PART 3:
Visiting the country house
"Dear Will;
"How are you feeling nowadays? Been keeping up with Lightoller and your duties on ship? I hope Charles is helping you out with your grief in your moments. I know you have them and it's very natural. Just remember that you're not alone in losing someone very dear to you. I myself lost my grandmother several years ago. I would have told you that time heals, but everyone sees it differently.
"I hope Charles hasn't been haranguing you too much! He does have a tendency to get into mischief though I'm certain I haven't heard all his stories.
"I'm doing all right and accompanying my sister Sarah off to the dreary plains of Ireland. I was about to go to Edinburgh with my father to keep up our royal engagements, but our mother dear has decided to go with Dad, so they elected me to escort my dear baby sister as my brothers are engaged with other things on their itineraries.
"Sarah is going back to school for the winter term. From what I can recall from the place, it is a finishing school in the middle of nowhere run by a severe mistress. She's always dressed in black, I've never seen that old vulture smile, and she has a crass word for everyone. The bitch told me that my posture was horrible and I needed to work on getting myself a man! I regarded her the same way I regarded old Hockley and told her that I didn't need a man to feel complete and one would just get in my way. The hag's reaction was a muttered you're one of those types and walked away.
"Will, I worry about Sarah. She is desperate for a man though she's only 18 years old! If she chooses hastily, she will regret it. I fear she will be compromising herself-she's barely old enough to be fully mature. Sarah should be self-assured, confident, secure in her prospects, and the men will be attracted to her because of that. It's all in the personality, what comes inside than taught mannerisms.
"This will make sense to you won't it, Will? I have this sense that Sarah's going to make a horrible mistake one of these days. I can't shake the feeling at all.
"Do you think that I should say something about this to her? She will probably just laugh it off, but I feel the need to say something, especially as a concerned sister.
"Well, I must see my sister off to the school. I'll write you soon.
"Fondly, EAF."
"Dear Emilia;
"I've been quite busy on the Mediterranean run and Lights has been giving me a run for my money recently! I think he thinks that he needs to keep me occupied with work and my mind hasn't had any time to grieve. That's his technique and I have to say that it is working.
"My father was right, going back out on the sea really gives me a sense of normalcy as far as seagoing officers ever experience! I have a few new junior officers to break in. The new ones are Clyde and Burroughs, smart and keen young men with more ebullience than I ever did have at that age. They are the sixth officers on an apprenticeship, albeit a temporary one. The youths are good working class, very hardy and rugged enough to stand their watches in all weather types.
"Clyde tends to be hyperactive, never wanting to sit still or even stand still for that matter! He's rather short, a curly-headed blonde man who I regularly assign rounds of the ship. He loves to be active and harnessing his energy to do the rounds as often as possible seems like a good use. Clyde accepts responsibility with a real zeal that I've not seen since Lightoller when he came aboard the White Star Line.
"I will write to you of the first time I sailed with Lights later on in the future. You spoke of Lights's mischievous prank prone attitude and have I got a story to tell you later on!
"Yes, I think you should tell your sister exactly what's on your mind and the sooner the better. At least she would know how you feel regardless. She may take you at face value, then again she may consider your words later on as well.
"Look at it this way-what have you got to lose?
"My bunk is calling me, so I'm going to go and pay a visit to the sandman.
"Regards, Will."
"Dear Will;
"I did exactly what you said and the wretched sister of mine just downright yelled at me! I don't think the meant any of it, but the look on her face spoke volumes and it was just as I feared. She's desperate now and will marry any man who as much as even looks at her. It's worse than I feared so I've written to my parents whom I'm sure will try to attempt some intervention.
"i don't want anything to do with her now, so I've departed for the townhouse in outer Southampton now just to keep myself free of her insane attitude. During her torrent of an outburst, she accused me of being 'complacent' in my spinsterhood and said while I would be satisfied with not having a man behind me who loved me, what mark was I going to leave on the world? She was insinuating that without getting married, history wouldn't remember me at all.
"It just occurred to me while I was writing that, Will-do you think my baby sister is jealous of me and my brothers? I'm in the family business, Edward is into music, he owns a music hall, has a few scholarships for promising young musicians, and he is a top conductor.
"Did I ever tell you about my older brother Randal? Randal was obviously the firstborn son and I know my parents have groomed him for the throne since day one. We were never subjected to any favoritism growing up, but we all knew that Randal was superior in a way. He honestly looks like a prince and he has a natural grace. Randal Stephen Albert Worthington has always been hands on.
"By that I mean he liked to build things and he hasn't ever stopped! Randal has built several partnering companies of contractors which have landed several large scale jobs throughout London and he's in the middle of branching out the business in America, which explains his long absence from home. Randal's been in the USA for several months now and I don't expect him home for another few years. My father visited him briefly in California when I was crossing the ocean on Titanic, but quickly went back to Halifax once he heard I was due for arrival there soon.
"What are your thoughts on this and when do you dock in Southampton next?
"Emilia."
"Dear Emilia;
"I will be in Southampton by the first of March. This will be a quick letter, as Lights is due back from his watch any moment and he will give me a song and dance about who I'm writing to, all his teasing, etc. He did say that it was a shame you weren't on board as we have several first class people who mistakenly call themselves royals when they have the manners of gutter rats.
