Chapter 14
February, 1995
London, England
"How about this?"
"No, too bright. You'll blind him."
"Then this?"
"Too gaudy. You're not some clown, sister."
Elizabeth groaned, stomping her foot in frustration. Choosing clothes shouldn't be this hard; she had done it before for her previous dates with Evans. But this was no ordinary date, unlike the other ones.
Evans had asked her to go out on Valentine's Day.
Warmth seeped through her chest. She knew she had to look pretty and cute. Evans said he had planned something for the special day, and Elizabeth didn't want to show up looking unpresentable. She had to make the effort to dress up properly.
She stared at her bed where all of her wardrobe lay. She had already worn most of them, so it would be boring if she showed up without something new. But that was the problem: she had nothing new. And even if she mixed her attire, she would only look silly.
From the chair, Valiant sighed. "If that bloke truly fancies you, it wouldn't matter what you wear."
"I know. But I still have to look good." Elizabeth sighed. She grabbed a simple black skater dress and looked at herself in the mirror. No, it clashed with her hair color. If only she had silver or white hair, or her blonde locks weren't too bright, the dress could have worked.
She discarded it on a growing pile of rejects. A date on Valentine's Day. Who knew preparing for it would be harder than bombarding fortifications and entrenched soldiers?
"How about that one?" Warspite pointed at a red dress.
"I wore that on our date last month." Evans complimented her too, and told her that she looked stunning.
"Yes. But it's red. You are dating on Valentine's Day. It's just perfect."
Elizabeth grabbed it and hummed in thought as she inspected herself in the mirror. She looked pretty, that much was certain. Especially if she curled her hair and wore a belt. Maybe that black one Noah gave her as a Christmas present. But it was still nothing new. And she wanted Evans to see her in different clothes every date.
"I don't know." She twisted her body, looking at it from different angles. She could always do some last minute shopping, but their date was on Saturday—two days from now. She still had classes tomorrow.
Valiant scanned her with a critical eye. "You said you wore this last month. What's the likelihood that Evans would love to see you wearing that again?"
Elizabeth pondered that question. She could remember Evans's gaze lingering on her far longer than their previous dates when she wore the dress. Perhaps it had to do with the way the dress hugged her figure nicely, and she wouldn't deny that his reaction pleased her.
"Perhaps you're right," she said. She could also accompany it with a jewelry or two. A necklace or a bangle. Perhaps both.
She tried it on. First with a silver necklace, which made her feel too formal. They were just dating, not going to a party. The bangle seemed to fit well enough, however, the gold contrasting with the red.
"Well?" Elizabeth twirled in front of her sisters, smiling. It looked better than she expected, and if Warspite's grin was any indication, it was perfect.
Valiant nodded in satisfaction. "Now that's better."
Elizabeth beamed and inspected herself in the mirror again. There wasn't anything fancy in her attire, but the silver bangles accented her red dress nicely. If Evans saw her, what would he say?
"Do you think he's finally going to ask to be your boyfriend?" Warspite asked, tugging at her hair.
Valiant snorted. "If he doesn't, he's just leading you on."
Elizabeth wouldn't deny that possibility. After all, Evans was a dashing young man, and people like that often grew tired of relationships after a few months. Some of her crew were like that.
But she would have known if that would be the case. There were always signs—rumors and gossips about a man's lifestyle. But in almost six months studying in King's College, she hadn't heard any word of Evans playing with a girl's heart.
Besides, he was honest. Just last month, he told her about his previous relationship. A girl he met during a trip to the United States.
"I trust him," Elizabeth said firmly. She felt his sincerity enough.
"Trust can be misplaced," Valiant retorted. Warspite elbowed her in the ribs, and she shot her an annoyed look. "I'm just warning her."
"And your warning is appreciated, sister," Elizabeth said. "But don't worry about me. I shall know if he's really as honest as he appears. If there is a chance of what you said, I will gladly part ways with him."
"Let us hope it doesn't come to that," Warspite chimed in.
Elizabeth smiled. "Let us hope so."
###
The day arrived, and to say she was excited would be an understatement. Sleep almost eluded her, but she forced her mind and body to rest. It wouldn't do for her to appear like the dead, shambling in exhaustion.
She went about her day, tidying up her flat. Evans said he would pick her up as early as five in the afternoon. That was still hours away, and she wanted to get everything done before then; she would be too exhausted later.
After brushing her teeth, Elizabeth went to the kitchen and found her sisters already cooking breakfast.
"Good morning," Warspite chirped by the stove. "You look excited."
"Very." Elizabeth strode past Valiant, who yawned like a cat. She looked exhausted and sleep deprived. "Val, did you spend the night studying?"
She grunted. "Yes. My professor gave me a lot of assignments." She waved a hand. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
They helped her with the cleaning, but Warspite had to leave early. Apparently, she and Watson got a date as well, though Elizabeth wasn't surprised. They were always together that she thought Watson had already took her sister out on a date before.
"Finally!" Elizabeth said after they had taken a break in cleaning. "What took you two so long?"
Warspite's cheeks reddened. "I wasn't certain before. I thought he just wanted for us to be friends."
Elizabeth smiled. She had expected it, and she was happy that her sister had also found someone to spend time with.
"How about you, sister?" She turned to Valiant. Elizabeth hadn't seen her interacting with the opposite sex often, at least in school. Many of Valiant's friends all had relationships, making her the odd one in her group.
