Chapter XVII: America's Pastime

A/N: Apologies in extreme for the lack of update. I need my own computer. I do hope this chapter is found to be as enjoyable to read as I found to type. Roland loses the idiot ball. Thank you Cowgirl Bookworm for all your help! SSD

Miracle of miracles, he and Miss Lethbridge had managed to have a civil conversation the night before. She had wondered if Harold (or Harry as she called him) could be missed from the inquiry today. Part of her argument was that it might be wise that to get him out of Senator Smith's line of sight, given the iceberg comment. The demoness wanted the day with her suitor among the crowd, relatively unrecognized. Wearing plainer clothes was the plan.

Once most of the others bar himself, Charles, and Lowe who was still getting ready had left, Will went to inform the fifth officer of the change in plans for him.

"God I hope you're alone in there," he muttered before raising his hand to bang on the door, "Harold!"

"I'm still getting ready sir," the younger man called out.

"You're taking an awful long time in there Harold. Are you quite sure you're alone in there," Charles laughed before muttering in an undertone, "Perhaps he's a bit too alone."

Will only had time to glare at Lights before Harold was headed out of his room snarling, "For God's sake, I'm ready," as he was tying his tie.

"You owe me for not having to go to the inquiry today," he told his subordinate officer.

"What do you mean?"

"Your sweetheart thought that it might be wise to get you out of the senator's eye. Also she wants to spend time with you," Will explained.

"You and Cecily agreed on something? Is it the Second Coming? Should I expect Christ to show up at dinner," Harold snickered.

"You're spending far too much time around Lights. Perhaps today will do you some good," Will did not need another officer with that particular sense of humor!

"If he was listening to me, he'd have taken Miss Lethbridge to a priest," Charles laughed.

"If I listened to you, I would be getting shot in the short term future," Harold reminded with a shudder.

"You won't get shot if you're careful," Charles replied.

"I would advise that you wear more casual clothes so as to not attract attention to yourself or Miss Lethbridge," Will suggested.

"Or wear nothing at all. You've already seen what she's got, she might like to see what you've got. Ow, ow, ow," Charles yelped.

"Just because you've lost touch with all of your morals doesn't mean you have to corrupt Harold into losing his," Will reminded his friend after twisting his arm. To the younger Welshman he said, "There's going to be protection from the 40 Thieves, not sure which ones."

"I'm still wondering where they got their name," Charles muttered, rubbing his arm.

"I think it's a private joke between Mr. McLewis and Cecily's father," Harold suggested.

"That's as good a guess as any," Will remarked.

Today was sure to be an entertaining day at the inquiry. It was time for the members of the crew of the Florida to give their testimony.

Michael was more that slightly on edge from the bribe offers. He'd refused of course, as had the other three.

Now they had to wait for the inevitable retaliation. He hoped that the 40 Thieves were as good as advertised.

The testimonies of Captain Franklin and Commander Blair went as expected and relatively smoothly.

Things started to get more interesting when the ship's doctor took the stand for his testimony. While the man was perfectly proper, it was clear he had no patience for the proceedings.

Lieutenant Commander Kelly answered all of his questions, there was more than a hint of sarcasm in each reply. With the medical based reply, he explained them in such a manner that there could be no room for confusion or foolish questions.

"He really couldn't help himself," Turner looked up to see Lieutenant Lethbridge arrive.

"No I don't think he could. Is he always like that," he asked.

"According to Erik, yes. He's being even more sarcastic than usual. Captain Franklin had to forbid him to mention the iceberg question in his testimony," the young lieutenant laughed.

Too soon, the good doctor's entertaining testimony was over and a recess was called. Once the senator left, the young man asked, "Where's Harry for the day, Mr. Murdoch? I would've thought he'd be here?"

"I told him to stay back for the day. Senator Smith is not likely to forget how he was made a laughingstock," the first officer answered.

"Good idea. Do you have any ideas as to what my sister is doing either," the lieutenant obliviously asked.

Murdoch flicked a glance in his direction, and Michael swiftly kicked Lightoller in the leg under the table to keep him from saying anything he shouldn't.

