Free Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry

didn’t seem to apply here.
    The ship, when it had left the harbor and spread its full sails to catch the winds, began to roll underfoot. The strange sensation delighted me, and I spread my feet wide to find my balance. Aidan, alas, closed his eyes and clutched at the railing, his great knuckles turning white.
    “What’s the matter, Aidan?”
    He didn’t open his eyes. “Nothing,” he said. “Some son of a sailor I am.”
    “Do you need something to drink?”
    “Just tell me when we get there.”
    “If I may be so bold?”
    I turned to see a cheerful red-haired young man bowing and beckoning me to dance with him. I hesitated, then held out my elbow and let him lead me to join the dancers.
    “Is that your brother with you?” The young man nodded toward Aidan.
    Oh, dear. If I said Aidan was my husband, how would it look, dancing with strangers? On the other hand, if he wasn’t my husband, I could receive more unwelcome attentions.
    “Thank you for the dance.” I released his arm. “It warmed me considerably.” I went to Aidan and leaned closer into him than I intended. The young man shrugged and moved on.
    That was a relief. I ought to have stepped away from Aidan’s side, but the night winds whipping around the sails were bitter cold.
    Aidan’s eyelid opened a crack. “You slay men by the dozens wherever you go, Evie.”
    “That’s Mrs. Moreau to you, laddie,” I said. “And stop talking rot. I do no such thing.”
    “If you’re Mrs. Moreau, then no more dancing with strangers.” His smile gave him away.
    “Feeling better, I take it?”
    “Getting used to it. I’d still rather be on dry land.”
    “I’m not sure I would. Look.”
    Water churned in the wake of the ship’s stern. It spread two blades of white-capped spray from either corner of the ship. The black water stretched forever, except where the dark shore blotted out the stars to our left. Hanging low over the horizon, painting a shimmering silver ribbon all the way to The White Dragon , was the moon.
    Was there ever such a perfect sight in all creation as this?
    Did the moon make the sea this lustrous every night, and here I’d only just discovered it?
    Peace settled over me, a kind of peace I couldn’t explain.
    “It’s extraordinary, Aidan,” I said. “Here, in this moment, I feel I’ve come home.”
    “Do you?”
    Aidan’s face was tilted toward mine, his brown eyes watching me closely. Well, of course his face was tilted down. The lad was a head taller than me, at least. And yet … 
    I forgot about the moon.
    The air he breathed, how it filled his chest, and emptied out again, warm, the soft sounds it made rushing past his mouth … 
    Fascinating thing, breath. I could use Aidan as a scientific study.
    I felt warm, despite the wind. Or was I still standing too close?
    Aidan didn’t seem to mind.
    “Evie?”
    “Hmm?”
    “Chick-chick-chick-eeet!”
    From out of nowhere a furry form leaped onto Aidan’s head, snatching his hat and flinging it out into the sea. I shook myself, as if I’d woken from a dream. We reached for the little pest, but it leaped away faster than we could snatch, peeling back its lips and baring ghastly teeth.
    Laughter broke out among the other passengers on the poop deck. The music had stopped, and the monkey’s owner stepped forward.
    “Your creature doesn’t like me much,” Aidan told the man.
    “Meet Deuce,” the man said. The monkey did a flip. “He’s a wicked imp, but he’ll amaze you with his tricks.” He laid his hat on the deck. “Deuce needs to pay for his crimes.”
    People clapped as the monkey did more flips, walked on its hands while carrying a cup of wine with its feet, and guessed which hand held a button. Pennies fell into the hat, but I was more curious about the man than his pet. What was he discussing with the scarred man from the coach? Hold back, Evie, I warned myself. It’s no crime to have scars or monkeys. But something felt wrong. This man, genial though