Voyage in Time: The Titanic (Out of Time #9) (13 page)

“I was just doing what you said I should,” she said, “focusing on the ones we
can
help.”
 

“Elizabeth—”

“They were going to lock him in the hold of the ship. What chance would he have had when, you know…?”

“That might be true, but you can’t go around saving everyone you meet.”

She looked at him with a curious expression. “Why not?”

“Because it’s simply not possible to—”

“But when it is—”

“It’s also changing time,” he said bringing her to a screeching halt. “Don’t you remember the unpleasant lecture we received from Travers before we left?”

“That was different. That was about using the watch.”

“You know we’re not supposed to interfere with the period we time travel to.”

She did, and her face showed it, but she wasn’t going to give in easily. “But we’re also supposed to do what we think is right. If we didn’t interfere at all, we’d just be bystanders. We interfere all the time. Every person we talk—”

“That’s different and you know it.”

“Well, maybe that is, but—”

He held up a hand. “Don’t you dare say ‘technically’.”

She pouted for a moment and then a smile spread across her face.
 

“That’s worrying,” he said.

“What?”

“Your expression. What’s happening in that devious mind of yours?”

“Well,” she said as Simon braced himself. “Technically,” she said just to irk him, “if Edmund hadn’t caught my hat, he wouldn’t have been caught himself. Sooooo, we’re the ones who would have been
changing
time by inadvertently
causing
him to get caught, and now we’re
fixing
things by saving him.”

She squinted. “That makes sense, right?”

He hated to admit it, but it did. And she could tell by his expression that she was onto something.

“Ah-ha! Thought you had me. But I had you!”

“And now,” Simon said, “we have
him
.”

~~~

“You’re joking,” Edmund said. He looked around the First Class cabin in disbelief. “What’s the catch?”

“No catch,” Simon said.
 

Simon had explained the situation, such as he could, to the Head Steward and arranged for their “difficult” cousin to stay in the valet’s quarters that came with the booking of their parlor suite. If the man found that strange or wondered just where Edmund had been for the last day, he gave no indication. They probably weren’t the first passengers to have a questionable relation who needed special treatment.

The center block of rooms in their corridor was reserved for the servants of those with the parlor suites. They were just as well-appointed as any first passenger cabins. Their assigned valet room was only three doors down. Convenient, but not underfoot.

“It’s pretty nice, isn’t it?” Elizabeth said, loving her role as generous benefactor.
 

The young man agreed, but was having trouble believing it and shook his head as he touched the wood paneling on the wall. “I don’t get it. You want me to stay … here?”

“You’re our cousin,” Simon said “We can’t have you running around the ship like a stowaway, can we?”

“He serious?” Edmund asked Elizabeth.

“Usually, very.”

Edmund didn’t understand the joke and she continued, “It’s just that I kind of made a fuss about you being our cousin, so now … Congratulations?”

He narrowed his eyes. “What exactly does that mean, being your cousin?”

“You’ll stay here. You’ll eat in First Class.”

He perked up.

“And you’ll act like you belong in First Class.”

He laughed then. “Me?” He shook his head. “Even if I could.” He gestured to his clothes, which were definitely not first-class.

“We’ll take care of the accoutrement.”

“Accoutry-what?”

“The clothes and things,” Elizabeth explained.
 

“We’ll have some things sent up directly,” Simon said as he started for the door. He had no idea just where they’d find clothes for him, but with enough money anything could be procured, even on a ship. “You’ll have to dress for dinner.”

“I wasn’t planning on going naked.”

Elizabeth laughed. “He means dress up, like in a tuxedo.”

“All fancy, huh?”
 

He looked a little pale at the idea, but Elizabeth’s smile bolstered his spirit. “You’ll do fine.”

He nodded, clearly overwhelmed.

“Why don’t you clean up?” Simon said, inclining his head toward the bathroom door.

Edmund was confused, then opened the door and gave a laugh. “A private loo?”

“Just for you,” Elizabeth said, winning a frown from Simon, but she wasn’t going to let him dampen her mood. “We’ll check back in an hour or so, okay?”

Edmund nodded and then took a step toward them as they moved toward the door. “There’s just one thing. Why are you doing all of this for me?”

Elizabeth looked at Simon and then turned back to Edmund. “Because we can.”

