Voyage in Time: The Titanic (Out of Time #9) (22 page)

“Good night,” he said with a bow, then went to take the countess back inside.

Elizabeth watched him go.
 

“There you are,” Simon said as he appeared just as the countess and Antonio went inside. “Everything all right? Was he bothering you?”

Elizabeth laughed. “We’ve come to a mutual understanding.”

“Glad to hear it,” Simon said and was about to say something else when Kimball poked his head out of the door.
 

“Come on you two! They’re about to open the champagne.”

Simon waved to him and turned back to Elizabeth. “I cannot get rid of that man.”

“He’s got a pretty bad man crush on you, I think.”

Simon groaned.
 

“I think you’ll persevere. Somehow,” she said with a grin and took his arm. “So, what did he say about champagne?”

“None for you, remember?”

It was her turn to groan.
 

“I’m sure you’ll persevere,” he said with a smile as he led them back inside. “Somehow.”

A
LTHOUGH
IT
HAD
ONLY
been officially going for about ten minutes, the party was in full swing. Everyone had come straight from dinner for drinks or more drinks, as the case may be, and with little else to do at night, they were ready to party; party in a controlled Edwardian, Downton Abbey sort of way.
 

Part of
Titanic’s
orchestra sat nestled in a corner of the room and played a jaunty little tune Elizabeth had learned was called
The Mosquito’s Parade
. It sounded like the soundtrack of a happy-go-lucky comedy sequence from a silent movie. It was strange to think in just two day’s time these same men would play music for the passengers for a very different reason. It had always been one of the things that stuck with her about the disaster—the band playing on deck to soothe panicked passengers as the ship went down.

“Elizabeth?” Simon asked.

She shook herself from her reverie. “Sorry. Okay, now, if I can’t have champagne, can I have caviar?”
 

She’d seen Katarov’s enormous display when they’d first come in.

“I’m afraid not. I highly doubt it’s pasteurized.”

She frowned. “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”

“I’m sure there are some soda crackers around. We can scrape the salt off them together.”

She rolled her eyes at him, but secretly enjoyed his teasing and his concern.

“Very funny. When we get home, I’m going to make you go out to buy ice cream and pickles every night.”

He smiled down at her. “And I will gladly go. But first, let’s make sure we
get
home.”

He was right, and that started with making sure Niels was safe. She scanned the crowd for him. He and Edmund were standing off to the side of the impromptu dance floor, drinks in hand.

She and Simon joined them.
 

“Everything all right?” she asked.

“We continue to live,” Niels said. “So, yes.”

“Have you learned anything that might help us narrow down our suspects?” Simon asked.

“It might be coincidence, but you know how I feel about those,” he added with a wry smile. “However, we have learned that the Rivets changed their cabins shortly after my near fall.”

Simon glanced over at Elizabeth. “Really? The Rivets.”

“Supposedly their bath ceased to function properly at just that time and they asked to be relocated.”

“From D to B, or, at least they tried to get on B Deck,” Edmund said. “No rooms, so they had to go to C.”

Niels frowned. “It could be coincidence, but the timing is suspect. The day I moved from D to B.”

“That’s not the only thing that’s suspect,” Elizabeth said. “They are. Ours, I mean. Suspects.”

She told them what they’d learned from the wireless logs and the general suspicion they’d now narrowed down.

“How did you hear about it? The move, I mean,” Simon asked.

Edmund nodded his head toward Kimball who was laughing at something hilarious Sergei must have said.
 

“He is quite the gossip,” Niels said. “Also told us that Mr. Sheridan might be having an affair with Miss McBride and, word is, that our own dear Cousin Edmund is rumored to be the resident jewel thief.”

“He told you that?”

“He said he knew it wasn’t true and was only trying to help stop such a vicious lie.”

“By spreading others?” Elizabeth said.

“So it would seem.”

Simon glared over at him. “He does like to stick his nose into things, doesn’t he?”

“I think he means well,” Niels said. “In his way.”

Simon grunted.
 

His dislike for Kimball aside, the man had been helpful whether he meant to be or not.
 

