"Do you mind if we stop off at St. Anne's in Oxford?"
"Of course," Kay gives a devilish smile.
"I have been in contact with friends," He hands Kay a letter. "I have been told that my education and services might be beneficial to our stance in the war." He looks out the window, "I am good at shooting grouse, not people. The university has set up a special office for recruitment."
Kay grabs April's hand, "I can't imagine you harming another human, no matter how angry you get."
"Make no mistake, my girls, I will defend Low Borrowbridge and its residence with cunning ability and only a rifle as a last resort."
"We agree. A bullet is so final. Mother Fiona has some horrid stories from service in the Great War. I would not want anything to happen to you." Kay spins around in the front seat, "No matter what happens to you, your home is always. Always at Low Borrowbridge."
Their first stop is Cove Harbour, Berwickshire.
Edward carries two large box of canning jars while Kay and April each have hold of a handle for a large crate of fruits and vegetables.
Coming out of the tunnel they are greeted by four young girls!
The blue cottage front door opens up with Mirum and Miss Charlene Dithers waving.
The girls all grab something from the crate to help carry. Edwards gets snarky and tease the girls, "It is quite fine. These two boxes are not heavy at all."
Lytha comes running back and tosses the pumpkin in the crate and waits for Mr. Cohen stop and allow her to take two jars. "Hello Sir, are you Edward?"
"Yes I am," She smiles doing her best not to drop the jars. "I like your hat and dress. However ..."
"However? I think I look rather splendid. I call this mascunine chic."
"You shoes are too nice for the beach."
He looks down at the stylish black shoe with wide heel, "You are correct." He takes the shoes off and places them in the box and continues to the cabin barefoot.
Miss Charlene Dithers meets him halfway and takes the top box. "Mr. Edward thank you so much and welcomes to Cove Harbour."
He grabs the shoes and places them in his remaining box.
Charlene looks at the shoes, "Lovely. Valencia?"
"You have a wonderful sense of style."
Lytha stands behind Edward, "It is called mascunine chic."
Charlene smiles, "Women are dressing more masculine why not the opposite. Bravo Mr. Cohen, Bravo."
Lytha Follows Charlene and Mr. Cohen into the kitchen.
"Where would you like them stored?" Mr. Cohen doesn't quite know where to place his boxes.
Mirum walks in, "Please Edward just place them there nearby the back door. It is part of their curriculum to learn about proper storage of food. We shall do it tomorrow during our school hours.
He places the boxes on the floor and Lytha stands by to hand off her two jars. "Thank you. You are?"
"Lytha."
"Well thank you Lytha. I hope to call on her services in the future."
She nods and returns to Miss Dithers side.
"Did I say something wrong?" Looking to Mirum and Charlene.
"No, she follows Miss Dither and follows her everywhere like a lost puppy."
I see, I don't blame her you and your home is quite charming.
She bows, "Thank you Mr. Cohen. Please are you all able to stay for tea?"
Kay pops her head in the kitchen, "I was hoping we could stay through tomorrow morning. We wanted to spend some time with everyone."
Charlene looks around the small home, "There is only the floor to sleep."
Kay, April and Edward all quickly reply in unison, "Perfect."
"Allow me to do the cooking?" Kay says.
Charlene smiles. "The food always tastes better when someone else does the cooking."
Gaea, Victoria, and Alicia take advantage of showing the cove to someone new. "We can take you for a ramble."
"I would like that."
All three girls looks down at his bare feet.
"Yes, you are right. I don't have proper shoes."
Gaea goes over to Mirum, "Excuse me, do you think we have a pair of socks and hiking boots for Mr. Cohen?"
"I do believe we do. Wait one moment." Mirun leaves opens a large wooden bin to the side of the cottage. She returns with a two pairs of appropriate shoes and a set of thick wool socks. "I am not sure that the socks will fit."
Edward sits down and unsuccessfully puts on the first pair of shoes.
Gaea, Victoria and Alicia all watch intently as he tries on the second pair.
"If they don't fit can we cut off his toe?" Alicia teases.
"Just like Cinderella's ugly step-sisters." Victoria laughs in agreement.
"He is better looking that I supposed than Anastasia. He also has better dress sense than Drizella." Gaea chimes in with her tease.
"They both have shoe issues." Alicia adds.
They watch as the second pair fit and applaud generously as his walks around showing off the successful fit. "You girl are easily amused."
"You are easy to tease Mr. Cohen." Smiles Victoria.
"Who is our fearless leader?"
