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Selena’s mother. Only ten years separated them in age, but a vast difference existed between them in temperament and form. While Selena was sensitive and reserved, Edith was callous and outspoken. And while Selena was slender and pale, Edith was full figured and as dark as a Gypsy. They had never gotten along well, neither during the five years before Thomas Markham’s death, nor in the two years since.
    It never occurred to Selena that her stepmother might be jealous of her elusive beauty or her managerial talents. She only saw that Edith rarely lost an opportunity to undermine her confidence and belittle her efforts. So she wasn’t surprised when during the soup course Edith immediately brought up the subject she had been dreading.
    “I understand you made quite a spectacle of yourself this afternoon,” Edith remarked, giving her an accusing stare. “Really, Selena, I feel I must take you to task. Your want of conduct is embarrassing me dreadfully. No less than three of my acquaintances commented on your scandalous display.”
    Selena stiffened at the rebuke, but she said nothing, knowing any argument would only make Edith more determined to be unpleasant. The best way to deal with her stepmother, she’d found, was to ignore her when possible and treat her with cool civility when not.
    “If you insist on behaving so disgracefully,” Edith continued, “I’m afraid I will have to ask you to refrain from visiting town.”
    “It won’t happen again, I assure you.”
    “I should hope not! If you aren’t careful, you will give Avery a disgust of you. I’m sure he is quite aware of your preference for seamen after you cut such a figure of pity a few years back, pining after that naval officer.”
    In spite of her determination to maintain her composure, Selena felt a painful flush rise to her cheeks; Edith had struck at her most vulnerable point—her lost love.
    Edward had survived the war with America, for Selena had received a letter from him shortly afterward, full of plans for their impending nuptials and hope for their future life together. After learning that his ship had gone down in a storm, she had developed the habit of riding the long distance to English Harbor each day to inquire of the admiralty about incoming vessels, searching for news of her betrothed. No survivors of the downed ship had ever been found, yet without physical proof of Edward’s death, Selena had found it harder to recover from her grief. Even after so many years, she would sometimes dream that the report had simply been a terrible mistake.
    “I suppose,” Edith commented in the silence, “it could have been worse. At least Captain Ramsey isn’t a common sailor. Rumor has it that he is every bit as wealthy as your father was. Though why any man would continue to captain a ship when he could enjoy the comforts of dry land is beyond me.”
    “Perhaps he likes the sea,” Selena suggested coolly.
    Edith shot her an unfriendly stare. “If Captain Ramsey is wealthy enough to settle down, then as a gentleman he should invest in an estate.”
    When Selena made no reply, Edith left off eating her soup to give her stepdaughter a penetrating look. “Of course he will be staying at Five Islands. I suggest you keep well away from there, unless you mean to disgrace yourself entirely.”
    Selena’s expression turned frosty. Certainly she owed it to her father’s memory to treat Edith with polite deference, but filial duty only went so far. There was a limit to how far she could be pushed, and Edith had nearly reached it. “I hardly need your warning,” Selena replied with chilling politeness.
    Edith seemed to recognize the limit, for she finally dropped the subject and spoke of other things. Selena, her eyes quietly flashing, returned her attention to her soup plate and said little throughout the rest of the meal.
    Perhaps it was Edith’s scolding that made Selena so wideawake and restless that night, or perhaps it was the mention of