"You know as well as I do that high class individuals who have no class call themselves royals because of their pompous attitudes. It does get wearing after awhile, especially on poor Clyde and Burroughs! Some of the more haughty dowagers on board have treated them like bellhops. I had to come to Burroughs's rescue yesterday while some ill mannered old lady barked at him like he was her servant! I had to point out that since Burroughs was in uniform, he was on duty and officers do not mingle with the passengers. Strict White Star Line policy.
"The old lady wasn't ashamed in the least! Oh no, she proceeded to tell me that she had ordered Burroughs to take her luggage down into the room, but I overrode her on that one, telling her off. She tried to talk down to me, calling me a Scotch git, which rode on my last nerve, I tell you!
"I'd had enough of her attitude, so I called for the Master-at-arms to detain the old hag until we were off shift. She was indignant, but I did not care at all. Burroughs and I reported to the captain what had happened and he supported us a hundred percent on what I did. In case the hag made trouble later on, he had us draw up a statement and sign it. The captain added his signature and a note saying we had disclosed this information to him and he approved.
"At times like this I often think of Captain Smith. He really cared for his officers and it is the same type of thing he would have done for me if he were around today. I remember one time was I was quite ill due to a bad cold (we were passing through the north Atlantic), and I was sequestered in the cabin Lights and I had to share, then Smith came down after Lights had started his watch. I didn't expect to have the captain visit me while I was ill, but he did so. He really cared for us.
"Some flashbacks do distress Lights and me at times, but we have learned to deal with it and move on. There's no sense living in the past as Lights would say.
"Speaking of which, I better post this now while Lights is out on his rounds.
"Fondly, Will."
"Dear Will;
"Well, it happened. After ONLY a month of courtship, Sarah has gotten engaged to a young French viscount named Tristan Jean-Yves Dumont. Like I have already predicted, he is an avaricious nasty man and it pains me to see her hang onto his arm when we are at any social function together.
"Even Mom is worried about her. I do not mean to imply that my mother is lacking in her parenting skills, it just annoyed me growing up that she tried to make me a proper lady. Sarah certainly did, and she made the wrong decisions even though she went to a finishing school. This is proof that education inside a classroom isn't always right.
"She's 19, I'm 22, and I have a world of experience compared to her. Do you agree Will, that it is a good idea for a lady to go out in the world so she can get to know herself as well as others? That's what I did and I may be a spinster for life, at least I do things my way and never compromise! Sarah settled for less than what she's worth, she could have done better, now she will never live up to her full potential. I want to accuse Mom of being too smothering with Sarah but that won't solve anything and it's rather moot point now, isn't it?
"Mom and Dad just said previously to let Sarah make her own choices now. If she wants to marry him, then she will. It breaks my heart to see her so forlorn and now engaged to a drunken oaf whose family is quite rich I grant you, but she's a royal and he's just a nobleman. Sarah could have someone so much better if she just kept her patience. I blame the finishing school.
"They put too much emphasis on getting married and it really irks me to no end.
"I hate society, Will, I really do.
"On another note, I didn't know Captain Smith would visit his officers if they were ill. He seemed like a very nice gentleman when I met him. I would have liked to get to know him a bit more, maybe throw him a retirement party if the voyage had been successful.
"So how has your voyage been? I am currently on the French coast attending Sarah's engagement party, the future groom disgusts me so much I begged my father to let me return to the guest house, pretending to be feeling a bit ill so I could write out my feelings to you.
"I think I have tired myself out sufficiently enough so I could sleep now. Goodnight, Will.
"Fondly, Emilia."
"Dear Emilia;
"My apologies because this letter is late. The post at sea is always very slow! It is now mid-March and I haven't been able to write since now. Our junior officers have been keeping me occupied both on and off duty. Burroughs is showing a lot of promise and aptitude for being a navigator. He knows of Joseph Boxhall and would love to meet him, so our captain will arrange a transfer once the ship docks around mid-May.
"The Mediterranean route is extremely popular, we have taken on more time doing that route to try to head off the spring rush of travelers. I believe the Baltic and the Medic will be joining us on that route as well to keep the travelers in accordance to their schedules. I've never seen such an influx of travelers before at this time of year.
"Anyway, our officer Clyde, while having no extraordinary talents, is quite mature and levelheaded for his age. He is excellent with a sextant, speaks with a deep and pleasant voice, and has the cheerful personality that makes everyone smile at him. He confided to me though he'd like to be a ship's purser. His father apprenticed him to sea to learn to be a seaman and essentially forced his son to be an officer. Clyde figures he would be an officer until he is of age in a few years, then do what he chooses to do, which is to become the purser's junior assistant.
"I wondered if he should be the junior assistant now, but Clyde dissuaded me from that idea, saying he wanted a thorough understanding of all the jobs on board ship, engineer, officer, purser, etc, then he would settle on what he likes best. He's a smart fellow and one I regard highly. Bright lad.
"I'm sorry to hear about your sister and I certainly understand where you are coming from, Emilia. Sarah is an adult now and she can make her own choices certainly, but she lacks the common sense and real world wisdom that you possess in mass quantities. It's time for you to distance yourself from your sister, Emilia, and let her make her own mistakes. If she will marry that man, then she will do and very possibly regret it in the not too near future.
"You might hope that she will cancel the engagement and if she does, you will receive her with open arms, tell her how proud you are of her and whatnot. If she doesn't, then you have to give her distance. Only if she asks to see you and asks why you have been so distant then you tell her what you feel.
"It seems to me that you're trying to take over for your mother by telling Sarah what to do and she's finally rebelling against it. It's very natural as I'm sure you've done it and might still continue to do it. Time to let go, Emilia.
