Title: Treasures, Part 1
Author: Sherry Thornburg
Author's Email: Thornburgs77 at gmail
Feedback: Yes, please
Permission to Archive: Privately only, with notice to me and where it is.
Category: Romance
Rating/Warning: T+
Main Characters: Phileas and Rebecca Fogg, Passepartout, and Jules Verne. Introducing Melody Anderson.
Disclaimer: SAJV and original characters copywrite Tailsman/Promark/etc., no infringement is intended.
Summary: Phileas Fogg takes a slow boat home when he doesn't want the boredom on following Rebecca on one of her non-dangerous missions. In the process he gets bitten, smitten, and horrified to wake up to a bachelor's worst nightmare.
Prelude
A tall, lean gentleman in his mid-forties, wearing a fine white linen suit, entered the dining saloon the evening after taking passage on a small paddle tug. He carried a cane and was presently leaning on it lazily as he surveyed the room. His hair was nearly all gray. There were still enough black hairs in his head to tell one what the original color had been, but they were now woefully outnumbered. His face matched his clothing, showing sharp intelligent green eyes, long, strongly defined features announcing to all his English heritage.
The gentleman looked pleased after having low expectations. This ship, the Quest, was not what he would have preferred, but it had been going his way, and he had become heartily bored with the port town of Benghazi. He lucked into his passage as one passenger had been leaving as he had requested passage.
Phileas Fogg sighed with stoic patience on his face.
One must take what it can get when making hasty plans out of impatience. His bland expression cracked despite his resolve.
Small ship, small dining area, hunger will not be satisfied quickly.
The tables were set with light blue clothes and medium grade china. The floors were clean, though, and the smells from the galley were tempting, a welcome surprise. He had taken passage on small vessels before where the food had been on a par with sixteenth century gruel. What he was seeing on the plates passing by was salmon in butter sauce, beef wellington.
Mmm. Add to that large glass windows offering diners a view of the sea on two sides. Good things can come in small packages.
The captain's table was full. Just as well, I don't feel like polite chit-chat.
Phileas was about to call on the steward to call for him on deck when a table became available. When someone entered the room behind him. Phileas was blocking their path, so he stepped aside to allow the newcomer to pass. As he did so, turning toward the person, he came face to face with one of the sweetest looking young women he had ever seen. The lady's face was quite pretty, the cheeks and mouth were full. The eyes were an interesting light shade of brown that looked gold. And the lady's skin glowed a rosy peach from the warm North African sun.
"Excuse me, sir," the lady said in a lyrical voice, "I was just coming to look for a table."
"I'm afraid we are late for supper," Phileas said. "All the tables have been taken."
The lady looked about, finding the truth of it. Her expressive eyes showed a moment's disappointment.
While she was looking away, Phileas made a quick survey. What he found was as delightful as her face. Her figure, what he saw from the waist up, was promising, narrow at the shoulders with full curves filling out her fitted blouse.
"I suppose I should wait on deck," she said. She nodded to him and turned around.
From the back, as she walked away, Phileas smiled at the fashionable hourglass shape and small waist that didn't owe much to her corset. Her black linen dress, belling out from her waist on petticoats, was not as wide as fashion dictated, but it would be comfortable for moving about on a small ship with narrow doorways. All but a dogged few ladies Phileas had seen had adopted that deference to practicality.
Very nice.
Wandering to the deck behind her, Phileas's thoughts wandered on naturally to questions of great importance when confronted with a lady capable of catching his attention so completely. Does she have a husband aboard? And if not, did she have an escort of another kind? Was she as young as she looked? Might she be interested in his company for the rest of the voyage? With any luck, the lady will go all the way to England with me.
The only deterrent to this line of dreaming was her marital status and age. I don't tryst with married women, nor do I spend time with women as young as she appears unless they were experienced and knew the rules. Young and inexperienced will be off limits completely. Young, experienced, but unwilling to follow the rules governing brief liaisons is trouble. A trouble I've had and don't want to be troubled with again.
Wearily, Phileas followed his quarry outside. There was no one about to make introductions for him, a disadvantage in approaching her.
His lady had walked to the bow, looking out at the setting sun.
"Lovely night," Phileas commented as an opening.
The lady turned, surprised to find him there. Her hair, a rich brown Phileas preferred, caught the backlight of the setting sun, and burst into flame. In response to the glorious view, Phileas stopped breathing. His heart stopped beating. He was completely enchanted by the vision down to the soles of his feet. His enchantress gave him a small smile that melted him in a puddle on the deck boards.
Seemingly without a clue as to the havoc she had just reeked on him, his temptress nodded and turned back to the sunset. "Quite. I wonder how the sunset will differ between here and England? I haven't been home in so long."
"The colors are not as intense, but still worthy of appreciation," Fogg said.
One question answered. She is going to England.
"Will your husband be joining you soon?" Phileas said. Subtlety it lacked, but it will get another of my questions answered.
"No, I have no husband," she said. She didn't give explanations or say if she was traveling with anyone else. She just continued to enjoy the view.
Phileas was left with no opening to continue their conversation and still in the dark as to her availability.
