Alright, so this is my January/Feburary/March-chapter.
Just to clarify, the last chapter took place at the 12th of April, one day after the events in Ireland.
We are now at the 13th of April and heavily dipping the toes into Romance, I hope you enjoy it.
As you might have notices - the title picture has changed.
Disclaimer: The picture ahs been made using AI. It is obviously fictious and not meant to infringe on any personality rights.
Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own anything aside from the plot.
Chapter 9: Temptation
Indeed, she was there the next day, bright and shining and far too beautiful for the likes of him. The dress she was wearing looked rather like the one she had worn the day before, or maybe it was even the same - after all, it wasn't really possible to bring much clothing on such a trip. Her hair was pinned back in a sensible knot, and she was wearing that hat again - it made him notice that she had foregone it that day before. Maybe she had forgotten it, or maybe she had decided to take a couple of liberties on this ship - he didn't quite know. He missed the tousled waves though, free without the pins and the cover, the gleam the sun had had on them the evening before. They had made her seem more carefree, now she looked almost like a schoolmistress, very serious and respectable. Her cheeks reddened in an adorable blush when he caught her eye, but still her eyes sparkled mischievously when she strutted towards his little family.
"Good mornin'," she almost chirped, amusement lacing her voice, "I hope you slept well?"
The boys nodded eagerly, before scampering off to meet their new friends a bit further down the deck. Then there was screaming and screeching and the sound of many little feet breaking out into a run across the deck. He couldn't help but notice how Laura's eyes were following the two, a sharp look, especially on Zak. She was obviously keeping track on what they were doing and who they were doing it with, even though she tried not to show it too openly.
'Mother hen'.
The thought drifted into his mind, unbidden, and far too fond.
She was a teacher, he tried to remind himself, it had been her job. She was used to caring for children, that was all.
He rolled his eyes, taking the obvious bait regarding her former question.
"I was occupied by certain thoughts, but otherwise, I did sleep quite well, yes."
Laura grinned. Well, they weren't kids no more, and he was rather certain she had caught his meaning, for better or worse.
"Lucky to hear you are so invested in our route and our travels that you can't sleep at night."
"Well, in fact I could tell you quite a bit about said route," he gave back, "and I am afraid you appreciate that not half as much as you should."
"Do I now?"
"Indeed."
"You could make me."
The words hung between the two of them as he stepped closer until their shoulders brushed.
"While that would be more than tempting, I'd rather have you appreciate something else," he almost growled.
She visibly shivered next to him, but didn't move away.
"I'd like to see you try."
Her chin was held high, a bit of a challenge, and if they hadn't been on deck right in the bright morning sun, he would have pushed her against the next best wall, pulled off that hat of hers, and kissed her senseless right then and there. On a second thought, forget the wall, he could have done all of the above without it. And she knew. She certainly knew, judging by the way her pupils widened slightly.
"Tell me about that route of ours," she suddenly broke the tension.
Bill raised an eyebrow.
"And here I thought you weren't interested."
"I never explicitly said that."
"You are horribly contrary today," he mused.
They smiled at each other, caught in the moment.
"Come on, walk with me," he finally told her, turning towards the part of the deck that was dipped into bright golden sunlight.
Laura started to match his steps, after ten metres or so he felt her hand slip into the crook of his elbow. Fully respectable, of course. It was an unspoken agreement that they were walking to where the boys were playing, silent at first, but then he started to speak.
"So, we have been moving down the Irish Southern coast - there are a couple of points that help navigate the ship. Daunt's Rock Light Vessel, Old Head of Kinseale Lighthouse and then Fastnet Light. Now we are in the Atlantic, just lots and lots of water all around. We are on the great circle route, that's not the shortest route, but the smartest one to New York. First, we will head towards the Corner. But you know, the Corner is no real corner. It's rather..." he thought for a moment, "it's an imaginary point. Just a point somewhere in the water where you turn the ship a little bit. The Corner was developed out of an agreement by the big ship companies quite a while back, because between January and August you are supposed to use the Southern route when you are going West. Because of the icebergs, you know."
Laura frowned. "But it ain't winter anymore."
"True, but the icebergs are moving toward the equator now, drifting on the cold Labrador stream. Like big boats. Anyway - after the Corner, we will steer towards the Nuntucket Shoals Light, well, a little bit more Southern than that. It's in front of the island Nantucket. And then -"
The woman snorted. "This seems awfully complicated."
He gave her a dirty look. "What did you expect? Just cutting straight through the ocean with no care for the surrounding or any danger?"
"Well, the ship is indestructible, so yes, I did," she answered flatly.
He rolled his eyes. "No ship is indestructible and I told you before. You, ma'am, don't seem to listen to a word I say!"
"You'd be surprised," she interrupted him playfully and he gave her another questioning look.
