Chapter 7 - Clothes Make the Man ... And the Man Looks Good
The wait until eight o'clock had been interminable thus far. Even his work was no help. Every time he tried to focus on the causalities of space tetrions and their effects on black holes (a subject of interest given recent events), his mind inevitably wandered back to the kiss in Amelia's stateroom.
It was important, he knew that much. After all, she had been the one to initiate it. That had to count for something. Didn't it? And if it did, what?
Having last been on a date - he smiled giddily at the thought - back when it was fashionable to wear his knickers above his knees, he was left greatly wanting in matters concerning the opposite sex. He wasn't even certain what was considered appropriate dress for the night's event.
So, it was with much distress that he went through his closet, tossing suit after suit aside. He finally settled on his usual ensemble. After all, the woman hadn't said anything negative about it whilst on their voyage. But when Sarah Hawkins, dropping by to wish him good luck, learned of that tactical wardrobe error, she'd have none of it.
"You want to impress her, Delbert," she stressed, picking through his discarded choices. "And she's saw you in that suit for the better part of last month. You need something more relaxed."
"Relaxed?" he echoed. "Well, I do have my suit that I use for lectures."
"Relaxed, Delbert. Not stiff. That suit screams 'starch! starch!'" She sighed. "Don't you have anything less ... academic?"
"There's always my convention suit," he offered brightly after a moment's thought. Sarah dropped her head in frustration.
"Was it something I said?"
***
In the end, Sarah decided a journey to town was in order. It had taken a while, but finally after several shops and many hours of searching,
Sarah had pronounced him dashingly handsome, "even more so than usual," she quipped, and sent him to the mirror to see for himself. What he saw left him at a loss for words.
The deep navy blue waistcoat fitted him snugly, the silver trim along the outer edges accentuating the gunmetal gray silk shirt beneath. The dark silver cravat blended effortlessly against the ensemble.
He had chosen to forego his usual brown breeches and had instead settled for a pair of midnight black breeches that stopped just below his knees. The shiny silver buckles glinted against the glossy black of his polished shoes, and a satin handkerchief peeking out from his left breast pocket completed the ensemble.
"Wow," he breathed softly.
Sarah smiled at his reaction. "You know Delbert, if the Captain doesn't work out, I have several friends," she teased.
He turned around startled, but then saw the quick wink she sent him.
"Ah yes ... well ..." he cleared his throat. "While I appreciate the sentiment, Sarah, I think I'll take my chances with the Captain." He broke into a goofy smile.
Sarah suppressed a smile. It was beyond adorable seeing him this way.
The poor man didn't stand a chance. But then again, she realized, neither did the Captain. Experience had taught her that Delbert could be quite determined when he wanted to. She smiled. It was going to be fun to watch. Of that much she was certain.
"So are you going to get her flowers, a corsage ... diamonds," Sarah asked from behind him, a sly smile fluttering along the edges of her mouth.
"I don't know." Delbert shook his head at the mere thought of a corsage. "Knowing my luck, I'd probably stick the pin in her instead of her blouse."
Sarah rolled her eyes. "You have to relax, Delbert. Everything's going to be wonderful."
"I just don't want it to be trite," he sighed. "Are flowers too trite?
Does every woman expect flowers? What flowers are appropriate for a first date? Maybe I just should take her to the florist and let her pick them out herself?" He slumped into the nearest chair and covered his eyes. "Sarah, I don't think I can do this."
Sarah took in a deep breath. This was far more serious than she had realized. Jim had related the events of his and Delbert's trying journey and had hinted there might be something going on between
Doppler and the Captain. But this ... well this was not what she had expected.
She knelt down beside the harried doctor and took his hand. "Delbert, you care for this woman very much, don't you?" she smiled. "I've never seen you this nervous. Not even when the constables mistook your laboratory for a narcot ... um ... different kind of laboratory."
Delbert didn't even notice her reference to the "incident never to be spoken of." He just wiggled his fingers and ran a hand through his hair. When he spoke, his voice was soft.
"I think I love her, Sarah."
"Love?" She was stunned.
