A VOYAGE TO REMEMBER
Chapter Twenty-Two
Isolde stared at the screen after
Harold left, wishing he would come back to her. She sighed, looking at the
corset and knowing she couldn’t re-lace it by herself. Suddenly, a loud
bustling and the voices of young women filled the room. She could hear a nurse
trying to send them on their way, but Edith’s direct voice overcame everyone’s
when she demanded silence.
"That is our good
friend!" the oldest sister began ranting. "You will let us see her or
I will contact the captain!"
"Y-yes, miss," the
nurse mumbled in fear before scampering to the side to let them through.
Before Isolde knew it, all five
sisters were in her small, screen-enclosed area. Edith made tsk-tsk noises at
the dress and corset. Erica and Emily gasped and quickly placed hands over
their mouths in unison when they saw the bruising on her face. Elaine frowned
slightly as Elizabeth patted Isolde’s hand.
"Well, come on, then. Up,
now," Edith ordered.
"Edith!" Elaine cut in
for once. "She just fainted! You think you could give her a moment to
breathe?"
"Fine," Edith pouted,
crossing her arms.
"So…" Erica began
slowly. "You and Officer Lowe?"
"Hush!" Edith
reprimanded her. "What have I taught you? Never have private conversations
in public!"
Erica’s face reddened from embarrassment
and she looked down at her feet to avoid her sister’s harsh gaze. Edith sighed
while rolling her eyes. She pulled Isolde to a standing position. She pulled
the dress off for a moment while tightening the strings against the young
woman’s protests.
"It’s only for a few minutes
until we get to our room," Edith reminded her after making Isolde look
halfway decent.
The Welshwoman nodded and
flinched as Elizabeth powdered over the bruises. Edith straightened herself and
led the rest from the cot area. They left with dignity, the nurse moving out of
Edith’s way in fear of her wrath. Moments later, they were entering the
stateroom.
Isolde was whisked behind the
changing screen. A few minutes later, she was in her comfortable clothing. The
other girls tossed the hats and shoes aside and stared at her intently.
"You’re with that
officer?" Erica asked incredulously, her jaw dropping. Edith tapped it
shut.
Isolde blushed, not knowing what
to say. Edith finally spoke up with a smile.
"I would like for you to
stay with us for the rest of the voyage," the oldest sister informed her.
"I really can’t…"
Isolde began nervously.
"You are," Edith said
patiently. "We’ll have our maids make a few dresses for you. You’ll enjoy
yourself."
"But my friends…" the
Welshwoman protested.
"Don’t worry. You can see
them anytime you wish, but meals will be spent here. We have a little bit of a
tight schedule, but it’s not hard to conform to."
"Please, Isolde?"
Elizabeth asked kindly.
"I really shouldn’t…"
"Well, that’s too bad,"
Edith replied, studying her nails. "I was hoping you would."
The other sister instantly
crowded Isolde and pleaded with her. The Welshwoman couldn’t take it any longer
and finally cut in with a "Yes!" They all smiled at each other, the
sisters bursting into giggling and planning all at once.