"As I was saying," he stressed it this time and she laughed but didn't interrupt him at all, "you don't appreciate my knowledge. And yet - once we reach Nuntucket, we will turn towards the Ambrose Light close to New York. And voilĂ , we'll be there."
"How do you know all of this?"
Bill grinned. "It was my job to know. But truthfully, I had a couple of friends who started to work for ship companies like this one. We talked about these things. And about passengers like you with their unrealistic expectations."
He nudged her arm and she nudged him back.
"You should walk over to the Captain right now, right speedy, and demand to take over his job," she joked.
"Well, maybe I should. It would certainly give everyone a great show. And then I would end up in the brigg."
"Your lads would admire and hate that equally."
"Yes, probably.
"And I am very concerned about the admiring."
"A rebel streak."
"True. Drove my mother mad."
"I bet."
They quietly smiled at each other, and she was just admiring the way the sun was dancing over her nose, the part of her face that was not shadowed by the brim of her hat, as a cry ripped the two of them out of their moment. Two heads snapped around to where Zak was sitting on the ground, and obviously had fallen straight onto his face. Bill rushed over but Lee was quicker, already checking on his little brother.
"All good, Dad," he told him seriously, even though Zak was still wailing.
Bill nodded courtly and bent down to pick up the child as Lee scampered away to rejoin his friends. As the other boy had proclaimed, there were no major injuries, probably more a scare than anything else. He could feel Laura come up to him, though she stopped a bit further away, giving the two a moment. When he had calmed down sufficiently, the little one nevertheless decided to stay, effectively cutting short their time as just the two of them. Now, they had become a trio, on a bench in the sun, with Zak to his left and Laura to his right.
"I will have a tan," Laura joked as she held her nose into the sun again, "until we reach America."
"So?"
"Very unflattering," she huffed, but made no move to change her position.
He only grunted incredulously. She was beautiful, and he hoped she knew that.
"Tell me about your sister," she finally asked him, "what kind of life do they live in Boston?"
He ducked his head.
"Truth be told, I don't know too well. I kept visiting as often as I could, but we mostly kept in contact by letter. She used to write long letters, about the work she had at a shop, then the children, a girl, a boy, and another boy. And then another little girl. But now, with four kids, she doesn't really find the time to write any longer. Her husband has to work hard, but he is an honest man, a good man, and he loves her so much. They had moved last year, I think, so I am curious to see where they live now. I hope to find something close to them, if possible, so my boys can know their cousins. But as I said before, they will be an extra burden, and I am not sure she will be able to handle that well. But still I'll be glad to see a friendly face," he wrapped it up, "to find my footing again. After all, I have been away from the States - from home - for quite a bit."
Laura nodded, it seemed happy and very very sad at the same time, he supposed it had to do with her own family. 'No family,' she had said before, so he hadn't asked then.
"So you are from Brighton?" he finally ventured.
She nodded.
"Yes, though my parents were from Bath. I lived close to the sea all my life, and still never went on a boat. It just never happened."
"Well, now it did. The experience of your life."
The woman raised an eyebrow.
"You sure are quite a cocky sailor. You better follow up on that promise."
He almost spluttered at this quiet innuendo, hardly detectable if not for the twinkle in her eyes and the way she let her glance wander down his body for a moment. Heat welled up in him, only quelled slightly by the uncomfortable question what she was thinking about him - whether it was positive or negative.
"You seem to have a certain ... idea about sea men," he ventured.
She shrugged.
"People say a lot of things. Though I will say, this is not a group of men that I am interested in in general."
"That sounds awfully unspecific."
"I didn't have no reason to specify until now."
When he only raised an eyebrow, her smile became almost bashful and she looked away, suddenly very interested in the other people on deck. He chuckled to himself.
"You are a curious person indeed, Laura Roslin." He leaned a little bit further into her personal space. "I find I don't mind."
Bill saw her shiver slightly as his breath touched her skin and he smiled to himself as he leaned back to talk to his son - mission accomplished.
Quite soon all of them were hassled into a game of croquet by the other people around them, a lively little group full of laughter and cheer, with hopes and dreams. They passed an afternoon in merriment, until it was time to get dinner. The dining room was just as cheerful as the group had been outside, though a lot louder and chaotic. He saw Laura settle next to Mrs Agathon while he got engaged in conversation with another man, a bloke from Ireland, a splendid, good-natured fellow who kept making jokes and entertained the boys. He felt almost sorry when his children started to motion to him to please let them leave - likely to watch the sunset again. He very much would have liked to continue the conversation; he only hoped his boys wouldn't start a drama.
"Lee, Zak, give me a couple of minutes, you have been running around all day!" he told them sternly, just as his companion's eyes widened a bit and he tapped an invisible hat.
