by Marie Silk
“Please, continue to be my friend,” she whispered. “I need a friend desperately now.”
“Of course,” Nellie answered. “I will receive you at my aunt’s house in London as often as I am able. She is having a party for me, you know. You must come. I will add your name to the guest list as soon as I arrive at the house.”
“It sounds lovely,” Priscilla replied sleepily.
“Why don’t you rest now. I will bring you some water.” Nellie stood up to pour her friend a glass, but before she could return with the water, Priscilla had already fallen sleep.
Nellie quietly slipped out of the room and headed again to the first class lounge. She scanned the room near the green fireplace, but saw no sign of Henry. Disappointed, she returned to her suite where Priscilla was just beginning to wake.
“Oh dear, did I fall asleep?” she asked when Nellie walked in.
Nellie giggled. “You must have been very tired. It is time to change for dinner now. Would you like to dine with my chaperons and me tonight?”
Priscilla sighed. “I wish I could, but my parents expect me to dine with them. I appreciate the invitation. Thank you for being a friend, Nellie.”
“Of course. I hope to see you again tomorrow. Perhaps we can meet at the veranda cafe at noon? If you are not feeling too tired.”
“It is a wonderful plan. I will be there.” Priscilla left the room and Nellie began to change for dinner. She wore white evening gloves with her green floor-length gown. When she arrived at the Caswell’s usual dining table, she felt her heart flutter suddenly in her chest. Mr. and Mrs. Caswell were not there. But Henry was.
“Good evening,” he greeted Nellie as he stood up to pull her chair out for her. Then he laughed. “I forget these chairs are bolted to the floor. It is not going anywhere.”
Nellie giggled as she lowered herself into her seat. “I am surprised to see you here. Have you resolved things with your aunt and uncle?”
Henry shook his head. “Not at all. But I was worried that I might never see you unless I came to dinner. I thought that we might cross paths today in the ship, but you must have spent the day in your room.”
Nellie’s mouth hung open indignantly. “I thought it was you who hid in your room all day! I did not see you once, and I have roamed about the ship throughout the afternoon.”
Henry chuckled. “Impossible. I even waited by the green fireplace in case you came back.”
“You didn’t! I waited there for you myself!” Both Nellie and Henry were laughing now, not entirely sure if the other was teasing or being truthful.
“I thought you must have found another friend to keep you company,” Henry said.
“As a matter of fact, I have discovered that a friend of mine from America is on this voyage. I did spend the afternoon with her today and we will meet again tomorrow.”
“I am glad for you,” Henry was saying, just as Mr. and Mrs. Caswell arrived at the table.
“Please forgive our tardiness. There was a mix-up with our luggage and we have not had our cases until now—” Mrs. Caswell stopped when she noticed Henry. “Oh. Good evening, Henry.”
“Good evening, Aunt,” Henry replied, rising from his seat. He smiled wryly at Nellie before turning to Mrs. Caswell. “Here, let me get the chair for you.” Nellie stifled a giggle.
“That won’t be necessary,” Mrs. Caswell scowled, maintaining her distance from Henry. Mr. Caswell was silent as usual as he took his seat. The only time he spoke was when the waiter came by with the menu. Nellie made sure to fill any awkward silence with the story of how she and Priscilla had been exploring the ship. The others did not speak much during the meal, and Mr. and Mrs. Caswell left right after dinner to retire to bed. Nellie and Henry remained at the table for another cup of tea.
“You were brave to attend this dinner,” teased Nellie.
“It was worth it,” Henry shrugged.
Nellie blushed. “I am glad you came tonight. Do you think you will dine with us again tomorrow?”
Henry cringed. “If I cannot find you elsewhere, I just might have to. It is the only way I can have a decent conversation on this ship.”
“I am flattered,” Nellie laughed. “I can meet you before dinner tomorrow, if you’d like. Then your aunt will not be scowling at you the whole time you are trying to eat.”
