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standing right behind her. “May I say I am very glad that the reports have been exaggerated?”
    “Thank you, Captain. And may I say that the lessons you gave Jake in navigation and aeronautics have more than repaid the time you took to give them. Hsengive the has been Captain Chalmers’ first officer on the Stalwart Lass in everything but name.”
    “Captain Chalmers? The Stalwart Lass?” The captain of the Lady Lucy looked over the little party, his gaze darkening. “I’d like a word with him, and then perhaps he’d like a quick trip to the local gaol.”
    “She, sir.” Jake gripped Alice’s arm and pulled her over much the same way as a tug drags a boat anchor. “An’ she ent no pirate. She saved all our lives, one after t’other.”
    Bravely, Alice held out her right hand while attempting to smooth her hair with her left. “Alice Chalmers, sir. I deeply regret my stepfather’s treatment of you and your crew.”
    “You were in Resolution?”
    “I was, sir.”
    “Keeping me and the girls alive,” Claire put in.
    “And you are not a pirate?”
    “No, sir. I operated the locomotive tower, though.”
    “But that were only cos ’er dad would’ve shot ’er if she ’adn’t.” Maggie came to the captain’s side and took his other hand. Alice tugged hers free and tried to hush her, but Maggie pushed on. “An’ ’e took ’er prisoner and would’ve shot ’er ’cept Jake set ’er free and they come after us.” She gazed up, earnestly. “Don’t throw our Alice in gaol, Cap’n. She’s in our flock.”
    Captain Hollys looked bemused. “I would say that no higher character recommendation is necessary, then.” Alice straightened. “So young Jake’s service has been satisfactory?”
    “Quite satisfactory.” It appeared that being addressed as an equal by another airman was affecting her spirits positively. “He has a knack for navigation and can read a chart at a glance, even if he has to spell out the names.”
    Now it was Jake’s turn to blush and attempt to hide behind Andrew, who nudged him forward.
    “It’s the land forms that count.”
    “You’re right, there. How long did it take you to get here from Santa Fe?”
    “It would have been three days, but Lord and Lady Dunsmuir took a fancy to a bit of shooting in the Montana Territory. Her ladyship bagged a—”
    “Really, Ian, I’m sure our company does not want to hear such things, especially the children,” Davina interrupted hastily, covering Willie’s ears.
    “I do,” Lizzie said.
    “Me, too,” said Maggie and Tigg together.
    “Mama, I saw you shoot that big deer,” Willie said earnestly. “Mr. Skully and me were looking out the window.”
    “You were supposed to have been having a nap,” his mother said severely. “I shall have a word with Mr. Skully.”
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“It was a single shot, too,” the earl said with proud affection. “Let us have dinner together en famille . I confess my appetite is only being whetted the more, the longer we remain out here.”
    When Alice would have melted out the door, both Andrew and Claire took her by either arm and marched her down the corridor to Claire’s former cabin, which was possessed of a sink and mirror.
    With some water and a comb, Claire decided, she would work a minor miracle on her friend. A little attention from Captain Hollys instead of Andrew would, she was quite sure, go a long way.
     

Chapter 4
     
    Alice figured the meal that evening in the dining saloon could have rivaled anything the railroad barons might put on in their fancy New York mansions. The rolling plains of the Canadas produced an enormous shaggy creature that tasted much like beef, much to the delight of the Mopsies, and she was introduced to the finer points of Yorkshire pudding, which in their minds was the epitome of heaven.
    The puffy puddings were pretty darned good, she had to admit, though it was hard to beat one of her own biscuits. But what felt even better was a full stomach, for the