"On another note, in another week or two I will be done with the Mediterranean run and I can come up to your country house in early June, providing that I can get the burial service for Ada finished up and over with for good now.
"I hope nothing goes wrong on this last voyage! Lights has pointed out to me that the Mediterranean run is so popular now is because of the ever present threat of icebergs like there were last year. People are getting paranoid though good security measures are now being instilled into maritime law, the majority of them suggestions by me and Lights to the board of inquiries on both sides of the Atlantic.
"I'll send you a telegram when I start my journey up to Kent.
"Remember what I've said. I don't want you getting in the way of your sister and her fiance and possibly getting hurt.
"Fondly, Will."
TELEGRAM FROM EMILIA AF WORTHINGTON TO WILLIAM MURDOCH:
Am at the Kent house on the 2nd of June STOP. My butler Alphonse will see to you if you arrive before I do STOP.
ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF SARAH ELIZABETH FARTHING WORTHINGTON TO TRISTAN JEAN-YVES DUMONT IN THE SOUTHAMPTON GAZETTE:
"The happy couple announced their engagement yesterday from the coast of Brittany in France only after a scant month of courtship. The bride's father is Stephen Daniel Alan of Westmorland, her mother Evelyn Mary Victoria is from Hertfordshire. The brothers of the bride are Randal Stephen Albert who currently is living in California, and Edward James Sean of Southampton. The bride's sister is Emilia Audrey Frances who survived the Titanic disaster and has recently launched a new jewelry line inspired by her adventures.
"The groom's parents are Benoit Frederic Mickael Jean Dumont, the groom's mother is Sandrine Jeanne Delphine Dumont (nee Duquesne). The Dumonts own a winery in Brittany and are very wealthy, having descended from a baron. Mr. Dumont has no siblings, but is very active in sport boat racing.
"The date of the wedding has not been set yet."
On May 20th, Murdoch arrived in Kent on the train. He retrieved his luggage from the platform, straightened up his peacoat and collar, then walked to the exit of the train station. Glancing around, he didn't see anyone recognizable at first, then he spied the towncar that Emilia's family owned.
Happy to leave the noisy and crowded train station, Murdoch smiled, took a fresh grip on his suitcase, then offered a courteous nod to a young man with curly brown hair and dark eyes.
"Mr. Murdoch?" the young man asked with a nod back.
"Yes that's right."
"I'm her royal highness Emilia's butler, Alphonse. Pleasure." he opened up the door of the car and Murdoch swung aboard. The car lurched into motion and Murdoch pondered the young man for a moment. Alphonse was well-educated certainly, but his mannerism towards Murdoch was pretty cold. The officer surmised that the young man decided that he didn't have any use for charm. Whatever the reason if there was one, Alphonse came across as cold and aloof to him.
The past months at sea had been kind to him. Murdoch sported a healthy tan, he had the satisfaction of training two new officers, and he felt more content with life now. He did have a few moments of grieving for Ada and Lightoller managed to sense when his friend felt low both times. They did share a room after all, but they had been shipmates for a long time and Lightoller had an uncanny sense of knowing when Murdoch was not at his best.
Like Emilia had done, Lightoller had persuaded him to tell what he was feeling, validated the emotions, and told Murdoch just to let it out. Murdoch was very grateful he had been blessed with such great friends in his life. Lightoller had purposely acted like a fool in front of him, clowning around as such, making Murdoch forget his moodiness. His friend could do near perfect imitations of many people on the ship, his classic one was of Cal Hockley and his antics, memorable even now.
"Here we are, sir," Alphonse opened up the door. Murdoch was startled from his musings, having been so deep in thought that he hadn't even realized that the car had stopped. "may I present to you the personal estate of Miss Emilia Worthington, the Daffodil House."
"I can see why she calls it that." the whole house was painted a pale yellow with white shutters. It was in a Queen Anne style house, two floors with several gables. Two rows of daffodils lined the flagstoned pathway, small hedges were right up against the front of the house, immaculately trimmed. Tucked beside the house was the carriage house in matching colors, and beside that was a barn and a fenced in paddock for the horses.
Murdoch could see a young piebald horse and a Palomino mare grazing contentedly, switching their tails against the spring onslaught of flies. Hens clucked nearby as well, picking off the insects from the grass.
Alphonse picked up Murdoch's suitcase and led him up the front stairs. "This way, sir." he opened up the white door and Murdoch tagged along, astounded at the size of the entrance hall. Shiny cherry hardwood glinted in the sunlight, two landscape portraits were on both walls, and a hardwood staircase with decorative wrought iron railings dominated the room.
There was a group portrait of the family hanging on one wall, and on both sides of the stair landing was a potted ivy plant climbing a trellis.
"Amazing."
"Well well, Mr. Murdoch finally shows up!" Emilia teased, walking in a side door. Murdoch turned to spy his old friend wearing a light green sundress and she was removing a straw boater hat that was tied around the crown with wide green ribbon. She hung up the hat on the row of pegs in the closet nearby and gestured to Murdoch. He took off his peacoat, revealing his white shirt and loose brown tweed vest with no tie.
"Didn't we go for casual today!" Emilia gave him a saucy grin as she hung up his coat. "Come! I'll show you to the room that I've prepared for you."
