Love, the True Test of Time Chapter 8 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!
Getting ready for a transatlantic journey was no easy feat in 1876. The household was busy packing, and telegrams had to be sent to prepare the staff at Balinor for the Duke and his party's arrival. Otis would be the only servant traveling with them. The other staff members had been hired specifically for their New York stay and many were feeling sad about the departure of the Duke. It had been an exciting two months for them and now they would be placed in other homes. But as long as they were still working they got on with their jobs and didn't complain. That was what was expected of them.
On the morning of the sailing, the staff was busy finishing the packing. As Sophie was finishing up the packing in Kate's room, she found a small pocketbook that had slid under the bed. It had obviously been misplaced and forgotten and she picked it up and placed it on the top of Kate's things before closing the trunk. She had been told that the cart that would carry the trunks and suitcases down to the docks would be arriving at any moment, so there was no time to waste.
As the trunks and suitcases were loaded onto the cart, Leopold watched over the proceedings, to make sure they were handled with care. He was extremely protective of his inventions and didn't want anything to happen to them. Otis realized he was only getting in the way and quickly interceded. "Your grace, I will make sure everything is in order here, and proceed down to the docks with your luggage, you needn't worry. I think Miss Katherine, could probably use the company at this time. Your ladyship told her to stay put in the study til she is called for."
"I see what you are doing, Otis. You think I am in the way here. This is your way of telling me to vacate the premises."
"Well, your grace, I do believe your presence is needed elsewhere. I am only thinking of Miss Katherine on her own."
"I will oblige, only because I do know that I am leaving my belongings in more than capable hands. I imagine Kate is relieved that everyone has stopped fussing over her for the time being. She is probably enjoying the time alone."
"Did you ever think that this voyage could be making her a bit nervous?"
"Kate, nervous? That is highly unlikely, Otis. I realize this whole endeavor has got to be overwhelming for her, but she is not some delicate little flower of a girl who cannot handle new situations. I have every bit of confidence in her, but I will take your concern into consideration and I will go check on her." Otis knew full well, that he was checking on her for his own sake. In the last few days, Leopold had hardly been away from her side and often Kate was the one who needed breathing space.
With Margaret's and Sophie's help, Kate had been dressed in her traveling clothes, which included a hat. . . which Kate detested and thought looked ridiculous, but Margaret insisted that a lady always wore a hat when traveling. She was told to sit in the study until the carriage came to take them to the docks and she was impatient, anxious and uncomfortable and scared to death of the trip. She had never been on a plane, and a boat was out of the question. She couldn't swim and she remembered watching the Titanic and being grateful things like that would never happen in her lifetime. Traveling was fairly safe. Now she was in 1876 and nothing looked safe. Carriages were rickety and that ship, looked like it wouldn't make it across the bay, let alone the Atlantic Ocean. She had not told Leopold of her fears. She could do this, she kept telling herself over and over again.
The study door swung open and Leopold was all smiles. In fact, he tried holding back laughter when he saw Kate trying to sit like a lady in her new travel attire. "What are you laughing at? And if it's the hat, well, I will tell you one thing, it is coming off the minute we are on that ship."
"Aunt Margaret's suggestion, I take it."
"Leopold, I look ridiculous."
He moved over to her and took her in his arms. "You look absolutely breathtaking. Of course the hat hides your beautiful features, but actually that isn't a bad thing. I won't have to be fending off male admirers on our journey." He teased.
"What will I do with you? I can't believe it."
"The hat isn't the only thing bothering you."
"Nothing else is bothering me. I am perfectly fine."
He held up her hand, "You have been chewing on your nails. A nervous habit, I've been told. So what pray tell are you nervous about?"
She didn't want to tell him, so he began to guess. "I suppose you could be nervous about the wedding. Ah... Maybe the wedding night has you a bit flustered." He smiled and she playfully hit him.
"I think I can handle the wedding night."
"Maybe you're concerned about the ladies I have left behind in England, resurfacing and trying to win my affections back."
"You are so full of yourself sometimes. You should be concerned about the Englishmen who will want to throw themselves on me because of my incredible charm."
"All right, so whatever is bothering you has nothing to do with me, so it has to be about the journey itself."
"Why would I be worried about the journey?"
"I am not sure why actually. It is perfectly safe, Kate. It is the same ship I came to New York on. The accommodations are grand and the food exquisite. We can dance all night. You will love it."
"I will love it." She said sarcastically. "You don't know anything about the Titanic, Leopold. It was supposed to be the safest ship ever built and the designer screwed up. There wasn't enough lifeboats and when it hit an iceberg, thousands of people died in the icy waters."
"I admit I don't know anything about this tragic sailing of the Titanic, but I can assure you there are plenty of lifeboats. And for one thing, there will be no icebergs. It is April for god's sake. You need to trust me. I would not put your life in jeopardy."
"I know that, but things happen." As she said these words, Leopold's mind drifted. Things did happen. They happened when he was seven and he was never to see his parents again after that dreadful accident aboard the ship taking them to India. This was something he would have to keep from Kate for the time being. It would only give her more cause to be concerned about the journey. And he must admit, every time he stepped foot on a ship, he thought of his parents, but he was always a risk-taker and he never let fear get the better of him. He tried to reassure her.
"Don't tell me you weren't afraid jumping off that bridge. And you did it and survived it. Don't you think we can survive just about anything after that ordeal?"
There was a rap at the door. "Your grace, the carriage is waiting out front, whenever you are ready."
"Thank you, Otis, we will be out shortly."
Leopold took both of her hands in his and gently kissed them. "You won't regret this. I promise you and I won't leave your side for one minute."
"Will you be there when I am throwing up my dinner over the side of the ship?"
"Yes, I will be there when you discharge the contents of your stomach starboard."
"You even make vomiting sound elegant."
He held out his arm to her. "Shall we? Our carriage awaits, and our future life together is about to begin."
All references to characters belonging to the X-Men Universe are (c) and TM the Marvel Comics Group, 20th Century Fox and all related entities. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, duplication or distribution of these materials in any form is expressly prohibited. No money is being made from this archive. All images are also (c) and TM the Marvel Comics Group, 20th Century Fox and all related entities; they are not mine. This website, its operators and any content used on this site relating to the X-Men are not authorized by Marvel, Fox, etc. I am not, nor do I claim to be affiliated with any of these entities in any way.