Valiant rolled her eyes as she flipped a page from the book she was reading. "I won't settle for less. If I can't find a man who can give me a good life, .I'm willing to wait. We don't age, anyway."
"What's a good life for you?"
"Why, living in a castle, of course!"
Elizabeth ate lightly that afternoon. Evans wanted to bring her on a cruise around the Thames River, so she had to be ready for all the snacks they would try out while sightseeing.
She had just finished putting on her lipstick when a knock came on the door. She glanced at the clock: ten minutes until five. Evans was early.
After a final check in the mirror, she shouldered her bag and waved farewell to Valiant, who bade her a good luck. Warspite had long since left and wouldn't be back until later in the evening.
Elizabeth opened the door.
"Good after—" Evans stopped mid-sentence, gaping at her with the expression of a fish out of water.
She grinned. "What's that look for?"
"You… You look…"
"Stunning?"
He met her gaze, and his eyes flickered with a gleam that sent a thrill all over her body. He smiled. "Perfect."
Somehow, she could tell that it wasn't what he wanted to say. At least not in front of her sisters. Nevertheless, it still made her feel light and giddy, and she tried to control the heat rising to her cheeks. "Why, thank you. And you look perfect yourself."
More than perfect, if she was going to be honest. Evans wore a blue checkered polo shirt tucked into his trousers—a casual attire for most people. But with the way his smile radiated warmth and his eyes twinkled, it looked as excellent as a fine tuxedo.
He looked past her. "Good morning, Valerie. I'll be taking your sister for a date, if it's all right with you."
After Christmas break, Evans personally apologized to Valiant and Warspite, and vowed to ask their permission first whenever he and Elizabeth were going on a date. The two took his apology smoothly, and while Valiant was still suspicious, she didn't seem to mind Evans's presence anymore.
"Have fun!" Warspite said. Valiant remained silent, but she sent them a nod of approval.
"Well, shall we?" Evans asked as he offered an arm.
With a smile, Elizabeth looped hers around it.
###
It wasn't a long cruise, barely an hour gliding along the river, but it felt both longer and shorter to Elizabeth.
They had dinner on the uppermost deck where they could view the beauty of London around them, the buildings sparking like jewels as evening descended upon them.
Words were barely exchanged between them. Words were probably not needed, their smiles and lingering gazes enough to convey their thoughts to each other.
But Elizabeth could tell that Evans wanted to say something. At times, whenever she wasn't looking at the passing scenery, he would hesitate, moistening his lips, only to look down at his plate with a nervous smile.
The fourth time it happened, Elizabeth said, "Is there something at the tip of your tongue, Evans?"
It was odd, the way his eyes couldn't meet hers. Odd and endearing, like a boy in front of his crush. Evans took a deep breath, then smiled. "Nothing. It's just… you look beautiful tonight."
Elizabeth giggled softly. "Is that what you wanted to tell me earlier before we left?"
"No. Actually, it's not something I should be saying."
"Why not?" When averted his gaze once more, Elizabeth sighed. "What is it, Evans? You can tell me. I won't mind."
"Are you sure? You might hate me."
"I won't. Why would I hate you? What did you want to say that I might hate?"
His lips curved upwards. "That you look ravishing."
Her own lips parted, and Elizabeth was certain that her face matched the color of her dress. "Oh." It was her turn to avoid his gaze this time, her heart pounding madly in her chest.
Ravishing. The word stoked a fire in her, and she could feel the heat spreading all over her skin, her body. She took a sip of wine, hoping that it would calm her racing heart.
It didn't.
"I'm sorry. That was wrong of me to say." It was a sincere apology, and one that sent her heart drumming louder.
Glancing at the corner of her eye, Elizabeth saw him fidgeting uncomfortably, waiting for her response. Her silence probably made him think she was offended, but that was far from the truth.
"You don't have to apologize," she said, brushing her hair. She moistened her lips. "You look delightful yourself."
It came out quieter than she intended, but Evans must have heard it nonetheless, his chuckles a melody to her ears.
Silence fell between them. A small orchestra played gentle music, and Elizabeth hummed along with it. As a waiter placed their desserts on the table, she caught Evans looking at her again. And perhaps the wine was affecting her, lowering her inhibitions.
"Do I really look ravishing that you couldn't stop staring at me?" She meant it as a teasing remark, a jest to break the wall of silence that had sprung up in front of them. But Evans's expression told her that he took the question quite seriously.
"You are."
"I-It's just a jest, silly."
"I'm being serious, Liz." Another deep breath, then he rose to his feet. "And I am serious."
"Serious with what?" she asked. Evans didn't answer. Instead, he raised a hand, and a waiter hurried toward him with a long, black velvet box. Evans took it, and as the waiter retreated, Evans opened the lid.
Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat. It was a golden pendant, sparkling in the light cast by the candles. Two E's hung by the thin wire, intertwined like lovers.
Evans smiled as he lifted it from its container. "May I?"
She nodded. The words were stuck in her throat, the air in her lungs. Evans went around her, and she lifted her hair to give him better access to her neck. She could feel every movement of his in sharp detail, every touch of his fingers sending shivers down her back.
The pendant rested below her collarbone. Elizabeth brushed a finger against it, staring at Evans as he returned in front of her and knelt like a knight before his lady.
"I know I said you look ravishing," he began with a twinkle in his eyes, "but even that isn't enough to describe what I see."
