Cold All the Way Through, But Warming

A Questioning

My days fell into a pattern for the first few weeks. I would rise early in the morning, a maid bringing me breakfast and helping me dress. Then it was off to the offices in the carriage, to learn whatever Mr. Keller decided to impart to me that day. He had started with more contracts for me to review, and he helped me begin to understand how connected Dalian Shipping was around the world, how our clients spanned the globe and needed our ships to do their business. One day he rode with me to the shipyard, and we walked through the latest ship taking shape. Great steel ribs, half plated with their steel skin, rose high above us as we listened to the designer talk about all that went into building and launching a new ship. It felt like my mind was being continually filled each day, the knowledge absorbing overnight and my head ready to be stuffed again the next morning.

If I was not with Mr. Keller, I was with Mrs. Brown. The woman was a whirlwind of activity, she had scheduled her ball for the last Saturday in May, before everyone began to flee up north to Newport for the summer. A location had been found, but flowers needed to be ordered, invitations written, musicians hired and it seemed a thousand other small tasks. I made myself as available as I could, it helped distract me from missing Will. After his departure, I had tried to make myself seen during my involvement in this cause. It had garnered me some small compliments in the columns, and the undercurrent of connecting the officers and I had begun to settle. It was hard to argue that I had been celebrating the sinking with the men behind it when I had publicly cried at my the funeral of my father who had been lost in it and set myself to helping those who had lost everything. The papers had begun to cast about for other bits of gossip, and I was thankful for it. It was one less thing to worry about at the moment.

I had only just returned from helping Mrs. Brown decide between a massive display of delphiniums or a riot of roses for the ball. She had gone with the delphiniums, but had taken hours to decide. And then it had been off to somewhere for lunch, where my mourning dress had made me stand out like a sore thumb. I had just sat down in my dressing room and removed my gloves, thinking how nice it would be to wear a tea gown and try and relax, when Peggy came in with a calling card. "Senator Smith is here for you, Miss."

I sighed. "See him in Peggy and bring some refreshment." She nodded and hurried off. The inquiry had been proceeding even as more of the crew and survivors departed the city. I had stopped attending every meeting, I had only really been going to support Will and the others. That papers had been keeping me well appraised of its goings on, along with all the various rumors and gossip related to it. Once focus of the reporters lately had been allegations against Lady and Sir Duff Gordon that they bribed the sailors not to go back and rescue people from the water. While I could not say for sure if it was accurate, I could easily see the Reichsters going along with such a scheme. I sighed, flexing my hands. They were sore after so much writing at the office and helping address invitations.

I moved myself down to the parlor, cursing the stairs and thinking how nice it would be to install a elevator, and busied myself by tidying it. It wasn't messy, but I wanted to felt like I needed to do something, even if it was just piling up magazines and placing them out of the way. Soon enough Senator Smith came in with the same nervous aide I had met during the inquiry, followed by Peggy with a large tray holding some simple sandwiches and a pitcher of lemonade. I nodded my thanks to her as she left. The aide settled himself at a table, pulling a sheaf of paper, a pen and a small inkstand from his case. I turned my gaze back to the Senator. He looked tired, but his suit was brushed and pressed. He was still standing, looking down at me. "Miss Dalian."

"Senator Smith."

"I wish to convey my deepest condolences on the loss of your father."

"Thank you Senator, but I have a feeling that is not the true purpose of your business here." I nodded to the settee across from my chair. "Sit."