by Julia Hughes
‘You’re right cariad. I did want you to come. Both of you.’ He slapped Rhyllann’s knee. ‘I know I’m weird, different to other people. But I am human. I get scared and lonely. And there’s one person I can always trust.’
Rhyllann smiled then tipped his head to stare at the ceiling. Wren’s voice softened.
‘I wanted you here too. I trust Annie more than anyone in this or any other world. But you, I fell in love with you from the moment you shinned down that cliff face and dived into that tunnel. It takes a special kind of strength and courage to do that.’
Carrie sniffed and mumbled. ‘Madwoman. It takes a madwoman.’ She smiled though, and caught Rhyllann’s eye. Rhyllann smiled back, an unexpected warmth flooding through him and his heart beat quickened.
Then she turned those big greeny brown eyes on Wren and the moment passed.
Wren was still lecturing. ‘Some people think time’s wibbly woobly and you can prod a bit here and there but still end up with the same pattern. And others think the past can’t be changed.’ He shrugged.
‘Whatever. Time’s just nature’s way of making sure things don’t all happen at once. Somehow Carina’s and my dreams collided.’ He paused searching Carrie’s face.
‘She got inside my mind. What she saw there allowed her to change the fate of this ship. Consequently a lot of things changed.’ He waved an arm to encompass the three of them.
‘But a hundred years of history had to change and there just wasn’t time. So nature went into default mode doing the best it could with the least it could.’ He pulled himself upwards using Rhyllann’s shoulder.
‘That’s my theory, pick anyone you like.’ He grew sombre again. ‘But you’ve seen what you can achieve, you know what you can do in that other world. Don’t dare deny yourself that chance to be the person you can become.’ As he finished speaking he walked over to Carrie, gathering her up in his arms.
Like a dam breaking words rushed in torrents as Carrie spoke of a world she’d never imagined, a world in which her younger brother hadn’t been left brain damaged by the measles virus, her parents stayed together and her life was full of study, work and taking care of younger brothers and sisters.
Rhyllann felt a twinge of envy, he’d always wanted a large family and had to make do with the Prince of Geeks.
‘Sounds like a happy home.’ Wren voiced Rhyllann’s own thoughts.
‘It is. I think it is. I’ve got a – you sit on it and twist the handle and it flies along the road.’
‘A motorbike?’
‘Like a motorbike. Not as big. It’s a bit scary sometimes, but fun.’ Carrie spoke dreamily. ‘I’m always rushing. Studying. Helping Mum with the kids, there’s a big bright place like a barn and lots of food there. People pick out the food and bring it to me and I help them put it into bags.’ She shook her head. ‘But I’m still at school.’
She raised her head to look up at Wren, her cheeks still wet with tears. ‘That’s funny isn’t it? Because I’m twenty and still at school.’
Rhyllann’s eyes widened at this and he grinned happily. Wren a toy-boy! He filed it away for future use. He realised Carrie must be talking about college or maybe even uni. He nodded to himself. An older woman into her studies.
‘Sounds a very full life.’ Wren’s voice soothed, wiping her face with his sleeve.
Time to lighten the mood Rhyllann decided. A bowl of grapefruits stood on a small table. Only four but enough to put on a decent juggling display. As he bounded over Wren scowled at him, and he backed away to the balcony.
‘Mmm.’ Carrie sounded sleepy now, emotionally spent.
Rhyllann’s tummy rumbled louder. Hearing sounds from the dining room he leaned back precariously on the balcony rail.
Jennifer Cartwright sat with the Bradley-Harrington twins close to the window and he waved, gratified when they all waved back. Their dresses were muted pastels; cream, pink and primrose, and his mouth watered, thinking the threesome looked like sorbet ices. Penelope swung an imaginary racket and he nodded enthusiastically, definitely up for tennis or squash, or whatever Penelope proposed.
Wren and Carrie were engrossed in each other, both apologising, both staring into each other’s eyes. Holding his breath Rhyllann tiptoed past, snatching up a grapefruit on his way.
