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back?” Riley was asking Peder.
    “I have no idea. I am all at sea,” he said, using the common sailor’s expression for
confused
. “If he was an officer for the Royal Navy, why were he and his entire crew in civilian clothes?”
    “On leave?” Riley asked.
    “Perhaps. But for what period of time could he manage that? And his ship was not Navy issue.”
    “So he became an officer since that time.”
    “It might be.” Peder took a bite and chewed thoughtfully. “For a man like Mason, it would increase the stakes. He likes the game, more than anything. It’s all like a grand chess match.”
    “Mama, I want more beans,” Kristian said, ignoring the conversation around him.
    Elsa served him, resisting the urge to encourage the child to say “please.” “I still think we should confront Dutton if we see him again. This cannot go on forever. And what purpose would it serve for him to come after us? He tried before and lost. Why would he not go after easier prey?” Elsa put in.
    “Because the pot got sweeter,” Riley said, staring into Peder’s eyes as if understanding what he was thinking. “Forgive me, ma’am, for saying it this way, but there’s you, a grand fish that got away, and then there’s Peder, who made Dutton turn tail and run. Neither sits well with a man.”
    “We didn’t exactly defeat him. He left us wounded and got away!”
    “There is no pride in that,” Peder said. “There is pride only in victory for such a man as he.”
    Elsa sighed and set down her fork. “I refuse to run from him.”
    “We will run until I decide what to do,” Peder said firmly.
    “There are ways—” Riley began.
    “None of which are appropriate to our ways,” Peder interrupted. “I appreciate your impulse, Riley,” he said more gently, “for I wouldlike to throttle him myself. But I need to wait on the Lord for his way in this.”
    Fearful once again, Elsa bowed her head and stared at her plate. In all the time she had known Peder, there were few times when he was not confident about his next move. As much as she hated arguing with him—oftentimes finding him bullheaded and unwilling to consider her viewpoint—it gave her confidence to see such assuredness in his own mind. To see her husband falter made her heart skip a beat.
    She glanced over at Peder’s desk, at the nautical book, knowing her hidden article about Mason was beneath. Perhaps it was just the answer for them. If they could not take on Mason Dutton themselves, the public could do it for them.

    Days later, confident in her decision, Elsa finished her article on Mason Dutton. Perhaps now she could put the scoundrel out of her mind for good. Peder would be furious with her at first, but it would be months before the article appeared, and probably weeks after that before Peder would get wind of it. By then, Elsa hoped the authorities would have taken appropriate action to bring the man to justice—and save her marriage from too much strife. Why, this was exactly the reason that Peder still lobbied to keep her and Kristian ashore. She would not back down now!
    She smiled as she tucked Kristian in for the night and donned her cloak for a stroll on deck. They had made land way down west that afternoon, and she hoped for another glimpse of Japan by moonlight. She was not disappointed.
    Riley joined her at the lee bow rail. “That point there,” he said, raising a finger to the horizon, “that’s Omae Saki.”
    “Saki
means cape, correct?”
    “Aye,” Riley said, a note of pride in his voice. “Been studying the language, ma’am?”
    “A few words in
Japanese Words and Phrases for the Use of Strangers.”
    “A good resource,” Riley said. “Still thinkin’ about traveling about a bit?”
    “Perhaps,” she said noncommittally. “Oh, Riley,” she said, gripping his arm. “Look at that!” She pointed at a reflection in the sky, like a cloud of smoke with fire glowing in the midst of it. “Is it a volcano?”
    Riley