Authors: Kelly Varesio
Insperatus (14 page)
Traith’s face donned that gentle expression she had noticed him give her a few times before. “Perhaps I will, then.”
Saria looked content and chewed on a biscuit as happily as a child. Traith reached across the table and took a piece of bread. He seemed nearly reluctant to place it in his mouth, and he did so looking down.
Rein was eating a piece of cooked meat, but she was intrigued at the way Traith ate the bread. He swallowed it slowly, and his face gave that unreadable (perhaps annoyed) gaze. It must have seemed that way to Romanoff, for he began playing more slowly and formally.
No, Traith wasn’t looking at him out of annoyance with his playing. There was a hidden thought between the two she couldn’t quite figure out.
“
This food is just delectable,” Saria said in between bites, completely ignoring the seriousness of the two men in that instant. “Don’t you think so, Rein?”
This food is just delectable,” Saria said in between bites, completely ignoring the seriousness of the two men in that instant. “Don’t you think so, Rein?”
“
Yes,” she replied, taking her eyes quickly off of Traith.
Yes,” she replied, taking her eyes quickly off of Traith.
“
Well, tomorrow night, there will be more than just that type of food,” Romanoff announced over his music, breaking his stare with Traith. “Tomorrow night is the ship’s ball. Tell them about it, Traith!”
Well, tomorrow night, there will be more than just that type of food,” Romanoff announced over his music, breaking his stare with Traith. “Tomorrow night is the ship’s ball. Tell them about it, Traith!”
“
My
Lord
!” Saria yelled.
My
Lord
!” Saria yelled.
Rein perked up at Romanoff’s words about a ball. How was that possible? Then, from the corner of her eye, she saw Traith clench his teeth.
He continued his glare at Romanoff, speaking quietly and directly. “I wasn’t going.” His relaxed mood seemed to have taken an about face.
The Frenchman laughed. “Don’t pay attention to my friend, here,” he said. “The balls are magnificent, and we’re having one tomorrow evening. Perhaps you could rather say afternoon; it begins in the late afternoon. It would be far better than anything else you could spend your evening doing.” Romanoff’s smile always made Rein feel happy, and he motioned his head toward Traith. “He’ll come.”
Rein felt excited. “A ball? On a ship? That’s ridiculous, but I would love to go. This ship really is a wonder.”
“
It
is
a wonder,” Romanoff said. “You see—”
It
is
a wonder,” Romanoff said. “You see—”
“
You know what, Carden?” Traith cut in. “Why don’t you take my seat, here, and drink with ‘your love.’ You’ve been at it all day anyway.”
You know what, Carden?” Traith cut in. “Why don’t you take my seat, here, and drink with ‘your love.’ You’ve been at it all day anyway.”
Rein felt as miserable as the weather when he said that, and she began to feel ignored, as if he didn’t see her there at all anymore.
“
Is that an invite for me?” Saria asked back on the subject about the ball, purposely allowing time for Traith to calm.
Is that an invite for me?” Saria asked back on the subject about the ball, purposely allowing time for Traith to calm.
“
Oh yes,” Romanoff said with a finishing note of his music. “I would be honored to have you join me.” Romanoff let his fingers finish out a few notes to end the song and then stood and walked over to Traith.
Oh yes,” Romanoff said with a finishing note of his music. “I would be honored to have you join me.” Romanoff let his fingers finish out a few notes to end the song and then stood and walked over to Traith.
He looked up at him as though he were insane.
Romanoff patted him on the back. “But I would be just as honored for
you
to take fair Miss Pierson, here.”
you
to take fair Miss Pierson, here.”
“
No, it’s all right if he isn’t interested in the ball,” Rein said. She’d tried to stop herself from saying that, but she felt too awkward to plainly accept Romanoff’s words.
No, it’s all right if he isn’t interested in the ball,” Rein said. She’d tried to stop herself from saying that, but she felt too awkward to plainly accept Romanoff’s words.
