This chapter is rated M for drug use and sexually mature content.

Chapter 21: Across The Sea

The rest of the train ride to New York City was uneventful. Lilly and Arthur did not speak much to one another during that time. Occasionally the train would stop to let passengers on, to switch conductors, and for people to get out and stretch their legs, so to speak. When Lilly stepped off the train at Grand Central Station, memories of her time here flooded her mind. Not a lot of them were happy ones, so she decided not to dwell on them. Doc and Liath were taken from the train first, then Rose and Ennis. Lilly decided to let Karen ride Liath around since her iron gray Ardennes was the less tempermental one.

Her wolves, however, were not taking the big city too well. Luckily, Hosea had given her herbs to help keep Brian and James calm and sleepy in a big cage. And luckily, Lilly would not be separated from her wolves during the trip either, despite the reactions of some of the passengers heading toward the ship. It was called the S.S. Pearly Gates. It was not a very good name, Lilly though, until she actually saw the ship. It was beautiful and had a pearl like gloss over part of it to help give merit to its name. As they were being boarded, Lilly had to pause and take some deep breaths. She was on the verge of a panic attack.

"Lilly, what's wrong?" Sean asked. "Is it because it's, you know...a ship?"

Lilly nodded. "I don't think I can do it, deartháir. I don't think I can get on that thing."

"Is this about the ship or goin' back to Ireland, deirfiúr?"

"Both."

"Arthur!" Sean yelled.

"No, do not call for him!" Lilly demanded. "We're not talking just now."

Arthur was watching the wolves get loaded when he spotted the two Irish folks. "Yeah?"

"Lilly's havin' an issue."

Arthur came over but Lilly backed away from him. "Lilly, what is it?"

"She's panicking about the ship and goin' home."

Arthur frowned. "Lillian, everythin' will be fine. I understand why you're nervous, but..." Arthur approached and raised her face to meet his eyes. "Nothin' bad will happen to you while I'm around, okay?"

Lilly wanted to believe him, but she couldn't. "Don't make me get on that thing, please."

"Mr. and Mrs. Morgan?" someone said. "I'm with Mr. Cornwall." It was a man in a black suit, a grey vest, and a black top hat. "I'm here to help make arrangements for your trip."

Lilly stared at the man. "I, um...I..."

"Sean, Karen, try to get Lilly to relax," Arthur said. "I'm gonna try to go find somethin' to calm her down. Her chamomile tea is all packed away."

"Oh, Mr. Cornwall thought this might happen." The man pulled out a purple velvet bag and handed it to Arthur. "He mentioned she is prone to night terrors?"

Lilly blinked. "Oh...right, yes. He would know that."

Arthur looked at Lilly. "You had night terrors before you came here?"

"Yes."

"Ah, shit." Arthur looked back to the man. "What is this?"

"Just some herbs to help keep her calm. She can ingest it or smoke it. Be careful not to give her too much, though. It's quite potent, as is the smell. Oh, and...well, I have a signed prescription for it here. It's very strong stuff."

Arthur opened the bag and smelled it. "Jesus Christ, it smells like a skunk!"

"It's supposed to. The smellier, the better. Does she have rolling papers or a pipe?"

"Rolling papers, but does this stuff have side effects?"

"Yes, but it varies with people. She may get very hungry. Happy and sleepy, too. Mr. Cornwall calls it The Seven Dwarves herb."

"Ha! She gonna get bashful, grumpy and dopey too?" Arthur laughed.

"She might. Like I said, the effects vary with people, but feel free to have some yourself."

"I probably won't, but thank you, sir. Please give my thanks to Mr. Cornwall when you see him."

"Of course. Now, all the arrangements have been made. You two are getting actual apartments on the ship."

"...Apartments?" Lilly asked. "You mean...actual living quarters?"

"Top class, Mrs. Morgan. Mr. Cornwall insisted you all get the best. Oh, and your wolves will be allowed to accompany you. I hear they are quite well behaved?"

"Not so much on the train, but I think they don't like enclosed spaces. On a ship though, they'll be...oh, Arthur, I don't think I can do this. What if the ship sinks?! I can't go through that again!"

Arthur pulled out rolling papers and gave Sean the bag. "Roll one up and make her smoke it."

Sean laughed. "I know what this is. Hahaha! Mr. Cornwall, ya silly man!" Sean did as he was told and started preparing a cigarette for Lilly.

