Amelia eased into her warm home and guided Lunette in without hesitation. "You must understand what we are about to discuss had nothing to do with you," Amelia forewarned. Lunette frowned, "What do you mean?" Amelia nodded as she pulled the young woman through the main hallway and up the stairs that led to Delbert observatory. "Let us join Delbert before we begin to get ahead of ourselves." They stepped inside and Delbert was crouched over his desk, scrutinizing something and as his door closed behind the two women his head rose. And his eyes widened. "Dear? Why do you have Lunette with you?" Amelia smiled wickedly. "She deserves to know a bit more about the excursion she is about to embark on." Lunette frowned and she asked, "What are you not telling me?" She saw him stiffen and she crossed her arm before arching a brow. "Well? Are you going to tell me or not?" she asked. He set his glasses aside and rolled his fingers into his eyes before he rose and walked about his desk. He crossed his arms and leaned back to the desk.
Lunette pulled away from Amelia as Delbert waved a hand to motion for her to sit in the seat before him. She gladly took the seat. "There has only been two men in Jim's life Lunette, at least, those two left alive, myself and John Silver," Delbert stated and her mouth fell open, "Are you telling me you knew him as well?!" she exclaimed, "How could you not tell me?!" He sighed and rubbed his eyes, "Because he's a wanted man, and luckily Jim is a man of influence and this research of yours could threaten his integrity and his reputation as well as my own. If anyone knew I had once had ties to him, I'd probably be in jail for treason."
"His reputation? He was a rebel child! And had been arrested dozens of times! Plus he visits with so many women!" she yelled and he nodded, "I know this, but you must realize it is because of John Silver that he changed his ways." And Delbert frowned, "Women? What are you talking about? Jim doesn't have any woman or even women in his life." Lunette blushed, a little confused, "He…he goes to see a woman at the Bilbo Inn, and there are these three girls, well, your daughters, and there's a woman at the archives that he chats with, as well as the fruit vendor's daughter in the market-" He arched a brow with a small teasing smile, "The older woman is his mother, Sarah, she's rather beautiful isn't she for her age? She's known to be quite the spectacle, after all she had Jim when she was merely a girl herself. And as for my daughters and they may be the reason as to why he has yet to find a woman because they tease him relentlessly, after all, their younger brother is at the Naval Space Academy. And the woman in archives is my wife's secretary and he buys fruits for his mother's inn at the market," he excused. "He has never brought a woman to his home, nor has he brought one to the inn." He paused once more, "What a minute, are you telling me you went there?"
She frowned, but slowly nodded, and Delbert's brow furrowed even deeper, "That's rather surprising, Jim doesn't allow work to enter his private life. And how could you possibly know about all those women?" She rolled her eyes. "He has yet to realize we live a mere five homes away from one another and he was visiting the plaza today."
"Then you are merely thinking of him as a work aspect?" Delbert pondered. He was curious of her answer. He wanted to know if she at all fancied him. "What we have isn't work," she groused and he frowned, before a smile cracked his solemn features, "What is it then?" Her eyes widened, "I, we have business and work yes, but he…well, he is not himself when he goes to that inn, he was a different person when we were visiting with one another."
"Probably because he likes you," he stated. She blushed madly and he chuckled, "I'm merely teasing, but he hasn't ever brought a woman to his mother's inn."
"He did not bring me, I met him there, as instructed by a carriage lackey," she corrected shortly. "And only because he mentioned he had more information about my father, I hadn't ever thought it'd be his personal experiences with my father, but your daughters interrupted before I could get anything." He chuckled, "They do that quite often," he reasoned. He rolled his shoulders, "You should make a tea time with him shortly, he'll be visiting Tortucana soon on business, it would be a rather eye-opening experience for your thesis."
"He has already invited me," she retorted. He went dead still. "For tea?" he pondered. But his eyes flicked up to look at his wife. She shook her head, "No, Tortucana." And Delbert's jaw dropped, "He didn't!" he exclaimed. Then suddenly remembering his daughters were in fact home and he quieted. Delbert hushed himself and quickly whispered, "You aren't thinking about going are you?" he hissed and she replied, "Yes." He shook his head, "I need to speak with Jim. Tortucana is not a place for my head librarian let alone a young woman of your age." The door to his office opened and Lunette saw him wince. "It's already been decided Delbert." He froze, Amelia's voice cut through and both he and Lunette looked back as she walked to him. "Jim has already hired me to command his ship, I hope you will not mind if I take this small vacation. It has been quite some time since I've been able to enjoy the open galaxies," she reasoned. Delbert gulped and Lunette froze. She knew his wife was not a woman to be reckoned with. "My dear," he began, and Amelia smiled, "No Delbert, I'll be traveling for only a couple of weeks," she retorted and Delbert sighed heavily, "But the girls and Jackson!" he reasoned, "Oh pish posh, you know better than they do that they'll be fine. Besides you need to be testing Jackson for his upcoming preliminary responses to the jury testing him on your theory of broad space travel and man-made planets."
"As for you," Amelia's eyes flashed as she faced Lunette, "Jim said I would enjoy you. Please, if you would allow, I need to escort you to my closet," she announced, "It seems you need to be fitted with clothes appropriate for space travel." Lunette held up her hands. "I do not think your clothes will fit me. I, well, you're so very tall Ms. Amelia. And I have traveled before, I have plenty of clothes, thank you." Amelia arched a brow and said, "I expect you to bring some pants." Lunette nodded, "Yes Ms. Amelia."
"And aboard the ship you are to call me Captain and Jim a Lieutenant." Once more Lunette nodded. Amelia also said, "I will not be holding your hand, Ms. Lunette."
"Amelia," Delbert began and Amelia shook her head. "The galactic airs are no place for a young woman, it is that simple. She needs to know that I will not protect her." Lunette watched Delbert gape at his wife and then look at back at her helplessly. Lunette smiled for him, "This is a risk I am willing to take in order to meet my father." Delbert merely stared at the two women before he barked out, "I will not have this!" Amelia's eyes widened as did Lunette's. They stared at him and he shook his head. "Lunette when you came to me your step father, Sebastian, entrusted your safety to me. I cannot have you gallivanting about upon the open seas!" Lunette's wide eyes softened as she smiled for him. "Delbert, you may tell my step father whatever you like. But I am going to meet my father." He looked at her, his wide eyes softened and he rubbed his fingers into his eyes. "Very well." Lunette stepped to him and kissed his cheek, "Thank you for your blessing Delbert."