“I would like that,” said Henry. “By the green fireplace?”
“Yes, by the green fireplace.”
“I will be there. Good night, Nellie.”
“Good night, Henry.”
Chapter 4
Nellie met Priscilla at the veranda cafe. The sea was becoming choppier and causing the ship to rock more than it had since leaving New York. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take!” cried Priscilla, gripping the edges of the table.
“It does seem to be worse today,” Nellie remarked. Many of the passengers had expressed worry about how much the ship was rocking, but the captain assured them that it was normal for the north Atlantic. Nellie observed that there were not many people on the deck. It was then that she saw a little girl who appeared about three years old, but looked quite out of place near the cafe. “Look over there, Priscilla. Do you think she is lost?” Nellie pointed to the little girl.
“She is certainly not a first class passenger,” Priscilla replied, noticing the ragged state of the girl’s clothing.
Nellie looked around to see if the child’s parents might be watching from afar, but there was no one around just then. “We should find a steward so she can be returned to her family. I worry for her being up here alone while the boat is rocking so badly.”
Priscilla agreed and went with Nellie to approach the girl. “Where is your mother, Dear?”
“Downstairs,” the girl answered.
“We are going to return you to your family now. Alright?” Nellie smiled. The child nodded and Nellie took her hand, guiding her toward the stairs that joined the decks of the ship. “If we find a steward, he will know where to take her.” But they did not find anyone who could help as they descended the grand staircase. “Perhaps we should take her directly to the third class rooms.”
“By ourselves?” questioned Priscilla.
“Have you seen anyone who could help? We cannot leave her wandering by herself,” Nellie reasoned. They left the comforts of the first class section to find the common room in the forward end of the ship. A large open room with long tables and bar stools appeared to be where the third class passengers congregated. When Nellie and Priscilla walked in, the passengers stopped what they were doing and stared at them. Nellie was just about to announce what they were doing there when a teenage girl stepped out from the crowd.
“Charlotte is found!” she exclaimed. “The ladies brung her, just as the old woman predicted!” Some in the crowd began to clap and cheer as the girl approached to take the child’s hand. “Thank you, Ma’am. She’s my sister.”
“Oh, I am glad we have found you! We discovered her wandering the boat deck and wanted to be sure she was with her family,” Nellie explained. Priscilla stood there awkwardly. This common room was loud and plain, a stark contrast to the quiet lounges upstairs.
“When we couldn’t find Charlotte, our mum asked the Gypsy woman where she could be. The woman predicted that two ladies from first class would bring her back,” the girl told Nellie.
Nellie’s eyebrows were raised in surprise. “How could she possibly know such a thing?”
“She tells fortunes for a tuppence. Come, I’ll take you to her,” the girl replied happily. Nellie smiled at Priscilla and began to follow the girl.
“Nellie, a fortune teller! We must leave immediately!” Priscilla whispered frantically, yet continued to follow Nellie through the room.
“I’ve never had my fortune told before, have you?” Nellie asked. “Perhaps she can tell about your dear Edward.”
“But Nellie, it is sinful! I am in enough trouble as it is!” Priscilla argued. “We must return upstairs, away
from these people.”
“I cannot be so very sinful, if she was right about the lost child. I wish for her to tell my fortune. You may go back upstairs, if you wish,” Nellie decided.
Priscilla looked around her in dismay. She did not want to walk through all those people alone. “I will stay with you, but please hurry.”
They were led to an elderly woman seated in the corner of the room. A man stood next to her. The teenage girl turned to the man and said, “Look, Charlotte was found, just as your mother said.”
The man smiled. “Very good,” he said in a thick accent.
The girl gestured toward Nellie and Priscilla. “These ladies want to hear their fortunes.”
The man turned to speak to his mother before nodding to Nellie and Priscilla. “My mother does not speak English. I will translate. She needs your hand.”
