Avalon Revamped (13 page)

He didn’t answer, just studied my face with the most serious expression, then tried to kiss me again. This time I let him. Yes, quite convincing for the lecher I’d seen in him. Charming when he wanted to be.

This young maid never had a chance.

“You’re trembling,” he said after he pulled away. “Let’s get you inside. So, you’ll meet me in London?”

“Yes, sir! I will, sir! Where? When? I can’t believe this is ‘appening to me, sir.”

“We shall work out the details later. Come to my chamber tonight after you’re off duty, and we’ll figure something out then. All right?”

There it was.

“Yes, sir! All righ’, sir!”

“Around midnight then?”

“Yes, sir. But not for long, sir. It’d be improper and all.”

“We shan’t do anything you do not wish, dear lady. I promise. Just to plan to meet back in London, that’s all. Number 619.”

“619. All righ’, sir. Thank you, sir. Have a good night, sir!”

“See you in a few hours, my lovely.”

“Yes, sir,” I said, gazing back at him like a girl falling in love. “You will.”

As I descended the stairs back into the belly of the ship, I was happy to transform back into Charlotte, if for no other reason than for the warmth of her clothing. It had been truly cold on the top deck, and Doctor Nesbitt showed he was capable of being likable, in a way. He was a master at coercion. That much was quite clear, so he would have had to be charming at some point. Perhaps his show of geniality was meant to be in stark contrast to the drunken lecher most see, increasing the feeling of specialness to the recipient of such warm behavior.

Well, tonight we would see what he was truly capable of.

My guess, violence.

ARTHUR

“I’ve already seen around the ship, Ava. I have no need of a formal tour. Wouldn’t you rather look at the stars? The doctor will be pointing out constellations and giving history and such. You like history.”

“I find that doctor altogether unpleasant. I do not wish to be in his company at all. Not in the least. True, I’m quite fond of history and mythology, but I’m also fascinated with technology, Arthur. You know that. I want to see parts of the ship I haven’t seen. I want to see the engines. Do you think they’ll take us to the engines?”

“Well I’m going on the stargazing tour, my dear. Join me if you will or no. Your choice.”

“Thank you, love. I’ll be fine on my own, after all, it’s how I’ve been most my life, and I got along just fine. We can meet again afterwards, no? For the dance.”

“Of course.” I kissed her on the cheek coldly and turned away, not sure how I felt about her spurt of renewed independence and determination.

“Have fun, love. Do tell me what you learned, won’t you?”

But I didn’t turn back. Fine with me after all, as I would get more time to talk with Chastity. Although that likely meant Emily would be there as well, but hopefully I would be spared from that bit of annoyance. It would be so nice to be free of all Bainbridges tonight. Indeed.

The schedule said to muster beneath the main mast. Muster. I loved that word. All these military sayings and such were quite entertaining. In the middle of the top deck, several pillars held up a cage, of sorts. Each pillar was the size of a tree trunk. This cage above didn’t hold the great balloon aloft. Not at all, the gases inside did that, of course, as well as hold the ship up, but in case of a problem, it kept the ballon from falling onto the top deck. Long ropes extended from around the balloon down to these masts as well, tied off on each, as well as on the sides of the ship. Perhaps the tour of the ship would’ve been more interesting after all. As I approached the center mast, I didn’t see Chastity, and the dullness of disappointment filled my chest. Neither was the doctor here. The group was a small one. Most stayed on the lower decks where it was warmer. Wise people.

The night air bit into my already cold skin. I wrapped a long scarf about my neck, although it would do no good. I had no body heat to keep in. Yet, appearances and all. Everyone looked quite comical in their goggles. Some of the ladies were complaining how the straps were mussing their coiffures and they would look affright for the ball.

“Good thing the main ball isn’t until tomorrow night, when all the prior activities are inside,” a woman’s voice purred in my ear. I turned, delighted to find it was Chastity.

“Good evening, Mrs. Rosengarten, I’m sure you look lovely beneath all those layers.” Her amber eyes shone out from behind her goggles and strands of that glorious red hair licked the side of her face from beneath the hood of her wrap.

“Thank you, Lord York. I do, indeed. And Miss Bainbridge? Shan’t she be joining us?”

“She opted for the ship tour, I’m afraid, so you have me all to yourself.”

“Wise woman, that. At least she’ll be inside for most of it. It is very cold out here. Is it eight yet? I do hope we begin soon, or I might have to forego stargazing for the string quartet. Or, perhaps, just turn in for the evening.” With the last, she slowed down the cadence of her speech and touched my arm. Yes. Ripe.

