immediately. A matter of great importance must be settled.” When he didn’t move quickly enough, Sophie poked him with her parasol. “Did you not hear me? Move your chair!”
    The sharp command caused Daniel to jump to his feet. The chair toppled backwards, and he tripped in his attempt to grab it before it hit the floor. While he struggled to set the chair aright, Sophie waved for Fanny to escape from her position along the wall. The three young women scurried toward the exit, but not quickly enough to elude Daniel. At the sound of his footfalls, Sophie stopped short and turned. Had she been several inches taller, the two of them would have been nose to nose.
    “Paul went to the upper decks looking for you and Fanny. Go tell him that all is well and we’ve gone to our cabin.” She spoke with such authority he neither objected nor questioned her instructions.
    Sophie waited long enough to be certain Daniel was heading for the upper deck. “Do tell us what happened. One minute you were behind us but the next you had disappeared from sight. Why didn’t you call to us?”
    The girls hurried to the stairway leading to their cabin. “Daniel intentionally stopped to permit a family with small children to pass in front of us as we neared the main salon. Even if I had called out, you wouldn’t have heard me. You were far ahead of us by then, and the music and noise of the passengers would have drowned out my voice. He said we would cross through the salon and meet you on the other side of the ship, but once we were inside, he insisted he didn’t feel well and needed to rest.”
    “Ha! I don’t believe that for one minute,” Sophie said.
    “And you are correct,” Fanny said as she opened the cabin door.
    After making certain they were alone, Sophie plopped down on the divan. “What happened next?” She could barely wait to hear the rest of Fanny’s tale.
    “He said he is in love with me and is determined to have me as his wife.”
    Amanda clasped a hand to her bodice. “Truly? I can’t even imagine such a thing. What did you say?”
    “I told him that I am betrothed to Michael and he is the man I love.” Fanny opened her fan and flicked it back and forth. “I told him he should refrain from making any further