I woke with a start. What was that? The engines had stopped? I looked around in a panic – why was I in my bedroom? I had fallen asleep on my couch next to the fire, not in here. My eyes suddenly fell on Will, who was sitting beside my bed.
"We're in Southampton now, lovvie," he smiled.
"Why didn't you wake me?"
"I came to bring you to dinner, but you were sleeping...I moved you in here and you looked so peaceful. I couldn't bring myself to wake you."
He leant over and kissed my nose.
"So, lovvie, do you want to stay here tonight or shall we find somewhere to stay in town?"
"What time is it?"
"Midnight. Or thereabouts. But the officers are going to look around now, it isn't too late if you want." He grinned. "It'll be an adventure."
An adventure. Will's adventures usually involved getting lost in the dark. He had suggested the same thing when I first accompanied him to Scotland. We had arrived in the middle of the night in the village he grew up in, and he had said it was too late to surprise his parents – we would have to find somewhere else to stay. We had walked around and around in the dark for at least an hour before Will admitted he didn't recognise where we were. He decided then to head back to his parent's house, deciding it made more sense to do that than to stay up all night walking in circles. We began to walk back the way we had come, but of course he then realised we were lost. We eventually spent the night under a hedge – which wasn't so bad. It couldn't be bad if Will was there with his arm around me all night. Still, he made sure to go to surprise his parents before nightfall the next day.
I smiled at him. "Why not? It could be fun!"
I clambered out of bed before following Will to the door.
"Wait – I'm not ready! I'll need a change of clothes and a comb -"
Will grabbed my hands. "Where's your sense of adventure, lovvie? You don't need all that when we're going exploring!"
He pulled me close to him and I laughed.
"I suppose you're right. But don't blame me when I look like Medusa in the morning!"
"As long as you don't turn me to stone!"
We laughed as he put his arm across my shoulders, and we walked out, walking down to get off the ship. It was so cold outside, but with Will's arm around me...God, I felt so warm. Will confidently walked across the dock – well, he had been here several times before. He must have somewhere in mind for us to stay. We were in absolute silence all the while, but even so, we knew we didn't have to talk. Everything between us was perfect – we didn't need to talk to know how the other was feeling. Of course, that feeling of being completely synchronised with Will evaporated when he suddenly stopped and gazed up.
"You know something, lovvie? I would be perfectly happy to camp out here tonight."
"What?"
"No, honestly – lying here under the stars...just like we did in Dalbeattie!"
"Will, that was under a hedge – we can't sleep on a doorstep! What would people think?"
He laughed awkwardly, then stepped back to check a sign.
"Will – Will! I thought you knew of somewhere we could stay?"
"I did. Lights and Davy gave me directions. And it's not here."
"You took directions from them?"
"No need to worry, lovvie. We'll find somewhere. Here, take this..."
He pulled his greatcoat off and put it over my shoulders, despite my protests. He then removed his hat and placed it on my head, before stepping back to admire his handiwork.
"Who needs those new dresses from Paris?" He teased, grinning at me.
"No, Will – it's too cold out. At least take the hat!"
He wouldn't listen, and instead grabbed my hand and we set off at a run. Obviously he had no idea where he was going and I was getting caught up in the coat – and trying to hold the hat on at the same time. We passed several hotels on the way, but all seemed to be locked up for the night. No surprises there – anyone with any sense would have been in bed hours ago! I almost regretted leaving the ship – but then again, if we had stayed, I would have spent the night without Will. At least now we might end up sharing a room, even though he was too much of a gentleman to consider sharing a bed.
Suddenly we heard a yell coming from the darkness ahead of us.
"Good God, he found us!"
It was Davy, a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. The other officers emerged from the darkness too, each holding a beer and cigarette – the only exception being Harry Lowe, who only held a cigarette. Will scowled at them.
"Where the hell have you been?"
"Where we said we'd be, of course!"
"Ah, but if you had followed the directions you gave me, you wouldn't be set with your drinks yet!"
Davy shrugged and Lights took over.
"Willie, my good man, we felt that you and the exquisite Miss Banks would rather spend the night alone."
"On the contrary, Charles, I would think we would much rather spend the night in a warm room apart than on the streets of Southampton together."
I didn't quite agree with this statement, but let it slide. Suddenly Davy piped up again.
"But Willie-boy, I thought you owned a house here?"
I looked up at Will in disbelief – surely this couldn't be true! Will wouldn't make me run around Southampton if he owned a house here – would he?
"Shut up, Mr Blair. Now where is this place you are all staying in?"
Lowe gestured behind them. Thankfully one of these officers appeared to be sober. Well, he obviously was. He was the only one, with the exception of Will, not drinking. He followed us to make sure we found the hotel.
"Erm...Bert signed for one room for all the officers..."
Will looked at Lowe in amazement. "What? One room? What about Ada?"
"I honestly don't know, Will. I'm sure there's more rooms available if you ask."
We walked inside. There was no one at the desk, and Will slammed his fist down in frustration. He looked at me with defeat in his eyes.
"Do you want to go back to the ship, lovvie? I'm sure you don't want to spend the night in a room full of officers..."
"I don't mind, Will, I really truly don't. I will spend the night here providing I can sleep away from the others. At the side – I don't particularly want to be surrounded by men I am only briefly accquainted with. I'm sure you understand."
He did, and after taking the key off Lowe, we walked upstairs to the room. It didn't take too long to find it, although we did have to suppress some laughter when Will tried to open the wrong door – we heard someone fumbling around on the other side, and we ran away.
Still, we found the room easily enough after that. It wasn't too big – two bunks and two single beds, crammed into a comparitively small room. Will and I looked at eachother.
"We're a bed short!" Will muttered. "The fools!"
"It's no problem, Will. If you want, I will go back to the ship."
He wouldn't hear it though. "No, lovvie, we can have this bed here."
He gestured towards the bed next to the farthest wall. I looked at him, confused. We could have that bed? He caught my look and shook his head firmly.
"I swear, I won't take advantage of you, lovvie. Just have my arm around you," he pulled me close. "I think they would kill me if there weren't enough beds to go 'round."
I smiled up at him. Of course I knew he wouldn't take advantage of me – he was the perfect gentleman. I felt butterflies in my stomach at the thought of lying in his arms all night – this situation couldn't possibly get better.
