Chapter 3

Will

I leave the infirmary and close the door behind me, taking a deep breath. I really don’t want to leave Millie there. She seems so confused, lost, and vulnerable. And the way she seemed to melt in my arms as I carried her, I didn’t want to let go. The strange things she had said keep echoing in my mind.

“Can I assist you, sir?”

“Hm?” I turn to see a crew member looking at me with a crinkled brow. I suppose I need to remedy these wet clothes. “No, thank you. I was just heading back to my room.”

“Very well, sir.” He doesn’t look convinced, but he walks away.

I take another look at the door, wishing I could go back inside and check on her welfare, but it’s too late for that. I certainly can’t intrude now while she’s undergoing an exam. Nevertheless, I can’t help the nagging concern that I should do more for her.

Reluctantly, I head back to my room. My brother isn’t in, and I don’t hear my sister next door. I suppose they went to get some fresh air, so I’ll have to go search the promenade for them..

I can’t help running everything Millie said through my mind again as I change into a fresh, dry suit. Taking pictures with phones, the pool outside—such strange things to say. What’s more curious is how she didn’t seem to be dazed at all  when she spoke of such things. When she first awoke, it was clear her head injury had left her confused, not as we approached the doctor’s office, she seemed lucid. Except for her comments.

She clearly had an American accent, but it was like none I’d ever heard before. Plenty of Americans make their homes in Southampton, yet none have quite the same manner of speaking as I’d heard from Millie. Perhaps she’s from one of the western states. With a country so vast, surely the accents vary.

Finishing up, I head out and begin to search the promenade for my siblings. Eventually, I track them down. Lounging in chairs with drinks in their hands, they look perfectly content.

“Will, how was the tour?” my brother, Edward, asks. “I can’t say it wouldn’t be a thrill taking a swim on a moving ship.” He looks at the couple next to him. “Oh, how rude of me. Will, these are the Ryersons. Arthur, this is my brother, Will.”

“Pleasure,” Arthur says as I shake his hand and nod to his wife. “As I told Edward, my man here will be happy to get you a drink, if you’d like one.”

I settle into the chair next to my sister, Agatha, while Arthur’s liegeman steps over to ask what drink I’d prefer. “I’ll have a brandy,” I tell him.

“Yes, sir.”

“Thank you,” I say to Arthur, who nods and returns to his book.

I turn to Edward. “I can’t say I’d ever want to go back to that pool again.”

My sister frowns at me. “Why not? On a ship like this, I’d imagine it’s lovely.”

“It was dreadful.” I take the drink from the man and give him a nod as he returns to his post near the Ryersons.

“I find that hard to believe,” Edward says. “I’ll have to take a look at it later.”

“Mm.” I shake my head, swallowing my sip. “It’s not the facilities. Those are exceptional. It’s the trouble that arose there.”

“Trouble?” Agatha’s forehead crinkles in confusion.

Edward lets out a chuckle. “My dear brother, what trouble have you caused?”

“None, I assure you.” We’re not the wealthiest family aboard, though we are well off enough to have purchased First Class tickets. Nevertheless, we are relatively young and inexperienced. Some might feel it necessary to judge us because of our ages, so I wouldn’t do anything to draw overt attention to ourselves… not on purpose, anyway. “I had to dive in after a woman who nearly drowned.”

Arthur and his wife look up at me, and Agatha places her hand on her chest. “You rescued a drowning woman?” she asks.

“I have a pile of soggy clothes in the room to prove it.”

“But how on earth—no women are allowed in the pool room at this hour,” she insists. “It’s quite improper.” Since our parents passed away three months ago, Agatha has taken it upon herself to keep us toeing the line socially. I suppose it’s her way of honoring their memory. Our mother valued her social circles.

“And yet, there she was.” I take another long sip of brandy.

“The women’s swim session is at two o’clock” She sweeps back a stray strand of her light blonde hair. “What kind of a woman has the gall to slip into the pool when men are swimming…. My God, what was she wearing?”

I swallow before answering. I’m going to need another drink. “Ladies’ swimming apparel.”

“Goodness, she was half naked,” she says, shaking her head. “And you had to carry her out?”

“Well, I couldn’t very well let her drown. It was an emergency, Agatha.” All I can do is shrug.

“I suppose.” She takes a sip of her tea. “I hope the crew got her out of there immediately.”

“I should say so,” Arthur chimes in. I notice his wife nod in agreement.

“Actually, I carried her to the physician,” I explain.

Edward brushes a hand through his sandy blond hair and chuckles again. “You carried the woman in swim clothes all the way to the doctor?”

Once again, my shoulders nearly touch my ears. “No one else was offering as much. She’d hit her head and was saying odd things, so I hurried her out for medical attention.”

“Odd things?” Edward asks.

“She seemed to be confused about where she was,” I explain. “And she was looking for her mother and sister, but there were no other women in the room.”

“I agree. That is odd.” Edward looks out to sea and takes another sip of his drink.

“Obviously, the woman is an absolute loon,” Agatha decides.

A twinge of defensiveness rises in me, and I feel like speaking up in Millie’s defense. But I hold my tongue. It makes no sense to defend the honor of a woman I barely know.