When Bill turned around on his bench, he saw Laura standing behind him in her dark coat and her hat.
"This is Laura Roslin," he introduced her, "Miss Roslin, this is Mr Parks."
She grinned a bit at the formal introduction but graciously accepted the other man's hand. Then she turned back towards him.
"I'm heading out for a bit. Do you want me to take the boys with me?"
The man looked at her in surprise.
"If neither of you minds, I would be delighted."
Lee nodded eagerly, happy to get up from the table in whatever way possible. Zak gave Laura a little wave, obviously well enough acquainted with her by now to consider staying with her for a bit. She smiled as she took him by the hand while Lee rushed out of the room like a young dog on his first hunt.
Mr Parks chuckled.
"A fair, splendid lady, that Miss Roslin," he commented, "is she a relation of yours?"
Bill shook his head.
"No, she is a friend, and my children enjoy her company."
He didn't mention that he enjoyed her company very much as well, but judging by the look Mr Parks gave him, that apparently went without saying.
"Are you both going to New York?" he asked.
With some regret, Bill shook his head.
"No, the boys and I are planning to move to Boston. Miss Roslin wants to stay in New York though, I believe."
It was something he hadn't let himself think of before, what would happen once they reached the shore: They would leave the confines of the ship and all go their own ways, maybe never see each other again. A letter or two, most likely, and then the connection would fizzle out, like a little candle, both her and him too caught up in their own lives and responsibilities. He doubted he would ever marry again, could hardly imagine it, but what about her? Laura was beautiful, young, and very likely to someday meet a man to share her life with. Even if they were to manage to keep in contact, that would then likely be the end of it. But what was the alternative?
He repressed a sigh.
"A shame," Mr Parks commented, as if he had read his thoughts, "well, after all, it is a ship of dreams."
The comment hung in the air, and Bill nodded slightly, acknowledging the ways it could be interpreted. Dreams, fantasies - certainly.
Soon, the conversation moved to lighter topics, though it struck him that his boys and Laura didn't make a re-appearance. With any other person, he would have worried, but with her, he was simply slightly confused. Still, after ten more minutes he finally excused himself an made his way outside where he was greeted by a brisk wind that was blowing over the waves. Still the heavy ship moved on fairly continuously, to the pleasure of most passengers, he supposed.
It was dark outside, they had killed most lamps around the 3rd class deck. And yet, he had the feeling there were huddled figures on the bench they had sat on earlier. As he approached, he found he had been right: Laura sat there with Zak on her lap, pointing up into the sky. Whatever she was saying, the little shadow next to her seemed to be engrossed in it that he didn't even notice his approach.
"-bear," he heard when he came to a stop close to them.
So they were talking about stars, most likely. Indeed, Lee now started to rant, information he had taught his son the winter before, about constellation and navigation. Laura listened to the confused mix of fact and fiction with the patience of a saint, only humming and nodding at the right places.
"There you are," he commented, and slid on the bench next to her.
"Hello Dad!" Lee commented, before talking on.
He felt Laura chuckling next to him, the vibration of her laughter went right into him since they were sitting far too close for it to be proper - but it was dark, and nobody cared. His friend seemed to agree, he felt her sink more and more back into his chest until she was pressed against him, her back to his front, the only acknowledgement of his presence. It was ridiculous, almost, and yet it somehow wasn't, as he felt his heartrate speed up from the simple movement, the points of contact, and the faint smell of her perfume in the wind. Like a green boy next to a pretty girl. And yet, Bill decided to take the bait. Under the pretence of following Lee's explanation, he leaned his cheek onto her soft, silky hair, before he slowly started to place silent kisses all over the top of her head. At the same time, he slightly started to trace first over her arm, then her side and her ribs, until she started to shiver.
"Are you cold?" Lee suddenly asked innocently - apparently, he had felt the movement next to him as well.
"Yes, unfortunately," she told him seriously, "I am not used to being outside at night."
Bill had to give it to her, she sounded absolutely unaffected, and part of his male pride really wanted to change this. In retrospect, he couldn't say what had made him do it, but as soon as Lee turned towards the sky again, his fingers resumed their path over her waist. Laura stiffened, but other than that, showed no reaction. However, just as he had made up his mind to give up, she suddenly tenderly took Zak and heaved him over towards Bill.
"Gentlemen, I am cold and tired, I will retire now, I think," she said.
Bill frowned in the darkness. He couldn't see her face, but her voice was far too chipper, almost as if it didn't belong to her. Before he could say anything though she had turned around on her heel and almost stormed to the door that led under the deck.
"Daddy, is Miss Laura alright?" Lee asked a little bit confused.
"Of course! As she said, she is just tired and cold," Bill answered.
In his heart he wondered how much of this was true.
