She held Percy close under Nikolas Jacket. They reached her father's house and the door creaked open. "Thank you Ivan." Helen greeted the butler.
"By god, you must be freezing madam." Ivan ushered her in, ignoring the other two. He handed her off to the woman servant, Nikola and John trailing behind.
"My dear Helen, what happened? I thought you were aboard the Titanic." The woman stated, her arm wrapped around Helen's back as they started up the stairs.
"I was, Elizabeth. It went down." They reached Helens door that led to her room. Elizabeth cracked the door and let Helen in, then turned around. She looked the men up and down sending Nikola a few paces back.
"I'm her fiancé." John commanded, holding the door with one hand, "I am perfectly capable of helping my wife into her room and bed."
"Wife to be." With that the servant slammed the door. She turned to Helen, "I'm very well assuming you want to bathe then sleep?"
Helen walked towards her windows, closing the curtains one hand at a time. She slipped her arm back under the jacket, "Miss, mind me, but what are you hiding under the coat?" the servant asked with glints of fear encased in her eyes. Helen headed into the powder room and shut them as well. Once there was no hint of light seeping in from the outside world did she let the black cloth covering her slip off.
In the small glowing lights of the room she could see her servant's hand covering her mouth. Helen looked at her with sympathy, "she not mine."
Elizabeth's heavy breathing returned to normal as Helen set her on the monstrous bed. The uniformed woman picked up a clean white towel from a chair and wrapped it around Magnus. "You're so young, why ruin your life?"
The look Helen returned was nothing but pure disgust. "This child does nothing but make me smile."
Elizabeth retreated her boldness, "I'm sorry, I was out of line Ma'am."
"What has gotten into you lately Lizzy?" Helen asked with a sympathetic voice.
Her eyes darted around the room, and then started to clean. "Lizzy?" Magnus demanded.
"I'm sorry, Helen. I don't know." Tears welled in her eyes.
"Don't cry Lizzy. Here hold her." Helen said while picking the baby up and gesturing toward her. "I'm old enough to find my own clothing now." Elizabeth gently caressed the small child. "I assume father is asleep?"
"Yes, Helen." Percy's small eyes popped open, "uh, Helen?"
Helen stopped throwing hangers aside and looked over. She smiled, "She seems content, she likes you Lizzy," Then continued with her business.
Helen returned from her closet in a flowing, loose fitting, dark blue dress.
"Honestly, you haven't changed a bit." Elizabeth laughed.
"What? You have a problem with my dressing myself?" Helen returned a smile. "Anyways, who's to see me at this time of night?"
Percy released a giggle, which produced a smile on both the ladies' faces.
"Are you two almost finished? We have business to tend to." It was John.
"He was never one for waiting, was he?" Lizzy whispered. They both grinned as they walked out of the room.
"John, dear boy." All of them looked up at the balcony at the top of the stairs. Helen pushed Elizabeth into a the shadows that weren't visible to her father. He began his way down the stairs.
"Nikola, take Lizzy to the lab, don't let father see." Helen whispered into his ear. And the two were quickly on their way.
"Father." Helen greeted him with a kiss on the cheek; A firm handshake between the men.
"My daughter, not to be rude, but why do you smell of salt?" he asked.
"I'll explain to you some other time, but why don't you reacquaint yourself with john?" Nikola returned from the hall.
"Alright my darling, I'll see you later." He glanced at Nikola to reassure himself that he was watching and slammed he mouth against his fiancés. The smacking together of their teeth sent nerves winding. She didn't expect this at all, she couldn't resist for many reasons; her father was standing near and john's hands were behind her head pulling her close, she kissed back.
It was well over a minute before John finished. "I love you." He said kissing her one last time, on the nose then the mouth again. The two gentle men vanished into the dark hallway.
"I saw no passion in that kiss." Nikola finally said.
"Nor did I feel it." Helen began walking to the laboratory.
They reached the flight of stairs and within seconds were at the foot of them. Helen continued toward the knob, but Nikola placed his hand first. "Someone must treat you right," he said while opening the door and letting her be first to enter.