Chapter 5

Henry sat engrossed in his study of the families business ledger when Franklin rose from the bunk and silently departed the cabin. Curiously he watched as his brother shut the door, briefly wondering if he should follow after. Yet Henry’s chivalry got the best, he understood that Franklin needed some alone time and besides He had some book work to attend to for their father.

As Franklin slowly walked across the ship, listening to the waves slapping against the hull, he knew that Joshua was right, for it was time he got over Elizabeth and his brother truly had nothing but the best intentions; yet Franklin could not help but feel sorrow.

Three months after Elizabeth had married Michael his heart still ached for her, to add insult to injury, when he had come upon her this morning, animatedly talking with her sister his heart shattered more.

She had seen him as well and made point to come over, “Good Morn, Franklin dear” Elizabeth had greeted as if they had been nothing more than acquaintances. She had then found it befitting to tell of her good fortune; Elizabeth was expecting a baby, a baby that very well could have been his had she accepted his proposal.

His anger resurfaced at the memory, at how he had stood there dumfounded by her words, his heartaching, embarrassed because not only had he suffered a lack of words yet he seemed imobile.

So consumed in his thoughts he hadnt even seen the young woman until they collided.

His gaze had been immediately drawn to her beautiful blue eyes, heart shaped face and full mouth, his fingers itched to comb through her sun colored silken strands of hair.

She had taken him completely off guard, and when she apologized he felt as if he had heard the angels speaking.

Further conversation ended up with his not only introducing himself, yet he found of her name, Lady Catherine Morgan, of Wilshire. He had ended up smitten by the roses in her cheeks as she invited him to stroll with her, and as much as Franklin had been tempted he heard his mother’s teaching in his mind, telling him how a proper gentleman nary would accept an invitation from a lady.

As Franklin turned to walk back towards his cabin it struck him that possibly, Henry was right, hurriedly he turned and invited her for an after dinner stroll about the decks and to his great pleasure she readily accepted.

Excitedly Franklin made his way back to their cabin, glee bubbling from out of him he burst into the room catching Henry off guard as he peered at one of the many logs he’d brought along on the trip. “Do you ever do anything but work?” Franklin questioned joyfully.

Henry heard the change in Franklins tone, such a difference from the moping voice he had been listening to over the course of the past couple of days. His interest piqued Henry closed the book, bending the corner to mark his spot and glanced up at him. “Dear brother what has thee so excited?” Henry laughed out, as he focused upon his brothers sparkling eyes, bright with nerves and joy. Noting the faint color to his usually pale cheeks. “I take it your walk was successful,” Henry continued probing happily as he saw the faintest of smiles creeping at the corner of Franklins mouth, the first in many months.

“Yes it was the most successful of strolls,” Franklin smiled, “For I have met the most wonderful young lady,” he exclaimed barely able to contain his excitement as he mentally perused his inventory of clothing, wanting to wear the best for that evenings dinner.

“She is the lady of Wilshire, although it seems odd since I had not known that the Grand Duke and Duchess had any relatives.” Franklin continued narrowing his eyes as he pondered between the navy suit, or traditional black. “I invited her on a stroll after dinner and she accepted,” he gleamed with excitement as he settled on the black.

“Congratulations!” Henry genuinly replied, “does this mean we will have the Franklin we all love and adore back?” He laughed out, chuckling.

“I will be perfectly content with a friendship,” Franklin replied, “but I do wish to ask, can you join us this evening, for I truly wish for you to meet her.” His words were hopeful, as he silently prayed his brother would agree.

“Dear sister, I met the most wonderful young man, his name is Franklin Grant and he declined my invitation for a stroll only to ask me on one after dinner.” Catherine murmured dreamily, absolutely glowing with joy. “Please Ava ,” she continued grabbing Ava’s hand for emphasis, “Please be my escort, for I know grandmother would not approve of my walking with him alone ?” Ava failingly attempted to withhold the smile at her sisters pleading blue eyes, as she gently squeezed her hand waiting for her response.