~~~

“I’m never going to be able to pull this off,” Edmund said under his breath as he fiddled with his tie. Simon had outdone himself and managed to get him not just several sets of clothes, but ones that actually fit.

“You’ll be fine.” Elizabeth took hold of his arm and pulled him around to fix it for him. “Won’t he?” she asked Simon, who only nodded.

“And if they ask me what I do?”

She tugged on the tie’s knot. “Well, what do you do?”

“I’m a mechanic.”

She chewed on her lower lip in thought. “Ever work on any fancy cars?”

“Sure. Rolls-Royce, Wolseley. Lord Upton will only let me work on his Ghost. Won’t let anyone else touch it.”

She grinned. “Perfect. Instead of working on them, you own them.”

He seemed to be waiting for more, but none was coming. “And that’s what I do? Own cars? For a living?”

“You’re rich. You don’t do
anything
for a living. You dabble. Cars are your current love. You do know enough about them to pretend that, don’t you?”

He laughed. “I could do it in me sleep.”

“My sleep,” Simon corrected.

“That’s what I said.”

“No, you said—Elizabeth, this is never going to work.”

She dismissed Simon with a wave of her hand and he sat down in a chair to watch the rest of the show.
 

“You need to sound posh. Can you fake that?”

“I don’t know.”

“Simon, say something.”

“This is absurd.”

She gestured for Edmund to say it.

“This is absurd,” he repeated in a passable imitation.

Elizabeth laughed in delight. “That was pretty good.”

“Adequate,” Simon said.

“Adequate,” Edmund mimicked.

Simon frowned and Elizabeth stepped in front of Edmund. “Okay, that’s enough. Just try to sound posh but don’t try too hard. Just try enough.”

Edmund swallowed and nodded.
 

“Don’t worry. If you get into trouble in a conversation just give them a compliment and then ask a question. People love to talk about themselves.”

He relaxed a little. “That’s true enough.”

Simon checked his pocket watch. “If the first act of Pygmalion has come to an end, it’s time for tea.”

Edmund blew out a nervous breath.
 

Elizabeth patted his arm. “Just be yourself. Only rich.”

He laughed. “Right.”

Afternoon tea was taken in several places on board, but Simon had chosen the Palm Court, the no-smoking section of the Verandah Café. It would be frequented by the right people, but the tables were small, only holding three or four chairs, so they would be able to introduce Edmund without forcing him to endure an entire service his first time out.

The Café was situated on either side of the Second Class elevator on A Deck near the First Class smoking room. Simon led them along the starboard deck and they entered through oversized, frosted glass sliding doors from the promenade.

The interior was as beautiful as any on the ship. Lattice-work with bright green hanging plants and potted palms lined the walls and a dozen or so tan wicker tables and chairs stood on the black and white checkerboard tile floor.

“Louise,” Elizabeth said, nodding toward a table with Louise Sheridan, Miss McBride, Emily and thankfully no Robert. “We’ll just do a flyby,” she whispered to Edmund.

“A what?”

She struggled for a moment to remember if planes were a thing yet. “Just say hello.”

He nodded and she looped her arm through his as the three of them approached Louise.

“Mrs. Sheridan,” Simon said.

“Louise, please.”

“We don’t mean to interrupt, but we realize we hadn’t introduced you to our cousin, Edmund. He’s been feeling a little under the weather,” he added in response to her curious look.

Elizabeth nudged Edmund.
 

“Mrs. Sheridan,” he said, doing his best Simon.

“I’m so glad you’re feeling better. May I present Miss McBride and, of course, you two have already met my Emily.”

The little girl smiled shyly at them and lifted her doll to nearly cover her face. “Hello.”

“And what’s her name?” Edmund asked.

“Rosalyn.”

Edmund smiled. “Very pretty.”

The girl blushed and hugged her doll to her chest.

“We won’t keep you,” Simon said and bowed as he gestured for them to move on. “Ladies.”

Louise looked sorry to see them go.
 

“Maybe we’ll see each other in the library later?” Elizabeth said and then smiled at Emily. “Maybe even read a story together.”