"All right." Murdoch hung up his hat next to hers and shut the closet door. The two of them ascended the stairs, his hand gliding on the chilly wrought iron railing. Emilia led the way down a carpeted hallway, showing him to a room which was cozy and airy at the same time. The floor was more cherry hardwood, a big throw rug was sitting under the bed which had been made up with a cheerful colored quilt. The room was painted a light blue with white door molding, all the furniture was made out of pine which had a walnut colored stain on it. There was a small mirror on the bureau which was adjustable to tilt to any height he needed it to, even french doors leading out onto a small balcony.
"Wow." was all he could say. The windows had sheer white curtains on them, tied back with matching ties, letting the noonday sun blaze down upon the room. Murdoch leaned out the window, seeing the balcony had two lounge chairs and a small end table.
"Isn't it though?" Alphonse had brought Murdoch's suitcase there earlier. "This was my sister Sarah's room when we were children."
"Was it? It's very lovely." he didn't know a more appropriate response after all that had transpired within the last month or so.
"Yes indeed. Would you like to see my room?"
"Certainly." Emilia led him across the hall where she revealed her room which looked out over the eastern part of the house. The room had been painted a light purple, a small vase of fragrant tulips sat on her makeup vanity. Her room did not have french doors nor a balcony, but she didn't care about that type of thing. The furniture had all been made out of maple wood, stained a light color, and Emilia had a 4 poster canopy bed with tied back curtains at all 4 sides.
"I love it," she explained when she saw him staring at her bed. "I think it adds a bit of elegance to my room and it definitely helps to shield the sun from me when it rises in the east each morning."
"It would," the fabric was a medium purple which was dark enough to protect her from the sun, but light enough so he would still be able to see her through the curtain itself.
"So, are you hungry, Will? Alphonse will have lunch served up any moment."
"Delighted, Emilia," she claimed his arm and both promenaded down the stairs like a royal couple. Murdoch had his head high like he'd seen royals do before, and Emilia did similarly. "well, could I pass for a royal now?"
"You do a better job than many royals I already know, Will." she laughed, playfully smacking his shoulder. "Come on. Alphonse always outdoes himself."
During lunchtime, Alphonse kept his distance but Murdoch was unnerved. The man had a piercing gaze with his dark eyes which were riveted onto Emilia at all times. It seemed the butler was paying more attention to Emilia than anything else when she was around. The officer noted that Alphonse had marked indifference towards him, but he chalked that up to the two barely knowing each other.
"Well Emilia, what shall we do first?" the plates cleared away, Emilia got up and Murdoch followed her out onto the side yard. She sat down on a bench underneath a magnificent white arbor and looked up at her friend.
"How have you been doing?" it was not just a polite question; she really wanted to know.
Murdoch sat down next to her with a little grunt. Two bluebirds nearby began to fight over the granite birdbath which sat in the center of the little path leading into the woods on one side of the property. Emilia glanced over at the loud birds, rolling her eyes with annoyance at the noise.
"I think it's easier for me to be in new surroundings," Murdoch folded his hands together on his lap. "it's been almost 6 months now and I still think she'll open up the door on the day of my return from any voyage and kiss me hello. Charles has been helping out the best he can and he gave me a bit of advice which I quite cherish to be honest."
"Really?"
"Yes. He told me to write a letter to Ada, being as honest as possible. Then then I was done, I was to tear it up and toss it into a fire. I get my feelings out and I don't have to be reminded of them at all."
"I'm sure she knows your feelings, Will. She was your wife after all." Murdoch winced at the past tense but did not shy away from his friend. "Besides, do you think she wants you to be sad or happy?" the princess continued. "I think she wants you to live out your life the way you want to. Nobody will stand in your way."
"You're probably right." Murdoch allowed as he plucked a daisy out of the garden and tucked it behind Emilia's left ear.
"Of course I'm right! So what do you want to do first?"
"Take me on a tour of the property including that sailboat you can't manage."
"Oh, fine!" Emilia got out of the swing and took her shoes off, tossing them beside the back door. "I want to feel the grass under my bare feet!" Murdoch took off after her as she sprinted across the back lawn, giggling all the way.
"There's the fountain!" she cried out as she ran past. "Mom hates cherubs so she got this one instead!"
The fountain was carved out of granite and depicted a winged angel kneeling and in her hands was a large jar which had water pouring out of it. The angel had long curly hair and wore a toga cinched over her right side. Water bubbled out of the jar, making a small stream into the base of the fountain.
"Nice!" Murdoch was in good shape from his constant walking around ships so he had no problem keeping up with Emilia as she led him to the shoreline. A small hardwood dock lay in the water, tethered to it was a small sailboat painted bright red. The mast was up, the sails were down, no name was printed on the stern.
"I'm horrible at this thing. I haven't even gotten into it in years." Murdoch sprang into the boat like he was born to and expertly undid the knot that tethered the boat to the bitt.
"Want to come?" he glanced up at her, narrowing his eyes a bit because of the sun.
"Not really," Emilia admitted. "I've capsized in that thing and I've had enough of the sailboats!"
"Suit yourself then. I'll go for a spin around and come back by suppertime."
"If you don't flip the boat!"
"I'm a salty sea dog, I don't flip boats!" he protested mockingly, pretending to be arrogant and also making the boat seesaw back and forth a little bit. "Yikes!"
Emilia laughed. "In the bay over there it's good fishing I heard! In the center compartment you'll find everything you need, have fun!"
"Ta ta!" Murdoch expertly ran up the sails, adjusted them accordingly and in no time at all he was barely in sight any more. Emilia walked along the property, taking the clip out of her hair and letting the bun fall back into its single braid.