Gaea steps up in front of him, "I am the leader, whien Lytha isn't around."
He looks to Lytha, who is dedicated to Miss Dithers side, "Lytha you are not coming?"
She shakes her head no.
Gaea tugs at Mr. Cohen's dress hem, motions for him to come to her level and whispers, "Lytha only comes for a ramble if Miss Dithers accompanies."
He whisper back, "I see. We shall have a grand time. Maybe we shall find a souvenir for Lytha on our little excursion."
She nods, hands him a tall walking stick, she grabs one her size and leads the small group on a ramble around the cove.
"Were we that precocious when we were younger?" April smiles as she peeks through the curtain as they almost march in a single line.
Mirum flops on the chair, "If we were poor Mr. Potato."
April laughs hard, "He so hated the moon."
"Mr. Potato?" Charlene sits in her high back chair while Lytha seat at closest available cushion on the sofa.
"He was our nurse. He was not from here, unusually skilled as a nurse."
"What do you mean from here?"
"Earth," Mirum replies with a shrug of her shoulders and bites a fresh apple. She sits up, "Oh my goddess, this is delicious!"
"We are lucky we have four healthy apple trees on the farm. We are looking to get pears and a couple apple trees specifically for baking pies." April points to the apple in Mirum's hand, "That version is too sweet for pie."
"I bet it would make delicious apple butter or apple butter."
Kay pops into the parlor and looks at April, "Why didn't we think of that? We need proper recipes."
Charlene goes over to her shelf and pulls out three and hands them to April, "You might have luck in here." She goes over to the secretary and pulls out a paper tablet with a sharpened pencil. She hands them both to April. "I am curious and will have an apple myself." Shes goes over to the boxes of fruit and find a perfectly firm apple. She turns around and bumps into Lytha who falls flat on her buttocks, "I am sorry Lytha. Are you without pain?"
Lytha smiles at Miss Dithers concern.
Charlene sighs and returns to her high back seat.
Lytha returns to the nearest position on the sofa.
"How long has this been going on?" April points to Lytha and back to Charlene.
"Since the moment they moved into the cottage."
"Lytha come here." April pats the open seat next to her on the chaise. Lytha sits down, "If Charlene wanted a pet to follow her everywhere she would have gotten a kitten or a puppy."
Lytha thinks about what April is saying, "I am not following her. I am just being there just in case she needs help."
"I know how much you love to help the family. Will you trust Miss Dithers to ask for help if she needs it?"
Lytha gets quiet.
Charlene smiles from her comfortable chair, "I promise if I need any assistance for anything I will ask for help."
Lytha nods her head in understanding.
"Would you like to lead your team on their ramble and keep Mr. Cohen from falling into the sea?"
Lytha nods yes.
Mirum shifts and looks out the window, "They have not gone far. They are poking something in the water near the docks."
Lytha puts on her boots, grabs her walking stick and exits the cabin.
Mirum watches as Lytha meets up with group. Gaea pats Lytha's back before they continue over the dunes. "She is fine, for now. I fear that it will be a hard long journey for our poor Lytha."
"Surely this is just a new environment and she has attached to me to replace her mothers." It will pass as soon as she is home."
April shakes her head no, "It is just like Jennifer. For years, many years, she had a crush on my Kay."
"Surely you must be joking. Lytha is not even old enough to have a crush."
"I was younger when my heart skipped a beat for my Kay." April smiles, "We had our own private book club. We read a book a month together. She will learn to control her emotions but fight feelings until she can naturally let go."
"Is there anything I should do?"
"Just remind her how you value her friendship. It sounds rather dull of a solution."
April laughs, "A four year-old falling for me, a two-hundred-eighty year-old."
"What can I say about my sister, she likes older woman." Mirum laughs, "Besides you are two-hundred and eighty-one."
Charlene throws a small pillow knocking Mirum's book out of her hands.
April sips her warm tea, "Honestly please tell me how everything going here?"
"We have a daily routine. We allow the girls to be free spirits on weekends. The rest of the time we spend most of our energies keeping their minds busy with school, assignments, books and such things." Mirum smiles, "They go to bed early to allow us adults time to pursue our own interests."
"Before your family came into my life I was alone," Charlene clears her throat. "Alone for a very long time. My life has been turned upside down. At first it was always too loud, now I worry when there is silence." She looks up at her new friends, "There is more laughter and love than I have ever experienced. It is a gift. I have lived through so many wars, cultural changes, seen the worst of humanity and the best. But I have always watched from the sidelines. I am experiencing so much through their youth and innocent eyes. I wish my memory was terrible, but I remember every detail of my life, the slow progression to adulthood in body but my mind is old. I knew the world was changing. It was not enough to survive. It wasn't until 1880 ... "
1880
Jesus College, University of Oxford
The Ship Street House
Third Floor
A knock on the door.
