Chapter 4 part 2

George, Beatrice, Catherine and Ava boarded the ship early on the morning of May first, so early the sun had barely risen and seemingly the weather was determined to match Ava's mood as a faint drizzle began, misting her hair and dress.

Ava looked upon the tiny ship in dismay, this was to be her home for the next two months, gone were the spring flowers and fragrant grass, gone was the sight of the sun glistening amongst the dew that clung to the tiny buds on the fruit trees. Grandfather walked beside her, his arms protectively wrapped about her shoulders as he guided them up the dock and onto the cramped ship.

The crew members stared with hungry eyes receiving a disapproving glare from grandfather, one that made them wither away back to their duties. Grandmother flanked by several of the staff snapped and snarled as a burlesque ship hand dropped one of our many trunks between Catherine’s and my bunks. “Sir, that trunk contains fragile items, I pray that you take that into consideration the next time you carry one of our trunks.” she growled, hurriedly rummaging through the packed trunk to ensure nothing had broken. Satisfied all contents were safe from harm she stood with a withering glare before gliding back onto the deck.

“Oh this is so tiny,” Catherine groaned in disappointment, as her blue eyes scanned the cabin with disgust. There were two bunks, each hard as stone, a tiny table was bolted to the floor in the corner, a cupboard hung just above which she tentatively opened in curiosity, finding nothing but a rat.

“EEEEEEE!” Catherine screamed in horror as the furry rodent jumped down and ran for the door and then under her bed when it realized there was no chance at escape.

Grandmother, Grandfather and at several burlesque ship hands came running at the horrific sound; yet all Ava could do was laugh at how her sister had blanched and was currently standing upon the small lounge in their cabin, shaking with apparent fear.

“What’s wrong Catherine?” Grandfather questioned with a mixture of confusion and humor, undoubtedly wondering why Ava stood there laughing like a hyena.

“It was a monstrous rat” Catherine whimpered pointing to the cupboard, “and now it is under my bunk” she cried, letting loose another blood curdling scream as the rodent saw it’s opportunity to escape and bolted for the open door.

Ava to fell into an even bigger fit of laughter as their grandmother followed suit, screeching and jumping up beside Catherine.

Having found the reason Catherine screamed and Ava laughed grandfather himself could not hold back, with a clap of his hands he bellowed out a thunderous laugh, earning him a baleful glare from his wife and youngest granddaughter.

“Tis not Funny George!” Beatrice snarled with as much ferocity as she could muster. “We are gentle women and the sight of such a horrific creature frightened us terribly.” She finished before gingerly stepping off the bunk and onto the floor, jumping as someone made a movement.

“Dear wife, you’ve spent enough time on ships to know that they carry rats as well as several other unsavory creatures,” grandfather laughed heartily.

“As that may be, I have never been subjected to the sight of one” she glowered before storming off in embarrassment. While grandfather, took long steps to keep up with her attempting to apologize in between thick laughs on the way.

“And you dear sister have seen far worse than a rat, I fear you are beginning to go soft,” Ava giggled once everyone had gone.

“I have never been so close to a rat before,” Catherine replied shakily, “did you see its eyes, they glowed from the dark, it wished to bite me.” she continued “I fear I shall not be able to sleep tonight from the memory of it. for I will be sure it will crawl into my bedding and lay its little rat babies in my hair.” she finished dramatically as she reached her hand to her hair in dismay.

“Catherine, rats do not lay babies, they birth their young,” Ava laughed, “more over, the creature is more frightened of you than you are of it, and unless you have food in your bedding or your hair I highly doubt it will come anywhere near you.” She finished before settling in a chair and opening a book to read.

Catherine had stayed the rest of the morning at the edge of the plank watching, listening, hoping her beloved Jonathon would come; yet Ava knew nothing of the sort would happen for their grandparents had paid his family handsomely to keep him from her. Which weighed heavily upon her heart, for it meant she must keep a secret from her beloved sister, the secret that she was never to see him again, yet unable to tell Catherine of the deceit Ava let her stand there, let her wait.

Henry and his family made it to the port with just enough time to board, Franklin, his younger brother dallied behind in protest, after having suffered a horrid break from the young woman he’d been courting and when he’d proposed she declined only to marry his best friend a month later.

“Franklin, dear brother it has been three months since she betrayed your love now we head for England, where I am sure you will find someone that will love thee more.” Henry encouraged, “besides if you think about it, I am the lamb to the slaughter for mother and father have found my bride and I bet she is as lovely as a pig” he attempted in effort to make Franklin smile.

“I care not to ever love again, with Elizabeth’s love gone so is my heart.” Franklin mumbled sadly as he solemnly boarded.

Henry saw the girl at once, beautiful with light blonde hair and blue eyes, somehow her image strikingly familiar to him, quickly Henry scanned through his memories failingly trying with all his might to remember where it was he could possibly have met her. Resigned to not being able to piece together the puzzle he guided Franklin to their cabin, the mere sight of her eating away at him as a mouse with a piece of cheese.

As Henry entered his room he spied his mother, chatting amiably with another of the ships boards, her movements and mannerisms telling him that something excited her profusely; something he was in no rush to find out as he knew that sooner than later she would tell him of. For right now Henry’s main concern was to pull his sulking brother from his lowly state.

