8.

Three days on the steamer, and all this sitting is making my legs cramp up. I've always been an indoors person, but now there's a strange desire to get on terra firma once again.

"Hey Alec." Jacob and Matthew are playing cards. "Want to play a round?"

"Nope." I crack my knuckles, fingers curled around a crumpled letter.

Matthew raises an imperious eyebrow. "What's eating you?"

"An intestinal worm?" Jacob suggests, slapping his thigh.

Matthew rolls his eyes. "Idiot." To me: "You've been awfully quiet, pal. You pining?" He's eyeing the letter in my hand. The one Elizabeth left me.