Authors: Kelly Varesio

Insperatus (5 page)

BOOK: Insperatus

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Perhaps she would run into that man again as well; ask him further why he had been so concerned. She really did want to see him again, and her reasoning didn’t even seem liable enough to
her
. But she wanted to concentrate on the way she had felt last night, all of a sudden—see if it was a truly genuine feeling. She liked it. She wanted to feel the butterflies again.

Looking down at herself, she realized she was still only in a chemise. She felt the pillows and noticed they were wet from her previously soaking hair. She stumbled over to her bag and pulled out a petticoat and then a dress, tying the corset from the front as tight as she could. Once she was dressed decently enough, she slipped on her shoes. They had mostly dried overnight, to her relief. She tied them quickly and took a glance in the vanity mirror at her side. Her hair was stringy but still in a bun. She knew Saria would be distraught at the sight of her, but she ran out the door anyway, locking it behind her.

As she walked into the tall, dome-shaped lobby, she became acutely aware of her hunger; she hadn’t eaten since earlier the day before. She glanced around, hoping to find Saria and have breakfast with her. She breathed a sigh of relief when she recognized her friend sitting on a stool in what appeared to be a beverage lounge, looking unworried; but then again, she usually was. Edgar was sitting there as well, a little farther away. He seemed to have found someone to converse with.

Rein paused in her steps a moment when she noticed who was at the entrance door that they had come through last night. The gentleman with the white eyes stood there still. Rein had a sudden, fanciful notion that he never left that post, but waited there, ready to devour anyone who dared run toward that door.

Then she knew she was being ridiculous. He was just an old man with a terribly ugly look about him. Why was she so alarmed? Because the handsome man she had met last night had told her he was unwell. She believed that stranger.

She looked back over at Saria and headed for her, pacing quickly past the staring eyes of those around her. Saria stood up and encouraged her to come over to where she was sitting. As Rein followed her order, she noticed the troubled expression on Saria’s face.

“
Rein, you left me alone last night after you proposed to meet me,” she said, replacing for her concerned expression a cheery one. “What happened to you? I almost went to find you, but I was so caught up in my unpacking and settling in that I fell asleep!” She sighed with a smirk. “Odd, isn’t it?”

Rein sat down on a wooden stool next to her. “I fell asleep, too,” she sighed. “I didn’t mean to, but so much happened to me after you left, and I was quite tense.”

“
What ever for? What happened?”

“
On my way to my chamber, I met a peculiar gentleman named Traith Harker. He seemed worried about me being here, and he specifically said I should stay away from the man who let us in last night.”

“
The man with no eye color?”

“
Yes, him. And while we’re on the subject of strange eyes—” Rein choked a moment before she could speak. “Mr. Harker’s were…”

Saria sighed at her hesitance. “They were what?”

“
Vibrant
red
.”

Saria’s head lifted, and she snorted a laugh. “Vibrant red? Rein, I—”

“
Yes, as if they were on fire!” Rein stared at her with intensity, but Saria’s eyes returned an incredulous gaze. “He said he was in a laboratory accident. Something hit his eyes or…it was terrible enough that it affected his eyes… and vision. I felt so awful because I pointed out—”

“
He’s
blind
? And you asked him about it? My, Rein! Lord!”

“
Well, I didn’t exactly. He isn’t stone blind. He said there was something different about his sight, though, like something wrong. Oh, but Saria!”

“
You
liked
him! Rein, you
like
someone? My! Was he very handsome?”

“
Incredibly!” Rein laughed, sitting straighter. “He was incredibly handsome, but very, very odd.”

“
You
must
show him to me! He sounds like your type.”

Rein smirked.

Saria squealed in delayed excitement. “Oh, Rein, what if he’s the one? Your first man, dearest! Oh, my heart is so happy for you! And I should like to think that he was immediately charmed with you, too, seeing as your beauty could never be surpassed!”

“
Thank you.” Rein had to laugh at Saria’s excitement for her. “I do appreciate your comments, Saria, but please, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The next time I see him I will be sure to point him out.” She was biting her lip to hold back more laughter. “I’m sure this is nothing anyway.”

“
Always thinking like that! It very well could be something, if your pursue it! Well then,” Saria asked after a laugh and a sip of her drink, “what did this most charming man you found warn you about, regarding the man who greeted us?”

“
He said he wasn’t well, and to not deliberately be near him.”

Rein flicked her sight over to the white-eyed man. He curled his shriveled mouth her way, and a chill ran down her neck when she felt his eyes lock onto her. He turned with a nod to her and crept out the door he was guarding.

“
Rein, he seems quite all right to me,” Saria said. “Quiet and sweet, but his eyes are terribly uncommon. Something’s definitely wrong with him, but it isn’t serious.” Saria giggled without noticing Rein’s eyes straying away toward the door. “Or maybe it was that he was in the same laboratory accident your Traith Harker was in. Well, in any case, the captain came up and offered me this warm, spiced tea, here…”

“
The man with the white eyes is the
captain
?” Rein asked swiftly.

“
Yes, didn’t you know? He told me himself.” Rein sat in thought as Saria continued. “This drink is so palatable! Oh yes, and I have to admit, my room is beautiful.”

“
How can a madman be a captain of a ship?” Rein asked, more hysterical. “How does he have time to offer you drinks, when—?”

“
Rein!” Saria blundered. “Why are you going to take a stranger’s word about another stranger? For all you know Mr. Harker could be a terrible and nasty person and the captain could be a kind and unselfish one. You mustn’t be so judgmental! He probably has a man to assume navigation when he needs a break! He cannot possibly be steering this ship
all
the time.”

Rein sighed quickly in frustration, because Saria was right. “I don’t know,” she finally answered. “When I met Mr. Harker last night, he strictly told me to keep away from that man. He seemed so trustworthy.”

