Once We Were (19 page)

“
Yes, of course. Ladies are prune to self murder under no supervision. However, lady or not, I am a passenger whose paid her dues to enjoy her view from this ship and whatever other view I may chose, whether its noon or the dead of night.”

It wasn't a fair fight. The lady couldn't win. She should certainly be arrested for insanity and public intoxication. Yet Ioan felt for her. Clearly, she'd seen better days. He figured he'd spare her the embarrassment.

“There you are,” he greeted cheerfully, appearing beside them. The lady and steward looked him over in astonishment.

“
Sir?” the steward questioned.

“
I've been looking everywhere for you,” Ioan told her. “I can't let you out of my sight for a moment.”

“
I beg your pardon?” she declared.

“
Are you acquainted?” the steward asked.

“
I am her escort,” Ioan said.

“
She's clearly drunk. I am obligated to see her to the hospital.”

“
I will see to it that she gets there. Thank you, steward. You've done a fine job.”

“
Yes...yes, thank you, sir.” The steward made his way to the dinning hall.

“
Take my arm,” Ioan muttered to her. “Try not to look so surprised. You'll give yourself away.”

“
Did I miss something?”

“
Did you? We'll turn back this way then,” Ioan said, guiding her in the opposite direction. “I want to make sure you get your money's worth out of the night time view. As you can see, darkness, darkness, and more darkness. And if we turn back this way? Ah, yes, there it is. More darkness. Where else shall we direct this midnight tour?”

“
Mock me all you like, but fresh air is hard to come by,” Cora replied.

“
You're going to need a stronger remedy,” he said, offering her his cup. She stared at it. “Take it. You'll feel better.”

She carefully lifted it to her lips and drew a sip. “Coffee. Actually very good,” she complimented.

“You need it more than I do. Didn't they tell you to say when?”

“
No one knows when
when
is.”

Ioan grinned. “Tell me more.”

“We'll need a barrel of coffee for those stories,” she answered, studying him closely.

“
Are you better now?”

“
I'm not sure. Life won't stop spinning. One moment I'm in a room gulping down champagne, the next I'm surrounded by darkness sharing coffee with a stranger. Have we met before?”

“
I doubt it,” he answered. “I don't talk to passengers.”

“
I rarely catch an officer. They bolt by like we're going to battle.”

“
Time is a luxury.”

“
Yet you're taken to drunken girls? ”

“
A lucky find. I'm on my watch, after all,” he said.

“
For girls?”

“
Bergs. Quite common this time of year. Harder to spot at night. They'd gut a man before he even knows what's coming. None of them make it this far out to sea before melting, but there's always a slim chance that one might snoop through these parts. Anything's possible. It'd be massive, creeping in the darkness of the waters. It could take out a ship in just minutes and we'd all be doomed. It's quite fascinating,” he exclaimed.

“
Should you really be telling me this?”

“
It's all very natural.”

“
What good is your watch then? It'd be too late to slow down the ship before it hits?” Cora questioned.

“
Rest assured, miss. They've got it all figured out. Even if we were to hit such an iceberg, which is typically rare, the ship is designed to withstand the  damage. Its lower compartments will hold water until we reach port.
If
it  came to that. We have eyes all over these waters.”

“
And if all else fails, we have twelve lifeboats,” Cora pointed out.

“
Sixteen, to be exact, and four collapsibles. I doubt it would ever come to that though,” he smiled at her. “The odds are in our favor.”

Cora gazed at him.

“You still don't believe me?” he asked.

“
No,” she said quietly, remembering to look away. “I just have the strangest feeling, like I've met you somewhere.”

“
Those particular
odds aren't in our favor,” he told her.

“
No,” she agreed even quieter. “No, they weren't.”

“
Have I offended you?”

“
No. Forget it,” she told him. “I'm sick to my stomach.”

“
Perhaps I can help you straighten it out.”

“
We don't know anything about each other.”

“
We won't ever see each other again. Don't be ashamed. Everyone goes through troubles. I can take a licking if it rids you the distress.”

“
No, I mean I really am sick to my stomach,” Cora said.

“
It's probably the waves,” Ioan said. “Maybe we should sit down.”

“
No, it's not that. You just remind me of someone. Someone I used to know. It's so unlikely. I'm obsessed with the idea. I'm drunk,” she said. “See? I haven't solved anything by telling you this.”

“
Was it someone you cared about?” Ioan asked.

“
Yes. I suppose you could say that,” she answered softly. She listened to the waves splashing in the darkness. “He loved the ocean. He was infatuated with it. Said he wanted to sail all around it. He stole my father's boat one night and we rowed out to sea to watch the stars. That was the last time I saw him.”

Ioan halted abruptly and turned to her. He studied her eyes intently. “Cora?” he whispered.

Cora couldn't hold it in any longer. The alcohol declared war on the pasta she'd eaten. “Are you alright?” he asked. She stumbled away and threw herself over the railing. It all spewed out. Ioan grabbed her hair and held it over her shoulder. Whole pasta noodles and chicken bits exploded from her lips. He swore she hadn't even chewed. She was such a little thing. How did it all get in there? It was gruesome. He felt like puking himself. He looked away and nervously surveyed the deck. She was so loud. She was dying. They were probably on their way now to arrest him for murder. How was he to explain this to his superiors? At last she coughed and the thing ended. After her contributions to the sea, he cautiously patted her back. “Blimey,” he whispered. “Is it over?”

