Chapter III The Four Siblings Lawrence

Slowly the waves clashed against the wood of the ship as a maid led us to our "bunk" on the ship. Never did this rhythm cease, or go off beat, it was much like an orchestra, its music never stopping. I never had really enjoyed the company of maids, they were always gossiping, or making things more complicated than they really needed to be, but this maid was different, she actually had rather interesting stories to tell about life in the service of the Governor and his daughter.

"My name is Lisa Lawrence," the maid had said, she had rather well- kept brown curls, and a warm, inviting face, instead of the anxious, ready- to-serve expressions that most maids had shown towards me, and none of them had ever given me their last names.

"If there's anything I can do for you, Miss Stephenson, I'll be here," Lisa said, and she left, probably going to serve another occupant. And I was left alone, except for Will, who was now sleeping in the bunk, and I wouldn't dare wake him. Then I made a decision, if I am going to be on this ship for almost an entire year, I must find something to occupy my time with, instead of just looking out at the waves (I didn't have that strange motion sickness that took most of the ship's occupants). I walked out of the cabin, onto the deck, towards the railing of the ship, looking out at the seemingly endless ocean. That was when I noticed that there was a girl, possibly my age, just down the rail, her reflection painted onto the waves. She looked like a healthy, athletically built girl with straight, blonde hair, but she had an expression like the maid, Lisa. Must be her daughter. I then started to walk over to her; for I desperately needed a friend, aside from Will, if I wanted to enjoy (well at least try to) my time on The Aquamarine. Then I decided to walk over to her, she noticed me, and began to speak.

"Hello, I'm Charlotte Lawrence, and who might you be?" the girl asked, a smile on her face.

"I'm Alise Stephenson, pleased to meet you, Charlotte," I responded, offering my hand.

"Alise, that is a pretty name, almost like my mother's. I'm sure that you've met her already, she's a maid in the Governor's household, Lisa's her name," Charlotte said, eyeing her way towards a tall, brown-curled girl, and a blonde, rather adorable boy, who I guessed must be her siblings.

"Lillian, make sure that Matthew doesn't fool around with those ropes, we wouldn't want those sails to come crashing down on him!" ordered Charlotte directing her attention towards the two. For once, however, I regretted the fact that I had never had siblings, someone to look out for you, make sure that you were safe, when your parents couldn't help you. Someone to understand you when friends could not aid you.

"Are Lillian and Matthew your siblings?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer, it was just one of my excuses to start a conversation with a less-than-familiar girl my age.

"Yes, I have three, the other is Evelyn, but she is off in the Caribbean, preparing for her wedding to George Saunders," Charlotte answered, not looking overly pleased with the last comment. Arranged marriage, I thought or possibly this Evelyn was forced by him into a proposal.

"I know what you must be thinking. What a fool, well she was! She didn't even like him! She told me that she did it for wealth, so that our family's reputation would be raised. His mother had been The Governor's sister, Victoria, and that would make him rather high class, and if she married him, our family would earn some of the Saunders Family inheritance when his father passed on. She told me that when I turn eighteen that I should look for similar marriage options, and maybe eventually our family would be one of higher class. Well you know what, I don't really care! Our family's happy the way it is! And I ain't ever going to get married" Charlotte began to shout, until everyone on the ship was looking directly at her, watery tears filling her eyes, foiling her consistently happy appearance.

"Sorry about that, I didn't mean to just go out and shout like that, I just think that sometimes its necessary to let off some steam," she apologized, returning to her neutral, sunny depositor.

"It is fine, I hold nothing against you," I said, although I had been quite surprised by Charlotte's sudden reaction.

"What about you, do you have any siblings, or family on this ship, or are they on The Dauntless? Why do you always have to be so proper? This is childhood, it doesn't last forever. Please, I'd like for us to be friends, I really like you," she said, spreading out that smile again.

"To your first question, no, I have none, my parents died in the Influenza epidemic. And to your second question, I was born into a higher- class family, and they wanted me to be well-mannered," I replied, probably too loudly, and Charlotte looked surprised, or almost offended. "I'm sorry, its just I don't like to talk about my parents' deaths. And I will try to act lower-class, if you don't surprise me like that again," I apologized, reaching out my hand to shake hers, making it final. Charlotte shook rather harder than I thought she would, but it did go to show you, don't judge a book by its cover, and that was clear with Charlotte.

"Agreed, as long as you don't go out on me like that. You are a lot better company than Elizabeth, spoiled brat."

I was surprised at Charlotte's description of my cousin, and I didn't know how to react, should I defend her, or just let it be. That was when that voice returned to me again whispering, "Let it be, let it be." "So, would you like to come for tea in The Maid's bunk at 4 o'clock?" Charlotte asked, turning her back on me for a few seconds before twisting her head around again. "Look for me near the mop cabinet, I know the only way in, don't be late!"

And with that I left Miss Lawrence, knowing that I better get back to my bunk under the deck, Will would probably be wondering were I had got to. I also had to get ready for tea with the maids, and for once I felt that maybe, truly, I had a better life ahead of me, one that was more carefree than most. I knew that from that day forward I had another person to show affection to, like the sister I had never had. Finally, I would no longer have to worry about the epidemic, or anything else for that matter. That's what I thought.

Well, now that Alise has a friend, a maid, and it seems like her old life is behind her, she would be wrong. This is going to take an awful twist in a couple of chapters, right after tea with the maids, which I am currently typing up for tomorrow. Reviews, please, reviews! I have looked on my Stats and discovered that I am on someone's favorite authors list, could that author please verify themselves. Thanks. Thank you for reading, Juliette Handover