The Ocean's Daughter (Sequel to Sirene)

Chapter 21

 Oceana stood in front of the mirror trying t o decide if she should wear the cream colored dress or the paisley blue one. She was going to call on the Chestertons this afternoon and wanted to look just right.

 Oceana had seen a great deal of the Admiral and Wesley Chesterton during the past few weeks and had come to greatly treasure their company which wasn't at all like the type of society Miss Patterson usually entertained. With them Oceana could actually talk of interesting subjects. Admiral Chesterton would talk a great deal about his seafaring days and give many war stories, which were fascinating and interesting and kept everyone glued to their seats with baited breath. But it was Wesley Oceana liked talking to the most. He was about as quiet as the Admiral was loud, yet he never lacked in subjects to talk about and never let the conversation get awkward. Unlike the Admiral, Wesley could of things that didn't necessarily have to do with the sea. He was well knowledgeable in literature, though sadly he didn't seem to care too much for poetry. He knew enough mythology to keep up with Oceana when she would talk about it and was her competition when it came to history.

 Wesley's visits had become the highlight of Oceana's day and were really the only thing she looked forward to while staying in London.

 Just the other day a note had arrived from Wesley, informing them that the Admiral's old wound was acting up again and he was feeling very poorly. Oceana had decided it was high time for her to return the favor and call on the Admiral and Wesley.

 Miss Patterson had been all for the idea, but was not able to come along as she was going to the asylum to work out the details of Emily Mellwick coming to stay with her in a few weeks time. She had arranged for a chaperon to go along with Oceana, a certain Mrs. Stollard who was a friend of her and often agreed to chaperone young ladies when needed.

 Now Oceana found herself needing to leave in an hour but still unable to make up her mind about the dress.

 "Where is Beth when you need her?” Oceana grumbled It was strange for Oceana, who had never cared about clothes to suddenly be so particular about what she wore. “I wonder if it means something?” Oceana thought as she played with one dress, then with the other. At last with a resigned sigh she ran the bell and waited for Felicity to come up.

 “You called, Miss Oceana?” Felicity asked as she entered the room.

 “I can't decide which dress to wear,” Oceana said with a frustrated laugh. “I need some help.”

 Felicity studied both dresses for a moment. “I would go with the cream colored one, Miss Oceana. Here, shall I help you put it on?”

 “Oh, I think I can manage that myself.”

 “But I am here anyway,” Felicity scooped up the dress. “You are going to call on the Admiral are you not?” She asked as she helped Oceana into the sleeves.

 “Yes, Lt. Chesterton wrote and said he was not feeling well.”

 “Hope you don't mind me asking this, Miss Oceana, but are you fond of the Lieutenant?”

 “I am very fond of him,” Oceana admitted and felt her cheeks going a little hot. “He isn't quite like anyone I have ever met before. I enjoy his company and when I am with him I quite forget about anyone else in the room. Oh dear, that probably sounded very foolish.”

 “Not at all foolish, Miss Oceana, although I will say it did sound a little like Miss Beth when she would speak of the doctor.”

 “Oh no, I am getting 'Beth Syndrome', this cannot be good,” Oceana let out a giggle.

 Felicity did the buttons in the back of the dress and looked at Oceana with satisfaction. “There Miss, you look very well. I will do you hair and you will be ready to go

 ***

 “It is very kind of you to visit the invalid,” Admiral Chesterton kindly said when the housekeeer, Mrs. Browne had led Oceana into the sitting room where Admrial Chesterton and Wesley were sitting.

 “I felt we owe you a visit after all the times you called on us,” Oceana kindly said as she took the Admirals hand in hers. “I am so sorry to hear your wound is causing you trouble. When did you get it?”

 “In the Mahdist War. This wound did win me a medal though, so I guess it isn't all bad. It never healed properly, and that is why from time to time it acts up. But I don't complain, I am a soldier and battle wounds are a part of my life.”

 “To think you have actually been in battle,” Oceana relfected as she took a seat opposite the Admiral and Wesley. Mrs. Stollard took a chair in the corner of the room. She wasn't planning on entering the conversation, she was simply there to keep an eye on things.

 “Has Lt. Chesterton ever been to battle?” Oceana turned to look at Wesley. Her eyes met his, as they seemed to have a habit of doing recently, and caused her to break into a shy smile. Wesley smiled back at her, but before he had a chance to say anything, Admiral Chesterton replied for him.