“Blimey! It’s cold!” Doctor Nesbitt said as he approached the group. “Good thing I brought my own warmth. Yes, indeed!” He wiggled a leather flask between his fingers, and several of the ladies giggled. Chastity did not. “Let’s get on with it, then. Shall we? Follow me!” After taking a giant swig that lasted several seconds, he led us all to the side of the ship.

“Do you mind?” Chastity said as she slipped her arm in the crook of mine. “It is so cold.”

“Not at all, dear lady. I shouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Gather ‘round! Gather ‘round! See up there? Just over there.” Nesbitt pointed up past the outside of the balloon, North Eastward. “There is Ursa Major, otherwise known as ‘Great Bear.’ It’s made up of seventeen stars and can be seen anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. If you follow its back to its derriere, you find that the Big Dipper, made up of the seven brightest stars in the whole constellation, makes up the great bear’s hind quarters and tail. That’s quite a bustle, isn’t it, ladies. Yes!” He swigged from his flask again. “Pity it’s so cold out tonight ladies. You are all so bundled up. How about a quick peek at all your bustles? Go on then. That’s it!”

Several of the group turned around and flipped up their capes to show their bustles. A man after my own heart. For love of bustles. I’d drink to that.

“Very nice, ladies. Very nice, indeed! Now, give them a bit of a shake. Oh, yes.”

To even my horror, he began rubbing himself through his trousers, and not even trying to hide it.

“Now see here!” one angry husband protested.

“Yes. Sorry. Got a bit carried away there.” Swig. “Moving on!” Swig. He led us down the port side while husbands chided their wives in whispers that were lost in the aether.

Nesbitt stopped the group near the bow and continued, “The sky is so different here than it is in Africa. Oh yes. No view of the Great Bear there. No, sir. Well, not
that
great bear, anyway.” Swig. “Just out there.” His words started to slur. “See those two lines of stars there? Draw a line intersecting them toward the top, and you’ll find their arms. That is Gemini, or the twins, although I like to think of them as the lovers.” Swig. Adjust trousers. Swig. “They lie right between Taurus and Cancer. There and there. The two brightest stars in Gemini are Castor and Pollux, named after the twins in Greek Mythology. Those two stars make up the two heads of the twins. See? This was one of the forty-eight originally described by Ptolemy all the way back in the second century. Fascinating.” Swig.

“Are you enjoying this, Lord York?” Chastity whispered.

“It’s interesting. Mildly. Not near as interesting as you are, my dear. Would you care to sneak off for a more private chat?”

“I’d love to.”

As the doctor crossed over to the starboard side, Chastity and I slipped away behind a building set in the middle near the bow of the ship. We waited in the shadows until we heard the doctor say something about the belt of Orion.

“Would you care to go back below?” I asked. “It’s warmer.”

“I was hoping for something a little more private. I’m sure we can find ways to warm up, Lord York. Let’s see what’s in here.” How delightful! A sense of spontaneity and adventure in this one as well!

The door to the structure was serendipitously unlocked, so we ducked inside. It appeared to be some kind of navigation room. Maps spread out on a table. An astrolabe. Compasses and the like. A workspace desk with a journal.

“That’s better already,” she said, pulling off her goggles and pushing the hood of her cloak off. Her copper locks were a mess, but not nearly the mess they’d be soon. “Fortunate the moon is so bright, as we have some light in here. Made it rather difficult to see the stars though.”

“Your eyes, my dear, outshine any star.”

“Oh, Arthur. Please. That is not necessary with me. I’m not an innocent maid who needs to be wooed. We’re both quite aware of where this is headed, now aren’t we?”

“Quite,” I said, and a moment later my mouth covered hers. Her hunger matched mine. I helped her off with her cloak, then took off mine as well. Tongues swirling. Lips gliding. Bodies pressed together. Lifting her up on the aforementioned desk, I raised her skirts, and she eagerly released me from my trousers. She grabbed me full on with both hands and stroked, kissing me ever more fervently. Guiding me toward her, she leaned back, allowing me to hover over her while I plunged inside.

We crashed together. Surrounded by the warmth of her along with her urging whispers in my ear, I failed to notice the lantern approaching outside the window.

The door opened, and there stood Avalon along with Captain Blackwolf and a few others. “This is our navigation room, not in use…Oh, my,” he said.

Chastity giggled.

I withdrew and pulled up my trousers.

Avalon’s face displayed utter betrayal. The kind of pain that fractured one’s soul. Without a word, she turned, and in another moment, she was gone.

“Avalon!” I called, running after her, but she had used her supernatural speed and just disappeared. Everyone was so busy watching the spectacle of me and Chastity, that they obviously didn’t notice the blur, but I couldn’t be so careless.