"What do you see?" she whispered.
He met her gaze. "A queen. My queen." He offered his hand. "If you will accept me, my love and loyalty will be yours until my dying day."
This was not a wedding proposal. Not yet. They still had a long road ahead before reaching that destination. A long voyage. This was simply the beginning of that voyage.
Her hand rose then stopped. Evans waited.
She should refuse.
She must refuse.
She was not a human. She was a warship reborn as a human. She would never give birth, and she would never age. Starting a relationship with someone—with Evans—would only lead to heartbreak for the both of them.
And yet what is love without pain? For this was love, she knew most certainly. And if pain accompanied the happiness that came with it, she would bear that pain.
Still, she had to tell him part of the truth. It was her turn to be honest with him.
"Evans, I can't give you what other women could. I wouldn't be able to give you a child." Her voice trembled. "I'm damaged. Incomplete."
It only took a few seconds for the shock to wear off from his face. He chuckled. "Well, I guess that means I have to bully Jonathan to have an heir."
"You're all right with this?"
"Of course I am."
"Why?"
He smiled. "Because I love you. And I don't want to give anyone else that love."
A gasp escaped her lips, and before she could stop them, the tears were already spilling from her eyes. She flung herself into him, holding his head in her hands. Those green eyes stared into hers, filled with sincerity and love.
She smiled, pulling him closer, ignoring the cheering of the onlookers as their lips met.
###
Elizabeth broke the news to her sisters the very next day. They were ecstatic about it, or at least Warspite was, hugging her fiercely as soon as the words left her lips. Valiant was still suspicious of Evans's motives, but she congratulated them nonetheless.
On Monday morning, as always, Evans escorted her to school. Unlike the previous months, however, conversation flowed smoothly between them. It was as if a barrier separating them had been shattered, and they could talk to each other without reserve.
Their fingers were intertwined as they drew nearer to the campus, and even as they passed through the entrance hall. Elizabeth ignored the stares directed at them, which only intensified when Evans pulled her for a brief kiss before heading for his class, with the promise of eating lunch together.
She must have stood there for a full minute, basking in the lingering warmth of his lips. But she quickly shook herself out of it and went to her classroom.
By lunch, news had already spread, and the corridors were filled with whispers and murmurs whenever Elizabeth passed by. The comments were varied. Many were envious, and there were unsavory remarks that she chose to simply ignore. Let them think what whey want.
As she neared the entrance, she noticed another group coming from the opposite direction, casting her dark looks. She kept her attention ahead, but her ears were sharp enough to pick up their thread of conversation as their footsteps dwindled behind her.
"How lucky she is. Imagine poaching a prince in just a few months after enrolling here."
"She must have seduced him. Evans wouldn't fall for her otherwise."
"How did that even happen, I wonder? Just look at her pitiful chest!"
Elizabeth's pace slowed, but she didn't stop. She wasn't bothered by such comments; Evans had chosen her, and that was the only thing that mattered. Still, that didn't mean she wasn't affected, and her hands clenched.
They insulted Evans. She could accept every distasteful remark, every comment directed at her. But she would never tolerate insults thrown at her beloved.
"Just ignore them."
She looked up in surprise. Macy walked briskly alongside her, eyes fixed on the entrance. She glanced at Elizabeth with a smile. "I'm being serious. You're not doing Evans a favor by reacting to silly provocations like that."
Elizabeth grimaced. Macy spoke the truth, but it was still infuriating how others see their relationship, as if Evans didn't have the right to choose for himself.
"By the way, do you have a few minutes? I need to talk with you."
Frowning, Elizabeth nodded and searched for a quiet spot where no one could bother them.
"What do you wish to discuss with me?" she asked as they stood beneath the boughs of a tree. It wasn't far from the entrance, but it was secluded enough to avoid attention.
Macy sighed, crossing her arms, silent for a moment until she said, "First, I want to congratulate you. Of all the girls who kept flinging themselves at Evans, you were the one he chose."
"Despite my deficiency," Elizabeth murmured. Even now, she still couldn't believe that Evans loved her even if she couldn't bear him a child.
"If you thought he is that shallow, then you don't know him." Macy chuckled. "Of course, you've only known him for a few months. But that's why I wanted to talk with you." Hesitation flashed across her face, but it was gone in a moment. "You need to prove yourself to his family. Well, his brother, actually. Their parents are dead."
"They are orphans?" Elizabeth's eyebrows rose in shock. "Evans never told me."
"There's a reason for that, but it's not my place to tell you. You'll need to wait for him. In any case, Jonathan has been like a father to him. And he is overprotective of Evans. If he finds you unfit, you will have to break up with him."
"I will not let anyone dictate our future."
Macy shook her head. "Jonathan isn't just anyone. He is… The MacQuaids are influential. Very much. It's why we don't talk about Evans's family at the campus. It's considered a taboo. And Evans follows him like a trained puppy. Even his enrollment here is dictated by his brother."
Elizabeth frowned. Was Macy afraid? "Macy, who are the MacQuaids exactly?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you. What I can say, however, is that if you can earn Jonathan's favor, you'll be set for life. Good luck."
Macy patted her on the shoulder and strode away. Elizabeth watched her leave, pondering her words. They were sincere enough, the way Macy spoke them.
And yet Elizabeth couldn't help but feel that they were meant as a warning.
###
July, 1995
London, England
The following months were some of the happiest months in Elizabeth's life.