At his approach heads were drawn up, shoulders pulled back and bosoms pushed out. Rhyllann sucked noisily at the grapefruit, savouring the tartness. A few old biddies frowned and he smacked his lips towards them, enjoying their displeasure. The three girls beckoned him over, already squabbling good naturedly about who should sit next to Sir Rhyllann.
Witty conversation flowed throughout lunch, everything was sweetness and light, the more wine sipped the more laughter rang out, each course was better than the last, until the fruit course.
One of the twins nudged the other and said. ‘Oohh look; your cousin. The Baron of Saxony. I heard he’s mad in love with his bride.’
Rhyllann closed his eyes. Mad was the right word. Sure enough a debonair looking Wren stood at the table, smiling and bowing and he was forced to make introductions.
‘Your wife, has she found her sea legs yet?’
‘Almost, she’s taking a nap. She might manage a stroll tomorrow.’
‘It really is too romantic, did you really steal her away from under her father’s nose through a locked door?’
Three pairs of eyes glittered, Rhyllann forgotten.
‘Shouldn’t you get back? Carrie might wake up and want you.’ He said.
Wren just smiled. ‘Excuse me ladies, I need a private word with my cousin, I won’t take up much of your time, as old Boggy says my wife might wake up and want me.’
Without bothering to lower his voice he turned to Rhyllann.
‘You don’t have time to flirt with these three. You need to get down to third class, find Carina, and persuade her that these silly dreams about sinking are just nightmares. Do you understand?’
Petunia clapped her hands. ‘Oh Welsh! Are you speaking Welsh?’
Rhyllann’s mind whirled. He’d thought Wren took a terrible gamble in speaking openly, instead he’d spoken in a language few could understand.
Wren didn’t miss a beat. Still using the old language he smiled and asked if she understood Welsh.
Petunia grasped Penelope’s arm. ‘Don’t you remember Penny? That funny old woman who used to come on Mondays to iron Daddy’s dress shirts. She called us … what was it now – oh yes. Cariad, she used to say.’
Penelope wrinkled her nose. ‘No I don’t. And I must say it’s really rude to speak another language knowing you can’t be understood.’
Wren regarded her solemnly. She wriggled. Still he stared. The young girl began fiddling with her pearls. Unable to bear anymore, bright red in the face she said petulantly.
‘It is rude. Really rude.’
‘As rude as talking about Jennifer behind her back? Discussing the reasons for her abrupt withdrawal from last year’s season?’ Wren asked and put his head to one side; both Bradley-Harrington twins were blushing now.
Petunia reacted first, pulling her sister to her feet and marching her out of the dining room.
Jenny’s head drooped, her eyes flickered from side to side.
The embarrassing silence stretched out for eons, before she too pushed up from the table and hurried from the room, head lowered.
Rhyllann glared. ‘How do you manage it? Every single time!’
‘We’re not here to win popularity contests. Find Carina, gain her confidence and make certain she doesn’t get to warn anyone about her premonitions.’
‘Right. OK to finish my dessert first?’
But he was talking to Wren’s back. Cutting into a peach Rhyllann swore as juice squirted over his shirt front. How could anyone that clever lack basic social skills? Anyone would think he did it on purpose.
To show he couldn’t be bossed around, Rhyllann found the gym and spent an hour bored out of his mind lifting weights. Afterw
ards he went for a swim. Or rather he splashed about in the water using a style all his own. But even that was spoiled for him; a couple of men nudging thirty ran over the merits of available young women as they lounged walrus like along the pool side.
‘What d’you say Sir? Better to have the dowry in one lump sum to invest, or an annuity?’
Pulling himself out of the water, not bothering to dry off, Rhyllann said coldly ‘I’m afraid I can’t say gentlemen. I don’t make friends according to bank balances.’
‘S’alright for him. He’s already loaded.’ One muttered bitterly. But his fellow fortune hunter seemed hypnotised by Rhyllann’s glistening back, eyes lingering over the toned muscles and firm outline of his swimming costume.
‘Loaded.’ He repeated dreamily.
Finding a secluded spot Rhyllann settled into a deckchair, closing his eyes to prevent any conversation.
He cursed when someone nudged him, spoiling a wonderful dream where he could fly like an eagle above clouds and worries.
