“I think we do, miss Beresford. I think we do indeed.” He tried to scowl, but it didn’t quite come off. “But he told me to shut up, mind you. Me. His captain. You heard him?”

“That’s nothing,” she said in dismissal. “You’re only his captain. He told me to shut up, too, and I’m his fiancée. We’re getting married next month.”

“His fiancée? Getting getting married next month?” In spite of the pain Captain Bullen propped himself up on one elbow, stared uncomprehendingly at each one of us in turn, then lay back heavily on his stretcher. “Well, I’ll be damned! this is the first I’ve heard of this.”

“It’s the first Mr. Carter has heard of it, too,” she admitted. “But he’s hearing it now.”