Evans was a kind lover. A true gentleman who would always help her even with the most mundane tasks, and someone who would make her happy whenever her spirits were low.
They would always spend time together, every day, every moment they could be together, until it seemed nothing and no one could separate them. And he was considerate and supportive as well, often encouraging her to go with Valiant and Warspite.
"Family is important," he once told her after she informed him that she and her sisters would spend the night together.
Valiant and Warspite had grown to accept Evans's presence, and Elizabeth couldn't be more happier with that. Sometimes, if their schedules permitted, she and Evans would have a date alongside Warspite and Watson, who seemed to be growing closer with each passing day.
The same went for her and Evans. The kisses were innocent and sweet during their first weeks, but as their bond waxed, so too was the fire in their hearts. They grew bolder, hungrier for each other's warmth, the innocent kisses gone and replaced with something fiercer.
And yet for all that, Evans never forced her to do anything she wasn't ready for. Intimacy was still new to her, even though her crew were mostly experienced in the affairs of love. They hadn't gotten further than wandering hands, and for now, Elizabeth was fine with that.
July arrived, and with it the end of school year. She and her sisters bade farewell to their friends. It pained Elizabeth's heart to be separated from Evans despite his promise to visit her in two weeks to meet Noah and Elisa, but it's been six months since she last visited the Dallimore estate. She wouldn't waste another day.
"Do you have everything?" he asked after he loaded the last luggage into the cab's trunk.
She nodded, lingering at the cab's door as he strode toward her with a smile. Cupping her cheeks, he said, "We'll see each other in two weeks."
"I wish it's only for two days." She pulled him close, brushing her lips to his. She wanted to stay like that, just the two of them. But the cab driver was waiting behind the wheel, and her sisters were shamelessly watching them from the windows.
"I'll miss you too. I love you," he murmured, then broke the kiss after. He opened the door for her. "Go on. Don't keep your family waiting."
Her feet weighed like rocks, but Elizabeth managed to climbed into the seat next to Warspite. She looked out the window, waving her fingers at Evans.
I love you too, she mouthed. His smile broadened, and his gaze lingered on her even as the cab pulled away, until he was nothing more than a speck in the distance.
When she could no longer see Evans, Elizabeth turned away from the window with a sigh. Two weeks. He had given her his number, and they planned to call each other every night, but that was a poor substitute. She would miss his loving gaze, his smiles, his warmth.
"Sister, he's not going to war," Valiant said. "Stop acting like you're both going to die not seeing each other."
Elizabeth sniffed. "You won't understand."
Valiant huffed, but said nothing. After a minute, she spoke again. "What are you going to buy for Noah's birthday?"
What indeed? They gave him a watch and a fine coat last year, but Elizabeth didn't think it would be right to repeat the same gifts every year. He would grow tired of them.
"I don't know. Perhaps a pen holder. What about you?"
Valiant shrugged. "A journal." She sighed. "Will he use it, though? He doesn't seem to use anything we give him."
"Yeah. Remember that suitcase we bought him last Christmas?" Warspite said. "It's still in its wrappings when we left."
They sighed.
The cab sped along the highway, and before long, the familiar sights of Hampshire's buildings greeted them. Though her heart still longed for Evans, Elizabeth couldn't help but smile in giddiness as the manor rose into view., the weight in her chest lightening.
She quickly noticed it upon climbing off the cab: the well-maintained lawn, the freshly painted gate and walls. Peering through the bars, she squinted. The gazebo rose by the front lawn like a monument, all white and gleaming in the sun.
"They fixed it?" Warspite wondered, her voice nearly drowned out by the cab's engine as it left. In their two years of living in the manor, the gazebo had never been repaired. Noah deemed it impractical as they were so few of them in the manor, and not all of them lived here.
"I wonder why," Elizabeth muttered. A tap on her shoulder made her turn toward Valiant. "What is it, Val?
"Do you think we're being watched?" Valiant cast a furtive glance around the road.
Elizabeth looked past her sister. There were no other people in the vicinity except for them, but that didn't mean no one was watching from afar. "Let's just get inside." She rang the doorbell.
As they waited, Elizabeth glanced up at their home. Just like the gate, everything was freshly painted, and it looked as if the windows were replaced with new frames and glass. Even the roof, newly shingled, glistened in the sun.
She smiled as the door opened, and—
"Who is that?" Warspite looked bewildered. Because it wasn't Elisa who strode toward them with a cheerful smile. Instead, it was a young woman they hadn't seen before, her aquamarine eyes shimmering with curiosity.
"Good morning!" she greeted. "What can I do for you?"
Elizabeth blinked and exchanged glances with her sisters. Was Noah allowing tenants now? The woman didn't look like a burglar, at least. Otherwise, she wouldn't come out to meet them.
"Who are you?" Valiant demanded.
The woman seemed confused at the question. "Wilma. Who are you?" She studied them for a moment, then gasped. "No, wait. Are you Elizabeth, Valerie, and Edith?"
"Well, yes. I'm—"
"Oh no!" she cried, fumbling in her pocket and producing a key in an instant. "I'm so, so sorry. I didn't realize. The commander and Elisa told me about you, but I've only been here for a few months, and I'm not used to people yet."
The woman continued to babble, and Elizabeth felt her stomach churn as Wilma swung open the gate with a grin. "Come in, come in. Oh, let me take those."