"What is that stuff?" Lilly asked. "It smells awful."

"It's cannabis, Lilly. Ya never heard of it?"

"No," she said.

"I have! This Cornwall guy knows how to party!" Karen said with a laugh.

"Sean, Karen, it's a perscription for her. Don't you go smokin' all of it now, it's for her god damn nerves!" Arthur snapped.

Sean rolled his eyes. "Fine, Englishman. Jesus..." Sean finished and handed the cigarette to Lilly. "There you go."

Lilly lit the weird tobacco and smoked it. One puff and she began coughing like crazy. But one puff was all it took and she was immediately calmer...and extremely giddy. "Woa...um, I feel a lot better now." Lilly took another puff. "Oh God, I better put this out. If I have anym-oh boy."

Arthur came up and stashed it in the bag after putting it out. "Feel better?"

Lilly smiled up at Arthur and giggled happily. "Yyyyeeeppah!" she said with a lip pop. "Sooooo much better."

Sean and Karen snorted into laughter. Arthur sighed. "Great. My wife is on drugs now. That's just great."

Lilly got close to Arthur and whispered in his ear. "I bet if you have some and we fuck, it'll feel fucking fabulous."

Arthur chortled and held her close. "Alright, we are puttin' you to bed as soon as we get settled in."

"But I dunna wanna! Now give me a piggy back ride!"

Arthur refused. They eventually got the giggling girl on board and when they got into their quarters, Lilly stared around at the extravagance of the place. Cream and white colored columns, angelic faces, a ceiling with paintings of heaven's depiction, ornate colored carpeting of swirls and repeated patterns, expensive looking furniture...it wasn't just an apartment, it was heaven!

"Holy shit!" Lilly kicked off her black boots, ran to the king sized bed with white and beige sheets and an intricately carved wooden bed frame and began jumping up and down on it. "This is going to be a fantastic vacation!"

Karen ran over, kicked off her boots, and jumped on the bed with her with a laugh. "No kiddin'!"

"Um, madams?" Cornwall's man said. "Please no jumping on the bed," he chuckled.

Lilly and Karen giggled and got off. Both the girls ran to the windows and pointed at the pier. "Look at that!" Lilly giggled happily. "It's amazing!"

"Mr. MacGuire, Miss Jones, your room is across the hall here. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan. Mr. Cornwall left you some special items in the closet." He had a piece of paper. Karen and Sean went to their room while Lilly grabbed the paper. The man said his farewells and the boys started barking. Arthur let them out of the kennel and Lilly read the letter.

Dear Lilly,

I had these delivered from your estate. They were your mothers and I had the height adjusted on them, but there is a tailor on board that can make other corrections if they don't fit. I also have suits from your father to give to Arthur. Luckily, him and your father are similar in size, from the look of Arthur.

Yours Truly,

Uncle Levi

Lilly ran to the closet and opened the doors. Her mother's dresses and her father's best suits. "Wow! Arthur! C'mere!" Arthur chuckled as he went to her but his eyes got wide when he saw the suits. "My father and mother's clothes! He had them put here! I wonder how long he's had them..."

"They've been aired out at least. And your father had..." Arthur stopped and smiled. "Lilly? Do you think you could...put one on? Right now?"

"I'm not sure it'll fit, but...go get Karen. I'll need help with a corset." Lilly cocked her head when Arthur swallowed. "You okay?"

"Yep!" Arthur power walked to the door and opened it. "Karen! Sean! Get over here right now!"

Arthur watched Sean open his door. "What's wrong?"

Arthur looked at Lilly with a smile before walking out and shutting the door. "Her Uncle Levi put her mom's dresses and her father's suits in the closet."

Karen came bounding up next to Sean. "You serious?! You want her in a dress right now, don't you?"

"Yes!" An excited voice came spilling out of Arthur.

Karen rushed past Arthur into the next room. "Do ya got corsets in there?!"

"I think this one fits you perfectly, Lilly,' Karen said as she helped her in it. "Arthur is goin' to lose it!" Karen laughed.

"Because I never wear dresses?" Lilly asked in a confused tone. "I can't believe my mother's clothes fit me. Uncle Levi had them fixed for my height, but..."

"It's hard to imagine any woman havin' your body type? You do have an athletic lookin' body. Athletic but shapely. You're a fuckin' Amazonian, girl!"

"Ha! Okay, sure!"

"Well, you're tall! What are you, five foot ten?"

