Three weeks at sea.
Alice gritted her teeth as Mason stood boastfully at the helm and she at the rails looking out at sea. She took a breath and tried not to be rude and short with him - though that was clearly not a strong point as Mason was so difficult to put up with.
But she had promised her mother she would be on her best behavior. And she knew just how perfect and darling the young man was to her mother.
Mrs Kingsleigh's mouth was tight. She smoothed back her daughter's hair, trying to keep from realizing that she wouldn't see Alice for the next year. "Don't be gone for too long again," she reminded in a slightly stern voice. "You have a duty to be here at home as well."
Alice managed to not roll her eyes. "I won't, Mum."
She kissed her daughter. "I'll be waiting for your return."
The young blonde smiled softly.
"And be nice to Mason-"
Alice groaned.
"-You know I can't let you leave without that unsaid."
She looked ready to argue.
Mrs Kingsleigh held up her hand. "Hear me out, child. You know I mean well, don't you?"
The younger let out another groan. "Yes."
"Well, you are your father's daughter, and unfortunately, you have an ego far too large for your little head-"
"Ego?" Alice argued sharply.
"Far-fetched ideas of faraway worlds-"
"Ideas? Mother!" So much for hearing her out.
Mrs Kingsleigh continued on. "- I don't want you to go unmarried for so long. It's not grandchildren I want, it's for you to be protected and taken care of by someone else when-" She ran her fingers distractedly through Alice's wavy hair. "...when I've gone. He is a nice fellow, I think he'll suit you well-"
Alice had forgotten the bitter reminder of mortal life. Time was endless and would never fade, unlike humans. She didn't wish to hear of her mother's passing life. She didn't wish to imagine a world without her. She had lost her father as a child and though her relationship with her mother was strained, she feared of losing her entirely too soon.
But she couldn't stop herself from arguing. "Mason- he doesn't care about what I want. All he wants is to have a say in everything I do! I'm aboard the Wonder, he wants to be aboard the wonder. I bet when we make it to India, he will try to negotiate with the ruler and literally sink us with his utter ability to be disrespectful. No, the Wonder-"
"Is just a ship. The Wonder is just a ship, you said so yourself." Mrs Kingsleigh sighed heavily. She moved to sit and take up a cup of tea. "Just once, Alice, could we not fight?"
"If you stop invading the life that is mine, yes," she said defiantly.
She pressed her hand to her forehead and muttered quietly, "Alice."
Alice watched her for a moment then relented with a soft groan. "Alright, Mother. I- I'll tolerate him. But I can't make any promises about being nice."
"I suppose that's as good as any agreement as I will get," Mrs Kingsleigh sighed. She took a drink of tea. She set the cup down but it slipped from her grip and smashed on the floor.
Alice bit her lip, realizing the toll this had taken on her mother yet again. "I'll return, Mother. Don't worry. You know I promise to always come back." She bent to pick up the shards but her mother stopped her.
"Don't worry about that," she urged. "Go on, you'll be late."
Her daughter smiled and hugged her tightly. "Goodbye, Mum."
Alice extended her telescope and looked to where the sea met the sky.
It was as beautiful and as breathtaking as ever. The glinting sunlight off the waves, the gentle and comforting rock of the ship, their steady course to India, all of it soothed her. It made her forget she was aboard the Wonder for work.. with the man she absolutely loathed.
It wasn't the most tolerable of ideas, but Mason - spoiled, bratty Mason insisted that co-captaining would suit them remarkably well. And who could argue with a man who promised three times the pay to the crew aboard?
She gave a small sigh. Now she truly wished to be back home.
Though it was the sea that called to her, she wished now more than ever to slip away to Wonderland and see Time in his grand castle. She wished to see his small self-depricating smile and his bright blue eyes and hear the chuckles that so perfectly rumbled his chest.
To see him - that was all she wanted now as Mason's presence drove her to near madness.
She swiveled slowly. She scanned the vast seas, taking in every inch of water out there. She searched for signs of mercenaries' vessels or pirates or worse-
"Captain," one of the sailors nodded politely as she climbed on deck. "Welcome aboard!"
Alice smiled at the man. Perhaps this journey to India wouldn't be as bad as she thought. She would be back home before she knew it. Yes. "Thank you, Glasdon."
Then another sailor spoke just as jovially. "And Mr Montgomery, welcome!"
"It's Captain Montgomery," Mason corrected sternly, straightening his coat arrogantly.
She couldn't look at Glasdon or the other sailor. Her mouth smiled stiffly and she went to the helm where the lieutenant stood. Unfortunately Mason followed and took his place beside her. She held her breath and let it out slowly. This trip would be the same well-mannered and partially uneventful trip as always, yes. She needn't worry about Mason.
And she didn't worry about Mason until the sun was starting to set. He spoke up.
"This co-captaining isn't going to work out if you continue to take charge."
She refrained from obnoxiously scoffing. "The Wonder is my ship-"
"I passed my exams. This is my first expedition as captain."
Her blonde hair whipped in the wind. "I have the respect of these men. They sail under my command. You have yet to earn such ranks. You may have passed your exams but a captain is more than just a title."
He snorted haughtily. "You've sailed too many times. I say the seas have your ears clogged with salt." He looked at the vanishing sun. "I'll take this shift. You can resume in the morning." His voice dared her to argue.
She frowned and tried to. "Mason-"
"It's Captain Montgomery. And Alice, do you really want to fight? We haven't even left the realm of Great Britain. Go on."
Her eyes narrowed with a cold fire but she had her dignity and left him to the helm. But if one more person told her to go on, they'd end up with a dent in their face.
A shadow fuzzed her telescope and she jumped. "Ah!" She stepped back and whacked the device on Mason's shoulder. She rudely scowled at him. "What do you want?"
"To let you know it's your turn at the helm," he said curtly. Then he looked on the horizon, squinting at the clear open water. "What is it you're looking for?"
"Trouble," she replied shortly. "And I see none. Which is good." She took a deep and calming breath - it was her turn in charge of the ship and crew. A proud and slightly boastful smile curved her lips. "Head to the crow's nest then!"
He did a double-take then tried smirking off his confusion. "That wasn't the agreement."
She pocketed her telescope and hopped off the rails. "Do I look like I honor agreements?" She straightened her uniform. "I am the captain."
He let out an exasperated breath, "For your shift-"
"And as captain of my shift, I order you to the crow's nest," she shooed.
Mason looked indignant and ready to object.
But she beat him to it. "I have been Captain of the Wonder for far longer than you have ever been interested in the seas. To the crow's nest. Not another word." She stood her ground and waited for him to begin climbing the ropes.
He shifted.
She raised a blonde eyebrow. "What? Haven't you been up there before?"
He didn't answer.
She rolled her eyes. Of course he hasn't. But she wouldn't stand to hold his hand as he wrangled the ropes and climbed the great heights. "You'll be on lookout here then. Same as I was doing. Watch for trouble."
"The seas have been clear! There hasn't been anyone but us on the water!" he laughed haughtily.
Alice wanted to snap something in half. "Just do as I say, Mason. If not, you can mop the decks and do the crew's work."
His upper lip twitched with annoyance. He gripped the ropes and pulled himself up on the rail. He glared at her as he started for the crow's nest.
She smiled prettily and hopped toward the helm.