The property was filled with memories for her. Over by the dock was where she and her siblings frolicked in the water growing up, they once put soap in the fountain in the backyard, causing the fountain to spew forth soapy bubbles for several hours. Her father had laughed about it privately, but her mother was livid with anger.
Emilia walked over to the fountain, remembering the time when her brother Randal had dared her to put soap in the fountain, she'd done it, and it wasn't long before her mother had found out. Red-faced with anger, Evelyn had pointed out how much the fountain cost and heaven help them if it broke in any way and was expensive to fix! Stephen had come to Emilia's room later on that night, his face red with mirth. Emilia knew the routine, as her dad would come into her room if she'd pulled off a prank that he in particular really liked, tell her how great it was privately, and tell her not to do it again.
"Where has Mr. Murdoch gone, miss?" Alphonse startled her. He had come out the back door and with a watering can in his hand, got to work tending to the rosebushes.
"He's taking the sailboat out for awhile." Emilia answered, going over to the arbor and sitting down on it again.
"Not going with him?"
"No. Last time I got a dunking. I'm not keen on that boat."
"I see," Alphonse chuckled dryly. "not everyone's keen on water sports."
"I love to swim, but it's too cold for that."
"Far too cold," Alphonse agreed, stooping down to water the plants near the arbor. "it won't be until July that the water warms up enough."
"True. I'm just glad Will's here."
"Close friends are you?"
"He is. He saved my life, Alphonse. We were all on Titanic and he saved my life by getting me onto a lifeboat and took care of me that horrible night."
"I didn't know you both were on the ship that night. I can see why you regard him so highly."
"Yes indeed. He's my only friend, really."
"Now I wouldn't say that. You have me too." Alphonse leaned on the arbor and stared into Emilia's eyes. She smiled and met his eyes, albeit a bit nervously. Emilia's own butler unsettled her some. He always seemed to have a vacant look in his eyes like he wasn't completely there mentally. There was no sparkle of humor or anything.
"Well, you're staff, Alphonse. With Will I can be totally myself and he doesn't judge me." she took the flower out from behind her ear that Murdoch had put there earlier and twisted it in her fingers as Alphonse pulled weeds.
"That's not true. I don't judge you."
"Thanks, Alf, but it's not the same between us as it is between me and Will." she got up and left the backyard, going upstairs to outside balcony with the daisy still in her hands.
Since Emilia's room didn't face the water, she went into Murdoch's room, depositing the flower on his bureau, she then crossed over to one side of the room to open up the french doors. Positioning herself on the balcony, Emilia settled back so she could watch the dock in the distance to see when Murdoch came in. The princess exhaled happily and before she knew it, she was falling asleep.
Murdoch came back to the dock when the sun was just starting to set. Whistling happily, he pulled himself out of the boat, tethered it to the bitt, then pulled on a small chain which was dangling over the stern part of the sailboat. Four fish flapped and gleamed there in the late light, two rainbow trout, a largemouth bass, and a sunfish. Murdoch detached the cluster of fish from the chain, then started off towards the house, whistling contentedly.
"Hello, Alphonse," Murdoch greeted him merrily. "I have fish for supper tonight!" he presented the butler with the catch. The butler's face was expressionless like it always was when he was around Murdoch, blandly taking the fish and cutting the heads off. Alphonse put the heads in the garbage, then made a line underneath the fish belly, drawing a long cut and pulling out the spinal cord and guts. Murdoch admired the butler's quick and deft technique as he took a rasp and began to descale the fish.
"Have you seen Emilia?"
"Yes. She is upstairs right now, on the balcony in your room." the butler answered shortly as he began to filet the fish.
"All right." Murdoch went out into the hall, climbed the steps, then went into his room. "Emilia?" he asked, going onto the balcony. The princess was asleep though slightly shivering as the weather had started to turn chilly. Murdoch had a momentary memory of her asleep on Titanic as he'd moved her from her sitting room to the bedroom, and he performed the same action now, moving her from the balcony to the bedroom. He put her onto the bed and turned to his suitcase, unpacking his clothes.
He was nearly done when Emilia made a faint noise, then opened up her eyes. Murdoch glanced over at her, walking over to Emilia as she rubbed her eyes tiredly. He sat down on the edge and smiled down at his friend. "Was that a good nap?" the rest had put a bit of color back in her cheeks, she looked more delicate and enticing to his eyes.
"Yes. How long has it been?"
"Oh, about 40 minutes or so." the officer glanced at his pocket watch. "I brought back some fish and your butler should be making them up about now. Ready?"
Emilia's eyes lit up as Murdoch laughed, knowing her fondness for fish. "Yeah!" the princess got up, stretched, then nearly lost her balance. Murdoch had to catch her as there was the sound of someone clearing their throat at the door.
"Supper's ready." Alphonse told them sedately, narrowing his eyebrows a bit at Murdoch, which they both saw.
"What's with him?" the officer released Emilia who pulled the elastic off of her long braid, letting it fly loose. Murdoch inwardly admired the effect, as it seemed to make her look younger and very sweet to his eyes. Her brown hair was very wavy from being in the braid and accentuated her features nicely.
"He's very proper like a butler is supposed to be and shuns human contact." Emilia answered, wrapping the elastic around her wrist loosely. "He's all I could ask for in a butler, but he's such a cold fish with no personality at all."