As the second officer was occupied with groaning in pain, his commanding officer replied, "I'm sure wherever she is, Mr. McLewis is keeping watch over her."

Nice save. And that is why he should be a captain!

With that, Lieutenant Lethbridge withed them luck and left to go speak to Lieutenant Sperling before his own testimony.

"I think you broke my leg, Turner," Lightoller grunted.

He replied, "Walk it off sir."

"When Lieutenant Lethbridge finds out, you are not going to be the one who tells him Charles! You'll be hurting far worse if you," Murdoch warned.

It had been an age since Antin had been to a baseball game. Getting another volunteer to come along from the 40 Thieves had been simple. Malcolm Lamont had agreed to it before he could finish the sentence.

He was an oddball. While like most of the others he'd come from the US Army, unlike the rest of the 40 Thieves Malcolm had been born in Scotland. He'd come over to the US at 16 and enlisted almost right off the boat, lying his age. Malcolm had left Scotland to avoid being sent to Australia for reasons he had not yet fully specified to Antin, other than that it was for a crime he had not committed.

In the Army, Malcolm had become a batman to an officer Antin knew. Said officer noticed that his batman was both good at his job and at keeping mouth shut, and his eyes and ears open. He was even better at hand to hand combat and with a dirk. Once his enlistment was up, he pointed Antin in his direction.

Malcolm had been a 40 Thief for the past 3 years and had become a citizen while still in the Army. Lost his accent along the way as well. In fact, except for some occasional uses of British English slang, no one would suspect that Malcolm wasn't a natural born American. On the incredibly rare occasions when he got drunk (which was hard to do in the first place), Malcolm would start speaking and/or singing in Gaelic.

When the kid heard that the Lethbridge's would be hosting some British guests for an unspecified period of time, Malcolm made himself scarce during the day, volunteering for the night shifts and making use of the many secret passageways in the house and on the property. He'd also taken to helping their Sicilian guest accustom himself to America.

Malcolm particularly avoided to their two Scottish guests as they would be the ones who would notice the most, "Even if they are Lowlanders" the kid had said to Antin when he'd asked for an explanation.

Back to both of their charges, they were behaving themselves. It didn't hurt that Lowe was scared to death of him, Antin thought with no small amount of glee.

He was a few rows behind the lovebirds. Antin considered the possibility of getting away with literally breathing down their necks. He doubted severely that Cecily would appreciate it. Malcolm was sitting in the same row, but down a ways.

Harold had one of his arms around Cecily's shoulders as they talked, with Cecily leaning into him. They were paying more attention to each other than the game. Antin intended to ask them the score when the game ended.

He knew that there was plenty of razzing going on for Harold. Primarily from Lightoller and Murdoch. Mostly from Lightoller, whose sense of humor was similar to Erik and if Erik got any new bright ideas from him, Captain Franklin would likely be driven mad.

Later on in the game, Antin and Malcolm nearly had to blow their cover when a drunk started to bother their charges.

"Why don't you ditch the scrawny limey and come sit with me," the man asked.

"You're drunk in public. Not exactly a trait I hold in high regard," Cecily said in that polite voice or what passed for polite when she was getting irritated.

"You sure about that? You don't want a real man," he slurred.

The Welsh kid simply said, "Sit down before you fall down," before lightly pushing the man back towards his seat.

More weariness than anger, Antin noted

"He's got experience dealing with drunks. And not beating them senseless either. I'd bet my next paycheck it's a close family member," Malcolm had gotten into the seat next to him.

"I can see that too. That could be part of the reason why I haven't seen him touch a drop. Max and Adam haven't seen him drink either," Antin mused.

"There is a reason for me coming over here sir. There is a certain reporter from the New York Journal at the game. I doubt Mr. Thornton knows who else is here, but I do not want to give him the chance to do so," Malcolm told him.

Paul Thornton being anywhere near Cecily was unacceptable. Antin regretted not killing him when he'd had the chance.

"Escort Mr. Thornton from the premises. If he resists, do it with extreme prejudice," the order came out like a hiss.