"I don't remember. Oh, no. Five foot nine."

Karen was shorter for sure. About five foot four. Karen fluffed the skirt and laughed. "This is a very fine dress."

The gown, a dark sapphire blue that really matched her eyes, had little horizontal ruffles in the skirt. The edge of the skirt, which just about touched the floor, were embellished with tiny rhinestones in almost a snowflake like pattern. The sleeves went down to her wrists, also having the same rhinestone pattern at the wrists. Her shoulders, bosom, her collar, waist, and stomach were patterned and dotted with small rhinestones. The collar went just below the base of her neck and made a little v-shape at her throat. The skirt was made of tulle, and the top was made of charmuese. The skirt was A-line styled. She turned a little and saw she had a dark navy blue train made of satin attached to her shoulders.

Lilly stared at herself in the mirror. "Oh my God, I look so pretty!"

Karen laughed and opened the door. "You ready, boys?"

"Yes!" both the men shouted excitedly.

Lilly walked out slowly with a blush on her cheeks. Her eyes were looking at the bottom of her dress because she felt nervous. "How do I look?" she asked quietly. She dared a glance at both the men and gulped when she saw Arthur in one of her father's suits.

It was dark gray with a dark blue vest and a dark blue puff tie. The shirt underneath was white and and his shoes were shiny, black, and pointed. Lilly had no shoes on. Arthur's face, though, was clean shaven and his hair was slicked back. He was the epitome of a high born Adonis and Lilly's jaw dropped. His expression was similar, but his eyes said only one thing.

"Karen, Sean, could you excuse us for a bit?" Arthur asked huskily. "I need to, uh," he cleared his throat and tugged on his shirt collar. Oh boy. Lilly knew what was coming, but would she reject Arthur? Could she? He was ogling her and she didn't know how to feel about it. "I need to speak with my wife. Alone. Oh, and...take Brian and James with you, please. They'll just get in the way."

Lilly's face turned white. Karen and Sean scurried out quickly with giggles and knowing looks and Arthur slowly shut the door behind the couple and the pups. As Arthur locked the door, his head turned toward her and he flashed his white teeth as if he were a tiger about to attack. He stood up straight yet Lilly didn't just see a man. She saw a man who hadn't been sexually relieved in a while.

"W-What are you doing, Arthur?" The question stuttered out of Lilly and she chastised herself for it.

Arthur made a deep but short maniacal laugh. With a leer of his bright blue eyes that were almost animated, Arthur took slow, calculated steps in her direction. "What am I doin'? I'm doin' somethin' that I am not waitin' another four years to do."

Lilly wanted to move but the intensity of his gaze petrified her. Not in a bad way, but more like she was...prey. Arthur was the predator and now that Lilly was fully aware of that fact, she began to recall her life. She grasped all the memories that came flooding back to her and examined each one briefly. Funny how just one look could cure her amnesia. The old Lilly was back, and yet she was still new. And for once, she did not mind giving up the advantage of the moment. However, Lilly's lip turned up and her teeth barely showed through the smirk. "Would ya care tah elaborate on that, Mr. Morgan? I think I should know exactly what yer about tah ask...and what yer thinkin' of doin' tah me."

Arthur stopped walking. He knew what just occurred and he smiled brightly. "Has my wife come back to me? My whole wife?"

"I'm not sure," she teased knowingly. "Perhaps ya should come and see fer yerself."

Lilly noticed Arthur's body tremble for but a moment. "Lillian..." he said before drawing closer. "What is your skillset?"

"Pickpocket. Expert climber. Knife wielder. Stealth. Building jumper. Hunter. Shouter. Outlaw. Gunslinger. Melee fighter. Negotiator." Lilly brought a foot forward and raised her skirt up to expose her thigh. "Seductress." Lilly was surprised that she didn't mind being in a dress. She loved his reaction to it. "Do ya have another question, mo fhear céile?" she asked as the skirt was released.

Arthur's expression softened to one of gladness. "Do you know what I'm goin' to ask? The phrasing?"

"To fuck me intah oblivion, is the phrase I believe we agreed upon. Are ya goin' tah continue yer investigation or am I gonna hafta lose me patience and turn the tables on ya?" Lilly chuckled as she closed in on him. "I am waitin', mo chuisle."

Arthur resumed his previous advancement with a sexual leer. "Just one more question, mo stóirín." He closed the gap between them. "Do I have permission to fuck you into oblivion?" he asked gruffly.

