Moments later, the door opened slightly, then more as Devlin recognized Rilla. A black eyebrow rose. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Devlin asked, gesturing for Rilla to enter the room.
"Need I a reason for wishing to visit a friend?" Rilla replied, stepping into the engine room and closing the door behind her.
"It did not seem to occur to you to do this earlier," Devlin reminded her, raising her eyebrows once more.
"Nor did you show any inclanation to leave your haunt," Rilla returned with a slight shrug. "Let us say that mistakes were made by both parties and go about our day."
Devlin grinned. "As you wish." She reached up and adjusted a lever without moving her eyes from Rilla, then pulled a chair over for her friend. Rilla sat, and Devlin leaned carefully against a boiler filled with cold water. "Tea?"
"No thank you," Rilla said. "I've eaten."
Devlin nodded. "How were they this time?" she wanted to know.
Rilla grimaced. "Horrible, as usual," she admitted. "Nobly born they might be, but when people realize they will soon be off the ship, it becomes each for himself and none for the last." She shrugged. "Miles saved me from using up my voice, which was kind of him. He says I'm to ask you for a mechanism to improve my volume."
Devlin raised her eyebrows. "And why does Miles think that I have such a thing?"
"I don't imagine he does. But you are the one who would be most likely to have such an item, or able to invent one."
"You give me too much credit," Devlin declared, though Rilla could see her interest. "I'm an engineer, not an inventor."
Rilla said nothing in reply to this, only raised her own eyebrows. She knew as well as Devlin that the young woman invented far more than she cared to admit, as did the rest of the crew.
Devlin ignored this sign of incredulity, and the two lapsed into a friendly silence.
***
On the docks of Cairo, Captain Trevallion stood next to his ship, eyes alert for signs of trouble. His passengers were still clearing off of the ship, but he could already spot the newcommers, those who would board soon and make Urania their temporary home. He nodded to Mrs. Dingle as she swept past him, still examining the docks before him.
His eyes widened ever so slightly as he caught sight of an all too familiar figure, and he sighed. She had said that she would be some time in Paris. He had not expected to see her again for months, as Urania was not scheduled to return to Paris any time soon. Yet there Lady Mara stood, dressed in a cream-colored gown and matching gloves, her servant carrying both traveling bag and parasol.
She nodded when she caught sight of him, then turned to snap something at her servant, who obligingly quickened his step. Soon, she stood before Trevallion, amusement clear in her eyes. "You do not seem pleased to see me, Captain," she remarked, throaty voice just quiet enough to seem ever so slightly scandalous. It was her usual register, and Trevallion had stopped letting it alarm him, though it still took him unprepared at times.
"I had not expected to see you here," he said frankly, bowing automatically over the hand she presented to him. "You left me under the impression that you would be in Paris for several months."
"Paris bored me," she declared. "As a paradise, it is quite overrated." She inclined her head back, indicating the city behind her. "As is Cairo, I am sad to say. Will you stay here long?"
"I do not believe so," he said. "Unless something unexpected should occur. I had intended to cast off again in the morning."
She smiled brilliantly. "Excellent. The sand is far too monotonous. At least in the air there is the difference between sun and clouds."
Trevallion opened his mouth to respond to this, but was cut off by a sharp voice which demanded, "You are captain of this vessel?"
Trevallion turned to see a rather striking young man standing to his left, eyes hard as he gazed at the two of them.
Trevallion's eyes narrowed as he examined the young man. "I am," he said curtly.
"My master will travel with you," the man informed him. "He will require a private cabin."
Voice hard, Trevallion said, "I am afraid that we are unable to accomodate another passenger at this time. Your master will need to book passage ahead of time if he wishes to travel with us."
"My master will travel with you," the man repeated. "He will require a private cabin. Fare will not be an issue."
"I did not imply that it would be," Trevallion replied. "However, my ship is filled. Your master cannot travel with us regardless of the amount he is willing to pay." As he spoke, Trevallion examined the young man, trying to remember where he had possibly seen him before. He looked irritatingly familiar, though not in a plesant way, and Trevallion itched to know where the two had met before.
"Might I inquire as to the identity of your master?" Lady Mara cut in, presumably noting that Trevallion was getting nowhere.
The young man glanced at her. "The Compte Antoine de Pourpignion," he said. "And he will travel on this ship."
Trevallion stiffened farther, pieces falling into place. So busy was he keeping from striking the young man -- the one he recognized now all too well -- that he almost missed Lady Mara's reply, though it was adressed towards him.
"Captain, mightn't you have a single cabin remaining?" She raised her eyebrows meaningfully towards him, and he blinked. She could not be... she was. Lady Mara truly meant for him to give her cabin to the Compte. Well, he did not have to play along with that.
"I fear we do not," he said stiffly. "If you will excuse me, I fear I have much to do before we sail in the morning. Tell your master that I apologize, but he cannot sail with us."
Without waiting for an answer, Trevallion whirled and stalked away, leaving Lady Mara and Gaston Roux with only each other for company.
No comments:
Post a Comment