Before any one of them could protest, Wilma grabbed their largest bags and luggages, and effortlessly hauled them with her lithe arms. Elizabeth gaped at her, then quickly looked at her sisters.
"Please tell me I'm not seeing this," Warspite muttered, staring. Those luggages weigh almost as much as their combined weight, but Wilma looked as if she was merely handling a bag of groceries. Other than Elizabeth and her sisters, only the Revenge sisters and Drake could do that.
Which meant…
Her whipped around immediately. Thank goodness the road was still empty. Still, the uneasiness didn't leave her. "Close the gate," she told Warspite and Valiant before hurrying toward Wilma.
The woman had already gone inside. Elizabeth followed after her, briefly taking off her shoes. The floor gleamed brightly, and she didn't want to waste the effort of whoever waxed it.
The luggages were already set on the ground by the time she entered the living room and heard Wilma calling, "Com-man-der! They have arrived!"
Though there was no response, Elizabeth heard Noah's familiar footsteps… and he wasn't alone. Quieter ones, like those on smaller feet, accompanied his own.
"My sister and Glorious are out right now with Elisa," Wilma said. She pouted. "You know, it's kind of unfair that they get to go shopping while I help the commander babysit the girls, but he said we should keep a low profile. The Admiralty could be watching."
Elizabeth's head swam. What on earth happened while she and her sisters were in London? She swallowed. "Where… Where are Drake and—"
"Oh, they should be coming this week." Wilma studied her intently.
"What?" Elizabeth asked, taking a step.
Wilma's brown ponytail swished as she shook her head. "Oh, nothing, ma'am. It's just odd how you are shorter than the Revenge sisters even though your ships are longer."
"Shorter," Elizabeth repeated. Indeed, she and her sisters should have been taller. Why weren't they?
"Yes. Although I'm just as tall as them even though my and my sister's hulls are longer than theirs. It's really weird."
"You and your sister's hulls."
"Yes. Renown. My sister," Wilma said with a cheerful smile.
Renown. Elizabeth stared hard at Wilma, bright and cheerful Wilma, and wondered what kind of sick joke God was playing.
"Ma'am, are you all right?" Wilma waved her hand in front of Elizabeth's face.
No, not Wilma.
With a long drawn-out sigh, Elizabeth said, "Yes, Repulse. I'm all right. I am most definitely all right."
###
They sat around the table, which had grown considerably crowded.
Her sisters sat on each side of her, silently eating, listening as Glorious regaled the Erebus sisters with her service record. The girls, barely taller than Elizabeth herself, sat and listened with rapt attention. Or at least Erebus was. Terror was busy nudging her carrots to the side of her plate.
Elisa smiled. "Eat your vegetables, dear."
"…I don't like vegetables," Terror mumbled, almost too quiet to hear.
Repulse was happily chatting with her sister, Renown, and insisting that she would be going out the next time they went shopping, complaining that she was often being kept inside the manor.
Elizabeth remembered a time when it was just her, Noah, and Elisa. A time when everything was just simple. Then her sisters arrived, and she couldn't have been more content with her life.
When Drake revealed her identity and the Revenge sisters came, Elizabeth thought nothing of it. Certainly, she was overjoyed that her mentor was also like her, and she did enjoy the company of the Revenge sisters.
But this… She knew no longer what to feel. Should she be happy that more ships were reborn despite knowing that watchful eyes were always on them? Should she be worried that when more arrived and the manor could no longer fit all of them, some of the girls would have to leave to fend for themselves?
She sat there wordlessly, rarely speaking except when she was addressed, her expression blank as a clean sheet of paper. She didn't even notice Warspite nudging her foot until her sister whispered, "Sister, are you all right?"
Ignoring the coiling tension in her stomach, Elizabeth smiled thinly. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be all right?" After all, there were now 12 of them.
How couldn't she be any happier?
She found Noah staring at her intently, almost as if he could hear her thoughts. There were more lines on his face than before, more weariness in his eyes.
"Noah, can we talk?"
The table fell silent. Her voice, despite her attempts to control it, held an edge that couldn't be missed, sharp enough to cut the joyful atmosphere. Perhaps she should have hid it better. Terror looked, well, terrified.
With a nod, Noah slowly rose to his feet. Elizabeth followed him, sensing the others' gazes behind her back. He led her up the stairs to the third floor, then into the room next to the study.
Elizabeth strode inside, her eyes sweeping around. It had once been a storage room, but it seemed they had turned it into an office of sorts for Noah. There was a worn desk by the window, quite small but seemed sturdy enough. A bookshelf from the library downstairs stretched along one wall, filled with books about naval history.
Her eyes were drawn to the map, stuck on a board erected next to the bookshelf. It was the same one Noah was using two years ago, when they learned the possibility of more ships being reborn. When Elizabeth last saw it, there were few red circles. But now the entire English coastline was crimson, stretching even to Scotland's coasts.
She approached the board, scanning the names hastily scribbled in black. And next to those names were dates. They dominated the entire map, some overlapping and barely readable. Dozens of ships, perhaps even hundreds.
Her throat was suddenly dry. She turned to look at Noah sitting at the desk, weary and older than he looked. Troubled. "Noah, this is—"
He nodded gravely. "We marked more than a hundred ships. Some, like the rest of your sisters and Glorious's, didn't show up. But we still expect Ramilles, last of the Revenge class, to appear, even if Resolution didn't." He met her gaze. "Elizabeth, this isn't stopping. It won't."