"Oh, Mr. Morgan, ya should know better than tah ask me that," she said with a smiled. "Mo Fear Álainn would never hafta ask permission since ya already fucked me intah oblivion on more than one occasion."

That was all he needed to know. Arthur and Lilly's mouths crashed together and they nibbled on the other's lips. Lilly held him to her bosom and moaned into his mouth. Arthur breathed through his nose and as his arms embraced his newly restored wife, he grasped her hair. "Wall or bed?" he whispered against her mouth.

"Again, do ya hafta ask?" she giggled. He pushed her to the wall and kissed her again as he undid the buttoning on his pants. Lilly took off Arthur's suit jacket and puff tie before unbuttoning his collar. She adjusted his collar to stand upright. "I like this look on ya," she purred.

Arthur raised Lilly's skirt up, found she had no drawers on, lifted her up by her legs, rammed himself into Lilly, and let a loud groan escape him. Lilly moaned from the feeling of her husband being inside her and the vaginal walls clenched around him in response. Lilly missed this. She enfolded her legs and arms around him and Arthur thrust into her with vehement strokes.

"Fuck, you feel so good, Lillian. I've missed you so much," he moaned into her ear with a soft and low voice. "You're so god damn beautiful, I could fuck you all day."

"Mmm, then fuck me all day, Mo Fear Álainn. Dunna stop for anythin'!" This statement made his strokes go deeper and she moaned loudly in pleasure from every physical and emotional feeling he gave her. It was intense and all the sexual tension that had built between them amplified the pleasure. She was so glad the handfasted marriage hadn't been annulled and Lilly knew she was going to give up her estate and her title for the gang and for him.

"An bhfuil muid fós pósta, mo bhean chéile?" he asked. [Are we still married, my wife?]

"Yes! Tá mé i ngrá leat, mo fhear céile. Tabhair do ghrá go léir dom. Chaill mé an geall. Tá tú anois agus go deo liom, mo chuisle!" [I am in love with you, my husband. Give all your love to me. I lost the bet. You have all of me now and forever, my pulse! "]

Arthur pumped harder and growled into her neck. "You have all of me, mo grá. Now and forever."

"Talk in Gaeilge, my love. It makes me so wet when you do."

Arthur chuckled deeply as he nibbled her ear. "Tá tú fliuch cheana féin. Mar sin, mar sin, maaaaar siiiiin fliuch. Conas a d'fhéadfá a bheith níos fliche?" [You are already wet. So so, sooooo wet. How could you be wetter?

"Talk more like that and yer gonna have me gushin' all over ya." Lilly grabbed his buttocks and helped him push into her faster and deeper. "It'll stain yer pants, though. People will ask questions."

"Ní féidir liom aire a thabhairt! [I can't care!] Not one fuckin' bit, Lillian!" he snapped as he pushed against her more. "Labhair i nGaeilge nó stoptar suas!" [Speak in Irish or shut up!]

He shifted his weight and pumped up into her over and over and made her yelp again and again. While the sex was heavily filled with lust, Lilly still felt connected to Arthur in more ways than one. Her body jerked up in rhythm to his pounding. He increased the pace but Lilly needed more from him. She needed all of him. Lilly kissed him hungrily.

"Níos mó. Tabhair dom níos mó, le do thoil," she whispered huskily against his mouth. [More. Please give me more, please.]

"Is breá liom é nuair a phléadálann tú." [I love it when you plead.] He thrust in Lilly almost furiously while kissing her once again and Lilly felt her muscles twitch. "Tá tú gar, tá tú chomh gar. Braithim é. Tar, mo puisín beag," [You are close, you are so close. I feel it. Come, my little pussy.] Arthur grunted. His sounds of pleasure were becoming more frequent and intense. "Táim chun teacht freisin. Tar liom." [I'm going to come too. Come with me.]

Lilly moaned out loudly. "Then ya hafta slow down! Ugh, ugh, Arthur, I'm...oh feck, no, dunna slow down! Dunna stop!"

Arthur did slow down to a very leisurely pace. "No. Come with me, Lilly."

Lilly giggled sensually and grabbed his head to look at him. "Yeah?"

Arthur kissed her briefly. "Yeah," he said breathlessly.

Both of them were breathing raggedly and Lilly could feel his heart pounding against her chest. The beats were in unison. "Braithim do chroí. Do chuisle. Tá sé liomsa." [I feel your heart. Your pulse. It's with me.]