Malcolm's smile turned feral when he said, "It would be my genuine pleasure sir!"

Did you ever have the feeling, that you were being watched?

Harold knew that he was being watched, and prayed that it was just the two he thought it was. He just wished he could see where the hell the pair were.

Then again, if he couldn't see them, no one else likely could.

Harry liked knowing where that McLewis fellow was. And whether he was pointing a firearm at any vital part of him thank you very much!

"Harry what are you looking for? You don't need to worry about Antin. I can't see him either," Cecily tugged on his arm, clearly wanting to move along the sidewalk.

"At least the other one is in plain view," he replied.

"That's how Antin runs the protection details: One guard is in plain view, the other remains unseen," she explained before continuing onward with, "And it's the one you can't see that you need to worry about. Antin likes being that one. Unless the detail is for my father."

"Really, I couldn't tell," Harry couldn't keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

"Perhaps I should give you something else to think about," Cecily had a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"I'm more than open to a little bit of distraction, especially when it comes from you," he gathered her into his arms, though still mindful to keep his hands on her shoulders.

Cecily needs to get some higher heeled shoes, Harry thought dimly as he leaned down for a quick kiss that they both smiled into.

"Feel better," Cecily asked when they started walking again.

"Yes, but I still may need some reassurance later," Harry smirked at her.

"I think that can be arranged. Especially once we get back to the house. And we're not in public," her eyes darkened.

"What of our watchers," he asked in an undertone, pulling Cecily into his side easily.

"Once we are back at the house, they'll make themselves more scarce," she whispered back.

"Good," Harry grinned, "For I am planning to do things that might anger them!"

Roland was pleased that Erik did not need books today. It meant he could have a restful evening at the Washington house. Captain Torrey was getting suspicious of what he was up to. He was likely going to be talking to his CO within the next few days tops.

The conversation with his father on the other hand was on Ghislaine, his (hopefully) soon to be fiancée.

"You are at least going to propose to Ghislaine in person and not through a letter I hope," his father asked.

"I'm going to, when she arrives for the summer," he answered.

"How soon after she gets back," his father pressed.

"I don't know, I've never done this before," Roland started pacing. He wanted to tear his hair out.

"My advice would be to wait till sometime during the second week she's here. When she's had some time to settle and rest. And for the love of God, don't ask Ghislaine in front of a bunch of people," his father suggested, "Don't want her to get too embarrassed, she might want to do something she wouldn't want to do in front of an audience," he added with a smirk, clearly remembering something Roland did not want to know about his mother.

"I certainly hope so…" Roland trailed off as he looked out a window before yelling, "Beth mae'r ffyc yn ei wneud i fy chwaer? Byddaf yn ei ladd â fy nwylo noeth!"

"You aren't killing anyone under my roof until I know why. Ahah!" His father had the gall to be amused at the sight before them.

Harry had Cecily pinned to one of their cherry trees. One of his hands holding both of hers above her head, the other cradling her head in place as he stuck his tongue down her throat.

Roland was stalking towards the door, murder on his mind, when his father's voice stopped him. "Just a moment, son." He was holding a car horn that had been stripped from it's mount. "This will put a stop to it, and will be a lot funnier to see their reactions."

Once his old man was at the window he looked back at him saying, "Now you won't be killing him when you speak to him next Roland. As much as it pains me, this is something your sister enjoys. Now cover your ears."

Cecily and Harry sprung apart at the sound of the horn blowing. With barely suppressed mirth, his father called out, "As much as you two are clearly enjoying yourselves, get inside. It's almost time for dinner." They scampered inside.

His father turned to him, "You and I are going to be having dinner in my study. I have quite a bit to catch you up on."

"You knew about all of this," he spluttered "And didn't say anything to me?" as they walked along.

"Harold spoke to me last Saturday, after Cecily's party. And as to your second question, your sister thought you would notice. The two of them haven't exactly been subtle," his father chuckled.

"I've been busy. Work, the inquiry, planning to propose to Ghislaine…" he trailed off at his father's look.