“
Madame, you do not know any other man on this ship besides your unflattering escort, and Traith, you need to get out more. She really has no one else to go with but you.”
Madame, you do not know any other man on this ship besides your unflattering escort, and Traith, you need to get out more. She really has no one else to go with but you.”
Traith looked at Rein for a moment, and his eyes were sad. “I can’t. Carden, you know I don’t exactly blend well at balls.” He looked at her, and she felt any excitement she had shrivel at his words. “I’m sorry.”
He stood, said good evening, and left the room. Rein nearly felt her eyes watering, but she was good enough at hiding her emotions that she made it invisible to the other two left in the room. There was a deathly silence in the room for a moment, until Saria broke it.
“
Oh, Rein,” she said with sorrow in her high voice. “Perhaps he isn’t as perfect as he looks. You must still come—”
Oh, Rein,” she said with sorrow in her high voice. “Perhaps he isn’t as perfect as he looks. You must still come—”
Romanoff laughed. How he could was beyond her. She felt distant, and she felt a sudden chill of emptiness as she bit on her lip. It had felt as though he perhaps cared for her. It had felt as though he was just learning to be at ease around her, and he suddenly resorted to mystery again. And now she couldn’t talk privately with him again for a while.
“
Cheer up, Madame,” Romanoff said, ending his laugh.
Cheer up, Madame,” Romanoff said, ending his laugh.
“
No, no,” Rein said, defending her independence. “It’s fine, honestly.”
No, no,” Rein said, defending her independence. “It’s fine, honestly.”
“
Traith will come. He probably just won’t dance. But you never know.”
Traith will come. He probably just won’t dance. But you never know.”
“
If he doesn’t want to, I would hate for him to feel obligated,” she said, trying to smile, hiding her choke.
If he doesn’t want to, I would hate for him to feel obligated,” she said, trying to smile, hiding her choke.
“
Perhaps you should forget about him,” Saria said in a failed attempt to be soothing. “He—”
Perhaps you should forget about him,” Saria said in a failed attempt to be soothing. “He—”
“
He has a great deal of potential, Miss Kendrick, if someone would learn that he doesn’t mean to drive people off with the way he acts. You need to keep at him, Miss Pierson.” He paused and sat in a chair next to Saria. “I have never seen him laugh in front of anyone else but me before. Ever. He is comfortable around you. His predator-like mannerisms fade.”
He has a great deal of potential, Miss Kendrick, if someone would learn that he doesn’t mean to drive people off with the way he acts. You need to keep at him, Miss Pierson.” He paused and sat in a chair next to Saria. “I have never seen him laugh in front of anyone else but me before. Ever. He is comfortable around you. His predator-like mannerisms fade.”
Rein noted the mistake he made in pronouncing
predator
more like
prezahter
, but she had not time to think of it. Was what he was saying true? To her relief, Saria made no reply.
predator
more like
prezahter
, but she had not time to think of it. Was what he was saying true? To her relief, Saria made no reply.
“
I know Traith well enough to vouch that he will come.”
I know Traith well enough to vouch that he will come.”
Rein paused. “What about going to a ball does he detest? Why wouldn’t he dance; doesn’t he know how?”
“
Oh he does. Believe me, he does. He dances quite well, if I am so bold, he just chooses not to most of the time. He is so introverted that he prefers to be alone most of the time, and balls are the most social places one could be in.” He ducked down toward Rein, looking at the door Traith exited. “Right now he is just choosing to be
le coquin damné
.”
Oh he does. Believe me, he does. He dances quite well, if I am so bold, he just chooses not to most of the time. He is so introverted that he prefers to be alone most of the time, and balls are the most social places one could be in.” He ducked down toward Rein, looking at the door Traith exited. “Right now he is just choosing to be
le coquin damné
.”
Rein swallowed. Romanoff had actually, for the first time, returned fire with words by calling Traith something rather vulgar.
Then he sighed. “He is indescribable, Miss Pierson,” he said, calmer.