A married couple joined them at the bow after a few moments. They were both gray, about sixty. The husband was a balding gentleman with kind eyes and a friendly air. The wife was a grandmotherly woman with expressive blue eyes. She greeted the younger lady looking out at the sunset, calling her Miss Anderson.
"A lovely night, don't you think Mrs. Stiles?" Miss Anderson observed.
"Very," the older woman said. "I do so love these sunsets at sea."
Phileas and the woman's husband greeted each other and made introductions as the two ladies chatted. Mr. Stiles was a barrister on holiday. He and his wife had been making a leisurely trip around the Mediterranean. This was their homeward leg. Mr. Stiles had enjoyed his holiday, but was now looking forward to returning home. Phileas made small talk with the man, giving the two ladies an occasional glance, hoping to catch some information from their conversation that could be of help to him.
Mr. Stiles smiled knowingly when Phileas wasn't looking. There was a twenty-ish spread between their ages, but was a lifetime away from his acquaintance's shoes. Gabriel Stiles had been married over half his life, a sedate, satisfied husband. He found this younger man's hungry bachelor's manner amusing to watch. He could tell Mr. Fogg was itching for an introduction to Miss Anderson, and he could provide one, but it gave Gabriel a bit of entertainment to let the man hang a bit.
A steward called to him as he and Phileas talked of acquaintances they had in common. He had requested to be called when a table came available.
Phileas's face fell and inwardly groaned. I didn't inform the steward I was waiting. Distracted by a pretty face yet again. Rebecca would tease me, saying I was born smitten. Not true, but, yes, sometimes I can have a shameful lack of control where a pretty face is concerned.
"Melody, won't you join us?" Mrs. Stiles offered. "There is no reason for you to eat alone."
"Why thank you," Miss Anderson accepted.
Hearing the lady's first name, Phileas approved, more than appropriate, with such a lovely voice.
Gabriel Stiles decided he had milked his pleasure for all he could. Denying the man his desire at this point would be cruel. Besides, the entertainment could be prolonged if I follow Sara's example.
"Mr. Fogg," Gabriel said. "Please join us as well. May I introduce you to my wife, Sara? And this young lady is Miss Melody Anderson. Ladies, this is Mr. Phileas Fogg."
"We met Miss Anderson as she boarded in Egypt," Gabriel said, speaking of what he knew of Miss Anderson's circumstances for Mr. Fogg's benefit. "She is traveling to England to live with her brother in Kent. This will be her last few weeks of independence before falling under his guardianship."
Miss Anderson nodded to Mr. Fogg and giggled at Mr. Stiles' introduction. "You make it so very ominous, sir. But truly, my brother isn't going to cloister me once I reach London."
"Of course not," Gabriel said. "But he may have to beat the suitors off his doorstep once the young men of London discover your arrival."
That gained another bout of giggles, from both ladies, one unbelieving and one in agreement.
Phileas felt disappointment settle on him like a heavy cloak. The lady was unmarried, but not available. As she was wearing black, he now deduced she had suffered a recent death in her family, possibly her father, which would require her to travel to England for a brother's guardianship. He inwardly sighed.
No, my dreams have gotten me nowhere. But I can still enjoy her company for the evening's meal. Under the Stiles's chaperone, that would be permissible. After that, I will have to place the lady off limits.
"Thank you, sir," Phileas accepted. "I would be delighted."
No doubt. A smug smile light Gabriel's face. He had not missed the disappointment in Fogg's eyes as he concluded the lady was unapproachable. But there were ways around that. A gentleman and a lady could enjoy each other's company if certain rules were followed. Sara, as she was wont to do, had adopted the unescorted lady traveler for a companion. That, again, made him a young lady's de facto guardian.
Mind your manners tonight, Mr. Fogg, and you might be allowed further acquaintance with Miss Anderson.
Mr. Fogg offered the young lady his arm. His face was all a glow. Miss Anderson's face wasn't in view, but if he knew anything about women, and Gabriel knew plenty, Miss Anderson returned Mr. Fogg's admiration.
Taking his wife's arm, they shared a look, looking at the younger pair heading to supper. "Nice looking together," Gabriel whispered.
At that moment, the young lady turned her head slightly as Mr. Stiles watched, looking up at her companion's face and smiling while Mr. Fogg was busy speaking to the steward. Miss Melody had just given her handsome escort a full once over followed by a very positive verdict. It had taken only two seconds, but Gabriel saw it.
Oh yes, she returns it. Gabriel grinned and squeezed his wife's hand. Miss Anderson may not realize it, but the life of an orphaned spinster was not a good one. If her brother were a decent sort, like Miss Melody claimed he was, he would give her a season and a chance to marry. But more likely, she would become a house drudge, a servant to his household, a poor future for such a lovely young lady.
And Phileas Fogg?
I know of him. Don't know much more than his being said to be well set and of excellent character, has some good connections. I can find out more over dinner and perhaps a game of cards later. For now, there would be no harm in allowing these two to sit at table together under our watchful eyes.
Gabriel gave Sara's hand another gentle squeeze. She looked up at him as they walked. He gestured to the two walking ahead of them. Sara grinned knowingly and squeezed his hand in return.
The game was agreed upon and begun.