Seeing how happy it made Catherine and how this simple stroll seemingly got her mind off Jonathon Ava could not help but agree most heartily to the being her escort, warranting a grateful hug and a squeal of joy.

Promptly at seven Beatrice arrived at Ava and Catherine’s cabin door, dressed in full dinner wear, she skimmed over her granddaughters with her eyes and offered a nod of approval before escorting them towards the captains quarters, where dinner would be served.

Ava smiled as she set eyes upon their grandfather who patiently awaited their arrival, while he talked with captain Regan, “there are my beautiful ladies” he boomed joyfully as he set eyes upon them, with a gentle kiss upon all three of their cheeks he set about introducing them one by one to the handsome governor of the ship.

Captain Regan was quite taken with Ava, his eyes barely able to move away from her as he spoke. “Your Grace, your eldest granddaughter is a sight to behold,” he complimented as the object of his admiration entered the quarters towards the other passengers.

Ava was taken aback at the size of the Captains quarters, it must have been a third of the ship itself and had been lavishly decorated with rich mahogany wood paneling, golden candelabras that twinkled with light, a grand table sat in the middle of the room filled with fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry and beef. The sight and smell of the food reminding her of just how hungry she was. Inwardly she groaned at the prospect of having to wait for the other guests to arrive and the Captain to finish his prayer.

“Stop fidgeting,” Ava whispered to Catherine who sat impatiently in her seat looking hopefully towards the door for her new friend.

“I cant help it, he promised a walk after dinner but he hasn’t arrived yet” she responded nervously. “oh there he is,” she exclaimed happily pointing towards the door in a most unlady like fashion.

“Cat it is rude to point, now stop making such a fool of yourself,” Ava scolded, craning her own neck to catch a glimpse of the family.

Franklin was quite handsome with a head full of copper waves, and by the rather uncanny resemblance to the beautiful woman beside him, Ava gathered she was his mother.

Slowly she turned her gaze towards the man, that she assumed was his father, her breath catching in her throat at the vision of him. He had thick chestnut hair a strong jaw and wide mouth, and for a brief moment she thought he resembled their guest that had captured her heart two years before. A notion she hurriedly dismissed, for if that had been the case he surely would have been with them, unless of course he was married she suddenly thought with horror.

Before she could turn her gaze, Ava spotted their grandmother as she hurried across the crowded room, ushering the three towards Catherine and herself.

Ava and Catherine promptly stood as they arrived at the table, “Lady Grant, I would like for you to meet my granddaughter’s,” grandmother began proudly, “Our Eldest, Lady Ava , we are headed back to Wilshire Manor for her announcement into society,” Beatrice cheerfully continue, “And this is her young sister, just sixteen this Week, Miss Catherine.” She finished turning towards the younger of the two girls, pride reflected in her regal gaze.

“Girls, This is Lady Grant, Duchess of Woolbridge, Her Husband the Duke, and her youngest son Franklin,” Beatrice introduced.

“It is a pleasure to meet you and your family, lady Grant.” Ava and Catherine uniformly greeted, with a curtsy.

“Your Grace, I had not known that you had grandchildren?” The pretty woman exclaimed, with a pleasant smile.

Ava watched with well hidden disgust as their grandmother went into a well versed speech, “Well it came as quite a shock to us as well, I mean after all these years we’d presumed our beloved Annette to be deceased. Then one day about two years ago I found a story of a remarkable young girl, who according to my confidant closely resembled my beloved daughter. So I made contact and found from their father, he had indeed married a young woman named Annette and when he showed me her broach I knew it was her.” Beatrice paused to wearily glance upon both her granddaughters, silently telling them to not utter a word, “Sadly dear Annette had passed in birth some nine years earlier, twas a pity for I would so liked to have seen her once more.” Her words stunned Ava, no matter how many times in the past she had heard them, they were still the furthest from truth, yet dutifully Ava maintained her composure.

“It is truly wonderful to find that you have an heir to the title, especially after all these years that you believed you had nothing and yet it is sad that you will not be able to see your daughter again.” Lady Grant smiled to Beatrice, genuine pity in her voice. “It must be wonderful for you girls to have been so blessed in finding that you are of nobility,” She continued, turning her attentions to Ava and Catherine.

