After luncheon Sir Thomas persuaded Justina to take another turn around the deck with him.
When she told him that no engagement could be announced until he had applied to her father for her hand in marriage, he was not pleased.
“This is preposterous,” he exclaimed. “You are mine and I want the whole world and certainly this ship to know about it.”
“My father would never countenance such a way of proceeding,” responded Justina firmly.
If only she could stave off an official announcement of their engagement, there was the faint possibility that Sir Thomas might find someone else more to his liking.
Sir Thomas’s face darkened suddenly.
“Who has told you our engagement should not be immediately announced,” he snorted and caught hold of her arm in his strong grip.
Justina gasped in pain.
“You are hurting me,” she protested.
A couple of passengers were approaching and he immediately released her.
“I am sorry, but I need you to answer my question. Who told you to say our engagement should not be announced immediately? And don’t tell me it was Mrs. Arbuthnot.”
“No, indeed, it was I who said it to her. Though why you should be so convinced it was her, I do not understand. After all, she is my chaperone. You cannot think,” she went on, becoming indignant, “that any well brought up girl would announce that she was engaged before her father had given his consent?”