I had risen early the next morning, washing with the water from the ewer and pinning my hair into something resembling a style. I called for a maid to help me into my corset, the traveling suit needed it tighter than I could get on my own. I buttoned the nicest shirtwaist that had been packed, rows of lace over the the cotton fabric on the breast, on over it, and tied a black silk tie in a bow around my neck. The skirt, pleated around the back, fell into pleasing folds around my calves in their black silk stockings. The stylish waistcoat was made in a matching silk, and I couldn't help but admire how even with the jacket over it, my waist looked neat and trim. A pair of white cotton gloves and my straw hat completed the ensemble. I had walked what seemed an endless loop around the room in my polished black oxfords, the heels clicking across the wood, before a bellhop came up to tell me Ezekiel was here.
"Managed to get one of the Marconi boys to show me where he lives." Ezekiel looked rather triumphant as I stepped into the cab. The driver started off, and I could feel my gut begin to twist. This was the beginning of whatever would happen, and I could only sit and wait. We pulled away from the shops, driving into a neighborhood that seemed quiet, tall trees and hedges growing slowly along the sidewalks. The cab stopped in front of a two story brick house. It looked quaint, snug and comfortable. I reached for the door, but Ezekiel cut me off. "Just a minute, let me speak to him first."
I watched him walk up the door, waiting on the step until it opened. Will stood in the door, in a brown waistcoat and shirtsleeves. He looked well, there were no circles under his eyes and I watched him speak to Ezekiel for a few minutes, the latter gesturing back to the cab. My mouth was dry as I saw Will look over briefly before turning back. Eventually Ezekiel handed over a rather wrinkled envelope from his pocket, and Will tore it open. I could only see that it was written on fine paper, and Will read it slowly. When he came to the end, he folded it up, nodded and said something to Ezekiel, then went back inside. My fingers were tingling as Ezekiel came back to the cab, opening the door. "Go on Annie, he's-he wants to see you."
I felt like I floated down out of the cab, thanking the driver absentmindedly as Ezekiel handed me out. I looked to him, "What did you give him?"
"Something I'd been asked to. He said he'd be right back." Ezekiel looked over as the door opened again. Will had donned a jacket, and I could see his pipe in his hand, smoke slowly trailing up from it.
I could feel his eyes on me from across the small yard. "Thank you Zeke, for everything." I looked over to him, "Now, you should get back before Abe leaves you again."
"He only did that once Annie, and he came right back." He chuckled, stepping up behind me. "Now, go talk to him. Before he runs off again." I heard the cab chug away, Ezekiel's voice cut off by the door.
I was left alone, staring at Will, at the icy blue of his eyes, as he watched me. He spoke quietly, "Anastasia."
I felt my stomach twist. "William."
"Come inside." He stepped back from the door, and I walked past him and inside his home. It was a cozy house, and I turned to the front parlor, a chintz settee and a matching pair of chairs facing each other. I could feel his eyes on my back as I sat in one of them, crossing my legs at my ankles. He took the settee, resting his elbows on his knees, pipe smoke rising about his head as he puffed on it for a moment. "So, you're here."
"Yes," I looked down, I couldn't meet his eyes. Not with how he was staring at me. "I missed you." He kept quiet, and my gut twisted. "You didn't write."
"How could I write after what you said happened?" He fairly growled, "What could I say to that?"
A clock in the hallway ticked away, drawing out the silence. What could I say to him? I'd explained I had only done it because it was necessary, because otherwise something worse would have occurred. I tried to discern anything from his stern face, a twitch of his eyes, something. I twisted my hands in my lap. "You could have said something!" I whispered, "A telegram, something to tell me you still cared!" I gulped down air, trying to keep calm and I raised my voice. "I begged you to write, to wire. I just wanted to hear from you."
"Again, what could I say to what you wrote?" He set his pipe down on a table, "After what happened to you. There was nothing to say to that, nothing that I could do to fix it. Silence seemed the best option."
"Will, I swear he didn't have me and I just, I, if you want to end things just say it to my face." I felt a tear rise to my eye as my words came out in a rush, "I can understand why you would, and I would not be angry with you, but I just want to hear it from you." I placed my face in my hands, too terrified to look at him. I had anticipated this, the words he would say. It was going to be over, and I'd be back on the Star and steaming for New York, alone. I felt my voice catch, "Not in a letter, from your lips. Please Will, just tell me that you don't want me. I already know it, just, just say it."