“
So unpredictable,” Saria said as if she were part of a gossip chain. “He was at first so cold, then comforting to you, then hilarious with his sarcasm, and then cold again. Moody.”
So unpredictable,” Saria said as if she were part of a gossip chain. “He was at first so cold, then comforting to you, then hilarious with his sarcasm, and then cold again. Moody.”
“
I can see that,” Rein replied with fading words.
I can see that,” Rein replied with fading words.
“
But I am working on him,” Romanoff repeated. “He does seem to have a weakness for you already, despite his ambiguous responses. He does not make friends easily, and you’re beginning to become one,” Romanoff said, taking a long drink from his goblet. “Or, perhaps, more than one.”
But I am working on him,” Romanoff repeated. “He does seem to have a weakness for you already, despite his ambiguous responses. He does not make friends easily, and you’re beginning to become one,” Romanoff said, taking a long drink from his goblet. “Or, perhaps, more than one.”
She laughed to lighten that mood. “I greatly appreciate your encouragement.”
She knew she had done a good job lightening the mood when both her friends began eating comfortably.
“
So why is Traith forced to stay on this ship?” Rein asked. “If he had a castle, as you mentioned before?” Rein continued when she noticed that she had Romanoff’s complete attention. “He told me he inherited it, that he wasn’t wealthy.”
So why is Traith forced to stay on this ship?” Rein asked. “If he had a castle, as you mentioned before?” Rein continued when she noticed that she had Romanoff’s complete attention. “He told me he inherited it, that he wasn’t wealthy.”
“
Well, Madame, that would make him a flat out liar.”
Well, Madame, that would make him a flat out liar.”
Rein set her fork down after taking a bite of meat and swallowing it. It went down painfully.
“
He still has his castle, Miss Pierson, and he is extremely wealthy. Extremely,” Romanoff replied. “He has to be on this ship, as do I, for the Mistress. She is our…how do you say? Chef. Patron. Leader, is what you say? Our work for her is done out of necessity, not money. Why, I am nearly as wealthy as he.” Rein saw Saria let off a glow. “Not quite as. I would like to assume that he was being humble in saying he inherited the castle.”
He still has his castle, Miss Pierson, and he is extremely wealthy. Extremely,” Romanoff replied. “He has to be on this ship, as do I, for the Mistress. She is our…how do you say? Chef. Patron. Leader, is what you say? Our work for her is done out of necessity, not money. Why, I am nearly as wealthy as he.” Rein saw Saria let off a glow. “Not quite as. I would like to assume that he was being humble in saying he inherited the castle.”
“
No,” Rein said softly. “He lied.”
No,” Rein said softly. “He lied.”
Traith earlier affirmed that he had told her everything. Although she understood completely that he didn’t have to tell her all of his secrets, he had lied, and for no apparent reason.
She knew, now, that something wasn’t right. She was being lied to about more than one thing. It struck her when she noticed Romanoff’s teeth again. They had both been in some kind of accident together. They all had. She needed to find out what exactly that accident was. There had to be so much more to the story than what she had heard, and she had a strong feeling that her letter played a crucial part in that story.
After another half of an hour or so of talk, Rein thought she might excuse herself. She had only stayed that extra time to not seem as rude as Traith Harker.
Clearing her throat, she stood. “I’m getting tired,” she said with a yawn. “If you would excuse me, I’m going back to my chamber for the night.”
Romanoff stood at her departure. Saria stood to embrace her a moment, a gesture of Saria’s that reminded Rein of why the two were friends. After she said goodbye, she headed back to her chamber.
She had to get to sleep to prepare for a ball tomorrow, a ship’s ball, something that was more unusual than anything yet. Then she would wait for the possibility of Traith Harker’s arrival. Perhaps she would ask him why he had lied. They were becoming friends, it seemed, and there lay a chance that they could be more than that. She didn’t want there to be any secrets between them.