Arthur and Lilly kissed hard and he increased the speed of his lovemaking. The muscles inside Lilly's womanhood made small convulsions and Arthur pumped slowly but hard. He pressed his hands into her waist to stabilize her body and when his thrusts surged in speed, Lilly put her mouth on his and pulled him close to her body. "An dtiocfaidh tú liom?"he asked her. [Will you come with me?]

"Yeah, táim díreach ar tí dul!" [Yeah, I'm just about to go!]

Lilly kissed him hard as her hips fought against his own and as the sensation peaked over the horizon and hit her, Arthur groaned into her mouth loudly while her muscles throbbed. Lilly almost screamed and Arthur's body trembled against her. Lilly felt hot and sweaty in the heavy garment but she didn't care. Her chest lifted and dropped quickly and heaved up harshly against Arthur's chest. He buried his face into her neck and brushed his soft lips along her jugular. Suddenly he started laughing and kept pecking her throat.

"An bhfuil tú sásta, an tUasal Morgan?" [Are you happy, Mr. Morgan?]

"Is mise, Bhean Morgan. Is mise." [I am, Mrs. Morgan. I am.] Arthur put her down and held the nape of her neck as he kissed her. "I have missed you, mo stoirín."

"And I you, mo chuisle." Lilly turned around and pulled her hair off her back. "Undress me. I am sweatin' like a wee piggy in this getup."

"I could just open the windows so you stop sweatin' like," Arthur began unlacing her dress. "a "wee piggy"," he emphasized in a semi decent Irish accent.

"Oh, laddie, ya shame the accent of me people," she teased. She actually liked him talking like that.

Arthur unlaced the rest and pulled the dress down. He held her to his chest and nuzzled her neck. "Oh, do I now?" he continued. "I shouldna think it, lovely wee wife of mine. I think ya like it."

"No I dunna like it," she said with a laugh.

"Liar."

"Bithiúnach."

"Does this mean yer done with me, lassie?"

"No. Why do ya think I want the windows closed and I want outta this thing? I think we planned tah fuck all day, did we not?"

"...Would ya keep the corset on, me love? I want tah have me way with ya in it."

Lilly and Arthur spent the rest of the day reuniting with love making, chatting, and dozing off together. During one of the sleeping parts, Lilly woke to find her husband on his back in a deep sleep. It was in the evening now and she laughed to herself. They'd literally been having sex all day. Lilly got up and dressed into her personalized gunslinger outfit, brushed her hair, and gave Arthur a sweet little kiss on the mouth.

"I love you."

"Mmm...love you, Lilly," Arthur said before rolling over.

Lilly chuckled happily. She was glad to be back. Lilly grabbed her key and left the room. As she locked it, Sean and Karen came out looking very disheveled. "Well, you two look like you've been busy." Brian and James came bounding out to greet Lilly. "I can take the boys now if you wanna finish up." Lilly scratched the wolves behind their ears.

"Well thank you, Lilly. Did you and Arthur make up, then?" Sean asked mockingly.

Lilly smiled at Sean. "Yep. I think about six times today."

"Six times?!"

"Yes." Lilly stood up with grin. "It took hours to wear him out. The man has an insatiable appetite."

Karen and Sean stared at her slack jawed. Lilly giggled, clicked her tongue, and walked down the hallway with her pups. They seemed anxious to get outside. Lilly ambled through the ship taking in the spectacular decadence of nineteenth century style. It was beautiful. Some people looked at her like she was either a horrible lecher or an exotic creature but she paid them no mind. A woman not in a dress was a sight to behold and she was used to it by now. The girl found her way to the deck and shut her eyes as she took in the salty sea air. They were well on their way to Ireland by now.

Lilly rolled her sleeves down and buttoned her collar up. She should have grabbed a jacket. She took out a cigarette and lit it up before walking down the ship to the dog waste area.

The wolves did their business and a staff member in a white worker suit was about to scrape it off but Lilly insisted she could manage. The man opened the railing door for her and she pushed the fecal matter out.

"Now that's a sorry sight tah witness," a man with an Irish accent said behind her.

"What's that, sir?" Lilly asked. "A woman shovelin' shite off a ship?"

"Oh, that's a tongue twister, fer sure. But why shovel shite off a ship when ya got others tah do it for ya?"