The girl seemed pleased but was painfully shy. She nodded but kept her eyes on her doll.

“Ladies,” Edmund said, mimicking Simon again and getting better at it.

Once they were out of earshot, Elizabeth squeezed Edmund’s arm. “See? You’re a natural.”

She spotted Niels sitting at a table in the corner. He looked up from his menu and waved. Simon moved to join him. Elizabeth started to lead Edmund there as well when they ran into the Rivets, who were just leaving.
 

Now, this would be a real test. Henrietta Rivet was as snooty as they came.

“Uh-oh,” Elizabeth muttered under her breath. She felt Edmund tense next to her.

“Mrs. Cross,” Henrietta said, her eyes already focused on and assessing Edmund.

“Henrietta.”

Her eyebrow peaked in surprise at the familiarity, but she was much more interested in Edmund than the slight.

“Who do we have here? Hmm?”

“This is my cousin, Edmund. Henrietta and George Rivet.”

George shook his hand with a genuine smile. When it was Henrietta’s turn she held out her gloved hand like a wet noodle dangling from the end of a spoon.

Edmund wasn’t sure how to grip it and as he tried to, Henrietta squirmed and pulled her hand back. Her eyes focused in horror at his hand.

He looked at it and both he and Elizabeth realized why Henrietta reacted as she had. His fingernails were worn down to nubs and what little there was still had some grease under them.

“Sorry,” he said with a quick glance at Elizabeth. “I dabble.”

“In the dirt?”

“Motorcars. Like to get my hands dirty.”

She looked at him with less revulsion, but only a little less. “In that case, you have succeeded.”

“Lovely seeing you,” Elizabeth said, hoping it sounded like she meant it.

Mrs. Rivet held out her hand to her husband who dug into his pocket for his handkerchief and handed it to her.

“Charmed as always.”

Elizabeth bit her tongue and smiled as she led Edmund over to Simon and Niels at the table.

“Everything all right?” Simon asked as he and Niels stood. He held out Elizabeth’s chair.

“She’s a big French pill,” she said with a glare toward Henrietta’s receding back before turning to Edmund. “And we’re getting you a manicure.”

He was about to protest when Simon shook his head. “Don’t bother.”

He frowned and curled his fingers into his palms.

“As I was telling you, Nicholas,” Simon continued, “this is our cousin Edmund.”

Niels smiled in greeting.
 

“Hiya,” Edmund said. “I mean, how do you do?”

Niel’s eyebrows arched in question.
 

Simon shrugged. “It’s a long story.”

Niels smiled and picked up his teacup. “I love a good story.”

“I’m sorry,” Edmund said to Elizabeth. “I told you I—”

“You’re doing fine. And don’t worry, Nicholas is one of the good guys.”

Niels raised his cup in salute. “Completely befuddled, but on the side of the angels. Or so I am told.”

They ordered tea and chatted amiably about inconsequential things. It was a pleasant and welcome relief from the stress of the last few days. Simon relished a cup of his Chinese Gunpowder tea and Edmund ate every finger sandwich in the place.

As they were nearing the end of their tea, Harry Kimball came into the Café.

“Cross!” he called out from across the room causing everyone to turn and glare disapprovingly. He had the good sense to look embarrassed before hurrying across the room to their table.

He nodded in greeting to everyone and then looked at Simon. “I’ve been looking for you.”

Simon put down his cup. “And you seem to have found me.”

Kimball laughed. “Right. You’re fit, right? Looks like you played a little sports in college. Cricket? Something English?”

Simon looked uncomfortable but nodded. “Something like that.”

Kimball snapped his fingers. “I knew it. We need you. You play squash, right? All of you play.”

“Yes,” Simon said slowly.

Kimball grinned. “And you’re pretty good, right?”

Simon somehow managed to appear humble and brag at the same time as he nonchalantly shifted his napkin in his lap. “Some would say so.”

Kimball balled his hands into fists in front of him triumphantly. “I knew it. That’s beautiful.”
 

He looked at Elizabeth. “You don’t mind if I steal him? Just for an hour or two? Three tops.”

Simon started to protest, but she knew he actually loved to play and it would probably do him a world of good to work off some of his tension. “I think I can spare him for an hour or two.”