Page 12 of Astrid at Sea

I was spewing out the contents of my stomach after one measly drink while he held up the bucket and held back my hair.

What must my husband think of me?

CHAPTER SIX

Ispent a considerable amount of time picking out the perfect dress. My options were limited because I couldn’t pack much in the little time I had. I ended up settling on a dark navy dress with dainty white flowers. It was simple and pretty, and I felt even more beautiful when I twisted my hair into the perfect plait.

After how embarrassingly inebriated I was last night and pathetically hungover this morning, I wanted to step out in front of everyone, looking like I had everything under control.

I immediately regretted it when I stepped out on the top deck, and Caspian and Laurence started laughing at me. They were on cleaning duty but paused to make fun of me.

“What are you two laughing at?” I narrowed my eyes at them, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Why are you dressed like you’re about to go for a walk through a field of flowers?” Laurence chuckled, pointedly looking at the flowers patterned on my dress. It wasn’t my favourite dress of all time, but it was pretty, and I liked how it fit me.

“Why is that so specific?” I countered, taking great joy in the way his face flushed.

“Laurence clearly likes going on romantic walks through flower fields,” Caspian snickered, teasing Laurence and then turned to me. “I’m assuming this is your favourite dress?”

“It’s not my favourite, but I like it well enough.”

“Well, I doubt you’ll feel the same about it for long. Not with how much it rained earlier.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, and when they both pointed to my feet, I glanced down to see that the bottom of my dress was already wet with the murky water Caspian and Laurence were mopping up. “I’m going to change,” I groaned and retreated down the stairs.

Caspian and Laurence nodded at me when I returned to the top deck, no longer dressed in one of my finest dresses. Instead, I chose one that was a little faded in colour and half an inch shorter than all my other ones. The dress was still pretty–this one pale yellow with white ruffles around the sleeves and neckline–but it had seen better days.

I found Viktor at the front of the ship, his hands on the wheel and his foot on the button.

The corner of his lips twitched with the hint of a smile. “How are you feeling this morning, my siren?”

“Better.” I returned his smile, albeit mine was a little embarrassed. “Thank you for looking after me earlier.”

“That’s what good husbands do,” he chuckled and moved over, taking one hand off the wheel. “Come here.”

“What are you doing, pirate?” I asked with wide eyes. “Isn’t it dangerous to take your hands off the wheel?”

“For too long? Yes,” He nodded and laughed. “You better hurry up and put your hands on the wheel before it’s too late. I’m going to teach you how to steer.”

“I’ve never steered a ship before,” I protested but moved to stand in front of him.

“I’ll teach you.”

He guided my hands on the wheel, making me grab two spokes on opposite sides. “Like this?”

“Perfect,” he made a low noise of satisfaction and rested his chin on my shoulder from behind, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I’ll keep my foot on the pedal, so you only have to focus on steering the wheel.”

“I think that’s best,” I chuckled nervously. “So, what do I do?”

“Just hold it,” he told me. “Try and sail straight, but it’s not a big deal if you stray a little off course. Most of the time, all you have to do is hold it and make sure it doesn’t spin too far out.”

“Hold it, and steer straight. Got it,” I murmured and nodded, my eyes trained on the vast sea ahead.

“I’ll make a good sea woman out of you yet.” He squeezed my hip. “Do you feel like Garth’s hangover cure worked?”

“I think so, but I think I was hallucinating at one point.”

“Hallucinating?”

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