I heard him stand, and the next thing I knew he was kneeling in front of me, pulling my hands away from my face. I had expected his voice to still be harsh, but he was quiet as he spoke. "Ana, why would you think that?"
"You never wrote me! I thought you didn't want me anymore, that I was truly ruined." I sniffed, looking down at him. His blue eyes were focused on me, his hands strong around mine. I tried to steady my voice, "I saw myself as a whore, between the pictures and having to act like, like I did, and I thought you would leave me for what I did." I tried to stop the tears pricking at my eyes, "And you only sent one letter, so I had no clue what you thought about what happened. How could I have not thought that?"
"Ana, I didn't write because I couldn't find the words. I still can't find the words to say what I want to do. I was so angry when I read your letter," He brushed at the tears on my face, his fingers rough but his touch gentle. "I still am. I wanted to come and kill him. Or call him out, as foolish as that sounds, I wanted to do something and I didn't want to face you until I did. Until I'd done something to get back at them, for you. But I could never be angry with you over what happened."
"I've missed you so much," I slid out of the chair, kneeling next to him on the floor. "I haven't been able to do anything, I can't even manage to sleep reliably." But he pulled me close, his hands in my hair. I heard my hat slide away, rustling to the floor, and hair pins plinked after it. "I felt so ashamed after what happened, and I wanted you but I knew you couldn't come. I thought to tell you everything, that you deserved to know, but I regretted sending it as soon as I did. I shouldn't have worried you with it, you already had so much to deal with." I seemed to speak in a rush, pressing my face to his shoulder.
"Shh," He ran his hands down my back, "None of that matters. None of that changes things between us. I still want you, as much as I did back in New York." I clung to him, crying out all my worries. I could feel his voice rumble in his chest, "I won't lie, I was furious that you put yourself in that situation. That you lowered yourself to what you did. But I was more angry that I was not there, that I could not protect you." He kept his arms around me, and I let my hands wander over him. To feel him again, solid under my touch, to smell him and feel the prick of his stubble as he kissed my cheek. I kissed his cheek in return, letting my lips wander to his ear. I had latched onto his earlobe when he started, "Ana, I'm not sure if this is what you need right now."
"Will," I let my lips graze over his ear, knowing how that excited him. "I want you, I want you so badly. And it's been so long." I'd spent so many nights dreaming of him, touching myself while I pictured him, thinking of doing the acts that Morgan had told me about. Feeling the parts of him that were hidden by his clothes, letting him feel all of me. I hardly cared what it would make me, if I was going to be a loose woman, after what had happened I may as well be loose with someone I wanted.
"I thought we had settled this," He jerked underneath my hands as I reached lower, my hands slipping underneath his waistcoat. "It's not that I don't want you."
"Will, just be quiet and listen for a moment." I could feel the button of his trousers, "I've had a bit of an education since you left." I worked it though the hole, letting my fingers slide down the opening. I could feel him through his undergarment, the muscles of his waist and the slightly raised hairs underneath it. His whole body seemed to stiffen underneath my touch, and I could feel my own desire flaring to life.
"Perhaps," His voice was hardly more than a whisper, "We should head upstairs." He drew me up, kissing me deeply as he did. I pressed myself to him, feeling like everything was right. As long as he was here, it would be alright. I relished in the taste of tobacco for once, the blend he had been smoking was almost sweet as I swept my tongue across his mouth. His own tongue teased mine, even as his hand dropped lower to press me close and one moved to tangle in my now loose hair. I grinned against him as he pulled on my hair slightly, tilting my head back and moving his tongue deeper into my mouth. By the time we broke apart he was stiff against me, and my skin felt almost raw from where his stubble had scraped during the kiss.
I hardly cared, feeling that tingling that I now knew was desire, the desire for him. Will quickly led me upstairs, and I got a vague impression of a single bedroom with a bathroom across from it and a closed door on the other side of the hall. I moved to the bed, noting the single pillow as I sat on the blue bedspread, staring up at him. I wanted him, but I was a little unsure of what to do next. Should I remove my jacket? Instead I leaned down to untie my shoes, tucking them under the bed as I turned to the buttons on my jacket. Will gave a strangled gasp, and I could see him breathe heavily, his eyes dark as he looked down at me. "Just a moment, I'll be right back."