"Too busy to see that your sister was clearly taken with both of yours old friend and the feeling was mutual," his father drawled.

"More than a fancy," Roland muttered while rolling his eyes. "How long has this been going on?"

"I believe it started while they were on board the ship. As for when they started indulging themselves in this manner… I do not think it has been that often or for very long. Anyway Antin has mentioned that he's behaved himself during them." His father stopped talking while dinner was served.

"And the fact that he was just shoving his tongue down my sister's your daughter's throat is in any way acceptable?" Roland was having a difficult time dealing with how calm his father was being.

"Are you telling me that you yourself have never done the same with Ghislaine," his father asked, his head resting on laced fingers.

That shut him right away, face burning.

"I thought so. Another thing for you to keep in mind Roland, is that multiple people have told me that this is the happiest they've seen Cecily in years. You know full well what she's been through. As long as she doesn't go to far, it's no crime for her to want to be happy," his father continued.

"No, but it's not her that I have a desire to shoot," he growled.

"Roland, he's an old friend of yours and anyone with eyes can tell he cares for Cecily deeply. Harold also went through the sinking. Your sister is likely not the only one who needs some comforting," his father was clearly exasperated.

Roland had to think. Going through that sinking was probably the closest thing to hell on Earth any survivor had gone through.

That did not mean he was going to let Harry off the hook. Shooting him now seemed so… Pedestrian. Especially when there were so many other things he could do to his old friend.

"I know that grin. You still are not going to shoot him," his father warned him.

"Don't worry. I'm past that. I have other ideas now," Roland smirked as he tore into his dinner. He needed to think over just what he was going to do and say to his sister and her new suitor.

"Your brother is going to shoot me!" Cecily watched Harry pace in the library. He had barely touched dinner and was looking at the door as if it were going to blow up.

"If anyone was going to be shooting you Mr. Lowe it would have been me, and I'd have let you give Cecily a kiss goodbye," Antin snorted.

Once more she tried to soothe her beau by saying, "My father does not condone murder in his house, much less skinning alive. Most likely Roland will just want to get in one good gut punch."

"I've heard that was and still is into boxing for your Navy. He'll likely bust my kidneys," Harry panicked. He was looking all over the room for either an escape route or something to defend himself with.

When the door opened, he muttered a curse in their milk tongue that Cecily couldn't quite catch.

Her father walked in calm yet quite amused. Roland on the other was a different story entirely, his rage a barely contained thunderstorm.

Cecily did not like the way her brother hissed, "Come where I can see you Harry."

Neither did her suitor, but Harry figured he should get it done and over with, so warily went forward.

That turned out to be quite the foolish thing to do, for once he was able, Roland took some steps forward and gut punched Harry, sending him to the floor onto his knees, groaning.

"Roland, what the hell was that for," Cecily shouted as she knelt by Harry's side, starting to help him to his feet.

"Father told me I could give him one punch, as long as I didn't break anything or cause internal injuries. Here, let me help you help him up," her brother replied.

"This is precisely why I was nervous to tell you. You still bloody overreact to everything," Harry groaned once he was on his feet leaning heavily on her. A feeling Cecily would have enjoyed, had the situation been more appropriate.

"Well I saw you excavating my sister's tonsils, I had to do something," Roland drawled.

"For Christ's sake man, we could've talked. Ow," Harry winced as she helped him to a comfy chair.

"Your brother was past talking when he saw you two. You're lucky he was talked out of shooting you," Antin chuckled.

"Especially since I would have been caught in the crossfire. Even you aren't that good pistol shot," Cecily groused at her brother.

"I decided that shooting Harry was too mundane. I decided that I could be more inventive. You both will be seeing that over the next couple of days," Roland said with an evil smile.

A/N 2: Finally everyone is on the same page. I just wonder what Roland is going to unleash on these two? What do you all think of how he found out about Harry and Cecily? I had fun typing it up!

Welsh Translation:

Beth mae'r ffyc yn ei wneud i fy chwaer? Byddaf yn ei ladd â fy nwylo noeth!- What the fuck is he doing to my sister? I'll kill him with my bare hands!