“Have you two had any run-ins with the Rivets?” she asked.

“No,” Edmund said. “We’ve seen them around.”

“Quite a bit actually,” Niels added with a thoughtful frown.

Edmund nodded. “That’s true. George was at the gym right after we went in and she was—”

“In the hall when we got back,” Niels finished.

“Come to think of it, they were both at the—”

“Café earlier.”

Elizabeth laughed. “I’m sorry. It’s just that you two are finishing each other’s sentences.”

Both men looked a little embarrassed. Theirs was an unlikely, but beautiful, bromance.
 

“Well, if the Rivets are who we fear they are,” Simon said, “all the more reason to be extra careful.”

He looked at their drinks. “And not too many of those.”

Simon Cross - pooping parties since 1990.
 

“Well, they aren’t here now,” Elizabeth said, looking around the room.
 

“Still, we should remain vigilant.”

“Agreed. You do that. Edmund and I are going to dance.”

Edmund grinned and held out his drink for someone to take. Unfortunately, he held it out toward Simon, who looked from it to him with a mixture of amusement and surprise.

“Sorry,” Edmund said quickly and shoved the glass toward Niels. Then he looked back to Simon. “You don’t mind, do you?”

Simon shook his head and said with a smile, “It wouldn’t matter if I did.”

Elizabeth kissed his cheek, took Edmund’s hand and started toward the impromptu dance floor.
 

“You two stay alert now,” she said over her shoulder earning her a chuckle from Simon.
 

The band played a slow waltz and Edmund took Elizabeth into his arms and moved smoothly around the small patch of floor.

“You’re good,” she said, surprised.

“Clara likes to dance. I took lessons. Broke six toes on the instructor,” he said with a grin.

“Six?”

“Both feet.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Well, you seem to have gotten the hang of it.”

It wasn’t a complex dance, a basic waltz, but he was a good partner, confident and relaxed.

“I’m sure Clara will be impressed.”

He sighed. “I hope she’ll see me when we get there.”

If we get there, Elizabeth thought.

“I’m sure she will.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. Between you and me, I was a bit of an ass—I’m sorry, I didn’t—”

“I’ve heard worse.”

He sighed again. “I wanted her to stay with me. Made a fuss. I’m not very good at letting go.”

“Sometimes you have to.”

He nodded. “Well, I didn’t have much choice in the end. But, I guess we’ll find out soon enough, won’t we?”

“My money’s on you, Edmund.”

He laughed and smiled then tried a small spin. Just as he did, a wave of dizziness hit her and she stumbled. Edmund caught her and held her upright as darkness began to close in like the end of an old movie. She shook her head quickly and took in a sharp breath. The encroaching blackness paused and then receded.

“Elizabeth?”

“Just a little dizzy.”

He didn’t look so sure, which was a good thing because she honestly wasn’t either. She took a few steadying breaths, but the sense of vertigo didn’t go.

“Maybe a glass of water?” she said.

Edmund looked concerned and turned away to search the crowd for Simon.
 

She squeezed his arm to draw his attention back to her. Simon was the last thing she needed right now. He’d lock her in their rooms for the rest of the trip.

“I’m fine, really. Just a little light-headed.”

He frowned, but nodded, then took her arm and led her over to the bar. She sat down in a club chair in an alcove near the bar and adjacent cloakroom.

Edmund loomed over her for a moment, frowning, his brows drawn together, his lips pursed.

“I’m fine. Just thirsty.”

He stared at her for a moment, then walked the short distance over to the bar and ordered her a glass of water.

Elizabeth breathed in and out, slowly and surely. The vertigo was beginning to pass. God help her, though. If Charlotte was this much trouble only a few weeks into her pregnancy ….

A few moments later, Edmund returned and handed her a glass of water. It was cool and refreshing and did the trick. The last bit of dizziness passed and she felt normal, if a little embarrassed.

He sat down next to her.
 

“Better?”

She nodded. “I’m fine. Just one of those weird things.”

“I should find your husband,” he said as he started to stand, but she grasped his arm.
 