"I'm inclined to agree with you on that one," Murdoch nodded as they went out into the hall, walked down the stairs, then went into the dining room. Two places were already set up with covered plates awaiting them. "he's very efficient."
"One of his great qualities." Emilia and Murdoch sat down and began supper.
Alphonse worked in the kitchen, cleaning up and eavesdropping shamelessly as the couple (as he had deemed they were a couple in his mind). They didn't say anything of much interest to him as he scrubbed down the pots and pans, drying them and hanging them up.
The butler had come into service with the Worthingtons about 4 years ago and immediately fell in love with the beautiful young princess. Emilia had taken him on as her personal attendant, promptly scandalizing her mother in the process. Only maids were allowed to be princess's attendants, but Emilia had just laughed. She had told her mother that times were changing and she wasn't partial to whether it was male or female who helped her dress or undress for the day. Alphonse had been used to being a valet, so it was a completely different system for him to learn and get used to.
When he had come to them, he only had one reference previously, he was cold and had no place to live. Stephen was a kind a just man, told him that his daughter was looking for help, and had her interview them. Emilia had said that Alphonse was what she wanted if he could handle dressing a lady, and he said he could deal with it. He had 3 sisters so he was no strangers to ladies or their undergarments.
He still helped Emilia with her corset every morning or when she chose to wear one. He was old-fashioned in his thinking, and always was willing to do his duty. There were a few times when he was unable to work due to illness and Emilia had always been gracious in giving him days off.
"Well there Will, what do we do until bedtime?" they got up and left the room, bringing Alphonse the dishes.
"What kind of books have you got here?"
"Oh, you would ask that! Well, we have a large volume of books. Me and my siblings were always into reading. Who do you like?" they walked across the entryway and Emilia opened up an oak door leading into the library of the house.
"Wow." the room was paneled in mahogany with a pool table in one corner, several shelves of books all around the perimeter of the room, a fireplace with two wingback chairs in front of it.
"So dark in here," Emilia crossed to the window and opened the blinds. "better."
Murdoch made a fire in the fireplace, lit the lamps, then examined the bookshelves closely. He pulled down an interesting looking volume called A Year Before the Mast, sat down on one of the chairs and began to read.
"It's that easy to satisfy you?" Emilia teased, picking out a book of Poe and sitting down opposite him. Murdoch gave a little chuckle but he was mostly concentrating on the book.
Two hours passed with both of them deeply engrossed in their books. It wasn't until the fire was dying behind the grating that Emilia looked up from her book. She stretched and yawned, putting a marker in her book, closing it, then putting it onto the small end table. Murdoch had fallen asleep over his book, his head drooping. Emilia smiled, put a marker in his book, then put it on top of hers on the end table.
"Come on Will, time to head for the sack." she shook his shoulder gently, rousing him. He stirred a little bit and woke up fully when she called his name again. "Bedtime." Emilia privately thought that Murdoch looked very sweet when he was asleep, so relaxed and innocent. The princess picked up his hand and rubbed the back of it, thinking how capable he was as a merchant mariner from what she had seen previously.
"Right," he grumbled and allowed Emilia to lead him up the stairs into his room. "Goodnight, Emilia."
"Goodnight, Will." she went to her room, put on her white nightdress, then collapsed in her bed, drawing the curtains closed.
For the next few days, Murdoch and Emilia visited the local town, took walks in the woods, and often times just sat around and gossiped. Neither of them tired of each other's company, they laughed and joked around, played a few pranks on each other and the like. Murdoch related his tales of the sea, telling her about the time when Lightoller played his infamous prank on the citizens of Australia by firing off a gun at Fort Dennison and raising a Boer flag.
Emilia laughed as hard as she ever did as Murdoch related the incident with a wry smile. The two of them were sitting on the grass on the estate near the paddock where the piebald grazed. Emilia reached through the fence and stroked her horse's nose lovingly as the mare whickered in Murdoch's ear.
"Where were you in the incident, Will?" she questioned. "I don't think you could stop him once he gets going, but you might have been able to stall him a bit."
"Trust me, I couldn't stop him even if I tried," Murdoch shook his head. "one of his first voyages with the line and he nearly gets sacked for a prank he played. He was damn lucky that the superintendent thought it was hilarious. As for me, I was sick at the time and had been under a doctor's care for a bad cold."
"Well, so much for the old thought that merchant mariners were a bunch of old stiffs." Emilia wound her braid up into the knot at the back of her head as she watched her friend's blue eyes dance around merrily as he talked.
"You couldn't be more wrong, my dear. We salty sea dogs have a lot of stories and we do love the occasional prank or joke." Murdoch stood up, dusting himself off. "So what should we do now?"
"Want to learn how to ride a horse?" Emilia stood as well, stroking her horse fondly. "My old friend Roger could help in that respect."
"Really? I've ridden once or twice." the mare switched her tail as Roger looked up suddenly like a dog that heard his favorite word.
"Yes. Cora the mare over there is always eager for a ride."
"Are they gentle?"
"Very." Emilia hitched up her skirts and dodged the fence, stepped up on an old wood block, then mounted Roger barebacked. Murdoch attempted to do so a few times to mount Cora before she finally let him up, swearing slightly. The mare had a sporting streak in her nature and playfully tried to toss him, but he wrapped his fists in her mane and hung on tightly. Cora sensed this was a no nonsense rider who knew her tricks, so she gave up.
"Oh. She thought you were a novice and started to get up to her old games again." Emilia observed as Roger pranced around his old friend. "She's always been that way."
"Bit of a bitch is she?"
