Chapter XXVI: One Ring to Rule them All
A/N: A rare treat this month. Another update! Though it is a shorter chapter, I hope it is an enjoyable one. Please excuse the written Scottish accent at points. I don't know what I'd do without CowgirlBookworm! Looking forward to seeing what you all think! SSD
Food was sorely needed, and Will was not in the mood to let Ada leave the house.
Much less the bedroom
His days revolved around 3 things: Work, eating, and railing his wife. With an eye towards her pleasure of course! Will always tended to Ada before seeing to his own needs. Though that time after the shooting (the wall) they'd been like animals at each other, his clothes being usable for little more than scrap cloth.
They'd been calmer after that. Will was still on high alert and didn't want Ada away from safety when he went into work. Malcolm didn't seem to mind watching Ada since Cecily seemed to like spending more time with her since the incident.
Soon he was in the kitchen and was looking for supplies to make hearty sandwiches. Will needed to keep Ada's energy up. He'd let her sleep last night. Mostly.
"I thought ye were banned from ta kitchen." It was Malcolm who looked like he needed about 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
"I ken be in ta kitchen. As long as Ada is nae with me, I'm allowed here. Anything new," he asked.
"Not yet. Despite multiple arrests, no one is talking. Mr. McLewis is working on getting into see the highest-ranking survivor of the attackers. He has some friends involved in the investigation," Malcolm yawned.
"So… Highlands or Lowlands," Will asked."
"Highlands. But along the western coast of Scotland. I'm not from anywhere you've heard of." The younger man grabbed some of the slices of bread Will had cut and slathered butter on it.
"You'd be surprised. That's where I started sailing," Will chuckled.
"My town was used as a Lordling's playground. I was arrested for something I didn't do," Malcolm growled.
"Didn't kill the lordling did ye," Will asked.
"No. Wished I did. For what he did to my sister! I'd confronted him and he denied it," the younger Scotsman retorted.
"You have my sympathies. Is he dead now at least?"
"Oh aye! And somehow, despite my whereabouts being accounted for, I got blamed for it," Malcolm drank some orange juice.
"How did he depart this Earth," Will pressed.
"He was horse racing with his mates. The phaeton fell apart, so he was crushed. I had to do a runner because the peelers wouldn't look at anyone but me, even though everything was worn to the bone!"
"Would you have messed with it," Will asked.
"No! My mum said it wasnae worth it!" Malcolm ate some more buttered bread.
"Maybe she did it then. She had just as much motive as you," Will sipped some tea.
Malcolm choked on some coffee, "My grandda worked with horses. She was always around him. I dinnae think she intended for me to be blamed if she did in fact do it."
They ate in silence for a few moments before they heard a door slam and a squeal of "HARRY!"
Heading out into the entryway the two Scotsmen saw Cecily hugging Lowe as if her life depended on it!
She'd clearly launched herself at him from a distance he'd staggered back and dropped his bag. Cecily was mumbling in Welsh and burrowing into him.
"Cecily, enaid I need to give Will something from Lights before you drag me off. Then I'm all yours," Harry cooed at her.
Will wanted to vomit.
Harold barely managed to hand off two letters to him before getting dragged off into the depths of the grounds by Cecily.
One of the letters was to him from Lights, the other to Ada from Sylvia.
Ada was going to be pleased!
Harry was having a difficult time keeping up with Cecily. She was clearly taking him somewhere specific; he had never seen this part of the Lethbridge estate grounds.
"Where are we going?"
"One of my favorite places on the grounds. It's well off the beaten path. It'll take quite some time for people to find us," Cecily winked at him, green eyes shining.
"And just where is this place," he asked.
"Not much further," she was smiling now and sped up.
Soon he saw a gazebo made of a dark wood, Cecily sped up even more now. Once they were in there, she pushed him to the bench, sat across his lap; began kissing him immediately. Soon her tongue was in his mouth stroking over his.
Surprised by how aggressive Cecily was being, Harry decided to indulge her for the time being and went along for the ride. However, for his own enjoyment, he began picking out her hairpins so it could be loose. He adored messing with her hair. Harry tossed the pins to the deck and put the hair comb on the bench beside them.
Soon she was moaning as he massaged her scalp, giving a little wiggle.
Tugging her hair lightly, he asked, "Cecily, you do want me to be able to walk back don't you?"
"I don't want to walk back, why should you," Cecily groused before diving back in.
Something was clearly wrong. Dragging his tongue out of her warm mouth, "Cecily please tell me what is going on? As much as I love kissing you, I can tell something's up."
"I- I've just missed you is all. I like you holding me. I feel safe in your arms," Cecily cuddled further into him.
"It wouldn't have anything to do with the events on your father's birthday," he politely asked.
"I haven't seen anything in the papers," Cecily replied.
"Cecily, I read about the attack in one of the New York papers. It spoke of you, Will, and his wife most viley. It's the reason I'm here. To check on you," he explained.
"Then how come I haven't seen it in the- Roland's been hiding newspaper articles again like with the Ice Queen filth. I don't know if I want to hug him or slap him," she muttered.
"Would you like to be distracted from those memories," Harry asked shifting his position.
Catching on quickly, "I would love that."
This time they met the kiss together. Cecily wasn't trying to maul him, it was just two people enjoying kissing each other.
Of course all good things must come to an end. One of the worst voices to hear at the moment growled: "What. On. Earth?"
With audible suction as they disengaged, to Harry's utmost horror, Roland and Ghislaine were outside the gazebo. Ghislaine was smirking.
He was beyond thankful for Cecily's long skirt. It meant he could gather it up.
"Cecily, love, could you um, stay where you are," Harry knew he was begging. There wasn't much room in his trousers at the moment.