“Don’t. He worries too much. I’m fine,” she said with a forceful smile. “Really.”

She held up the glass. “This helped.”

He still didn’t look convinced. “If you’re sick—”

“I’m not. I’m—”
 

He looked at her expectantly. The thought made her laugh. Expectantly. That made two of them.

Her laughter just made him look more concerned.
 

She trusted him and being honest might be the only way to keep him from telling Simon about it.

She leaned in closer and waved him to mimic her.
 

“I’m pregnant,” she whispered.

He leaned back and grinned. “You’re—”

“Shhh.”
 

She looked around anxiously. “It’s a secret.”

“You mean, Simon doesn’t—”

“No, he knows. Of course,
he
knows. We just don’t want anyone else to know, you know?”

Slowly, he nodded. “Right.” Then he frowned. “Why?”

“I don’t know. Killers on the loose.” She shrugged. “Just seems wise.”

He chuckled. “Good point.”

“And Simon’s the over-protective type, so if you could keep this little incident between us?”

He winked at her. “I knew a few expectant fathers like him. Worried over everything. My sister worked at the factory up until the day she had my nephew. Her husband worried all the time, too.” He frowned in thought then. “The boy did come out backwards, come to think of it. But he’s all right, mostly.”

Somehow, that wasn’t all that comforting.

“How about some more water?” she said.

He grinned and got up to get it.
 

Just as she was trying not to think about Charlotte coming into the world backwards, she saw the Rivets arrive, fashionably late, of course. They didn’t notice her, though, as they made their way to the cloakroom. George helped Henrietta take off her red velvet cape and handed that and her matching purse to the man behind the counter.
 

Elizabeth watched as they disappeared back into the crowd. And as they did an idea came to mind.
 

“Your water, mum,” Edmund said with a big fat wink and courtly bow.
 

Elizabeth took it and set it aside untouched, earning a confused frown from him. She turned her attention back to the cloakroom attendant.

“How are you in the diversion department?” she asked. “Causing them, I mean.”

He followed her gaze. “Pretty good, I think.”

“Just pretty good?”

He turned back and grinned. “Very good?”

“Better.” She returned his smile.
 

He looked at the room and the man behind the counter. “It won’t last long, you’ll have to move fast. Too many crew members to step in. Whatever you’re going to do, do it quick, right?”

Elizabeth nodded and stood to move near the end of the counter that was hinged and lifted up. She smiled at the attendant and then turned her back.

A few minutes later, Edmund came up to them, breathless. “There’s a man choking.”

The attendant blanched and looked for help. “Let me get one of the stewards.”

“There isn’t time.” Edmund reached over the counter and tugged on the man’s lapel. “Come on, man.”

The attendant was reluctant at first, but then nodded and lifted up the hinged end of the counter and came out. Edmund practically dragged him away.

Quickly, Elizabeth slipped into the cloakroom. Luckily, Henrietta’s red cape and purse were easy to find. She grabbed the hangar they were on.
 

“All right,” she said to herself, “let’s see what we’ve got here.”

She took the purse off the hanger. It was oddly heavy. She tugged on the strings of the reticule and pulled the fabric open.

Inside there was an assortment of the usual things found in a woman’s purse—a compact, a small fan, a container of lip rouge, a tiny pill box, handkerchief, room key and gun.

Elizabeth nearly dropped the purse. A gun? Despite knowing she didn’t have much time, she couldn’t help herself and reached down into the purse. She looked through the doorway to make sure the attendant wasn’t on his way back, then ducked back into the room and pulled out of the purse a very ladylike and very deadly gun.
 

For a moment, she thought about taking it. She could slip it … somewhere, but then the Rivets would be onto them, being onto them. As much as she hated leaving a weapon with them, she put it back and then quickly put the purse and cloak back onto their hanger. She was just about to slip back out when she saw the attendant striding back toward the cloakroom.

Edmund was by his side. He caught sight of Elizabeth and his eyes went wide with alarm. He grabbed onto the attendant’s arm and Elizabeth made a dash for it. She just managed to slip under the bar and slide into a nearby chair as the attendant came storming back.