I forced myself to move at human speed and went in search of her. I headed back to the cabin, but she wasn’t there. Starting from the bow, I searched along each deck, hunting for any sign of her in every nook and cranny. Finally, on one of the lower decks, set for crew only, I smelled blood. Seems Avalon did some hunting of her own.

Good for her. Bad for me.

There, holding the side of his neck, a man stumbled around in a daze.

“Are you all right, man?” I asked.

“A ghost. A beautiful ghost came and she kissed me.”

She had tried to compel him, but she wasn’t very good at it yet. This man was just confused, and bleeding. Taking his head into my hands, I held him inches before me and engaged. “You were bit by a rat. That’s all. Let me see.” He took his hand away. I sucked some of the blood away, then with a generous amount of saliva, ensured it would coagulate soon.

“Keep this on it,” I said. Putting the handkerchief I had just pulled from his pocket on the wound. “You’ll be all right, son. Just watch out for those rats.”

“Thank you, sir. I will, sir. Big rat, that. Big beautiful rat,” he said as he wondered off rather dreamily. He’d be asleep soon, no doubt. She would have to go back to the cabin at some point, so I would just wait there for her.

I opened the cabin door and a shoe missed my head by about half an inch. “Ava! I was so worried about you.” I had to duck to keep from being hit by the second shoe.

“You magsman! Villain! Go back to your mollisher, you fiend. I never want to see you again.”

“Avalon, please. I can explain.”

“You can explain? You can explain why you had your johnson inside another woman? Oh, Arthur. I’m done. You’ve been a beast lately, and now this! I won’t stand for it. Now I remember why I chose to be a spinster. I was so much happier when I was myself, and I was certainly stronger-willed. You have made me altogether into something else! You forced me into this life, didn’t you? I didn’t have a choice, and it’s by far the last time you forced me. What was that the other morning, Arthur? I felt violated, not loved, and I shan’t make excuses for you or your treatment of me any longer. You’ve changed, and you made me change, too.”

“I saved you, Avalon. You were dying!”

“Dying because of you. You deceived me and Victor for so long. Oh! Poor Victor!”—Great. Victor thrown in my face again—“He’s dead because of you, too. Yes, I would’ve died without you, but now I am forever dead because of you!”

She sat down on the edge of the bunk and wept. I went to her, but she pushed me away, then paced to and for in the tiny cabin.

“You isolated me, you monster. You isolated me, trapped me, and convinced me you loved me, that I was somehow different. I believed you. My own ego allowed me to believe, but no more! You’ve shown your true self now, Arthur, and I am wholly disappointed to see that all those horrid rumors are true. That, mixed with the violence and cruelty. No more!”

“Avalon, please.”

“You had me convinced it was my fault! That I was too needy or too talkative or too prudish or too randy or too…whatever. It wasn’t me, Arthur. It’s you. That’s very clear now. You who hasn’t made a commitment to anyone for over three centuries! It’s you, and you dragged me into this, changed me. Tried to control me and intimidate me to your will, and then chided me for losing my independence. My independence.” Her voice softened, and she sank into the chair, skirts spread wide. “That which I had taken so much social abuse for, gone. I believed in you, Arthur. I trusted you.”

The anger had faded over that last tirade, but the sadness remained. When she spoke again, her voice was full of regret. “I love you, Arthur, but I cannot, shall not, live like this. I will reside back in Baker Street. I had decided to move home after your earlier cruelty, convinced we just needed more space between us. Now, however, you will stay away from me completely. Do whatever it is you are already doing without me. As soon as we’re off this bloody dirigible, I’m off. You will get out of my life forever. I will find my own way, as I always have. It’s so much better that way. Now. Go back to Chastity, and don’t even think about coming back to our cabin tonight or tomorrow night. I’m sure you’ll have no difficulty in securing other lodgings. I shan’t leave the cabin, except to eat. I’m too ashamed now. So many saw you. It will be all about the ship by now. You’ve not only betrayed me, you’ve humiliated me, too.”

Blood tears streaked her face, smeared across her cheeks each time she wiped the new ones away.

“You fed.”

“I did, and now I see why you kept me from it. You did, didn’t you? Keep it from me. Purposely. I see so clearly now, Arthur. You are quite good, aren’t you? But I shan’t be fooled by you any longer. I remember who I am now. I am not under your control, Arthur. Your threats and intimidation and manipulation won’t work on me anymore. I know who I am. You are not worthy of me. I do love you, but I realize now that I don’t truly know you. It’s like you’re two people. One who is kind and loving and affectionate. One who adores me.”