Elizabeth Ogilve sailed on the maiden voyage of the S.S. Viking with rather mixed feelings. It was not that her job, as assistant purser, was likely to set her any problems; nor was she worried at having to keep secret the fact that she was virtually related to the Chairman of the shipping line, who was also on board - travelling incognito, for reasons of his own. What had been so upsetting for Elizabeth was to discover, at the last moment, that the Captain of the ship was to be Hugh Anson, with whom she had once been in love.