“It’s positively frightening, thinking there’s someone like that roaming around the ship unchecked,” she adds. “The idea of her sneaking into the men’s swim is just outlandish!”

“I’ll be sure to ask about security,” Edward adds. “I hate to think the captain is so lackadaisical that he wouldn’t have guards at the doors to protect the swimmers from lunatics.”

I think he might be poking fun at my sister for her outrage, but it’s difficult to tell. Guards? Is that necessary? I think not. His comments do not help calm my protective feelings for Millie. In fact, I only want to defend her more, so I decide to quickly change the subject. “So, what have you two been up to while I was on the tour?”

“Ah, we’ve been on a bit of a tour of our own,” Edward explains. “It’s quite a fascinating ship. Seems there’s no end to finding new things aboard her.”

“And I’ve been reviewing the new schedule of ladies’ activities.” Agatha picks up the thick paper from her lap and waves it. "I’m quite interested in the new book club that is starting soon. It will certainly pass the time. And I’ve so enjoyed the afternoon tea in the library. It’s a lovely room.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying the voyage,” I say, though I’m only half listening as my mind wanders back to Millie.

“We might as well make the most of it.” She drops the paper and looks out to sea longingly.

I pat her on the arm. “Starting over isn’t easy, I know. But Grandad’s letter is very optimistic about America.”

“Will and I are needed to help run his company,” Edward reminds her.

“I know.” She lets out a deep sigh. “I’ve read all the letters. It does sound like they have a lovely home. It just feels like I’m leaving so much behind. I don’t know what people will be like in America. I’ve heard stories….”

“I’m sure the people in our grandparents’ circle are lovely,” Edward insists. “Grandmother is very happy there. It’s quite evident in her letters.”

“She had quite the social calendar back in Southampton,” I add. “If she’s found an acceptable community in New York, I’m certain there are fine people there. Don’t fret. You’ll fit right in.”

“Perhaps.” She takes another sip of her drink, and my mind goes back to Millie once more. I can’t get over how certain she was that the pool was outside. I look around the promenade and can’t imagine where that would be. Outside, it would be terribly difficult to control who was in the pool, and surely the ladies wouldn’t want to swim beneath the gawking eyes of the men who might be passing by..

It’s all just so odd.

“Will?”

I snap out of my thoughts and look at Edward. “I’m sorry?”

“Goodness, Will,” he says. “Didn’t you hear me? Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine,” I insist. “Just a little shaken from all the excitement, I suppose.” I wave the steward over. “Another brandy, please.”

“Right away, sir.” He takes my empty glass and hurries off.

“You’re drinking another?” Agatha asks. “It’s almost time for the midday meal. I was hoping you’d escort me for a walk around the promenade before then.”

“I’ll take you for a walk,” Edward says, standing and reaching out his hand to help her up. Another steward passes and takes his glass and her teacup. My brother looks down at me. “We’ll be back shortly.”

I nod. “I’ll be waiting.”

“Do stay here and come to eat with us,” Agatha pleads. “It’s where we’ll get the best dinner invitations. I’m hoping to run into the Countess of Rothes again. She’s quite lovely, and I’m hoping to dine with her and her family. Not that we have any control over where we are seated.”

“Perhaps you should befriend some of the American passengers,” Edward suggests. “That way, you can continue to have social engagements with them once we’ve settled.”

“I’m happy to have correspondence with a woman as wonderful as the Countess, though she’s certainly not American, brother.” Agatha narrows her eyes at Edward..

The steward comes by and hands me my new drink. “Thank you,” I say as he nods and hurries off.

Edward shrugs. “Well, you can’t say I didn’t try. Perhaps tomorrow you could make some new connections that will help us once we get settled.”

“Perhaps,” she says. “I just don’t have the energy today.”

He chuckles. “Very well.” Edward offers his elbow, and she loops her arm through. He takes another glance at me. “We’ll be back shortly.”

“Take your time.” I watch them walk down the promenade, turning to face the ocean after they’ve gone some distance. Millie hasn’t left my mind. In fact, I’ve thought of her more as I’ve been in the outside air. She was so convinced about all the strange things she said, I hope she doesn’t have any permanent damage to her mind.

Even soaking wet, I caught the light fragrance of her unique perfume. It seemed floral scented, but that flower must be exotic as it’s nothing I’ve ever encountered. Even through my wet, somewhat chilled suit, I could feel her warmth. It was so hard to set her down on the doctor’s exam table. I even felt a chill as I stepped away from her.

I stand, stepping out to the railing and gazing at the miles of ocean stretching before us. The fresh, salty air mixes with the oily, slightly sulfur scent of the steam engines, yet her perfume still haunts my mind.

I’m not going to relax until I know she’s safe and well.

Spinning around, I leave my half-empty brandy glass with the nearest steward.

“Will?” Edward calls after me. “Where are you going?”

“I have to check on her,” I explain as they hurry over.

“Her? The girl?” Agatha puts her hand on her cheek in shock.

“Yes.” I look at Edward, who nods.

Understanding crosses over his face. “Well then, we’re going with you,” he insists.

I head toward the infirmary without another word, hearing their footsteps behind me.