"She's a riddle I can't wait to solve. She's acerbic and then the next moment she's utterly charming. All straight-laced and Captain-like and then, just for a moment, she'll drop her guard and let me see her, not the Captain. Not the spacer. Just Amelia." He threw his hands up in frustration. "Why can't you women come with a blasted instruction manual?! It'd make it so much easier."
Sarah giggled at his distress and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Delbert, if it's any comfort, she's probably as confused as you are. We women tend to be just as mystified by you as you are by us."
"Really?" He peeked out from behind covered eyes.
"Really."
"Hmmm. That does make me feel just a teeny bit better." He removed his hands. "But I still don't know whether to get her flowers or a corsage."
"Yes, you do."
"I do?"
"Delbert, if the woman is as special as you say she is-"
"Oh she is!" he broke in. "She's truly amazing."
"Then you'll know it when you see it."
"Is that true or are you just saying that because you want to leave and get back to Jim?"
Sarah smiled. "It's the honest truth."
Delbert gave her a skeptical look.
"It is," Sarah protested and then stopped. "Oh all right," she conceded. "I do want to get back to the house. My son was gone for a very long time, Delbert." She dared him to refute that.
"I knew it," he said with satisfaction. "But I can't fault you for wanting to spend time with Jim, and you've been such wonderful help.
And not just with the suit." He took her hand in his. "Thank you,
Sarah. You helped calm my fears. I appreciate that."
"That's what friends do, Delbert. And goodness knows you've been there for me countless times." She gave his hand a squeeze. "Now ... let's go home and get you ready for your big night out. Shall we?"
Delbert took a deep breath and gave himself one more glance in the mirror. "I think you're right, Sarah. Best to get this evening underway. I have a feeling it's going to be a spectacular night."
"I think you're absolutely right, Delbert. You're going to knock her off her feet.
To be continued ...
Tune in next time for Chapter 8. It's dinner. It's dancing. It's Amelia in a dress! Whoa Nelly! There's fondue, there's dinner conversation, and what conversation would be complete without Delbert's bumbling?
Certainly not this one! As for the rest, who knows! That's what makes life exciting.
The wait until eight o'clock had been interminable thus far. Even his work was no help. Every time he tried to focus on the causalities of space tetrions and their effects on black holes (a subject of interest given recent events), his mind inevitably wandered back to the kiss in Amelia's stateroom.
It was important, he knew that much. After all, she had been the one to initiate it. That had to count for something. Didn't it? And if it did, what?
Having last been on a date - he smiled giddily at the thought - back when it was fashionable to wear his knickers above his knees, he was left greatly wanting in matters concerning the opposite sex. He wasn't even certain what was considered appropriate dress for the night's event.
So, it was with much distress that he went through his closet, tossing suit after suit aside. He finally settled on his usual ensemble. After all, the woman hadn't said anything negative about it whilst on their voyage. But when Sarah Hawkins, dropping by to wish him good luck, learned of that tactical wardrobe error, she'd have none of it.
"You want to impress her, Delbert," she stressed, picking through his discarded choices. "And she's saw you in that suit for the better part of last month. You need something more relaxed."
"Relaxed?" he echoed. "Well, I do have my suit that I use for lectures."
"Relaxed, Delbert. Not stiff. That suit screams 'starch! starch!'" She sighed. "Don't you have anything less ... academic?"
"There's always my convention suit," he offered brightly after a moment's thought. Sarah dropped her head in frustration.
"Was it something I said?"
***
In the end, Sarah decided a journey to town was in order. It had taken a while, but finally after several shops and many hours of searching,
Sarah had pronounced him dashingly handsome, "even more so than usual," she quipped, and sent him to the mirror to see for himself. What he saw left him at a loss for words.
The deep navy blue waistcoat fitted him snugly, the silver trim along the outer edges accentuating the gunmetal gray silk shirt beneath. The dark silver cravat blended effortlessly against the ensemble.
He had chosen to forego his usual brown breeches and had instead settled for a pair of midnight black breeches that stopped just below his knees. The shiny silver buckles glinted against the glossy black of his polished shoes, and a satin handkerchief peeking out from his left breast pocket completed the ensemble.