Giving him a sweet smile, Cecily kissed his ear, "I have no intention of moving. I'm quite comfortable where I am, no matter what Roland says!"
"Cecily you know better than this? What if it was one of the 40 Thieves," Roland groused.
"They would have congratulated me," Cecily cackled.
Soon the siblings devolved into an argument in Welsh. Each was making references to the other's behavior and getting cruder each time.
"So… What are they saying? I can judge by their tones they're being rude," Ghislaine leaned against one of the poles.
"If I told you, you'd call off the engagement," Harry chuckled.
"I'm sure I'll get it out of Roland later, I have my ways. It would take quite a bit for me to break things off with him," the Frenchwoman drawled.
Before he could reply, Cecily said something quite foul. Squeezing her hips Harry said, "That was uncalled for!"
For the first time in several days, Ada was wearing actual clothing, much to her husband's displeasure.
She was also outside the bedroom for the first time in several days. Ada had resorted to sneaking outside under the pretext of taking Rigel for a walk around the grounds.
Once she found a bench, Rigel was sniffing around, Ada sat down to read her letter from Sylvia. And was laughing in moments.
Ada, or should I address you as the "illustrious Mrs. Murdoch" now and greet you with a curtsey and have Roger and Trever bow when you arrive? You're in *such* high circles now! I hope you don't forget this humble sailor's wife when you return!
So… How has Will been? I imagine he's been his usual overprotective self, when he lets you out of bed that is! When he finally does, hopefully you're not too exhausted and are able to walk! Don't forget to eat, you know how Will gets when you're indulging yourselves so often he forgets food, like when the Olympic was laid up for six weeks. Make him feed you like an empress, don't let Will off too easy, even if he's getting off easy!
Charles is being his usual self, driving me up the wall. Though there have been unusually few annoying passengers on the Oceanic, according to him, Will's still lucky not to have to deal with them at the moment. Due to the boys being on holiday from school, they are proving that they are their father's sons, that's for sure. Yesterday, they brought frogs into the house, Ada. Frogs!
Hope to hear from you soon, Sylvia
The letter from Sylvia was just what Ada needed in the aftermath of the attack. She could always count on her for a smile.
Before even beginning to think about a reply, Ada's world turned upside down when Will decided to pick her up and carry her on his shoulder!
"William Murdoch you put me down this instant," she squealed as she hit his back.
His only reply was swatting her backside. Ada knew her husband was smirking. She barely held onto her letter from Sylvia.
As much as she wanted to be held in Harry's arms and forget about everything, Cecily knew she had to deal with things around the house.
Dinner tonight was going to be basic: A pork loin roast, roasted asparagus, salad, sourdough bread, and apple pie.
She also needed to get together clothing for the trial which would be starting in a few weeks. Roland had gotten the idea to make her clothes look as close to the uniforms Will, Michael, and Fabrizio would be wearing. Women's versions anyway.
Cecily was still talking with Olive on that subject when Rafaela walked in with a distressed maid.
"What is it Rafaela," she asked.
"Priscilla is uncomfortable cleaning a room," the housekeeper grumbled before switching to Spanish to berate the maid who defended herself in the same language.
Cecily let the two of them bicker for a short time before asking, "Which room is Priscilla refusing to clean?"
"I will not go into that den of debauchery," Priscilla declared blushing.
"Whose room is a den of debauchery," Harry had entered the room. Cecily gave him a smile in greeting.
Priscilla wouldn't speak, turning an even darker red. Rafaela continued with, "It's the Murdoch's."
Cecily felt her own blush rise. Ever since the attack on her father's birthday, to Will had been attentive to Ada was a gross understatement. Though this was the first time she had heard anything about the state of their room.
And she wished she hadn't.
"Wait until the next time Lieutenant Murdoch leaves for work, then clean it Priscilla," Cecily ordered blandly, hoping everyone ignored her blush.
"You handled that well," Harry said when the three servants left.
"I had to. Even though I was not wanting to deal with it. Or the people involved. Now that it's done with, shall we head somewhere more pleasant? Like the library?"
Harry's grin told her he was in complete agreement!
"Lucy, I need a favor. Do you and Cecily ever borrow things from each other like… um jewelry?"
She looked up from leaving her thank you gift. Harry was fidgeting, looking more nervous than she'd ever seen him.
"We do on occasion. Why do you ask?" Lucy felt a grin grow on her face.
"I need you to borrow one of Cecily's rings and bring it to me," Harry stated.
"Why," Lucy now had a very good idea of what Harry needed it for.
"Are you really going to make me say it," the Welsh sailor bit out.
"Oh yes. Or I'll squeal and bring the house down on you," she threatened.
"You cannot tell anyone, not even Erik, because then he'd tell Roland. Then things will have broken loose. I want to have the ring before I speak to Albert," he hissed.
"Well why didn't you say so? Come along!" Lucy dragged Harry upstairs.
Once getting upstairs, Lucy turned to him, "You head to another room, you can't be seen. I'll handle Olive if I need to."
Harry nodded and went on his way.
Lucy noticed that Olive wasn't around and was likely with Cecily elsewhere. She would just have to pick a nondescript ring herself.
Looking around quickly, she found a basic gold band that was relatively new. Leaving the room, Lucy handed the ring to Harry.
"She prefers white gold to yellow. And smaller diamonds to large ones," giving her future best friend's husband some pointers.
"Thank you Lucy," Harry replied, giving a breath of relief as he slipped the ring into a secure pocket.
"And I'd like to be godmother to one of your children," Lucy suggested cheekily.
A/N 2: So… What do you all think? I loved adding that bit of cuteness at the end. And I finally gave a hint of Sylvia. I couldn't wait any longer. SS