"Sometimes. You want to ride bareback or do you want a saddle?"
"Which is more comfortable?"
"For a beginner I would recommend a saddle. Come on, this way." she led him over to the barn and showed him how to put a saddle on Cora while she did the same to Roger. Emilia instructed him on how to mount the horse successfully, then gave him a few simple commands for Cora.
"Remember, she's perfectly trained. Just keep in mind the commands and she'll obey you." Emilia cautioned him. "And let fly!" she barked a command Murdoch couldn't hear and Roger tore out of the gate as she yelled, encouraging him on.
Murdoch managed to get Cora in the same direction running flat out and caught up with Emilia on the woods trails. Emilia was grinning gleefully as she pulled Roger to a walk to take a break from running as he ambled along the nature trail. Cora walked up beside him, they nudged noses, then turned to happily walking together as a hawk passed by overhead.
"These two have been getting fat and lazy since wintertime and we have to take the mickey out of them so they get working fit again!" Emilia declared, nudging Roger with her boot a little bit. "Won't be long until the planting season starts up and we'll have these two hitched up to a plow."
"Your family does their own garden?"
"Yeah. That's why I'm out here, really. My brother Randal is in charge of the farming, he has a few people out to help him. These horses belong to him and when he heard that I was coming out here, he asked me to exercise these two and get them on the grass here instead of the dry feed. We all need exercise."
"True." Murdoch allowed. Emilia steered the horses onto a nature trail that circled the woods and brought them right back to the paddock. On the way back, Roger saw a snake, snorted and shied away. Emilia tried to control him, but all too late he reared and she was thrown off.
"Emilia!" he turned Cora away from the snake by force, then dismounted in a hurry. With Cora's lines in his hands, he knelt down beside his friend who was sitting up on the dirt. "All right?"
"For the most part," she rasped, her throat clogged with dust she had inhaled. "calm him down so we can get home." Murdoch helped up his friend, watching her with a guarded glance, trying to see how she was affected by the fall. Emilia got up without a qualm and picked up the reins to Roger.
"Hey boy," she cooed to the horse soothingly. "it's all right now, we're going home." the horse seemed to understand her completely and bunted her head with his long face. Emilia managed to mount Roger with Murdoch's assistance, but she was only able to sit sidesaddle.
When they returned to the barn, Emilia and Murdoch took the saddles and bridles off of the horses and allowed them to roll around in the paddock, making sure they had plenty of water in the trough.
"Sure you're all right?"
"No," Emilia grunted. "I think I bruised my hip in the fall, Will." they walked upstairs to her room, Murdoch looking like he was afraid she was going to collapse at any minute. Once she had shut the door, she exhaled loudly and started pulling off her dress. Murdoch watched her as her hands scrabbled to lift the hem up over her head. He stood behind her and assisted her, noticing that her hands were full of scratches.
"Emilia, your hands are bleeding."
"I know. Will, unlace my corset, will you? Feels like I can't breathe."
"Sure." he took up the strings and unknotted them, thinking of how many times he had done the same task for his late wife. She had always wanted them really tight but Murdoch was uncomfortable personally with how tight they should be. He had heard of ladies blacking out because the steels had been so tight they had compressed organs and lungs, reducing lung capacity.
Emilia sighed in relief as the corset was removed and she stood there in her undershirt and petticoat skirt. "Thanks, WIll. That feels better."
"You're welcome. Now where are you hurting?"
"My right hip." she flopped onto bed, tucking up the right side of her underskirt and craning her neck to see her hip. Murdoch brushed the skirt aside and exhaled. "That's a bad bruise. Shall I send for Alphonse with some ice?"
"Not yet." just then there was a knock on the door and Alphonse appeared with Emilia's freshly laundered clothes in one hand. He took in the scene, seeing Emilia sitting on the bed with one side of her skirt hitched up and Murdoch's hand on her thigh.
"Miss?" his eyes widened as he put the clothes on top of the dresser and stood there with his hands behind his back. "What is this?"
"Her horse threw her, Alphonse. She's got a hell of a bruise on her right hip." Murdoch answered. The butler appeared not to hear Murdoch as his eyes snapped to Emilia, wordlessly asking if what Murdoch said was true.
"Yes, Alf. Our horses spotted a snake and you know how the horses get once they see them." she said placidly.
"Do you need anything?"
"Not at this moment, thank you." the butler left without another word. Emilia's eyes followed him out the door and she sighed. "He's a peculiar one."
"Alf?" Murdoch sat on the edge of her bed. "Seems like an odd duck to me."
"He's always been really quiet, Will. It unsettles my mother and she thinks he's up to something."
"Is your mother paranoid?"
"No, just protective. She says you can't be too careful when you are of royal blood."
"Makes sense I think."
"You think!" she gave him a playful swat on the shoulder. "So what do you want to do tomorrow?"
"It'll take you that long to mend?"
"See how well you take it after you get thrown from a horse!" Emilia groused good naturedly as she cinched her robe closed.
"Point taken. I think I'll write to Lights and keep him informed of our adventures."
"Tell him that I'll smack you if you get fresh with me."
"Oh I will..." Murdoch stood up in time to avoid getting a smack from Emilia as he went to the door.
"Now out with you while I get dressed!" she got up painfully and put her dresses away, peeling off her robe and selecting a light blue sundress to wear.
"Dear Lights;
"I've been vacationing with Emilia at her family's country abode for the past two weeks and it's been a wonderful time for both of us. I went out sailing her little boat alone, as she doesn't like sailing at all.