Wren stood over him, Carrie at his side.
Rhyllann sat up. ‘What’s she doing here? I thought …’
‘Boggy may I introduced Carina Thomas?’
‘Carina this is my good friend Sir Rhyllann of the Western Marches. You can call him Boggy.’
A shy smile spread over the young woman’s face. With long auburn hair, and wide greeny brown eyes she could have been Carrie’s younger sister. With a jolt Rhyllann realised that standing before him was Carrie’s Grandmother’s Grandmother.
Wren plumped into the deckchair beside him. ‘Carina’s been having some nasty old dreams, Boggy. Tell Sir Rhyllann Carina.’
Twisting her hands before her, Carina launched hesitantly into her tale, eyes flickering from the deck to Rhyllann’s and across to Wren as she breathlessly described the awful nightmares that warned her again and again of an iceberg waiting somewhere in the North Atlantic.
Rhyllann dug his nails into the palm of his hand, thinking he might still be dreaming. He gaped at Wren who seemed to be enjoying this.
‘Then Sir, I was looking for my friend’s two children, they do keep playing on the elevators Sir, I know they shouldn’t but it’s so exciting to them. Then I saw him.’ She pointed shyly.
‘And he looked so like my Angel in my dreams and spoke so kindly to me that I told him. Please Sir, those awful dreams, they’re real. So real. I asked Jimmy to keep a special look out only he says some fool managed to drop the binoculars over the side. I keep thinking I must tell someone, if only we could warn the Captain.’
Rhyllann’s scalp crept. Though hesitant the girl had Carrie’s determination and spoke convincingly. Thankfully the term ‘teenager’ hadn’t been conceived yet, and a girl, especially one of Carina’s status would have her work cut out persuading anyone she wasn’t just having an attack of hysterics.
‘You’re wise to take note of your dreams Carina but very often they’re symbolic.’ Wren said. Carina frowned.
‘What he means is that you’re worried or anxious and you don’t know what you’ll find in New York, so to avoid thinking about it, you imagine the ship sinking.’ Rhyllann explained. ‘Like if you’re catching an early morning train or ‘plane you’ll dream you can’t find your socks, or mobile, or keys.’
Carina looked even more confused.
Wren jumped to his feet. ‘Look, lovely to meet you and been lovely chatting, but I’m afraid I’ve got an appointment. Boggy here will help you find your way back to third, you’ll probably find the two little scamps waiting there already!’
He stalked off leaving Carina and Rhyllann staring after him.
‘He doesn’t believe me. I thought ... he looks so like my angel, but he doesn’t believe me.’ Carina said, twisting her hands again.
Rhyllann’s own hands felt dirty somehow. He stuffed them into his pockets.
‘Well it does sound pretty stupid.’ He said harshly. ‘I mean, take a look around you. Have you ever seen anything more solid in your life?’
Tears stood in her eyes then with a flash of Carrie like temper she brushed them away and snapped.
‘I’m not stupid. And the ship isn’t so solid when it snaps in half just before it sinks to the bottom of the ocean!’
She stamped away. Suddenly she stopped, pivoted and standing on tip-toe raised her hands either side of her mouth and shouted.
‘And it sinks because it hits …’
Scuttling the deckchair behind him in his haste Rhyllann flew across the deck to clamp a hand over that large shouty mouth, thrusting his other hand around her shoulders to spin her around and hustle her forwards away from curious eyes.
‘Right Miss. Enough. Back to third class where you belong. Mind your manners, mind your tongue, else people are going to start calling you a madwoman. Understand?’
‘Let go of me! Let go!’
Rhyllann loosened his grip slightly, continuing to hurry her along corridors and down stairs, her long shapeless skirt flapping against both their legs.
‘Why won’t you at least listen? What harm can it do?’ She flailed her hands at him. Suddenly she stopped short, causing Rhyllann to almost overbalance.
‘You know don’t you? You’ve been having dreams too!’ A horrified tone entered her voice. ‘You’re frightened people will laugh at you.’
Somehow she’d managed to get in front of him, placing her palm against his chest she said.