He went to the bathroom, closing the door behind him. I took the opportunity to look around the bedroom. It, like the rest of the house, was small but it felt well lived in. The furniture was a tad outdated, the brass frame on the bed showing its history through scratches and dull sections. A dresser, with a collection of pictures on top, was underneath a window. I saw the picture of Ada there, and the one of us at the studio. I assumed the older couple must be his parents, and the others scattered around much be his siblings. The letter Ezekiel had handed him was there, and I picked it up, reading quickly.
Mr. Murdoch,
I am sending this letter to you in the care of a dear family friend, I hope that it finds you well. I am also sending my daughter along, she is unaware of the contents of this missive and I ask that you keep it from her. Since that tragic event I have not been myself, relying far too much on her. I, selfishly, had not seen what it was doing to my dear Anastasia. I thought only of my own grief while she arranged the funeral and attended to our business, not only did she do that but she housed your group and defended you from any accusation she heard.
And my daughter has suffered for everything that she did. She was attacked in her own home, and I was not there. Do not think badly of her for what happened, she has herself convinced that you will cast her aside due to it. If you do Mr. Murdoch, I will see to it that your sailing career is over, you have my word on that. She is blameless, and she loves you so much that it has been painful to see her separated from you. But she has not only borne this attack, she had borne the stresses of our business and helping with the survivors relief committee at the expense of her health.
You must think me a cold woman to have placed all of that on a girl of only twenty-five, and I fear I shall never forgive myself for it. But I now see what that is doing to her. The staff tells me that since you have left she eats little and sleeps less. Especially after the attack. They have tried their best to soothe her from the nightmares, which I have no doubt will plague all of us for many years to come, but they tell me she often wakes screaming and goes into her father's office to pour over papers for the company at all hours. She claims the only thing that helps soothe her is drink, which she had apparently been indulging in until the staff removed it all at my order. My daughter is fading before my eyes, Mr. Murdoch. And I can do nothing to help her, nothing but to send her to you and ask you to do what I am unable to.
I send her to you for her health, Mr. Murdoch. I ask that you care for her in a way that I cannot. Please, when this is over, book passage back to New York or return on a Dalian ship. I shall see the costs covered, but please return my daughter to me better than she is now.
Sincerely,
Ruth Dalian
I set the letter down on the dresser, feeling a deep well of love for my poor mother. She had sent me off with nothing more than her hopes, and I couldn't help but smile. I would do something for her, something to make up for this. She had not been selfish, I had tried to take on too much. In time, we would find the balance with running the company, but for now it seemed a game of push and pull. I heard Will return from the bathroom, his freshly shaven cheeks pink. His face fell when he saw me with the letter, "Damn, I thought I had put it away."
I placed it back in its envelope, smoothing out the wrinkles in the paper. "You left it on the dresser." I came over, feeling his smooth cheeks beneath my fingers. I found I missed the stubble, the roughness against my cheek that I had felt. His aftershave smelled fresh though, and I let my nose linger against his cheek. "But I will play clueless, if it pleases you." I licked his cheek, the sting of his aftershave sharp on my tongue. "You didn't have to shave."
"Your cheeks are all raw, it was too rough." I could hear his breath hitch as I let my lips wander down to his neck. "I wasn't planning on you being up here when I set the letter down, I guess. Your mother would kill me if she knew you saw it." I placed kisses along the length of his neck, then moved onto his ears. He made such delightful sounds when I nibbled at them, short little groans that jumped when I let my teeth graze his skin. I could feel his hands move to my waist as I gently sucked on an earlobe, resuming my work from earlier. I let my own hands drift down his back, his jacket sliding off, as I felt the muscles of his back taper to his waist, and my hands went lower, feeling his backside and pressing his hips to mine. His whole body seemed hard against me, solid where I was soft, and he started, "Ana, do you know what you're doing, what this means?"
"Yes, I do. A friend, a married friend, told me all about things we can do that won't bring about a baby." I brought my hands to his chest, fingers unbuttoning his waistcoat and the shirt underneath. "She also said as a widower you would know about these things and that you were horrible for keeping me in suspense."
Will caught my fingers, "I don't want you to lower yourself to those acts. Not a fine lady like you."
"Today, I'm not a fine lady. I'm the woman who loves you, who has missed you for so long, and I want to do something for you." I slipped my fingers out of his grasp, letting them drift down to gently cup his manhood through the material of his trousers. He stilled, and I set myself to familiarizing myself with it. It was as Morgan said, rather arrow shaped and as I touched it it grew stiffer. "I want you Will, and I know you want me."