Master Charles T Vaughan gets up from grading papers and opens his door, "Good evening?"
Three men, in heavy coats covering solid black suits, "Master Vaughan, Charles T Vaughan?"
"I am Charles T Vaughan."
The leader of the trio holds out his hand to shake.
Charles shakes with a gloved hand.
Taken to Queen Victoria in a private room with the three gentlemen.
Charles bows.
"You are in complete privacy here and nothing you say shall leave the room."
"May I sit?"
"You are not in any trouble, we are a curious group. Cautious but curious. Tell me, of what you know or have been told, about your birth."
Charles looks to see that he will not make an exit without being taken over, and if he somehow exits the room how will he exit the building. 'Is this the day I die?'
Queen Victoria is handed a folder, she opens and smiles. "I know you don't understand. You are a good citizen and have not been any trouble."
Charles places his gloved hands on the table to show that he has no weapon or intent to run. "I am scared."
Victoria looks at the open folder, "I see you have been at Jesus College, University of Oxford since ..." She looks to Henry Ponsonby, "Is that correct?"
He replies without looking at what she is pointing, "Yes my Queen."
Victoria looks back at the date, "How old are you Charles Thomas Vaughan?"
Charles gives a confused look, "I am sorry I do not know how to respond."
"What am I not asking?" She points to Charles, "He is cautious with his words. I can accept that, I full well know what happens if one misspeaks."
Henry Ponsonby whispers in her ear.
"Ah you are correct." Queen Victoria resets herself in the seat, "How old are you Paphos Rebecca Vaughan?"
"I have not heard that name over seventy years now."
"We do know who you are. Tell me, what do you know of your birth?"
Paphos takes off her gloves, lays them softly on the table and recounts the story her father told her many years ago.
The private chambers listens intently and all turns to Queen Victoria once the story is completed.
"You are not like your Father, he is selfish and meddles where he shouldn't. What do you know of Arcanis Servitorus?"
"That is my father's personal army. I assure you that I have not seen my father in these past seventy years. I care not to participate in his bidding. I seek knowledge and understand. I teach those who want to learn. I don't hide from life. What I do is to survive. If I did not offer society the illusion of a young man, I would not be able to have financial stability. I have read every book available to me and I confess I know nothing of its secrets. I do not dabble in the occult or dare have Séances. I don't want to tempt fate nor shall I tempt death. Kill me if you wish, I have survived three lives. I am done hiding."
"My goodness you do let your femininity blaze when caught." Queen Victoria giggles, "We are not going to kill you. We want you to work for the Crown."
"I am done hiding behind male clothing."
"You can be whomever you want to be."
"If I return to my birthright my father will find me."
"You can have any name you like."
Without hesitation, "Charlene Rebecca Dithers"
"I like it."
"How can I be of service to the Crown?"
"Do you believe that we are alone in the universe?"
"I am a product of that belief."
"Do you believe that those unknown things are a threat?"
Charlene sits up straighter, "May I speak freely?"
"My dear, I thought we have been."
"I have have given it plenty of thought. I have concluded that this longevity, this curse, would be a blessing for someone who seeks power, control, and corruption. I fear my father and the world would fear him if he took your crown. I have kept a solitude life because I seek learning and knowledge and do not find any appeal in being responsible for anyone else but myself and my students."
"Would you have this same passions if you were part of a team seeking knowledge and protecting the world citizens from those 'unknowns'?"
"I would."
Henry Ponsonby handa Charlene a folder.
"Please read this now. We shall remain here until you have completed or seek clarification."
One of the men leave the room and return with a small plate of sandwiches and tea service.
Queen Victoria, Henry Ponsonby and the two other men are quiet as possible. They allow Miss Charlene R. Dithers reads it through within an hour. She hands the folder back to Henry Ponsonby.
"Do you have any questions?"
"I would like to join at at the end of the term, unless there is a situation that has risen that needs attention immediately."
"We have gathered your things from Ship Street House into your new residence, not far from your place of work."
A fourth gentleman enters the room and hands over a small box to Henry Ponsonby. He opens it, "This is your passport, bank account with funds to get your reestablished in your proper gender, keys to your residence and this ..." He leans over and plucks a hair from Charlene's head. He places the hair into a small eye hole on top of a locked bound book. The eye hole reels in the hair as if it caught a fish, sputters, glows and rests. "This is your notebook and it can't be opened by anyone else but you. It has been coded with your DNA. Do you understand?"
