Love, the True Test of Time Chapter 10 by Lady Jane T
All characters in this fan fiction are the property of Miramax. . . this is all in good fun and I hope you enjoy. This is dedicated to all those women out there hoping that their Leopold will come riding in on a white horse, swoop them off their feet and live happily ever after. Keep believing!
Kate wandered into the dining room assuming Leopold would be there. It was a glorious room with tables covered in lace tablecloths and fine English china adorning every place setting. Men and women dressed in their finery conversing over a glass of wine surrounded her at every corner. Kate scanned the room feeling lightheaded, but she knew it meant the world to Leopold for her to be there. She couldn't let him down. She shouldn't have had that second glass. How many glasses had she had? Well, it was hardly relevant now. She spotted Uncle Millard and made her way to the table. He immediately stood up.
"Katherine, I am glad you could make it." He looked around expecting to see Leopold but he wasn't there. "Leopold isn't with you?"
"I thought he was here."
Margaret gave her a questioning look as she sat down and practically fell off the chair, Kate giggled.
"I guess I didn't judge that one right. So what have I missed?"
Margaret glanced at her husband; it was obvious Kate had been drinking.
"For one thing, you are over a half an hour late and Leopold was quite concerned. I can't imagine where he has gotten to now."
Millard looked around the room and toward the entrance of the dining room, hoping Leopold would be there.
"Well, until he gets here, we should have a chat. You know, I really don't know a lot about either one of you and if we are going to be living under the same roof, don't you think we should know each other better? And I am sure you could give me an insight on Balinor and what to expect. Am I likely to run into any of Leopold's old flames? I am rather curious, actually. I am sure he has had all the local women's hearts aflutter at one time or another."
Millard raised his eyebrows in disgust. "Katherine, we will not be discussing Leopold's past relationships now or at anytime in the future, is that perfectly clear?"
"Don't you think I have a right to know? I am marrying him. You know, Millard, you need to loosen up. I really don't get all this, what is appropriate to say and what isn't. I am not supposed to know about Leopold and his past conquests but I am sure he has every right to know about mine." She raised her voice and a few people at nearby tables turned to look.
"Please, Katherine, lower your voice. This is a private matter that the whole ship doesn't need to overhear." Margaret pleaded. She then looked at her husband, who was ready to burst. She gently put her hand over his in hopes of preventing him from saying anything at all.
"I assume you have quite a colored past, Katherine."
"Yes, maybe I do."
"And you have not spoken of this past to Leopold? Am I correct?"
"It hasn't come up, but it doesn't matter to him. Just like his past doesn't matter to me. It only matters to you."
"I think you might be mistaken, Katherine."
"So are you saying that Leopold needs to marry a virgin?"
Margaret gasped and covered her mouth. She quickly looked around to see if anyone had heard. A few heads had turned and Margaret had had enough.
"That will be enough. I will not have this topic of conversation at my table. Both of you are out of line."
"Leopold can't possibly expect that; and if he does, does that mean he hasn't been with a woman or is it a double standard for men? It doesn't make any sense. Men are allowed a past, but women have to be pure on their wedding day. I know I have heard of this being the case, but I really have a hard time believing it." She laughed, "I really can't believe it. Please tell me that I am wrong."
Leopold and Otis entered the dining room and from a distance Leopold could see that trouble had already ensued, he quickly headed towards the table.
"Leopold, once again, I am outraged about the behavior of your future wife."
Kate was looking at him wondering, was she to be his first? She giggled. Leopold smiled sweetly at her. "I am afraid Uncle that Kate had a little too much to drink and she really isn't quite herself. So, I will escort her back to her cabin. I am sure tomorrow you will see an entirely new woman."
"I have never heard of such a thing, Leopold. It is very unfitting for a woman to be drinking alone, let alone getting drunk. This behavior is appalling."
"She was very apprehensive about the journey, it won't happen again."
"And what about the embarrassment she continues to cause this family?"
Kate looked back and forth between Leopold and Millard's faces and felt things getting a bit fuzzy, "Why do you act like I am not even in the room? No one here even answers my questions. Hello, I am here, please acknowledge my presence. Thank you very much."
"Uncle, we will talk later." He managed to get Kate to her and feet and motioned for Otis to come over and lend him a hand.
She looked into Leopold's eyes. "Are you rescuing me again? You are very good at it. Tell me Leopold, what else are you good at?" She raised her eyebrows and smiled. Then felt another bout of wooziness and stumbled, Otis reached her side and managed to hold her up. The dining room had gone silent and all eyes were on them. "I think I am going to be sick."
"We need to get her out on deck."
As Leopold and Otis walked her out, the whispers grew and he turned to the room. "Nothing to worry about, my fiance had a little too much champagne; I am sure you can all imagine the apprehensions a new bride faces. I am truly sorry if there has been any inconvenience to your dining pleasure. In fact, I will arrange for all of you to receive a bottle of champagne, compliments of myself and my family."