Will's breathing was harsh as I continued to handle him, only taking a moment to remove my gloves, but he groaned loudly when I moved under the waistband and gripped it in my bare hand. His flesh was warm, almost hot, and smooth beneath my hand. I squeezed it, feeling the stiff muscles of it, and it almost jumped in my hand. His voice was rough, "Ana, please."
I placed a kiss against the corner of his mouth. "I haven't done this before, so you'll need to tell me if I do something you like."
"Fuck, Ana. Please." He cursed, and I gently began to stroke. Will stumbled backward, falling onto the bed. I used the moment to pull his trousers and undergarment the rest of the way down so I could see my work. He kicked them off, and threw his shirt and waistcoat aside. With him bare in front of me, I felt the desire in my belly roar to life. I raked my eyes down him, the planes of his stomach and down further. I flushed and dropped my eyes for a moment, but looked up to study his manhood. I had nothing to compare his equipment to, other than the instructions I had received, but it seemed a very nice and proper set to me, if rather flushed and swollen at the moment as it strained upward. I could see the bag behind his organ as Morgan had said, and a curly nest of wiry hair, much like mine between my legs. I let my other hand grip the bag as I stroked his manhood, rolling it slightly in my palm. Will's hands shot out, gripping the bedspread. "Fuck, yes, Ana, yes."
Apparently the bag was quite the seat of pleasure. I played with it as I stroked. I experimented a bit with him, testing a looser grip, a tighter one, faster and slower. I watched for his reaction, eventually settling on a rhythm that sent him moaning. It made me feel quite powerful, to see him moaning my name and writhing against me, when all I was doing was touching him. His hips bucked under my hand, "Faster, God Ana, faster."
I sped up my stroking, laying alongside him so that I could whisper into his ear. "Better?"
"Fuck," He muttered, "Tighter, don't stop." He continued in this vein, moaning and begging me to continue. I could feel the muscles in my arm beginning to burn, my hand cramping as I gripped him tightly, but I put it aside. He thrust his hips up further, and I set myself to working with his thrusting. That seemed to sap all words from him, and his head hit the pillow hard as he began groaning, his breathing so hard and fast I was almost worried. I watched as his head arched up, his voice guttural.
He seemed to tense under me, from his organ to where I was kissing along his neck, his voice hoarse and unintelligible as he suddenly seized. A wetness was on my hand, and I looked down to see the white liquid that had spewed from him. Morgan had said that this was the end result of a man's portion of the act, his seed, and to not be surprised. I left Will with a kiss as I made my way to the bathroom to wash my hand.
By the time I came back he had opened his eyes, his body loose as he lay in the bed. I laid next to him, and he immediately pulled me flush to him. I leaned against his shoulder, "Was it, was I good? I can do better next time, I just need practice."
Will's lips were hot as he suddenly kissed me, pressing me down into the bed as he moved on top of me. The weight of him was pleasant as he pressed me into the mattress and I could feel his hands moving farther up, running over my breasts before he pulled away. "You were exquisite."
"So, it really was alright?" I asked, "Morgan also said I could use my mouth. That men enjoyed that."
Will threw himself back to sit on the bed, "You will be the death of me, woman." With that he pulled me up to join him, kissing me as he did. "But now, now it's my turn." He started on the buttons of my traveling suit where I had left off, the jacket and skirt quick discarded under his fingers, the shirtwaist joining them in but a moment. He cursed quietly as he worked the busk of my corset open, and then at the buttons of the combinations I was wearing. "You are wearing far too many clothes."
"Will," I moved to help him, wanted everything off me. "Will, please." He had my combinations off, and had moved down to my stockings. And then I was as bare as the day I was born, and it took everything I had to not cover myself. He rocked back onto his heels, staring. I shifted up, trying to display my breasts to their best advantage. They might have been small compared to other women's, but I was proud of them. "Am I, am I what you thought?" God how stupid to say that, he'd seen the pictures of me naked.
"You're beautiful." He moved over me, laying on top of me even as he held his weight up with his arms. "So much better than the pictures." He dropped his lips to mine, his hands quickly finding my sides and moving up to my breasts. My nipples hardened under his touch, and it seemed my breasts were so sensitive that I gasped when he pressed a kiss to them. I was so ready, had wanted his touch for so long, that I was moaning in his arms in what seemed like minutes before one of his hands dropped between my legs, stroking and rubbing at me with a skilled touch.
I gasped, "Will!"
