Constable

The next few days passed in a whirlwind as Carrie spent as much time as possible with Robert. Aboard Lusitania, it was as if they were in their own private world, their own secret bubble, and the outside world didn’t matter. They could take their meals together, stroll around the deck holding hands, and sit in one another’s company unchaperoned talking about life–their hopes and dreams–and anything and everything that mattered to them.
For the most part, Carrie had forgotten all about Victor Anderson. Though the thought of him sneaking up on them sometimes invaded her thoughts, she managed to put it out of her mind most of the time. He hadn’t bothered them one bit since the concert. Robert had proven he was more than capable of protecting her and himself. Still, from time to time, she’d see a dark shadow pass over his face and wondered if he wasn’t thinking about his old employer. While there were perks to being on the ship–such as a lack of responsibility and mundane tasks to attend to each day–it was also a bit of a disadvantage because they couldn’t be completely rid of Mr. Anderson.
With the sun shining bright above them, Carrie and Robert strolled down the promenade, breathing in the fresh sea air and listening to the laughter of children playing nearby. It always made Carrie smile to hear them. She missed Henry terribly. Letting out a sigh, she tried not to think of the Ashtons. They were her family, after all. If Mrs. Ashton went into labor before she got back, and she missed the birth, she’d be disappointed.
“Is something the matter?” Robert asked, stopping and pulling her over to the railing. Leaning his elbow on top of the barrier, he said, “You look distraught.”
Carrie let out a low chuckle. “I’m sorry. No, everything is perfectly fine. I was just hoping Ms. Meg doesn’t go into labor while I’m away. I’d love to be there for the birth of her baby.”
He nodded in understanding. “Do you like children, Carrie?”
“I love them,” she admitted, feeling her face flush. “Little Henry is so sweet. Lizzie and Ruth are a handful sometimes, but I do enjoy playing with their dolls and boats and things with them.”
A grin brightened his face. “I think you’d be a wonderful mother someday, Carrie. It’s clear you’re very caring.”
She had to look away, her eyes dropping to the tips of her shoes where they peeked out beneath her long blue gown. “Thank you. It will make it more difficult to travel the world.” Another chuckle escaped her as she managed to lift her gaze to meet his. “I do love to go on adventures when I’m given the opportunity.”
“Oh, I think lots of people are able to travel with their children. Look around us.” He gestured at where the little ones were playing with a ball further down the deck. Carrie noted the smile on his face. It appeared to be genuine, as if he, too, liked children. “Perhaps you’ll marry a rich gentleman who can hire a team of nannies for you.”
The thought of marrying someone other than Robert made her smile falter a bit, but it was too soon for them to be speaking about anything of that nature, even in their Lusitania bubble. “Do you think my rich husband will allow me to take our brood of children on a safari trek to the Conga?” she asked in a teasing voice. “Or to see the native people of Australia in their natural habitat?”
Laughing, he leaned back against the railing so both elbows protruded over the edge. “I’m sure he will if he has the right number of nannies aboard his various modes of transportation.”
They shared a chuckle as Carrie imagined herself on a much smaller boat snaking her way down a wild river populated with all kinds of dangerous animals and insects, surrounded by at least half a dozen children–all of them having Robert’s eyes and her hair.
“Look, Miss Carrie!” a familiar voice shouted from a few feet further down the railing. “I believe I’ve spotted another dolphin!”
Carrie whirled around to see Hannah standing there, pointing out at the sea. She looked around and noticed Mrs. Smythe snoozing in a deck chair not too far away.
Walking over, Carrie took a spot next to Hannah with Robert behind her. “Well, Miss Hannah, I didn’t even see you there.”
“I’ve only just arrived, and look at the luck of it. See the dolphins? There’s more than one this time.”
Following where she was pointing, Carrie squinted a bit, but then she saw them–an entire pod of dolphins swimming alongside the ship. They weren’t so far away that they couldn’t easily be made out as they swam.
“Well, look at that!” Robert exclaimed, leaning down closer to Hannah. “Do you see that one has a baby alongside it?”
“Oh, it does!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands. “How wonderful!”
“It is remarkable,” Carrie agreed, unable to pull her eyes away from the sight. “Hannah, I don’t believe you’ve met my friend Mr. Crawford.”
“How do you do?” Hannah didn’t turn around to greet him, likely for fear of missing the excitement in front of her.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Robert replied. Carrie stole a glance at him and couldn’t help but grin at the way he was pointing out the dolphins to Hannah. He told her some amusing facts about the species, information Carrie didn’t even know, about how fast they swim and how often they come up for air. Robert was an encyclopedia of information, and seeing him interact so well with Hannah solidified her thoughts that he would, one day, make a wonderful father.
After about ten minutes, the dolphins rambled off to some other part of the sea, fading from view. “Well, I suppose they’ve had enough excitement for one day,” Carrie said with a sigh. “Maybe they don’t enjoy staring up at our ship nearly as much as we like watching them.”
“That’s too bad.” The young girl let out a deep breath. “I suppose I should get back to Mrs. Smythe now.”
Carrie patted her on the shoulder. “I hope the rest of your day is pleasant.”
“Thank you.” The words seemed forced. Carrie knew Hannah wasn’t all that fond of her governess.
“It was charming to meet you, Miss Hannah.” Robert offered his hand.