Saria laughed again in the middle of her speech. “Yes, men can do that. My dearest Rein, you need relax yourself! And as far as trust goes, the captain seemed as trustworthy as could be when he conversed with me.” She took a long breath. “So anyway,” she blathered, “My chamber kept me ever so busy! I ate the delectable foods I found in the icebox. There were pretty blue walls and wooden flooring. Small bed, but the sitting room was spacious enough.” She tilted her head in wonder and stopped her rambling. “What is it? What’s the matter with you, Rein?”

Rein looked down and shook her head side to side. “My chamber was large, dark, and decorated as if centuries old.” She paused a second and could feel Saria scanning her. “It was strange.”

“
By God, Rein,” she stated with a groan. “Your hair is more disheveled than your clothes! Haven’t you thought of doing your hair over?”

Rein glared disturbingly at Saria and her composure. “Is that all you think about? You cannot possibly focus on anything else for very long, can you?” Saria laughed, but Rein knew that was her nature. “I’ll go back to my chamber and fix my hair, if it irritates you that much,” Rein said, stiffening.

“
Oh, don’t be sarcastic, I’ll manage to be seen with you,” Saria said, holding in another laugh, and her long, dark hair fell onto her cheeks with a movement of her head. “It’s funny; this ship and its chambers may seem rather chilling, but it’s all a façade; part of the décor that makes it hallmark.”

“
You seem quite free from care,” Rein replied. “I assume you must have spoken to the people around, as well.”

“
Of course,” Saria replied. “I’ve talked to a few of the passengers, yes, and although they weren’t very conversational, they weren’t ignorant.”

That didn’t mean anything. Saria was probably talking so much that she didn’t notice that no one was paying attention to her. Rein wanted to speak again, but Saria’s attention was elsewhere.

“
Do you see that man over there?” Saria asked, changing the subject. “Look! He’s looking at us!”

Rein gave an irritated smile when Saria bit her lip with excitement. “You like him, do you?” Rein asked, void of enthusiasm. “You’ve probably been staring at him for awhile, hmm?”

“
Yes, I do admit I have. He’s quite handsome, and he’s been talking to others all morning, but I’ve been trying to get his attention.”

“
Then shouldn’t you go over there and greet him with a curtsy or something of the sort?”

“
No! I couldn’t possibly! He’s with so many others right now.”

“
That has never stopped you before.”

“
Look! Look again! He’s coming this way!”

Chapter 7

The man Saria had been watching was tall and slim, slimmer even than Traith Harker. The two were probably the same height, but Harker had much broader shoulders than he. It was amusing to be able to so quickly perceive the differences in those two men, and the difference between her and Saria’s choice of them.

The gentleman Saria was staring at appeared rather pretentious and rich, his features were sharp and cold. But he was dressed well enough that it made him much more attractive. Traith Harker had features so flawless he seemed unreal. His face was naturally handsome, but she had to look underneath the thin layer of scars and bristles, past simple and casual attire, and through his blunt mannerisms, which she had roughly seen the night before, to see his allure. That was something Saria was unable to do.

And there she went again, thinking on about the man she didn’t know.

The man approaching was smiling to others and dipping his head to them. He was incredibly fashionable, as if royalty, and he had long brown hair that was tied back and large, dark brown eyes that matched his large eyebrows and high, stiff-collared suit. His face was slightly aged, but it was decently handsome; it was pointed, but prestigious. He came up to the lounge and asked for a hot drink, and as he leant over the side, Saria leaned back and turned around her seat to view him. Saria’s back was now to Rein and she was facing the man with a smile, which must have made him speak.

“
Bonjour, Mademoiselles,” he said in French.

Rein could tell by his voice that he was a charmer. She had looked down in the process of his walking over but she glanced up now in respect.

“
I am Carden Romanoff,” the Frenchman said enchantingly. “It is a pleasure to meet you both.”

“
It is a pleasure to meet
you
,” Saria replied with excited animation.

“
Who, may I inquire, are you two? I have failed to
parlez avec vous
before. You boarded last night,
je crois
?”

“
We did. My name is Sara Kendrick, but no one ever calls me Sara; they change it to Sar
i
a. I’m not sure how it ever came about.”

“
And you?” he asked with a large smile.

Rein laughed kindly to him. “Rein Pierson.”

“
I heard you, Miss Pierson, speak earlier of Traith Harker. You have met him?”

“
You heard us speaking of him from all the way over there?” Saria asked with masked marvel, her mood changing to a frivolous one to gain his attention. “As you were talking?”

“
I did. My hearing is quite remarkable.”

“
Yes, I met him last night,” Rein answered. “He’s a very hand—” She stopped and cleared her throat. To her embarrassment, she had already said it. “He is a very handsome,”—she said it quickly and through a single breath—“but a very odd gentleman.”

Romanoff laughed at her. “I must agree he is a tremendously dashing man, but he would tell you no such thing.” He turned and looked behind him, as if he thought Harker was there. Suddenly his manner changed to a more amused one, and he smiled to them as if Harker was behind him. “He can be unusual as well, without doubt. I am a good friend of his. He is a nice man; it would do you good to get to know him.”

Rein was confused when he kept looking behind him and smiling with a laugh. But he seemed interested in the two of them, as if he knew them, or was trying to. Saria must have liked that, because her posture was far from relaxed and she moved directly in front of Rein’s line of vision, twirling the loose ends of her perfectly pinned-up hair in gaiety. She was trying to get his attention and was adamant about staring straight upon him.

“
Are you married, Mr. Romanoff?” she asked louder. “Have you a companion?”

“
No, I am most definitely not,” he said with a rumbling laugh. “Nor do I have a companion. Have either of
you
come with a man?”

BOOK: Insperatus

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