I felt him grin against my neck, his lips moving to my ear. "Don't be quiet. Let me know what you like." Hearing my own words repeated was thrilling, even as I felt his hand trace my folds. He set himself to trying different rhythms even as he continued sucking at my neck, and I started when I felt one of his fingers push into me. I couldn't help the whimper that came out of me as I jerked away before stilling, I had never done that when I was alone. My body seemed as stiff as a board, and he quickly stopped. "Ana? Did I hurt you?"
"It's fine," I relaxed back down onto the bed, "I just wasn't expecting it." He didn't push into me again, instead stroking the length of me and rubbing at the part of me that seemed to control all the pleasure in me. I wrapped my arm around his shoulders, pressing him close to me as I focused on the pleasure of his touch. God, it was so much better that using my own hand, especially when he did that! I bucked up against him, a moan ripping from me. "Will, God, that. I like that." He pulled back, smirking as he set himself to the rhythm. I was quickly writhing beneath him, feeling my skin flush as I moaned and begged. "Will, please. I need, I need," I knew what I needed, but it felt so wrong to say it.
His fingers stilled, and my hips bucked against them, desperate for him to continue. "What do you need, Ana?"
"Inside." I felt my face burn as I said it, "I need you inside." His fingers resumed their motion, and I felt him press into me again. I forced myself to relax as I felt one finger slip in, the feeling strange as he began to stroke me from inside. I closed my eyes, giving myself over to the feeling of it. At first it was odd to feel him stroke me inside, but as he continued to pay attention to my pleasure, it became simply a part of it. It felt good as he moved his finger in me, and I gasped when he slipped another in, the tips of them grazing against me and I moaned, desperate for my own release.
I felt stretched, but in the most delightful way as I panted, "Will, please. Don't stop." My hips began moving in rhythm with his fingers, with the way he stroked me, and I couldn't help the cries that started stealing from my throat. They were high pitched, and I was almost embarrassed by how loud I was but I did not care, not when he was touching me and watching as I chased the feeling building inside me. It seemed to go faster and faster, the fire in me burning hotter and hotter until I felt myself fall apart. I let out a moan as I did, my body seizing before falling back onto the bed as I felt waves of pleasure roll over me, my muscles fluttering around the fingers in me. I couldn't even keep my eyes open, my breathing was ragged as I lay sprawled over the bedspread. I heard Will move to the bathroom, but he was quickly back and beside me. I blearily looked at him as he lay down, resting his head on an elbow. "Will, that was, that was incredible."
His hand traced over one of my breasts, "It was." His voice was low, and I turned towards him, feeling his hand slip down to span my waist. "God Ana, I've wanted you for so long."
"I've wanted you too." I couldn't help but smile. It felt good what had happened, naughty but good. I hoped the true act would be even better, but I could live with this. This would be enough, and I knew there were other acts to find pleasure. I had no doubt Will knew of some methods I was unaware of, I would have to tease them out of him.
"Send for your trunk from whatever hotel you found." He pulled me flush to his chest, "I'm not letting you leave my bed while you're here." I couldn't help but laugh as our legs tangled together, the blanket beneath us tossed aside as we tumbled, him on top and then me until we finally settled back onto the mattress. He insisted I take the pillow, and I drew his head down to my breast.
I stroked his hair, letting my fingers drag across his scalp. "What have you been doing?"
"Mmmm," He hummed, leaning into my touch. "I went home after the inquiry, to Scotland. My family was happy to see me, and I told them all about you. They want to meet you, especially my mother." His eyes were closed now, "Then I came back here. White Star still hasn't decided what to do with me, so I've been waiting around. Trying to figure out what to do next." He breathed deeply, relaxing onto me. "What of you?"
I let my fingers wander down from his hair to his cheeks, the skin soft and still pink from his shave. "Tending to the business, and Mrs. Brown's ball. Rather boring, to be quite honest."
"I'm sure the ball had to be fun."
"Hardly," I kept my voice light, "Zachary proposed and had an outburst when I refused him."
"He really is an arrogant bastard." Will grumbled. I placed a kiss atop his head, he didn't need to know the filth that Zachary had said. As far as I was concerned, no one who didn't hear it needed to know. I would keep it in the dark, let it wither and die. I had too much brightness to look forward to now.