Millard stood up. "Leopold!" He was outraged. Leopold throwing away money like that.
"Uncle, I am sure you have no objection to making your fellow passengers enjoy their journey." He gave his uncle a look and put him on the spot.
The crowd had focused on Millard and he felt he had no choice. "Of course not, it is the least we can do."
The crowd continued their meal chatting about the kindness of the Duke; Kate's behavior was put on the back burner, for now.
As Leopold and Otis headed for the deck, Otis smiled. "That was handled very well, your grace."
"Thank-you, Otis. Now let's get Kate up on deck before we really spoil their appetite."
~*~
Once on deck, they held Kate up and managed to have her lean over the railing, where she instantly threw up over the side. When she was finished, she held her head up and turned to Leopold. He had a handkerchief ready and wiped her face. "Do you feel any better?"
"I don't think I have ever had anyone stand by my side while I threw up. Well, maybe my mother when I was 6, but mothers are expected to do that. You are a wonderful man, Leopold."
Otis cleared his throat. "I think if my assistance is no longer needed, your grace, I will retire for the evening."
"Very well, Otis. Your assistance was greatly appreciated."
"Good Evening, Miss Katherine. I hope you will feel better in the morning. In future, may I suggest that one glass of champagne is probably sufficient before dinner. "
She smiled at him; "I will take that into consideration next time, Thank-you."
After he left, Leopold was silent. It had been some night.
"You're angry with me. I can tell."
"I am not angry. It was actually quite amusing to see the look on the passengers faces. Of course, once again, I will be answering to my uncle and aunt for your public display. I suppose I should get used to it."
"He winds me up, Leopold. He says things to me that are so condescending and then he won't answer my questions. You have all these secrets that I will never know about."
"You have a lot to learn. I don't want you to change, but you have to make an effort with my uncle, for all of our benefit. There are no secrets. I will tell you anything you want to know, but not tonight. You need to get into bed."
"With you."
He laughed nervously, "That would only make matters worse, Kate."
"Why?"
"Like I said, you have a lot to learn. We will talk about this in the morning. When the champagne is no longer effecting your thoughts. "
"You are just like your uncle, never answering my questions."
He put his arm around her waist and she leaned on him as they headed toward her cabin. Leopold was silent. This was going to be a lot harder than he ever imagined.
~*~
When Leopold finally got Kate into her bed, she was already passed out. He managed to take off her shoes, but he was apprehensive about removing her dress. He sat on the edge of the bed for awhile and watched her sleep. He ran his fingers through her hair and stroked her face. It really had been a lot simpler in 2001. He remembered the night he had carried her to bed and slept with her in his arms. It was a memory he cherished and now everything was complicated. He started to feel he really didn't fit into 1876 either. She stirred and turned towards him. "Leopold, you're still here."
"Sleep Kate. Close your eyes."
"You'll stay with me?"
"I don't think that is wise. My uncle is probably awaiting my return to my cabin. It's best I face him this evening, but I will stay until you fall asleep."
She looked disappointed. She began to sit up and immediately felt woozy. So, with Leopold's help, she lay back down.
"Help me with my dress. It is so uncomfortable. I really don't know how women can live like this. But I suppose if they have men like you, they could put up with anything."
"Don't put me up on a pedestal, Kate."
He began to unzip the dress, and as she started to slip it off he stood up and turned away from her.
"If I am going to be your wife, you are going to have to get used to me undressing in front of you. You can peek, it's no big deal."
"It is not suitable for a man to see his future wife in her undergarments or in any way undressed. You have to understand, Kate, that I view things quite differently than you. I was raised in a family where women were respected and cherished and I will continue to embrace the values I was brought up with. This is something you will have to accept about me."
"You are a virgin." She said in surprise.
He was silent and she realized truly embarrassed. "I think it best that I leave you at this time. I assume you will be accompanying me to breakfast in the morning. Until then, I hope you sleep well."
The tone of his voice had changed and he didn't even kiss her before he left, she called his name to stop him, but it was too late. He was out the door and she was left alone, with a throbbing headache and a discovery about Leopold she wasn't sure how to take. In the 2lst century he would be considered an oddity, a freak. What man could last until he was thirty without sex? And even in 1876, she assumed lords and squires and other men in the upper class were bedding servants or peasants. She had watched enough PBS historical dramas to know that. But Leopold had saved himself for his wife, probably something his father had done as well, and it was noble and gallant and incredibly sweet. But also weird. To Kate, sex had been a major factor in every relationship she had ever had. She had a fairly strong sex drive, or so many boyfriends had told her, and here she was faced with a man who seemed to have none. Her head started to throb and she lay back down; she couldn't think about this anymore tonight. She closed her eyes. So much had happened today. She fell asleep thinking of Leopold, which wasn't surprising, and about what surprises were in store for her tomorrow.
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