 “No, there hasn't been a war for him to be in.Thank goodness for that. Battles and war are very ugly affairs and I would not wish any man to have to go through it. If God permits, I hope Wesley will never have to see any of the things I had to see.”

 "Though of course there is no way of knowing what is to come,” Wesley softly put in. “After all, we cannot predict the future.”

 “That is true, very true,” Admiral Chesterton solemnly agreed with him.

 “Then may I ask where did Lt. Chesterton get his medals from?” Oceana spoke again after a brief period of silence.

 “Ah, he got his two medals for gallantry at sea.” The Admiral beamed with pride. “The first one was when he saved Captain Morrely's life. Nearly drowned himself, but that didn't stop him. Wesley will never think of himself if another man's life is in danger. The second he received during the voyage to India when they had been caught in a fierce storm and it was Wesley's quick thinking that saved the ship.”

 “So you are a hero then, Lt. Chesterton?” Oceana's eyes were full of admiration.

 “No, no, the Admiral is really making more of the story then there truly was.” Wesley waved his hand in protest.

 “No need to be modest, Wesley, especially when you are trying to impress a lady.”

 Oceana laughed at this and though the Admiral's statement had made Wesley rather uncomfortable, he cracked a smile.

 “We'd better stop making Lt. Chesterton feel so uncomfortable,” Oceana noticed Wesley's discomfort and sought to change the subject. Glancing around the room her eyes rested on a large model of a ship. “Ooh, that is 120 gun, three decker ship, is it not?” She pointed to the vessel.

Wesley shook his head with admiration. “It never ceases to amaze me, Miss Oceana, how much you know about ships. Yes, that is a model of the HMS Britannia, formally known as the Prince of Wales. And yes, she is a 120 gunners.”

 “A ship like would probably be able to do a full twelve knots," Oceana spoke in a voice filled with true regard for the sea vessel. “What became of the real ship?”

 “Oh, she's out there somewhere,” Admiral Chesterton said. “If you like model ships, I have an entire collection of them. Have nothing better to do with my time while Wesley is out at sea.”

 “You made this model?”

 “I did indeed. It is a hobby Wesley and I share, though I have more time to do it than he does.”

 “What as the name of the ship belonging to the smugglers that raised you?” Wesley asked.

 “Her name was Lorelei.”

 “Lorelei? After the rock located on the river Rhine?” Wesley was intrigued with the name.

 “No, who would name a ship after a rock? Chandler named her after the famed siren, bearing the same name as the rock. I wish I could show her to you, she was a beauty of a ship. Small, to be sure, but sleek and fast.”

 “Describe her to me and I'll make a model for you,” Wesley offered.

 “Thank you, Lieutenant, perhaps if we ever have the time I will take you up on your offer.” Oceana felt her face flush a little.

 “What became of this ship?” Admiral Chesterton asked.

 “Oh, she was confiscated by the border guards. It all happened when Chandler was caught smuggling goods into England. The only time he was caught. He was sentenced to five years in prison, got out two years later on parole and died within the next couple of months. I don't know what he died from, not even the doctor knew.” Oceana looked down as memories flooded her mind.

 “Is it hard to talk about him?” Wesley's voice was soft.

 “Quite the opposite, I feel the more I talk about him, the closer he is to me.”

 “You know they say that the dead are never truly dead as long as you remember them.” Wesley said.

 “I never could make much sense out of that saying. You can't be a little dead, or not fully dead, if you are dead you are dead all the way. Me forgetting Chandler won't make him any more dead than he is now.”

 “What the saying means,” Wesley explained, “is that they live in you as long as you remember them.”

His eyes locked with hers and Oceana noticed the pained look in them. She wondered if perhaps he had lost someone dear to him, but she didn't feel comfortable asking, not with Admiral Chesterton and Mrs. Stollard watching them. Why couldn't she just have a moment alone with Wesley?

 "Miss Oceana, how good are you at chess?” Admiral Chesterton asked on impulse.

 "I haven't played in a long time. I used to be very good at it. Chandler taught me and he was a master at chess. Callum hated the game though, thought it was boring and a waste of time.”

 “Who is Callum?” Admiral Chesterton asked, his face growing thoughtful.

 “Callum is the other smuggler, there were two of them.” Oceana explained.

 “And he thought chess was a waste of time?” Wesley couldn't believe such a thing possible.