Lilly handed the brush back to the staff member. "I don't mind menial labor, sir. I've shoveled worse. Horse manure is a lot smellier and heavier tah handle." Lilly took out another cigarette and tried to light it but the wind wouldn't let her. "Balls." The man held out a match and lit it for her. "Mmm, thank ya."

"My pleasure."

Lilly looked at the man. Yeah, he was a rich man. Dressed to the nines in a black whittemore suit with a gold pocketwatch hanging from his vest. No hat, though. He had black hair slicked back, stunning green eyes, and a well groomed beard that didn't look more than a week old. He looked to be in his very early thirties, had a masculine build, and stood at six foot three. "So," Lilly sighed with a puff of her cigarette. "What brings ya tah the decks of The Pearly Gates?"

"Just out and about. How about you?"

"Had to let me wolves out tah relieve themselves." Lilly was wondering why her accent was a lot thicker right now.

"Wolves, huh?" The man glimpsed at the pair of animals with an intrigued gleam in his green eyes. "Ya got names fer 'em?"

"Brian and James."

Brian whined and sniffed the dark haired man's hand. "Huh, this one is friendly."

Lilly raised a brow. "Usually they don't like strangers. Ya must be a nice man."

"Oh, that I am, lass," he said with a smile. "So, yer from the Connacht region, aye?"

"Yes. I suspect ya must be as well," Lilly said and offered him the cigarette. "Care fer some, sir?"

"Thank you." The man took the cigarette but glimpsed the ring on her finger. "Oh, married, are ya?"

"Handfasted, but yes. Plan on havin' a real weddin' once we get back."

"Back? Yer not stayin' in Ireland?"

"No. Just there fer a visit. Some business I need tah get settled. Then Arthur and I will be headin' back here and, well, the rest is history."

The man sighed. "Well, that puts a dimper in me plans," he said while handing her back the cigarette.

Lilly raised a confused brow at him. "Your plans?"

The man laughed. "Well, I suspect ya wouldna remember me, Lillian, but-"

Lilly laughed. "Patrick god damn Nolan. Shoulda known." Lilly stopped for a minute. She remembered who worked for Patrick and growled. "Is Mr. Pierce with ya?!"

"No, he had to rush home with his cousin. Didna say why, but I figured ya had somethin' tah do with it," he laughed. "Ya always were a scary lass."

Lilly narrowed his eyes. "Did he not mention me at all?"

"Oh he did. Somethin' about you bein' barren. Which is unfortunate, but, well, I did promise me father tah-"

Lilly shoved Patrick. Gently as to not rouse suspicion of her superhuman strength, but Lilly was angry and the fire of that anger burned in her eyes. "Do ya even know what yer god damn man servant did, Patrick?! He tried tah fuckin' kill me!"

Patrick took a step forward. "He what? Why?"

"I havena feckin' clue, Patrick Nolan, but if I find out ya had somethin' tah do with it, I'll beat the livin' shite outta ya and feed ya tah me wolves!" Brian and James barked at him.

Patrick gaped at her. "I swear, Lilly, I had nothin' tah do with it. What did he do?" Patrick approached her. "What did Mr. Pierce do tah ya?"

Lilly scowled, grabbed Patrick by the arm, and dragged him further up the deck away from prying eyes and eavesdropping ears. "Let me guess. His cousin is named Brutus."

"Yes," Patrick said with a tone of suspicion. "Lilly, what did he do?"

"He flogged me. He had Brutus flog me! I havena clue as tah why, but he flogged me! Then he-" Lilly stopped. She was not going to mention the rest. "He had Brutus flog me and they left me fer dead."

"You were flogged?! He..." Patrick turned around and stomped a foot. "Why in the hell would he do such a thing?!"

Lilly sighed. Patrick seemed genuinely upset. "As I said, I havena clue, but he stole me family watch and I need tah get it back."

Patrick turned swiftly on his heel and approached her. "Ya let him take yer father's watch?!"

Lilly scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry, I was tied up and practically bleedin' tah death when he took it! What was I tah do?"

"Use yer shout, ya eejit!"

"I was barely able tah speak, let alone shout after what they did!"

"Oh come on, a simple whippin' wouldna subdued ya, Lilly!" Patrick laughed.

Lilly froze. "Patrick...what kinda whip do ya think they used on me?"

"I don't know. How many types are there?"

Lilly scowled and turned around. "Lift me shirt, Patrick."