"Yes I do understand."
"Told you she was a smart one."
"If you lose this there is no way to retrieve it. Also, we know that if someone attempts to open it or reset the DNA all the pages will go blank. So please keep it with you at all times."
Charlene takes the bound notebook in her hand and the lock unlatches. She quickly closes it, take the passport and the bank ledger. Out of courtesy she will see the balance in private.
"This," Henry Ponsonby pulls out a small pistol, "Is your weapon."
Charlene interrupts, "No, I shall carry no gun."
"How will you protect yourself? You are barely fit as a young man, as a woman you are quite feeble." Henry points to her small frame.
"Does your folder of Paphos Rebecca Vaughan have notes of my abilities?"
Queen Victoria looks again at the few pages, "I see no combat abilities, no self defense nor do I see anything other than your mind being an asset to our program."
Charlene stands up, takes off the jacket and stands in an open area. "Please attack at your own will."
Henry Ponsonby smiles and points to his first companion.
The first companion stands up, takes off his jackets and adjusts his sleeves. He goes over to Charlene and steadys to take a punch.
"Would you like first move or shall I?"
Queen Victoria is excited and hopeful, she nods at Henry Ponsonby who in turns nods to the first companion who attempts to punch Charlene in the shoulder.
She quickly adjusts and counters with a kick, punch and swings around with an upward push with her right wrist into his bottom jaw.
He falls to the ground without movement.
"He is just knocked out, in a few minutes he will be right at rain."
Henry Ponsonby takes the folder from Queen Victoria, grabs a pen from his inner pocket and begins to write something new. "Is that your only trick in the book?"
"No I have studied many different styles of self defense including those from Asia and Middle east."
"How? Trained by whom?"
Charlene sits back down at her seat and takes a sip of tea. "Thomas Vaughan and the Arcanis Servitorus."
Queen Victoria quickly asks, "Would you like to teach others your techniques of self defense?"
"I would be honored. In my experience self defense is essential to those seeking knowledge."
"How so?" Asks the annoyed Henry Ponsonby.
"How can a dead individual respond to a question?"
Henry Ponsonby quickly looks to his Queen to complain.
Queen Victoria simply holds her hand to her mouth, "I like this woman. Deregister this weapon."
They all patiently wait for Miss Charlene R. Dithers finishes her sandwich and tea. Which by this time the knocked out companion is standing embarrassed.
Henry Ponsonby stands, "Are you ready for your new life Miss Charlene Dithers?"
Charlene gathers her things and stands ready.
Queen Victoria stands and smiles, "Remember that you do not work only for me, or for this country, but for the 500 million subjects of the British Empire. A quarter of the world owes their welfare to you. They owe you their lives - but you do not owe them anything. The greatest gift you can give them is your silence. These people sleep easy, knowing that their sovereign protects them - but neither knowing how, nor caring what they are protected from. It is not for them to know the nature of the evils that you fight. Our empire has brought civilisation, education, and technology to people around the globe. They have adapted magnificently to new inventions and new challenges, and have in turn demanded more rights than any people in history - but to tell them of worlds beyond this world is a step too far. We must solve mysteries greater than our imagination, bear knowledge greater than the human mind can hold, and we must do this alone and unrewarded. My people must never know about Torchwood. I wish their sleep to be untroubled. My empire demands much of its subjects - obedience, sacrifice and toil. In return, I must offer them contentment, peace and certainty. Instead of being rewarded with applause, we are cursed with a higher understanding - it is for us alone to look up into the night sky and know the true horrors that lie there, waiting."
Charlene nods and exits with the small group following Queen Victoria leaving behind Master Charles T Vaughan for a new adventure.
"Do you prefer Charlene or Paphos."
"Charlene. It is not safe to use Paphos as long as my family and his army exist. Once the threat is gone, I shall embrace my birthright."
"We are glad you came into our lives."
"Poppycock."
"It is true!" April replies. "You are one of us. You don't have to be alone anymore. We have already felt the sting of death with friends that have long been buried. You have been alone long enough."
Charlene smiles and wipes her tear filled eyes, "Death will surround us soon enough with war accelerating."
"True," Mirum looks to her friend. "We need to adjust to what is happening, not hide."
"I have no words. Thank you." Charlene smiles, "Your Mr. Potato nanny why did he hate the moon?"