‘Don’t be scared. We’ll go together and tell the Captain. He can’t ignore both of us.’ The child like hands furled and unfurled with anxiety, her eyes pleaded beseechingly.
Rhyllann gritted his teeth. This was impossible. He caught at her hands, thinking frantically, hunting for a way to shut her up.
‘I’ll go. I’ll go and tell him.’
She squeezed his hands, relief in her face. She believed him. He closed his eyes against her gratitude.
‘Oh thank you. Thank you Boggy. You promise?’
‘Cross my heart and hope to die.’ Rhyllann said.
She looked anxious again. ‘And you’ll let me know what he says?’ She pressed.
He nodded. Anything to shut her up and get away from here.
Rhyllann got lost twice on the way back to the upper decks. He bumped into a guy he vaguely remembered from the swimming pool and happily accepted his invitation to join him for cards later that evening. He couldn’t face the Duchess again tonight, doubted if the Bradley-Harrington twins would speak to him ever and Jennifer Cartwright had bolted earlier on catching sight of him propelling Carina along corridors like a rag doll. He certainly didn’t intend playing gooseberry to Wren and Carrie.
He couldn’t avoid returning to the State Room to bathe and change though. This time he announced his arrival with a loud knock, before darting to the bathroom to run a bath. Water gurgled, then gushed from the taps. Satisfied he’d made his presence known Rhyllann poked his head into the main room. Soft murmurs and giggles came from the double bed, muffled by the heavy ornate curtains. He couldn’t help grinning. A marching band could have played through.
‘Wren! Brawd – I’m borrowing your dress suit tonight okay?’ He called.
After a heartbeat of silence Wren called back for him to help himself.
When he emerged from the bath, the balcony door was open. Rhyllann paced over still towelling himself, intending to ask if they wanted dinner sent in. But something about the way they stood, arms draped about each other; star gazing, made him change direction. He dressed, sucking in his tummy to button up the trousers, flicked elasticated braces over his shoulders, ran a brush through his hair, helped himself to Wren’s cologne and left.
Chapter Forty
Around three in the morning Rhyllann tottered down the corridor to the maid’s room where he slept. The single bed took some getting used to, he couldn’t sprawl out as he usually did but otherwise the cabin was comfortable and welcoming. Especially after the night he’d had.
Didn’t see that coming, he thought to hims
elf, sighing with pleasure as he unhitched his braces and kicked off trousers, scratching at the deep red indents around his waist, flopping onto the bed. As his head hit the pillow someone knocked at the door.
Rhyllann groaned. ‘Go away.’
The door opened, and Wren entered, hair tousled and shadows under his eyes. Catching sight of his new dress suit on the floor he frowned.
‘Hang that up, else you’re not borrowing anymore of my stuff.’ He scolded.
‘Come in why don’t you? Thank you for asking, on a score of one to ten my night was shit. How did your night go?’ Rhyllann asked, propping up on an elbow.
But Wren hadn’t come to make polite or even sarcastic conversation.
‘Did you manage to reassure Carina? Do you think she’ll say anything more?’
Rhyllann rubbed the back of his neck, trying to tease some of the tension out.
‘Kinda. I promised I’d speak to the captain – I think she believed me. I’ll tell her tomorrow the ship’s on high alert.’
In between avoiding the Duchess’s arched glances, trying to make good with the icicle twins, and to top it all, after an hour of stilted conversation in his new friend’s cabin finally realising no one else was joining them for their card party, stuttering his excuses and leaving, he’d completely forgotten Carina and his promise. He’d needed a stiff brandy or two after that and ended up pouring out his woes to a fellow refugee in the Gentlemen’s smoking lounge.
‘Make sure you do. And get an early night tomorrow as well.’
The door clicked closed. Rhyllann threw a two fingered salute, thumped his pillow and closed his eyes, falling asleep almost immediately.
Towards dawn he had some very strange dreams involving Carrie and Carina. Like the creepy twins out of the Shining, they held hands, an eerie glaze on their faces. They pointed silently at Caliburn. He tried to explain that its light had gone out and he was helpless. “It won’t work, it won’t work.” He told them again and again, hating the way they stared at him with those huge eyes as though the loss of power was somehow his fault.