"What?" he laughed. "Why?"

"Just do it, ya eejit!"

Patrick chuckled and pulled up the cloth. Lilly felt his mood shift when her bare skin was exposed to the wind. "...In ainm Chroim. What the feck did they use, Lilly?" [Oh my God.]

"Cat o' nine tails," Lilly heard Arthur say.

Lilly shoved her shirt down and both her and Patrick turned around. "Hello, love," she said. "Ya have met Patrick, havena ya?"

Arthur nodded with a lit cigarette in his mouth. "Mmhmm. Many years ago, wasn't it, Sir Patrick?"

"Mr. Morgan. You...you've had me betrothed this whole time?"

Arthur laughed while taking the cigarette out. "Had? Not as my hostage, as my charge. Now I have her as my wife."

"Yer charge? She got tortured! Was she yer charge then?"

"Hey, she was out doin' her own thing. Shit happens." Lilly raised a brow at Arthur's cool exterior. He was handling himself well. Lilly walked to Arthur and grabbed the cigarette from him. Apparently her previous one went flying somewhere. "Hey, get your own!" Arthur laughed.

"I had me own!" Lilly smoked from Arthur's cigarette. "I havena clue where it went!"

"I have it!" Patrick snapped and took a drag from it. "How can ya laugh at her pain, sir? And...Lillian, when did this happen?"

"About, oh, maybe a couple of weeks ago, maybe three?" Lilly guessed. It was hard to remember because her concept of time had been off as of late.

"How did ya heal so fast?"

"I heal fast," she said with a shrug. "Anyway," Lilly handed Arthur back his cig and got the one from Patrick. "Ya got a mind tah take me from me husband still?"

"Well, yes! You and I were arranged!" Patrick yelled

"But I'm already married!" Lilly laughed as she took a drag.

"Handfasting is not a legally binding marriage!"

"It is tah me and we're gettin' legally married once we get back tah America!" she shouted.

"Yer marriage is null and void by royal decree, Lillian!"

"But I'm infertile! Ya canna marry me if I canna provide an heir!"

"I don't care! We're still betrothed!"

"That's just too god damn bad, Patrick, because I marry fer love, not fer obligation!"

"Well I hafta marry ya! I promised me father!"

"Yes and Sir Liam was a fine man and I'm sorry fer yer loss but I didna make any such promise! Shite happens!"

"Bullshite, Lillian Rose! I am yer betrothed and ya will do what I tell ya and that's the end of it, ya brat!"

Arthur burst into hysterics. "Yes, good luck with that."

"With what, sir?" Patrick asked angrily.

Arthur puffed on his cigarette. "Gettin' her to do what you tell her. You got about as good a chance as pushin' a bull off a mountain edge. It ain't gonna happen."

"Oh aye? She's worse than a bull now? Back when I knew her, she was just a stubborn jackass!"

"Arsehole!" Lilly yelled at Patrick.

"Little triflin' pile of manure!" Pattrick yelled back.

"Snot nosed imbecile!"

"Stupid lout!"

"Hey!" Arthur shouted. "That's enough! You're not havin' my wife, pal!"

"I have a royal decree that says I will be having her!"

Arthur stood in front of the man. "I don't care about some royal decree. I don't care if Queen Victoria comes walking out right now and orders you to marry my wife! You'd both have to go through me first!"

Patrick sighed and took off his suit jacket. "Then I will go through you." He set his jacket on the ground.

Arthur laughed. "Really. Okay." Arthur removed his tan jacket and tossed it to the deck floor.

Lilly pinched the bridge of her nose. "Are ya two about tah fight over me!?"

"Yes," both of the men replied dryly.

Lilly shut her eyes and rubbed her face. This was ridiculous. "Because me word doesn't mean diddly squat, Patrick?"

"In this instance? No," Patrick replied.

"Okay. Your funeral."

She watched as the men started going at each other and throwing punches. Lilly sighed and sat down on a bench. She lit a new cigarette and puffed on it while gazing at the two. So far, it was a tie. Sean and Karen came walking up and stared at the spectacle. "Do I even want to know what is going on?"

Lilly grinned at Sean. "Long story short? That man and I had an arranged marriage and they are now fightin' over me hand."

Sean giggled. "You're popular, ain't ya?"

"Ya dunno the half of it, Sean."

"What's the other half?" Karen asked in an amused tone.

Lilly sighed and took another drag. "Sit and I will tell you."