Nellie took two silver coins from her purse and gave them to the woman, who then handed the coins to her son. She took Nellie’s hand and closed her eyes. A small crowd gathered around the girls to watch. When the old woman spoke, her son translated. “She sees a handsome man.” Laughs and whispers went through the crowd while Nellie giggled to herself and gave Priscilla a look.
The old woman spoke again and everyone looked eagerly toward the son to hear his translation. “She sees a castle with water all around.” The others in the crowd began laughing and whispering again, but Nellie turned serious and suddenly felt her heart pounding.
“What else does she see?” she asked anxiously. But the Gypsy woman released Nellie’s hand.
“She sees no more,” the man explained.
“But I must hear more,” Nellie said, bringing out her coin purse again.
The man shook his head. “I’m sorry, Miss. It’s all my mother has for you.”
Nellie was disappointed and turned to Priscilla. “I’m sorry. We can go back now.”
Priscilla hesitated. “Perhaps I will have my fortune told after all,” she said nervously. Nellie was happy to hear this and watched as the old woman took her friend’s hand. But the woman shrieked and dropped Priscilla’s hand immediately. She spoke to her son aggressively, then rose from her seat and walked away. The man called after her, but his mother refused to listen. The crowd was murmuring again.
“I’m sorry, Miss,” the man said, looking helplessly at Priscilla. “My mother said she will not give anymore fortunes today. Here is your coin back.”
“You may keep it, but what did she say before she left? Why did she let go of my hand?” Priscilla questioned.
The man looked pained as he answered her question. “My mother said, ‘ice cold’.”
“What does that mean?” begged Priscilla, her eyes growing wide with fear.
“I don’t know, Miss. I’m sorry.”
Nellie could suddenly feel the boat strongly rocking under her feet again. “Let us go back upstairs,” she urged Priscilla. They went back to Priscilla’s room and sat upon the beds.
“What did she mean when she said ice cold?” asked Priscilla.
Nellie cringed. “I’m afraid it was wrong of me to insist that we have our fortunes told. I did not realize it would be so upsetting. Forgive me, please,” Nellie apologized.
“Do you think there is anything to it?”
“I don’t know what to think. Perhaps she was tired and did not wish to continue. Please do not worry about what the Gypsy woman said, or I will feel dreadful for having persuaded you.”
Priscilla sighed heavily. “I am so tired. I think I should try to sleep before dinner.”
Nellie managed a smile. “I will leave so you can rest. Would you like me to bring you anything?”
“No, I am alright,” replied Priscilla. Her eyes were closed and it looked as if she was already drifting off to sleep.
Nellie walked out of the room and quietly closed the door behind her. She then remembered that she told Henry she would meet him before dinner. She walked to the lounge and saw him sitting near the fireplace, watching the flames. He rose from his seat and smiled. “Nellie, good afternoon.”
“Good afternoon,” she greeted quietly.
“What is it? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost,” remarked Henry.
“Something peculiar happened today. My friend and I had our fortunes told by a woman from Rumania. She scared Priscilla by what she said,” Nellie explained.
“What did the woman say to her?” he questioned.
“She hardly said anything at all, only enough to scare Priscilla. Now I feel terrible, because I persuaded her to hear the old woman.”
“I am sure there is nothing to worry about. The woman likely only wanted more money to give a better fortune,” suggested Henry.
“It is what I thought too, but she would not take more money from us. In fact, her son tried to return the coin.”
Henry appeared thoughtful for a moment. “What fortune did the woman give to you?”
Nellie was startled by his question and not sure if she wanted to answer. “Oh—” she sputtered. “It was—nothing important.”
“How did you even find this woman? You have me curious now,” said Henry.
Nellie sighed. “She was in the common room. In third class.”
Henry smiled in amusement. “What on earth were you doing in third class?”
“Oh,” smiled Nellie. “A little girl from there had wandered up to the boat deck and we returned her to her family. That was how we learned of the fortune teller. Apparently, she foretold that two ladies from first class would return the girl. And that is what happened. So you must see why Priscilla would be concerned over what this woman had to say.”