"No, it won't," she said softly. She knew that now, and she also knew that her dream could very well come to pass. Should she tell Noah? Even if she did, it hadn't been clear at which point in time the dream happened. For all she knew, telling him could be the catalyst for that terrible event.
"Noah, I…" She paused, hesitating. He looked at her expectantly, waiting, and with a sigh, she smiled and said, "I have a boyfriend."
His eyebrows rose. "Do you now?"
"Yes. Evans, my schoolmate. He wants to meet you. Can he visit on your birthday?" she asked hopefully.
The dream. She couldn't tell him about it. Not yet.
He stared at her for a moment, and she almost averted her gaze. He probably concluded that she was hiding something, so she kept her attention fixed on him, unwavering. Noah was perceptive; if she turned away, he might suspect that something was amiss.
Finally, he nodded, smiling faintly as well. "Of course. I would love to meet him."
###
It was strange to live with more of her kind, and Elizabeth didn't know if she should be glad or troubled.
The manor was more livelier now. She enjoyed the girls' company, especially the Renown sisters. All of them had their own distinct personalities and quirks, and there were no shortages of interesting scenes every day.
Noah's birthday drew closer. As always, it would be a small celebration, reserved only for close friends and relatives. Evans promised to be there, flooding Elizabeth with excitement. She couldn't wait to see him again; talking on the phone every night was just not enough to quench their longing for each other.
They started preparing five days before Noah's birthday. It was nice to have more hands helping this time, though the variety of differing opinions on how to do some things were both a blessing and a curse. Terror, for one, wanted it to be a horror-themed party, even going as far as to hunt for a tarantula as a surprise birthday gift for Noah.
Thankfully, they managed to keep her away from the pet store.
Sunday, July 30, dawned bright and clear. The party would be held in the backyard, and while it would be open for anyone to see, there just wasn't enough room inside the manor for all attendees. They could only hope that the Admiralty wouldn't get suspicious about the number of women, though that was already a given.
Elizabeth helped Warspite and Elisa with the cooking. A lot of the dishes were Noah's favorites, but there were some that Elisa had suggested for the guests. Of course, there was the massive four-layered cake that they had prepared last night.
Two hours before noon, the guests began to arrive. Samson was the first, offering his assistance in the kitchen, for which they were more than glad to accept. It freed Elizabeth from the soup pot, allowing her to supervise the table placements in the backyard.
"A little to the left, please," she told Brian. As the last table was set, she scrutinized the arrangements. It had taken the better part of an hour, but everything seemed good and in order.
She left Brian and the Renown sisters to handle the tablecloths, and went to check on Valiant. Her sister was in charge of greeting the guests. A few had arrived since Samson, and they were all lounging in the living room with Noah, laughing at a joke he had made.
She lingered at the door for a moment, watching with a faint smile as Noah bantered with some of his former schoolmates. The lines on his face seemed to have vanished, and he looked younger and less weary compared to the previous weeks.
Elizabeth hoped it would stay, that smile of his. He deserved that much for everything he had done and was still doing for them.
The doorbell rang. Smoothing the wrinkles of her blue dress, Elizabeth traversed the hallway. Valiant was in the kitchen, so it fell on Elizabeth to take her sister's place for a moment.
She was glad she did. Peering through the window, she saw Evans waving outside the gates, grinning broadly.
She let out a low squeal of delight and rushed outside, almost flying on the grass. Two weeks she had waited. How long it felt, and her heart almost burst with joy when she threw the gate wide open and flung her arms around his neck.
He laughed, lifting her off the grass as their lips met. Elizabeth tasted something sweet and spicy. Cinnamon, perhaps?
"What were you eating?" she asked breathlessly when they broke away. Their kiss only lasted for a few seconds, but she wished it had gone longer.
"Cinnamon candy," he said with a chuckle. "I passed a stall selling them, so I thought I'd buy some." He produced a red packet and showed it to her. It was already open, so Elizabeth popped one into her mouth.
"It's good," she said. Looking past his shoulder, she noticed the black Ford Fiesta parked on the road. She arched an eyebrow. "You didn't tell me you've got a car."
He followed her gaze, then turned back to her with a shrug. "I never needed it at London. Actually, I rarely use it except for certain occasions."
She nodded, humming in thought. That kiss earlier had her feeling rather bold, and it didn't help that his cologne was nearly intoxicating.
"Can I ride?" she asked softly, hands behind her back.
His gaze met hers, and she knew that he understood. His eyes twinkled in amusement. "I wouldn't want to ruin your brother's birthday, Liz. Nor lose my fragile life."
She laughed, grabbing him by the hand. "Come. I'll introduce you."
"Hang on. Let me get something first."
She didn't know what to expect, honestly. Perhaps a small gift, a token of goodwill. Something that Noah would like, even if there was a slim chance he would use it.
She certainly didn't expect an elongated box that was almost as long as she was tall, and from the way Evans huffed in effort carrying it in his arms, it was heavy.
Shaking her head, Elizabeth rushed to his aid, taking one end of the box. "This is an interesting gift, love. But isn't this quite too heavy? What is this, a naval gun barrel?" Her strength made it as light as a feather, but she could still tell that it weighed more than 20 pounds, perhaps more.
He grunted as they traversed the front lawn carefully. "Trust me. Your brother will like it." He paused. "Hopefully."