Chapter 18
She rolled around in the soft and airy covers of the featherbed. Her room was dark, and she heard the wind whistle just outside her porthole. She was comfortable, lying on her side in the drowsy state that she found herself in each morning, but it was still dark. She fumbled her hand around the side of the bed and grasped the pocket watch that her father had given her a long time ago. It was some time past three o’clock. She tried to sleep further, but thoughts of her father haunted her. She sat up slowly, pushing her loose, black hair out of her face. Perhaps she could read for a while under a candle.
The next moment, Rein realized that the sun was up. Daytime heat had settled inside the chamber. Her eyes fluttered a moment to regain consciousness. Perhaps she had been more tired than she had felt.
Then a sudden continuous rap at the door startled her to awakening. She staggered to stand and looked outside her door through a chain opening. She sighed.
“
Dear God, Rein!” Saria said with her voice raised through the chain.
Dear God, Rein!” Saria said with her voice raised through the chain.
Rein opened the latch on the door and let Saria in. She tottered in, entering when the ship tossed a little. Rein looked down and saw that the pocket watch was still in her hand. It read three o’clock.
“
No…” Rein mumbled.
No…” Rein mumbled.
“
Yes
, Rein! It’s three o’clock in the afternoon!” Saria sighed loudly when she took a seat at the table chair. “Lord, I’ve been knocking all day, and you didn’t answer. I was starting to worry.”
Yes
, Rein! It’s three o’clock in the afternoon!” Saria sighed loudly when she took a seat at the table chair. “Lord, I’ve been knocking all day, and you didn’t answer. I was starting to worry.”
She had slept that late? The
ball
.
ball
.
“
The ball?” Rein asked clumsily. “When does the ball start?”
The ball?” Rein asked clumsily. “When does the ball start?”
“
In two hours!” Saria stood and circled her. “And look at you, in nothing but your chemise! Your hair is in knots,” she sighed.
In two hours!” Saria stood and circled her. “And look at you, in nothing but your chemise! Your hair is in knots,” she sighed.
Rein couldn’t disagree with her. Her eyes were still nearly glued shut from her haze of sleepiness.
“
Shall I stay here with you to help you put on your corset? I can put it on tighter than you can.”
Shall I stay here with you to help you put on your corset? I can put it on tighter than you can.”
Rein’s anticipation had turned to excitement at the realization that the ball was to begin soon. After Saria tied her corset for her and left to finish getting ready herself, Rein shook with anxiety. She didn’t know quite what to think about the entire ordeal. So many frightening things had happened, and it was only six nights into the trip, but the thought, as small the thought may be, of having found love outweighed her fear. However, she knew she would eventually have to leave the ship. But she could give him her address. Did she even have one anymore? Was she going to live with some man named Hall, or whoever had her house now? Was that even true? She had the money to buy it back, but the very idea was haunting. She could give Traith Saria’s address if she had to, or perhaps he would come with her.
She tried to forget about that last thought, as it was entirely improbable. She wiped those kinds of thoughts out of her head; she had to enjoy herself tonight—make this trip worthwhile, Traith or not.
Rein opened her wardrobe to look at her dresses. At first she looked into it blindly, still wondering about how she could have slept for so long. She chose a yellow dress with a dark bodice and black lace out of the armoire, hoping it would fit. It was made of a satiny chiffon material, and in the light it almost sparkled with a grey haze. She only wore two petticoats to give the dress a slight widening. She refused to wear more than that.
Tying her bodice loosely, since she already had a corset on tight underneath, Rein sat down on the bed and opened her parcel. She pulled out a pair of black leather boots with a pointed toe and thin heel. After she buckled them, she spent a while with her hair, making it as lovely as she could. Dusk was beginning to set it, so she knew it was near time to get to the ball.
She headed out to the atrium, trying hard to keep her balance as the ship rocked. As she came to the end of the hallway, she noticed that the atrium was completely empty, other than the stewardess at the desk. She never seemed to move or leave that spot.
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