A genuine smile lit Hannah’s face as she shook his hand. “You as well, sir.” Then, leaning closer to Carrie, she whispered, “This one is even more handsome than Mr. Lane.”
Biting down on her lip to keep from laughing, Carrie whispered back, “He is very good looking.” She looked up at Robert, and their eyes met. She knew he’d heard her, and she didn’t mind one bit.
As Hannah headed off to meet her governess, Carrie slipped her arm through Robert’s. “Now, that was an adventure. Do you suppose we’ll see anything like that on our journey up the Congo?”
“Oh? Am I coming with you?” Robert teased. “Don’t you think your husband and children might mind if I tag along?”
Feeling heat rush to her cheeks, Carrie went along with the joke. “Oh, I don’t think he’ll mind one bit. I intend to marry a generous man.”
Robert leaned down so close that his breath tickled her neck, “Any man willing to share you with another is a fool.”
Her breath caught in her throat as she turned her face toward him, their lips so close she could practically feel his mouth on hers. What would it hurt to share just a little kiss? Even out here in public?
The sound of heavy footsteps clomping toward them had both of their heads spinning around, the moment stolen away. “There he is!” Victor approached them, his arm extended, his finger pointing directly at Robert. “That’s the man that assaulted me!”
“What?” The word left Carrie’s lips as she pulled away to cover her mouth with both hands. How dare Victor make such an accusation against Robert. “That’s not true!”
The man behind Victor was dressed in a uniform that declared he was part of the Lusitania staff, but something about him seemed to drip authority. As he stepped forward, Carrie realized this was the ship’s constable, the man in charge of rounding up any ruffians or troublemakers.
“Mr. Anderson, you know that’s not true,” Robert began. “You struck me first.”
“That’s a bold face lie!” Victor’s finger continued to wag in Robert’s face.
“All right, all right,” the constable said, stepping forward. “I’ll handle this now, Mr. Anderson.”
“Sir, I was there,” Carrie began. “I saw the whole thing–”
“Yes, yes,” he said dismissively. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to take Mr. Crawford here down for questioning.” The constable, who’d had yet to name himself, pulled a pair of handcuffs from the pocket of his jacket.
“Handcuffs?” Robert’s eyes nearly doubled in size. “That won’t be necessary. I’m more than happy to come with you, Officer.”
“That’s Constable Pierce, thank you,” he replied. Tall with dark hair and a handlebar mustache, the man had to be at least twenty years older than the rest of them and spoke with the authority of someone who was used to giving orders.
Sort of like Victor Anderson.
“Yes, Constable Pierce,” Robert replied politely. “I can promise you I don’t need to be restrained.”
“Of course he does! Look at my face!” Victor pointed at his eye, which was still black and blue, the swelling having gone down so at least it opened all the way. His nose was also a bit swollen, though it didn’t appear to be broken.
“My lip is still split, and I don’t see anyone trying to put handcuffs on you,” Robert pointed out.
“You accosted me first!” Victor shouted, leaning up on his tiptoes so he was almost Robert’s height. “Don’t you know who I am?”
“I should. I worked for you for three years,” Robert calmly reminded him.
At those words, Constable Pierce hesitated a moment. “This is a former employee?”
“That’s right.” Victor no longer attempted to hide the truth behind the situation. “And he accosted me when I fired him.”
Ignoring the crowd of people beginning to gather around them, Carrie said, “You didn’t fire him. He quit because you wouldn’t take no for an answer from me, Mr. Anderson.”
Once again, recognition dawned on Constable Pierce’s face. He blew out a breath. “Mr. Crawford, come with me to my office so I can get to the bottom of this. I’ve already taken a statement from Mr. Anderson.”
“Yes, of course. I’ll go peaceably,” Robert said like the gentleman he was.
“And you, miss? What is your name?” The older gentleman inclined his head toward Carrie.
“Carrie Boxhall, sir.”
“And are you a First Class passenger?”
“I am,” she assured him, a bit embarrassed.
“And is Mr. Crawford staying with you in your rooms?” Constable Pierce’s voice seemed to carry across the boat deck, leaving people gasping at the scandal.
“No, of course not. He’s staying with a mutual friend, Jonathan Lane.” Carrie felt her face turning bright red at the accusation.
“Oh, yes.” The constable nodded as if he recognized Jonathan’s name for some reason. But then, knowing her friend, Carrie surmised that Jonathan had already made the acquaintance of every important person on the ship, especially the one in charge of keeping law and order. “Very well. Come along, Mr. Crawford.”
“I shall come, too,” Mr. Anderson announced, his chin in the air.
“That won’t be necessary.” A stern look from the constable put Victor in his place. “I shall handle the situation from here.”
“But–” Victor began, but he was cut off by the man who was truly in charge.
“I said I’ll handle it.”
Victor shrunk back a few steps. “Fine then.”
Recognizing what was about to happen. Carrie squeezed Robert’s arm and took off through the crowd before she found herself without Robert in Victor’s presence. She knew she wouldn’t be permitted to go along with the constable and him to the office, and the last thing she wanted was to be left alone with Victor–even amidst the crowd of people who’d come to see what was happening.
She slipped through the bystanders as quickly as she could and made her way inside, practically running back to her room. She needed to reach safety before Victor found her.
And she needed to find Jonathan.