"Wow," he breathed softly.
Sarah smiled at his reaction. "You know Delbert, if the Captain doesn't work out, I have several friends," she teased.
He turned around startled, but then saw the quick wink she sent him.
"Ah yes ... well ..." he cleared his throat. "While I appreciate the sentiment, Sarah, I think I'll take my chances with the Captain." He broke into a goofy smile.
Sarah suppressed a smile. It was beyond adorable seeing him this way.
The poor man didn't stand a chance. But then again, she realized, neither did the Captain. Experience had taught her that Delbert could be quite determined when he wanted to. She smiled. It was going to be fun to watch. Of that much she was certain.
"So are you going to get her flowers, a corsage ... diamonds," Sarah asked from behind him, a sly smile fluttering along the edges of her mouth.
"I don't know." Delbert shook his head at the mere thought of a corsage. "Knowing my luck, I'd probably stick the pin in her instead of her blouse."
Sarah rolled her eyes. "You have to relax, Delbert. Everything's going to be wonderful."
"I just don't want it to be trite," he sighed. "Are flowers too trite?
Does every woman expect flowers? What flowers are appropriate for a first date? Maybe I just should take her to the florist and let her pick them out herself?" He slumped into the nearest chair and covered his eyes. "Sarah, I don't think I can do this."
Sarah took in a deep breath. This was far more serious than she had realized. Jim had related the events of his and Delbert's trying journey and had hinted there might be something going on between
Doppler and the Captain. But this ... well this was not what she had expected.
She knelt down beside the harried doctor and took his hand. "Delbert, you care for this woman very much, don't you?" she smiled. "I've never seen you this nervous. Not even when the constables mistook your laboratory for a narcot ... um ... different kind of laboratory."
Delbert didn't even notice her reference to the "incident never to be spoken of." He just wiggled his fingers and ran a hand through his hair. When he spoke, his voice was soft.
"I think I love her, Sarah."
"Love?" She was stunned.
"She's a riddle I can't wait to solve. She's acerbic and then the next moment she's utterly charming. All straight-laced and Captain-like and then, just for a moment, she'll drop her guard and let me see her, not the Captain. Not the spacer. Just Amelia." He threw his hands up in frustration. "Why can't you women come with a blasted instruction manual?! It'd make it so much easier."
Sarah giggled at his distress and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Delbert, if it's any comfort, she's probably as confused as you are. We women tend to be just as mystified by you as you are by us."
"Really?" He peeked out from behind covered eyes.
"Really."
"Hmmm. That does make me feel just a teeny bit better." He removed his hands. "But I still don't know whether to get her flowers or a corsage."
"Yes, you do."
"I do?"
"Delbert, if the woman is as special as you say she is-"
"Oh she is!" he broke in. "She's truly amazing."
"Then you'll know it when you see it."
"Is that true or are you just saying that because you want to leave and get back to Jim?"
Sarah smiled. "It's the honest truth."
Delbert gave her a skeptical look.
"It is," Sarah protested and then stopped. "Oh all right," she conceded. "I do want to get back to the house. My son was gone for a very long time, Delbert." She dared him to refute that.
"I knew it," he said with satisfaction. "But I can't fault you for wanting to spend time with Jim, and you've been such wonderful help.
And not just with the suit." He took her hand in his. "Thank you,
Sarah. You helped calm my fears. I appreciate that."
"That's what friends do, Delbert. And goodness knows you've been there for me countless times." She gave his hand a squeeze. "Now ... let's go home and get you ready for your big night out. Shall we?"
Delbert took a deep breath and gave himself one more glance in the mirror. "I think you're right, Sarah. Best to get this evening underway. I have a feeling it's going to be a spectacular night."
"I think you're absolutely right, Delbert. You're going to knock her off her feet.
To be continued ...
Tune in next time for Chapter 8. It's dinner. It's dancing. It's Amelia in a dress! Whoa Nelly! There's fondue, there's dinner conversation, and what conversation would be complete without Delbert's bumbling?
Certainly not this one! As for the rest, who knows! That's what makes life exciting.