 “If you were to ask me, I think he only thought that because Chandler liked it. As a rule, Callum hated everything Chandler loved and Chandler hated everything that Callum loved. It was just their strange way of getting along.”

 “I wish I could have met them, they sound very unique.” Wesley said with a smile as he pulled out the chess board and set it up on the table.

 “I don't think you would have liked them, they were lawbreakers you know. Well, maybe you would have liked Callum, but Chandler would have been more than you could handle. No one could handle him except Callum.”

 “Is that so?” Wesley lifted an eyebrow at Oceana's words. “For all you know I would have liked Chandler. Was he something like you?”

 “I don't know. Callum always told me I was a little Chandler, but he was a lot more complicated than I could ever be.”

 “Oh, I find that hard to believe, Miss Oceana,” Wesley let out a laugh. “Are you white or black?”

 Oceana bit her lip. “I'm not very good at making decisions today, you decide.”

 “White you are then.”

 “Why are you playing with our guest, Wesley?” Admiral Chesterton butted in. “Pulling out the chess board was my idea to begin with.”

 “Everyone knows you are unbeatable, I think it only fair we give Miss Oceana a sporting chance,” Wesley answered back.

 Admiral Chesterton only shook his head and turned his attention to Mrs. Stollard.

 "I hope you don't mind me asking you this,” Oceana grabbed the moment on privacy. “But did you lose someone dear to you? It seemed so when you spoke those words earlier to me.”

 “I am an orphan,” Wesley simply put it.

 “Oh,” Oceana nodded sympathetically. “I'm sorry.”

 “Thank you, but you needn't be.” Wesley's voice was kind. “I have had a good upbringing and have wanted for nothing.”

 “Still, the memory hurt you and I am sorry for that,” Oceana's voice became soft. “I'd hate to know there is something in your soul that is causing you pain.”

 Their eyes met and Oceana felt the color rising to her face. Wesley leaned over as though to say something, then he caught Mrs. Stollard's watchful eye

 “Your move, Miss Oceana,” was all he said, his eyes never leaving hers.

 ***

 Oceana arrived home a little later than expected.

 “I was tempted to get worried,” Miss Patterson greeted her at the door. “But then I know that you are in good hands with Mrs. Stollard.”

 “I am sorry I am late, chess is a very slow moving game. I lost to the Lt. Chesterton but I actually managed to beat the Admiral, which I was told was quite impossible.”

 “Ah, I see the Admiral got you to play chess. He is a great lover of that game. Now, Oceana, I have a surprise for you.”

 “Oh, is it something I can eat?” Oceana's eyes lit up.

 “Silly child, not at all.” Miss Patterson laughed at Oceana's childish expression. “Come with me to the sitting room and you shall see for yourself.”

 “I only hope it is not Mrs. Alberna giving us a surprise visit,” Oceana groaned to herself. Upon entering the sitting room, Oceana stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes becoming wide from the shock of seeing none other than Beth and Dr. Blackwood sitting on the couch, drinking tea.

 “Dearest Oceana,” Beth rushed from her seat and threw her hands around her best friend. Oceana took a step back from the force at which Beth had throne herself, still unable to say anything.

 “I believe we hae rendered the lass speechless,” Robert Blackwood said with a chuckle.

 “Oceana, talk to me,” Beth shook her friend's shoulders. “Say something, don't just stand there with your mouth hanging open, you will catch flies if you don't shut it.”

 “Where did you come from?” Oceana sputtered at last.

 “Oh, I do like the sound of that,” Beth shook her head with a laugh. “Not hello Beth, I am so happy to see you Beth, did you have a pleasant journey Beth. No, the first thing you ask me is where I came from? Where have a I been all this time? I can see plain as day you didn't miss me one single bit!”

 “Of course I missed you,” Oceana defended herself. She returned Beth's embrace and then took a seat while Beth went back to her place next to her husband.

 “Liar liar,” Beth teased. “I have heard from a very reliable source that you have been very busy during your stay here.”

 Oceana cast a glance at Miss Patterson, who covered her mouth and tried hard not to let her chuckle out.

 “I am glad that you are back,” Oceana tried to vindicate her behavior earlier. “I just didn't expect it to be so soon.”

 “So soon?” Robert laughed, “My dear Oceana, ye do realize that we hae come two days later than planned?”

 “Have you?”

 Miss Patterosn, Beth and Robert all burst out laughing at Oceana's words. “Time flies when you are having fun,” Miss Patterson stated. “Well, now that we have all gathered, how about some dinner?”