The ship rocked hard to one side just then, causing Nellie to fall forward from her seat. Henry caught her before she hit the ground. “Are you alright? The swells are getting rather high,” he said.
“I am beginning to feel sick. I think I should return to my room,” Nellie answered. She tried to steady herself on the rocking ship.
“Please, let me walk you there,” insisted Henry. They walked through the hallways quickly because neither of them knew how sick Nellie was about to be. The ship jerked to one side again, sending both of them into the wall.
“This is terrible!” cried Nellie. Tears were beginning to form in her eyes as her stomach turned this way and that.
“Try to breathe in through your nose, then exhale through your mouth,” Henry suggested.
Nellie tried to do as he said, but it did not ease the feeling in her stomach. They finally made it to the door of her suite and Nellie leaned her back against the door, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths before trying to go in, wishing the boat would stay still long enough for her to do so.
Henry stood across from her. “I would like to try something that I learned in a book, if you will permit me.”
“What is it?” Nellie asked wearily, opening her eyes.
“If I may take your hand for a moment, there are locations to press on that may ease your symptoms.”
“Alright,” Nellie agreed, holding out her hand.
Henry carefully took her hand in his and Nellie felt a surge of electricity course through her arm, sending her heart racing in her chest. “Oh, I feel something happening!” she exclaimed, momentarily forgetting her sickness.
Henry laughed and said quietly, “Nellie, I haven’t done anything yet.”
“Oh,” she replied, swallowing her embarrassment.
“You just press here on top of the wrist,” he said while showing her. “And up here on the other side. Hold for a few seconds. Then release.” He looked in her eyes. “Do you feel any different?”
“I am not certain,” Nellie replied. “What should I be feeling?”
Henry chuckled. “I am not certain either. The sea does not make me ill, so I have wanted to observe this technique on someone else to see if there is any truth to it. I suppose we won’t know just yet.”
Nellie turned around and opened her door. “Thank you for trying, anyway. I think I
will go lie down for a while. I will have dinner sent to my room tonight.”
“I hope to see you again tomorrow,” Henry told her.
“I hope so too,” she said, smiling at him once more before she closed the door.
Lucy Whitmore was seated at the breakfast table in her London home when her maid brought a letter on a silver tray. “Post for you, Madam,” stated Julia.
Lucy read the letter with interest. “It is a reply from the Duke of Staffordshire,” she smiled. “His Grace will attend the soiree. I am delighted to receive this news, for he appeared quite taken with my niece when he last saw her. Thank goodness he is still a bachelor. Nellie could be a duchess.”
“Her parents are sure to be pleased, Madam,” replied Julia.
Lucy sighed. “I do hope this party is a success. Nellie was so very stubborn about marriage when she was here before. It was almost as if she did not wish to marry. Can you imagine?”
“I cannot imagine,” replied Julia.
“Is everything ready for her arrival?”
“I prepared Miss Nellie’s room just this morning, Madam.”
“And a room for her companion?”
“It is prepared as well,” answered Julia.
“Marvelous,” said Lucy. “They will take the train from Liverpool with the Caswells tomorrow and I intend to meet with them at the station. We will not plan anything for the next few days while Nellie settles in. I have not crossed the sea myself, but I have heard that it can be very tiring.”
“As you wish, Madam,” answered Julia.
Nellie did not want to leave her bed that morning. The ship rocked hard, rising sharply with the swells and crashing back down again. Nellie managed to stand up long enough to look out of the picture window. She was alarmed when she saw the height of the crests, and immediately lay back down. The motion of the ship was only tolerable if Nellie was still on her back. She worried for how Priscilla must be feeling. Nellie also wished that she could see Henry again, but she did not know how to walk around the ship without becoming ill. She requested again that dinner be sent to her room and remained there for the day. When there was a knock at the door of her suite that evening, Nellie thought that it was a steward with her dinner tray.