With Brian's assistance, they managed to carry it inside the manor without mishap and set it on the floor. Elizabeth was still curious what it contained, but the gift could wait.
"Ready?" she asked with a smile, taking his hand once more.
He nodded, smoothing the wrinkles of his polo shirt, and followed her into the living room. The conversation was still as loud as before, but it quickly subsided when they entered.
"Oh, Elizabeth, who's this dashing man?" Beatrice, a friend of Elisa, cooed from her seat. Murmurs of assent rose from the other guests.
Noah approached them. Elizabeth held her breath as the two men she valued most in her life stared at each other. Noah, impassive and critical, and Evans, wary but confident. The others watched wordlessly.
Clearing her throat, Elizabeth said, "Noah, this is my boyfriend, Evans. Evans, my brother, Noah."
Evans offered his hand, which Noah shook with a firm grip. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."
"A pleasure. And please, just call me Noah," Noah said. He released his grip on his hand. "I hope my sister isn't giving you any trouble."
"No, sir." Evans paused, then added with a small grin, "Well, she did at first."
They laughed softly, and Elizabeth's shoulders sagged in relief. While she knew Noah would find no fault in Evans, a small part of her had been hesitant, especially because of her true nature.
She had discussed it with Noah before. He wasn't against her starting a relationship, but he did advise her to be cautious—not just for her own safety but Evans's as well.
"By the way," Evans said after Noah finished introducing the guests to him, "I've got a gift for you."
Noah raised an eyebrow, and everyone watched as Evans fetched that heavy box. Two of Noah's former schoolmates rose up from the couch to assist, mild surprise coloring their expressions.
"This weigh like several sandbags, son," one of them commented as they hauled it onto the coffee table.
"I know, sir," Evans chuckled as they all stepped back. He turned to Noah. "Do you want to open it now?"
Noah shrugged and approached the box, tearing open the gift wrap. Inside was a plain box, long enough to contain a rifle. Elizabeth glanced at Evans with an arched eyebrow.
"You'll see," was all he said.
Reaching inside the lid, Noah pulled. Something slid out and glinted. Metal?
Elizabeth stared as Evans's gift was slowly unraveled. First, the glass case, tempered to absorb as much impact as it could. Noah kept pulling, and the light from the chandeliers bounced off… a turret.
Noah laughed, filling the room with his voice. His friends looked on with interest as the deck fully came out, made of polished oak. The ship was four feet long, crafted with extreme detail that Elizabeth could even see the port holes, and if she squinted enough, even the captain's wheel inside the bridge.
"Do you like it?" Evans asked Noah.
Noah nodded, eyes twinkling in amusement as he rapped his knuckles against the glass. "Solid steel, I presume?"
"Except for the deck, yes. Or so the shop owner said. Oh, and you can remove the glass if you want."
Noah chuckled. "I'd rather not." He glanced at Evans. "Why a model ship?"
Evans shrugged. "Liz told me that your grandfather served aboard the Queen Elizabeth. I thought it would be the perfect gift."
"It is indeed. Right, Elizabeth?"
She smiled, and laughed softly as she gazed at an exact replica of herself.
###
The party continued well into the evening.
Dinner was full of laughter and stories. Evans, charming as always, quickly made friends, particularly Samson. In no time, they were in deep conversation about the finer points of business management.
No one seemed to mind the Renown sisters and the others, though a few, including Evans, were curious why there were a lot of girls in the manor. Noah simply said that they were tenants.
By 6:30, a few of the guests were starting to leave. Those who remained moved back to the living room, where they invited Noah to a sing-along.
Elizabeth didn't join them, choosing to stay outside with Evans, sitting next to him in the white gazebo by the front lawn. The sky was clear tonight, and the stars twinkled like tiny diamonds. It reminded her of those nights at sea, voyaging to another port or some new battlefield.
It wasn't long before Brian's shrill singing drifted out of the manor. Evans frowned, his expression equally amused and uncomfortable as he glanced at Elizabeth. "Do you know what your brother's aide's singing reminds me of?"
"What?" She took a sip of her after-dinner tea.
"A drowning cat." He grimaced, shaking his head. "Never mind. That's morbid."
Elizabeth giggled, leaning into his warmth. It wasn't cold, but the heat of his body was like a magnet, pulling her closer. Evans wrapped an arm around her shoulder, stroking her hair.
"You didn't tell me you're knowledgeable about ships too," she said.
"I'm not. I actually had to ask Jonathan. He is the one who's fascinated about ships."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. My brother is quite weird, to be honest." He snorted. "He thinks some ships are possessed by spirits."
Elizabeth paused with the teacup halfway to her lips. "He does?"
"Weird, isn't it? I wouldn't blame him, though. He's… Well, Jonathan has been having this strange hobbies since…"
He stopped. Elizabeth gazed at him curiously. Deep sadness veiled his eyes, and he stared into the distance, as if seeing something that wasn't there.
Elizabeth gently touched his shoulder. "Love?" she murmured.
Flinching, he shook his head, smiling. But the smile never reached his ears, looking more like a grimace. "It's nothing."
She wasn't convinced, though she was reluctant to broach the subject. She didn't want to open any wounds he had.
Finishing her tea, Elizabeth let silence reigned between them while she replayed in her what Evans had said. Was it simply a coincidence? It was definitely inaccurate; she wasn't a spirit but real flesh and blood. And yet it struck close to the truth.