“We ourselves are enroute to England, for we’ve finally accepted an arrangement for Henry,” Eleanor beamed happily, “Although he is quite besot with the information, apparently he had met a young woman, very much below our standards and had hoped they could be unified,” She continued, her words meaning nothing to Ava.

“Speaking of, where is the young Vis-count?” Beatrice questioned earnestly.

“Busy in his cabin working on the books, I swear that young man does nothing but.” Eleanor laughed, suddenly stopping as her gaze fell upon the door. “Oh, Wait there he is now, I shall just go and grab him for I am sure he would adore to meet your granddaughters,” she excitedly exclaimed before hurrying towards the door, where a tall dark haired man stood, engrossed in conversation with his father.

Ava watched with intrigue as Duchess Grant gently placed a hand upon the young mans shoulder, suddenly feeling dizzy and weak as he turned and smiled. Her heart pounded within her breast and her her mind spun, at long last she had found him, learned his name; as he began towards them the room began to spin and everything went dark.

Ava came to in the darkness of her cabin, with Gertie at her side, while their grandmother escorted Catherine on her stroll with the young man.

“Good to see your back my lady,” Gertie greeted warmly when Ava’s eyes fluttered open.

“What happened?” Ava croaked hoarsely as she pushed herself up from the bed, wincing at the pain behind her eyes.

“Apparently you were about to meet a vis-count, when you fainted, your grandfather brought you back here while your grandmother called upon me, so she could escort your sister on a stroll.

“Yes she had, oh she must be devastated that Grandmother is escorting her,” Ava murmured suddenly remembering why she had fainted. “Gertie , the vis-count, is Henry Grant,” she blurted out as Ava stood.

“Yes, handsome isn’t he, although I didn’t expect that you would faint over him,” Gertie replied with a humorous grin.

Ava’s mind spun as she thought about it, “I first met him at the farm, the night before Grandmother arrived to collect Catherine and I,” she explained nervously. “Despite his horrific attitude to start, I found myself falling in love with him, yet I had figured we could never be until I found out I was of nobility,“ she continued, her words coming in a flurry. “I vowed the day he left with my heart I would someday find a way to marry him. Even though I never knew his name, only his face and now as if by fate I have found him once more.“ Ava sighed her heart bursting with joy, suddenly remembering the duchess of Woolbridge’s comment. “Although he is currently betrothed to another,” she finished bitterly, noticing the look upon her hand maids face.

“My lady, how do you know he even remembers you, he is a vis-count and at that time he merely would have seen you as a poor farm girl.” Gertie soothed, “I understand you have feelings for the man, but you cannot get your hopes up for he is already in an arrangement.” She finished kindly.

Unwilling to accept Gerties words, Ava shook her head, “I saw it in his eyes, I had forgotten he was there and had it not been for Catherine walking into the room I know he would have kissed me.” She argued, “I just know that he must feel the same for me as I do for him, why else would we be here together at this time?” she questioned, receiving a mere shake of Gerties head in reply.

That evening as Henry lay upon his bunk in the dark cabin, he couldn’t help but wonder.

It had all started that evening when his mother had approached him, wishing him tomeet the young countess of Wilshire, yet as he approached she had fainted leaving him with only a glimpse as her grandfather carried her away.

Her face although partial struck his heart, how could it be? She had merely been a commoner, a farmer’s daughter yet still his soul ached.

Adding to the confusion of the matterr his mothe had explained that the Duchess’s daughter had not passed, at least not until having birthed two daughters. Moreover he was brought back to his original thoughts when he had met her, the fairytale of sorts he had grown up hearing at every social gathering.

Suddenly it occurred to Henry, the young blond woman he had seen when they entered the ship, the reason he could not place her, for if it were true, she would be several years older than when they had last met.

With pounding heart he ran the scenario through his mind, deep within his heart hoping that the young noble woman of this eve was in fact his object of affection…