“
I'm sorry,” she groaned. “I'm a mess. I know.”

“
That's an understatement, but I don't care,” Ioan said. “By God, it is you. I mean I'm...I don't know what I am. Of all places you're here. You were off to boarding school last I heard.”

“
Father thought it best I travel and see the world before I married,” Cora replied.

Ioan's smile faded. “Indeed. He is absolutely right,” he said quietly. “Come on. Let's get you to bed.” He gripped her shoulders and guided her from the rail.

“What are you doing here?” she questioned. “All grown up and in navy.”

“
This is my ship,” Ioan said proudly. “Not bad, eh?”

Cora smiled. “Not too shabby. We have so much to catch up on, but odds are against us, remember?”

“Officer Saier.” Fifth Officer Lowe appeared suddenly beside them. He glanced at Cora questionably before turning to Ioan. “You are relieved. Good work. Report to the bridge at 8 am tomorrow.”

“
Yes, sir,” Ioan answered.

Cora blushed as Officer Lowe marched away. “God, he's handsome.”

“He's the gaffer,” Ioan shrugged.

“
Well, isn't he handsome?”

“
Yes, Cora. Fetching,” Ioan replied. “As hard boiled as they come.”

“
Nothing wrong with that. What woman can't appreciate a man in uniform?” she teased.

“
I can take him a message if you'd like,” Ioan offered. He turned back. “Officer Lo-”

“
Ioan,” Cora cried, turning him back around. “I will murder you.” She looked him over. He wasn't so bad looking himself. A ship of dreams, indeed. “It is so good to see you again,”she said.

“
You too, miss.”

“
Can I hug you? Is that a proper thing for a passenger to do?”

“
Probably not,” Ioan said, but she threw her arms around him anyway. “Just try to keep it between us then.”

She started for the second class entrance. Ioan was enchanted by her graceful composure and charm. Finishing school had done her nicely. He couldn't bring himself to let her go just yet. “Cora,” he called. She turned to him. “Yes, sir?”

He was lost for words. How could he call the woman and not know what he wanted to say? “May I call on you some time? For tea and such?” he asked. “Is that proper?”

“
Probably not,” she answered.

“
Only we should know about it then.”

“
Your tea invitation?”

“
What tea invitation?”

She smiled. “Good night, Ioan.”

“Good night, miss.”

“No fever. No vomiting. No sign of chills or sweat. Your skin has a rosy color and your eyes are the brightest I've seen. What did you say was wrong with you?” the doctor asked Cora as his hand scanned her forehead.

“
Perhaps I'm mistaken in thinking it a chronic illness,” Cora answered. “You never know the difference between a hangover and a monthly cycle.”

“
Dear Lord. I see,” the doctor looked terrified. With all his years of studying medicine, the female creature was still a mystery to him. “It'll pass. It's nothing serious, I'm sure,” he told her. In an attempt to redeem his creditability, he added, “I hear chocolate and a cup of chamomile tea does wonders. Perhaps a hot bath. And a psychiatrist. Yes. Uh, good day ladies.”  He rapidly escaped to the door, but collided with a shrub of flowers standing in the doorway.

“
I beg your pardon!” he cried at the shrub.

“
Are you Miss Cora Harlow?” the shrub asked with difficulty.

“
I most certainly am not!” the doctor cried.

“
Delivery for Miss Cora Harlow!” the shrub showed itself in.

“
Cora, you dog. You never told me about this,” Beatrice whispered, winking at her friend. “Do come in.”

The shrub crashed like an anvil beside Cora's bed. The steward heaved an exhausted breath. “Which of you ladies is Miss Cora Harlow?” Cora was speechless, just as lost and bewildered as Beatrice.

“If she won't be, then I will,” Beatrice spoke up, gazing enviously at the yellow orchids. “I saw this arrangement in the floral shop yesterday. It's breathtaking and the price certainly agreed. This must be Mr. Sinclair's doing.”

“
I'm sorry to disappoint you, madam. No Sinclair here. If you will sign here, Miss Harlow.”

“
Then to whom do we owe this kind deed?” Beatrice questioned.

“
It is addressed from Officer-I-hope-you-feel-better-soon.”

Cora's stomach turned.

“Officer I hope you feel better soon?” Beatrice repeated puzzled.

“
Well, with that particular bouquet and delivery, he probably ran out of money to spell out his full name on the card,” the steward suggested.

“
An Officer? Like a colonel?” Beatrice questioned grinning. “You didn't tell me you were acquainted with first class passengers.”

“
I'm not,” Cora defended.

“
Well what other officer could afford flowers like these?”

“
A kind stranger who showed me back to my room. Indeed, this is
very
thoughtful of him,” she forced a smile at the bouquet. If she ever saw him again, she'd kill him.

“
You mean a ship officer?” Beatrice shrieked in laughter, but her cool eyes were clearly envious.

“
Probably borrowed the money. Cora, don't play naive. I'm your best friend. The man, whatever station he may be, is apparently very fond of you. No need to act ashamed. A lady of class is never ashamed. Men like his kind sweat over us all the time.”

“
Don't marry me off just yet, Beatrice. He was only a stranger.”

“
Oh, you're not marrying him. Not on a sailor’s salary. You're hiding something from me, Miss Cora, aren't you? I have a mind to find it out.” She wagged her finger. “Are those lavenders?”

“
I bet all bouquets come with lavenders now,” Cora answered.