She chewed her lip. Would Evans believe her if she told him that she was formerly a ship? Would he run away in fear?
"Do you believe him?" she asked softly.
He stared at her. "Of course not. I don't know why my brother thinks that way, but it couldn't be real."
She didn't say anything, content with resting her head on his shoulder. Somehow, she was glad for what Evans said. If he wouldn't believe, there was no point in telling him about her real identity
Still, the next question left her lips before she could stop herself: "What if it's real?"
He shrugged, and his smile returned. "If it is, I bet those spirits would be lovely girls. And I hope one of them is named Elizabeth."
He was smirking in jest now, and Elizabeth's own mirth bubbled in her throat. Her lips curved in a teasing smile. "What will you do if she's called Elizabeth?"
With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Evans bent his head to devour her lips.
###
Evans stayed at the manor for the night. Noah gave him the room next to Brian's, away from the girls' area. While Evans was a decent person and harbored no ill intentions toward anyone, Elizabeth understood Noah's precaution. After all, Evans was only one of three men in the manor full of lovely ladies.
The next morning, they ate breakfast at a crowded table. Noah was already contemplating buying a larger one; more reborn ships would arrive soon, they both knew, and they had to prepare for when that time came.
Elisa left early for the bistro, taking the Renown sisters with her. Apparently, Samson was impressed with their skills during the party that he decided to hire them. Glorious went shopping with Warspite, leaving Valiant to manage the Erebus sisters.
It wasn't long before Evans had to leave, and once again Elizabeth's heart ached. It would be weeks before they saw each other again. He would return to his home to help run his family's company, while she would remain here, waiting until that day when they could see each other again.
Elizabeth twirled the pendant in her fingers as she watched his car pull away from the pavement, the warmth of his lips still lingering on hers, the words he said echoing in her ears.
I want to introduce you to my brother.
It was an invitation, spoken just before he left her by the gate. She had not accepted yet—she told him she would consult Noah first—but a part of her had already decided.
Yes, she would go.
She turned to see Noah sitting by the gazebo, beckoning to her with a faint smile.
"He seems a nice man," he said when she was close enough.
"Do you think so too?" she asked, sitting on the chair opposite him.
"He's willing to haul that model ship all the way here. A man without pure intentions wouldn't even think about doing that."
Elizabeth giggled. They had placed it in the living room, beside some of Connor's collections. Brian suggested Noah's office, but it was too large and would only take up space.
"He invited me to see his home." The words spilled before Elizabeth could stop herself. She wanted to ask Noah's permission later, but now he was here. She had to say it. "And I… plan to accept."
He nodded. "I was expecting that. He is serious about you."
"He told me as much." She paused, nudging an invisible speck of dust in the ground. Noah was surprisingly calm. "You're not angry?"
"No. Why would I be? Although…" He looked at her intently. "I just want you to be careful. Love can be cruel."
She nodded. She had only met Evans last year; she didn't know everything about him, so she would take Noah's warning to her heart. "Val was suspicious as well."
"For good reason. But it is your heart, Elizabeth. You alone can, and must, follow it."
She smiled, and for a moment, the silence stretched between them. It was a nice morning. There was still some cleaning to do, but Noah told them earlier that they would all go to the mall.
"When are you leaving?" he asked after a while.
She shrugged. "I'll still have to tell him. Perhaps in another two weeks?" Though she didn't know if she could wait that long.
Her expression must have revealed her thoughts, for Noah said, "Don't wait if you miss him. It will only give you sleepless nights."
Elizabeth stared at him curiously. He rarely talked about his wife, Monica, and no one dared to broach the subject. All Elizabeth knew was that she left to pursue her career as a journalist, never to return.
Noah stood up. "All right. I'll leave you for now. The kitchen won't clean itself." He turned to leave, but he hadn't gone more than a few steps when he looked at her again and said, "Ah, I almost forgot. I don't think Evans mentioned it last night, but what is his family name?"
"MacQuaid." Elizabeth's lips curved upwards. "What, you're going to hire someone to investigate him?" He did it to Drake, after all.
He didn't respond. When Elizabeth glanced in his direction, her smile faded, replaced with concern. "Noah, are you all right?"
His expression was unreadable, but there was a strange light in his eyes. "MacQuaid, you say?"
"Yes. Evans MacQuaid. Why? Is there something wrong?"
He stared at her long and hard, but Elizabeth had the feeling that he wasn't really seeing her but someone else. She stood, taking a step toward him. "Noah?"
As if her voice snapped him away from his thoughts, Noah blinked and shook his head. "Nothing. It's nothing."
And then he walked away, leaving Elizabeth to gaze at him in confusion.
Whew! This is a very long chapter, and it was honestly difficult to write because I was trying to make the scenes flow right.
I learned my lesson from the 12th chapter lol
Anyway, five more shipgirls have officially joined the crew, including Repulse! Admittedly, I couldn't give all of them "screen time" or this chapter would have taken longer. Sorry about that!
In any case, this chapter covered a lot of things in terms of story development and characterization. It's also romance-centric, which I find quite easier to write.
But here's the thing: the next chapters will start tackling sensitive themes and topics. There will be a tonal shift, and then we'll start delving into some of Azur Lane's lore. Or at least hints of it. So expect some interesting scenes in the next chapter.
We're now at the halfway point! Once again, thank you for all the support!