"Her family's place is on a quiet hilly countryside of Kent and she has a few of her brother's horses to take care of until he comes to get them. She's taught me some on horseback riding and it was great fun-until her horse saw a snake and threw her.
"She's absolutely fine, just a little banged up from the experience. I was a little worried, as she likes to mask her ills often.
"Talking of which, Emilia had not been feeling well this past week and tried to hide it from me. I knew better, badgered her into telling me, and then I find out she's afflicted with a shall I say strictly female disease if you get my meaning. She was slightly emotional which she managed to keep under control, then put warm blankets in her lap as a means of alleviating her pain. Alphonse her butler knew her routine quite well already as he came into her room with a hot drink, a good book, and several warmed blankets all ready for her.
"Her butler is very good to his mistress and I do confess that I find him a very odd character. I believe that he would take a bullet from her but he rarely even looks at me. He is a competent gentleman, but he is such a cold figure that even thinking about him has given me the chills. Odd.
"I keep telling Emilia that I want to get her into the sailboat and give her lessons, but alas she has put her foot down regarding that. Very firmly she states that she will never get into a sailboat again and I had to back off.
"Anyway, the pollen is rampant right now which is surprising as it usually happens in late June, and I've been sneezing a lot within the last two days alone. I only get relief if I take the sailboat away from the shore in the middle of the lake like I did yesterday. Emilia thinks I might be allergic to pollen or at least highly sensitive to it.
"Will tell you more later when I have time. Emilia's out in the garden and I have to go and help her (see she has me doing her literal dirty work?).
"Your friend Will."
Two weeks of fun and frolic drew to a close. Alphonse was loading up Emilia's things as she walked Murdoch out to the car. He loaded up his things in the trunk and sighed regretfully, looking up at the big house.
"I hate to have our fun ruined by our schedules," he said ruefully. "it'll be so long before we get vacation time again."
"In the meantime, I want you to keep your head up and do your job flawlessly. We're taking you right to the docks so you can get right to work." Alphonse came out and began to load Emilia's trunks into the car as well.
"Better go then. The Celtic's due to set sail in two hours."
Alphonse gave Murdoch an annoyed look as the sailor opened up the door to the car and guided Emilia in.
The ride was nearly silent as Murdoch and Emilia kept to themselves, wary of saying too much in front of the butler as he drove the car. Emilia's mind went to the picnic they had just yesterday.
They had been out on the back lawn near the water, Murdoch had just brought in the sailboat, detaching the mast and putting it aside. He told Emilia there was no point in letting the sailboat sit in the water and rust if nobody was using it. The sailor untied the line, pulled the boat up on shore, disconnected the mast, then flipped the sailboat over.
"Well, I believe your exertion has awarded you some beer," Emilia handed him a bottle which he took a gulp of and sat down on the grass next to her. "go easy now." they sat on a red and white checked blanket, and a picnic basket was between them. Nobody spoke for a few minutes as they enjoyed the repast Alphonse had packed them, then Murdoch tossed a few crumbs to the ducks.
"No way, Will! I'm not feeding those lousy buggers!" Emilia declared. "I hate ducks and geese!"
"Why would that be?" Murdoch mocked her. "Not cute enough for you?"
"No, they could have diseases, they've mean and vicious little bastards and I won't have them on my property at any time! They leave their crap everywhere too!"
"Calm down." Murdoch quelled her. Emilia rolled her eyes as she stretched out next to him, the hem of her pink dress flapping in a slight breeze. She wore her wide brimmed straw boater hat with her hair in its usual knot at the back of her head. "There are more important things in life than ducks."
"Like what?"
"Well, are you feeling any better than you were yesterday?"
Emilia blushed slightly. She'd had her female trouble the previous day as it happened every month, and Murdoch had been a sweetheart to her. He didn't know how to help her, so he let her help herself, then directed him on what to do if he did want to help her at all. The princess had spent most of the day on her bed trying to relax and she napped some of the day away. That time, when it crept up on her, always left her feeling very drained and slightly irritable. She had warned Murdoch what to expect so he wasn't surprised at all.
"Better."
"I'm glad. You slept a lot yesterday. Did you sleep well last night too?"
"Yes, so much better! I was so drained I didn't do much but sleep yesterday. Now you have me re-energized."
"Good. How about we take one last ride on the horses?"
"Deal. Let's bring this stuff over to Alphonse." they folded up the blanket, stowed the cutlery and dishes in the basket, and marched back to the house.
"We're here!" Alphonse announced. He braked the car, opened up the back and allowed the two stewards to take Murdoch's things to his cabin.
"Oh Will, I'm going to miss you all over again." Emilia stood next to Murdoch as he surveyed the ship with his eyes. He glanced at his friend, clad in a black skirt and blue shirt with belled sleeves. Emilia wore a blue hat with a white band around the crown as she gave him a saucy glance with her eyes.
"Don't forget to write and keep me informed of the situation with your sister," he directed her. "I want to know everything."
Emilia's face darkened a bit. "I'll try, Will. I hope she comes to her senses soon. The wedding is in 3 weeks in Burgundy."
"Be positive."
"Is this from firsthand experience?" she teased.
"Indeed it is. I have to board now but I will see you later. Stay in touch." he kissed the back of her hand, then she threw caution to the wind and kissed him on the cheek.
"You do the same now." the princess watched him walk away, surprised to find tears at the corners of her eyes.