I couldn't say how long I spent in Will's bed, his head pillowed on my breast as we dozed in the morning light. Occasionally I would stir when he moved slightly, and I found that I loved running my hands down his back, from the top of his head to the base of his spine. I could feel the muscles underneath my hand, the way he would shiver slightly as I stroked them. He seemed to have a fascination with my legs, dragging his fingers up them, grazing my thighs before returning to my calves. I was laying with him almost asleep on me, when his eyes suddenly opened, "Damn it, how am I going to explain you to Kate?"
"Kate?" I suppose I should have felt jealous at hearing another woman's name, but I was holding him naked in my arms. There was nothing to be jealous of, not after what we had just done.
"A girl from town, she comes and cleans, cooks too. Watches the place when I'm at sea. But she'll be by in," He paused, listening to the clock downstairs chime the quarter hour. "Thirty minutes. And we've got to get your trunk."
"Oh, don't say we have to get up." I clutched him tighter to me, but I knew it couldn't last. With the afternoon light slanting through the window we set about dressing, although I left off most of my undergarments. Those I piled into a corner, I set the bed to at least look like we hadn't ravished each other all day, and I set off downstairs. A telephone was in the parlor, and I quickly rang the hotel and cancelled my room, while asking for my trunk to be delivered. I had just hung up when I turned to see Will, in shirt and suspenders, staring at me. "What?"
"Ana," He stepped forward, taking my hand. "I had planned on doing this with some kind of ceremony, but seeing you here." He shook his head, "In my home, and in my bed." He sighed, shaking his head. "I'd be a fool to let it go on any longer." He pulled his hand from his pocket, cradling a ring. I got an impression of a small diamond set on the gold band, and I felt my heart stop as he held it out to me. "Ana, Anastasia Dalian, I love you. And I know that I am far below what you should have, but I love you too much to care. Will you marry me?"
I wrapped my hand around his, and I felt tears on my cheeks but my voice was firm. "You are exactly what I want, William Murdoch. I will marry you, because I love you and that is all that I need." For once, after everything, these were tears of joy.
He fumbled the ring onto my finger, and I saw the braided pattern of the burnished gold. It was a little large, and he grumbled as he fit it on. "I'm sorry, this was my grandmother's and she had such large fingers." It was slightly loose on my finger, but it stayed.
I brushed my finger over the small stone. So many girls I knew had stones ten times the size, set in platinum and surrounded by rubies and and sapphires. Zachary's ring was probably worth a hundred of the simple band that I curled my fingers around. But this simple ring was worth more than any of those. I held my left hand out, admiring it. "We can get it resized."
Will made to speak, but the a bell over the kitchen door rang. A young girl, her red hair caught back in a knot, came bustling into the parlor, tying an apron around her waist. She stopped short seeing us, "Oh, I'm sorry Mr Murdoch. I didn't know you had guests."
"Actually," Will looked fit to burst with pride, "This is my fiancée, Anastasia."
"How wonderful," Kate smiled, "I will have to go get another helping of pie from the pub though, I've only brought the one." She turned on her heel, and the bell rang again as she headed out.
I chuckled, seeing her mount a bicycle and set off back into town through the window. "She seems nice."
"She's capable," Will shook his head, "Now, do you think you could get the table set? I can hear the car with your trunk." I set off to the kitchen, as Will opened the door and started directing the porters on where to put the trunk. The china in this house was nothing like the one I was used to, plain white plates with some raised detailing, no bluework to be found. But I collected a pair of plates and glasses, and found a few pieces of cutlery to go with it. The dining nook was close to the kitchen, a set of four chairs around a dark wood table. I set the table, smiling as I heard Kate come back in.
"Sorry," She muttered, bringing over a basket and quickly pulling out two pieces of shepherd's pie. "If Mr. Murdoch had told me you'd be here I would have already had this."
"It's alright," I turned to the parlor, watching as Will picked up his pipe and gave it a few puffs. "I came as a surprise to him too."
"Well, it's a good thing you're here then. Mr. Murdoch has had some black days lately." Kate came back with a bottle of water from the icebox, setting it on the table. "Just leave the plates in the kitchen, I'll wash up in the morning." She gave a little bob before heading back out.
"I know it's not quite what you're used to." Will said, sitting and reaching over to pour water for both of us.
I took a forkful of pie, "It's perfect." I swallowed the first bite, and reached over for his hand. "This whole day has been perfect." I truly felt that it was, even though the pie needed salt, and the chair was rather uncomfortable, to be sitting next to Will, to have his ring on my finger, and to know that after dinner we would be back in bed, together, it made everything right.