Despite Henry’s efforts to remember where he’d seen the girl before he decided to try to ignite his brother’s interest, while he silently hoped she was not one of his many flirtatious conquests of past. “Franklin, did you not see that pretty young lady standing at the edge, why do you not go and talk with her?” he murmured unsurely, partly relieved yet mostly annoyed at his brothers grunt of displeasure as he flopped onto the hard bunk.

Catherine lay heavily upon her bunk, pain etched across her pretty face after she returned from watching the city of New York fade into nothing but ocean “How can you be so calm? Especially when both our lives are about to be altered profusely,” she tersely questioned, not bothering to hide the tears in her eyes as her voice reflected her anguish.

“We are being given the opportunity to expand our world, see more of our heritage and who’s to say the alteration is not for the better?” Ava replied earnestly, without looking up from her journal. She knew that her sister was aching, not only at the loss of Jonathon but as herself the loss of all they had ever known.

“I do not see how it could be for the better when I am separated from my one true love,” she whined irritably.

“Dear Catherine if you are to allow yourself to wallow in self pity, then I care not to speak now. Accept that some changes are for the best, I understand you may love him but I believe you are still young and will most likely meet someone that you love even more,” by the look in her eyes Ava could tell she took her words harshly but before she could apologize Catherine jumped up and ran from the cabin in a dramatic fashion.

Catherine could not believe how her beloved sister could be so insensitive to her plight, true she had never been in love before and she seemed the type to live out her days alone rather than in the accompaniment of a gentleman. Still she was her sister and therefore should know just how much Catherine loved him, especially after the last night when he had proposed.

Catherine’s heartbroken, she sadly stood at the end of the ship looking in the direction from whence they had come, wondering if he stood there on the dock his heart aching as hers did now, pondering if he had been as saddened by the fact that he’d missed the opportunity to say goodbye to her.

Possibly her sister was correct, yet Catherine was unable to fathom how, so she stood watching and waiting until the sun began its decent over the horizon, when she finally turned to head back to Ava.

Unable to see in the dim light of the early evening she bumped into a rather large block, that as she brought her gaze up found was actually a handsome young man about her age.

“oh, I am terribly sorry,” Catherine apologized, suddenly aware of how she must look with red rimmed and puffy eyes from hours of crying.

“Oh no,” Franklin blushed as his gaze fell upon the beautiful young woman’s face, “For it most definitely my fault for not having been paying attention to where I was headed, So I should apologize to you,” he hurriedly deferred with a smile as he focused upon the young woman.

“Where are my manners,” he mumbled shyly his deep green eyes twinkling, “Franklin Grant,” He greeted with a bow.

Catherine could not help but blush as she stared into his face, “Catherine Morgan, of Wilshire,” She replied nervously, fighting back the giggle of excitement that wanted to escape her lips and hoping he didn’t see the blush that rose into her cheeks as she curtsied. “It is a pleasure to meet you mister Grant,” She whispered.

The two stood in stunned silence for a moment, unable to take their gaze away from one another. Catherine was quite taken by his handsome features, his beautiful eyes and thick strawberry blond locks, and Franklin in awe at her angelic colorings.

“I was just about to take a stroll about the deck,” Catherine whispered, “Possibly you would like to join me?” She questioned hopefully, suddenly remembering that it was improper to ask a gentleman to accompany you, especially without an escort.

Franklin smiled at her comment, wanting for the first time in weeks to spend his time in the company of someone other than his broken heart. “I fear I cannot accept,” He murmured shyly, “For it is improper for a lady to ask.” Seeing the look of horror that crossed her face, “Yet I would very much enjoy a stroll after dinner, if you would care to join me?” He hurriedly questioned silently wishing she would not decline him.

“Oh yes, I would very much enjoy that,” Catherine readily accepted, her embarrassment suddenly vanished, “although pulling my sister from her book shall prove quite a feat,” She laughed, as Catherine silently prayed her sister would agree to escort her.

“Then I shall meet with you this eve,” Franklin excitedly stated, before turning.

Catherine waited until after Franklin had disappeared from view before she ecstatically ran towards her and Ava’s cabin.

“CATHERINE!” The sharp tone of her grandmother’s voice halted her in her tracks, “A lady does not run, she walks. And I pray the next time you speak with a gentleman, you are in the accompaniment of an escort,” Beatrice scolded, disapprovingly.

“Yes granmere,” Catherine quietly responded, color rushing to her cheeks once more as she curtsied and resuming her journey back to the cabin.

Ava sat with her nose stuck in a book, trying with all her might to get one final page out in the waning light. “Grandmother was just looking for you,” she stated, without looking up as Catherine entered the cabin.

Catherine Smiled knowingly, “Yes, I came upon her while I was in return,” she smiled, her joyful tone alerting Ava at once.

In amazement and intrigue Ava closed her book and glanced up, “What do I owe the change of heart too?” she questioned happily, all her attentions focused upon her sister.

“Oh Ava, I’ve the most wonderful news,” Catherine began, “And a very large favor to ask,” She happily stated…