 ***

 Beth softly made her way up the stairs to Oceana's room. She wanted to talk to her friend. Once at the door she knocked and then entered.

 Oceana looked up from her hair brushing and smiled. “Beth, how wonderful of you to come by. Robert doesn't mind?”

 “No, he doesn't.” Beth sat down on the edge of Oceana's bed.

 “How was your honeymoon?” Oceana asked.

 “Very nice, Devonshire is a lovely place, beautiful countryside.”

 “Is that all you are going to tell me?” Oceana's eyes were filled with mischief,

 “I have quite forgotten how wicked you can be, Oceana.” Beth laughed softly. “Miss Patterson tells me you have often been in the company of Lt. Chesterton.”

 “Ah Beth, straight to the point as always. Yes, I have. Admiral Chesterton has been calling a lot and Lt. Chesterton comes with him. He is on leave right now and I suppose has nothing better to do with his time.”

 “Is he courting you?”

 “No, no, no,” Oceana shook her head, her loose hair tumbling from side to side. “It is not that serious. We are just getting to know each other. I suppose one could say this is the stage before courting. It may lead to him courting me, it may not.”

 “A year ago I asked you what you thought of him and you said you were very fond of him but hadn't known him long enough to formulate a decent opinion. What if I were to ask you the same question now?”

 Oceana put down her hairbrush and turned from the mirror to give Beth her full attention. “You know, he has medals for gallantry at sea; he saved his captain's life even though it nearly cost him his own. What is more, he never talks about it, I found this out from the Admiral.”

 “Very noble of him, but that doesn't exactly answer my question.”

 “Callum once told me that the best way to know a man's true character is to find out how he behaves in difficult and dangerous circumstances. When all is well you can pretend to be whatever you want, but when things get rough, that is when your true self tends to come out. Over the past weeks I have spoken so much with Lt. Chesterton and I am truly beginning to see just what he is made of. He is modest, and quiet, but there is an inner strength about him. He doesn't boast of achievements, and he doesn't speak of his problems. He has had sorrow in his life, but you would never tell by the look of him. It is obvious he is determined to keep a cheerful attitude despite everything. Today was the first time I ever saw pain or sadness enter his eyes. I do wish he would open up to me more, but I guess that can hardly be expected when we are being watched all the time. It almost feels like being a goldfish in a glass bowl.” Oceana smiled at her metaphor. “I like being around him, Beth. I love the sound of his voice, I like hearing his opinion on different subjects, I like the way he listens to my views on the subjects. I even enjoy it when we disagree on matters, take politics for example, debating with him is so much fun. There have been those moments when we are talking and our eyes meet and I swear, Beth, I thought my heart would stop. I don't think I've ever seen such brown eyes anywhere before...though no, I think I have seen them somewhere, but can't for the life of me figure out where, but never mind. I mean, if I could spend my whole day with Lt. Chesterton, I would consider myself the most fortunate girl on this planet.”

 “Have you told him anything about yourself?”

 “A little,” Oceana shrugged her shoulders and picked up the brush. “We don't really discuss our past.”

 “Oceana, have you ever stopped to think that maybe just as you wish for him to open up about himself, he wants you to do the same?”

 “Such a thing is possible and certainly plan to open up to him, I just want to do it gradually. I don't think such things should be rushed.”

 “Just remember that we are leaving for Scotland in a week.” Beth reminded as she stood up and placing a kiss on Oceana's cheek left the room. Oceana bit her lip and studied the hairbrush in her hands. A week! They were leaving London in a week? She hadn't noticed how the time had flown. Of course she missed Callum and the sea, but Oceana found that she wasn't quite ready to leave back home yet. She wasn't at all ready to lose Wesley's company, not now when she was just starting to really get to know him.

 “Could you really be falling in love, Oceana,” she asked her reflection, “Is such a thing even possible for you?” Oceana's eyes fell on the bouquet of forget-me-nots on her dresser, it had been a gift from Wesley. They were drooping slightly, being several days old. She smiled and reaching out softly caressed the little flowers, then let a sigh escape her lips. Never before had Oceana been so confused in her feelings, so unsure of what to make of them and how to handle them. And now she had just one week to try and sort everything out, and seven days wasn't exactly a lot of time.

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Picture on your right>> (or above^^) is the medal for Gallantry at Sea