A VOYAGE TO REMEMBER
Chapter Twenty-Three
Even after agreeing to the Smith
sisters' offer, Isolde couldn't help but worry. "But won’t the officers
become suspicious that I just arrived at these meals? What if someone
recognizes me from steerage and turns me in?" Isolde began nervously.
"We’ll say you’ve been ill
for the first few days of the voyage," Elizabeth said with a shrug.
"But what if someone decides
to take a look at my background or something?"
"Mr. Andrews is a very good
friend of mine," Edith cut in with a smile. "He can prevent
that."
Isolde looked at her curiously,
as did the rest of the sisters. Edith ignored the staring, but turned her head
away. The Welshwoman could have sworn she’d seen her blush, but decided it
must’ve been a mistake.
"Should we measure her to
have dresses made?" Erica asked to break the silence.
"Oh, let’s!" Emily said
in excitement.
Edith nodded and a waved over a
maid. "Please bring Lucy here as quickly as possible."
The servant scooted off quickly.
Edith turned back to the others. A few moments later and there was a knock on
the door. Elizabeth opened it politely, welcoming a young redheaded woman with
an older one bustling after her, yards of fabric in her hands.
"Do you think you own the
ship or something?" the young lady began in exasperation. She sat down on
the loveseat with a huff, pulling off her hat.
"It’s lovely to see you as
well, Rose," Erica said, rolling her eyes.
"I had to come see you
all," Rose continued ranting, as if not hearing a single word. "Who
is so important that they had to take the only seamstress on this ship away
from me?" Rose suddenly noticed Isolde. "Will you get me a cup of
tea?" Isolde stood still in shock. Rose rolled her eyes and said to her,
"Go on." She turned back to Edith. "A slow one?"
"Rose!" Edith yelled at
her. "That is our guest! She is in need of a seamstress."
"You need a first class
seamstress for a steerage girl?" Rose asked incredulously. "That’s
insane! You’ll be caught for having her up here!"
"No such thing will happen
if you keep your trap shut," Elaine cut in. "You’ve seemed to keep
your own little plans a secret."
Edith raised an eyebrow at this.
"A secret? And you don’t tell your dear American friends?"
Rose turned away quickly. The
girls fell into bouts of giggling. Isolde was still in shock; her entire
situation had been revealed to more people in a matter of seconds.
"You can have the
seamstress." Rose sniffed, heading towards the door.
Elizabeth stood in front of it
with crossed arms.
"You’re in too deep
now," Edith said with a smirk. "We can’t let you off that
easily."
Rose looked back between all the
faces in the room. Not one would let her off the hook. She kept her chin high
and sat back on the seat.
"Then let the games
begin," she replied with a smirk that could rival Edith’s own.