The Travels of Anadrasata Nearabhigan: Day 30
So, here we are on Day 30 of Anadrasata's travels. She is moving south now with no more off ship experiences planned until she gets to her destination.
And the drama on board is not about her, but she is the lowest status lady in first class so she is an easy target....
This piece runs to 1,771 words and I hope that you enjoy it.
Index Page.
Naiphday, 11 Naisen, 1893 C.E.
Jimool, 26 Lamtaa, 2157 T.M.L.
Dear Journal,
I woke in the early hours of the morning remembering Lord Elnaith's assertion that I am "owed a little avuncular oversight." My mind had finally worked out that the Emperor knows who I am - in the abstract if not the particular. Of course, I also don't know how long he has known about me and how long he has held his current opinion. Harking back to some of the novels I read from my father's library when he was alive, I also don't know whether His Imperial Majesty would find having a spare, unattached heiress on hand useful - he is considered benign and beneficial compared to some of his predecessors, but the needs of rulership....
I am afraid that I fell back to sleep weaving dark romances in my head involving men of service to the Empire who were to be rewarded with an heiress and her fortune with myself in the central role.
I woke a little before the stewardess brought me my warm water for washing in, and went to the morning prayer service in the second class lounge. The entrical was recited by Captain dh'Ghairear who has a surprising bass, and the service was led by Captain Saidhaimh. A brief sermon was given by an elderly cleric travelling in second class on Serethius, Chapter 3, Verse 3: "Forget not that despite our sins of error, omission, and commission we are all the beloved children of the Divine and worthy of the chance for redemption if we choose to cease causing unwarranted pain to others." The collection was taken up for the Aircrew's Benevolent Society.
I discovered when I was returning to first class that a Kerajaan service was held in the second class parlor at the same time as morning prayers. I already knew that the U'Hogise Rite service will be held in the second class lounge later in the morning, at the same time as the Western Reformed Rite's prayer service in the second class parlor.
I was joined at breakfast by Lord Elnaith and General bh'Utaign. The Dowager Duchess attempted to corner the Duke and Duchess, but they were joined by the Colonel who seemed to make her more circumspect in whatever she was trying to say or do. The Captains ate with the Duke's siblings and his younger sister seemed very happy with this arrangement. When I'd finished my meal, I excused myself, and walked twice around the promenade deck before retiring to my cabin to read another chapter of the Reverend Doctor Ghaighul. This one was on charity and discussed the dangers of giving what you wanted to give instead of what was needed and of giving to others to make yourself feel virtuous.
We landed in D'Hestoil before lunch and I took a turn around the promenade deck to see the city while the new passengers were boarding. From the ship, the overwhelming theme of the city is white plaster that looks blue-tinged in the shadows.
The safety briefing was given before lunch in the dining room. The Duke and Duchess were not present, and the Dowager Duchess seemed, from what I saw and heard, to be annoyed although she did not make a fuss. The General and his staff sat with her and her children, and the younger Lady busily practised her flirtation skills. I sat with Mrs Khughaign, Miss dh'Dhainer and Miss Saighven, and we were joined by Prince Osbalzir and the other fair haired male first class passenger who he introduced to us as Baron Baldur Fulcvin of Cecno. Baron Fulcvin is the Ostravian Minister's staff member who happens to travel to the same places as Prince Osbalzir. He and Mrs Khughaign flirted outrageously - the Duke's younger sister could have taken lessons, in a good way. There were five new passengers, four gentlemen and a lady, but I did not know their names at this time.
I walked twice around the promenade deck after lunch, and then went back to my cabin to read another chapter of the Reverend Doctor Ghaighul. This one was on chastity and its relationship to celibacy. Again I thought he must have had someone in particular in mind when he wrote this because one of his points was that celibacy can be a part of chastity but is not a substitute for it. I was not sure how much of the remarks on conjugal relations I, as an unmarried lady, was supposed to understand.
I went to the balcony parlor in time for the tea tray and, once again, the Duchess did not appear. The Dowager Duchess had the stewardess send for her lady's maid, who she then told to tell the Duchess' lady's maid to tell the Duchess that she wanted to see her in the balcony parlor now. I didn't think this was a good idea - the Duchess outranks the Dowager....
Fifteen minutes later the Dowager Duchess' maid returned and spoke quietly to her. The Dowager was not quiet. "What do you mean they're not still onboard?"
The other ladies and I settled into our chairs and made ourselves look small. I did not expect the Dowager to turn to me and demand to know what I knew about it.
I replied, politely, that I knew nothing about it and had not seen their Graces since breakfast.
She then asked what I had been doing. So I told her that, aside from taking lunch and a little light exercise on the promenade deck, I had been reading an old book of sermons. Then I asked her how she had spent her day. She started castigating me for my temerity, and I apologised, saying, "I'm sorry, but I thought Your Grace had instigated a conversation."
It was Miss dh'Dhainer who cleared her throat and said, "Miss Nearabhighan has a point, Cousin. You either recognise another lady, or you don't. Not even a lady of your rank can refuse an introduction, subsequently ask the person you refused social questions in a social setting, and then, in the same conversation, act as if the two of you are unacquainted."
The Dowager Duchess turned to Miss dh'Dhainer and snapped that, "Years of teaching in a finishing school has not improved you, Cousin."
The serene reply, in which I am in awe of for its delivery, was, "Perhaps not, Cousin, but I have learned to formulate on point answers to etiquette questions."
At that point I excused myself to dress for evening prayers and dinner. The Dowager Duchess' daughters followed me out of the room, commenting how the time had flown and they couldn't miss evening prayers.
Lady Hailaina and Lady Ismhailaid dh'Uhrhsai both attended the evening prayer service, as did Lord Elnaith, the General, three of the Captains, and Mrs Khughain. Their ladyships had Lord Elnaith introduce me to them after the service. Captain dh'Ghairear recited the entrical again - I suspect there might be a lot of that in his future now that his superiors know he is good at it (if they didn't before.) The collection was taken up for the Aerial Widows and Orphans' Fund and a pair of slightly disreputable looking brothers from second class sang the oairon in harmony - I wouldn't buy a horse from them but they have the voices of the Divine's choristers. We had another brief sermon from the elderly cleric on the reading: Nailsh, Chapter 20, verse 20, "When this was made known, all those whose debts had been paid to them protested, with the Widow Gaidth and the Widow Orgaodth saying loudly, "This man has never shirked to pay his debts, even when he doubted the wisdom of that payment. Why do you do this to him?" It was a very satisfying sermon about good actions being rewarded, and not big good deeds but little, every day, acting like a decent person.
We all went upstairs to dinner straight after the service ended. I was at the Chief Engineer's table, on his left, with Baron Fulcvin on my right. Mrs Khughain was opposite me. While Mrs Khughain flirted with the Chief Engineer, I spoke to Baron Fulcvin about our respective homelands. I told him that Ostravic sounds very beautiful, and I got a lot more detail about his home district or akrasy. (I think that the Baron is both loyal to his country and more than a little homesick. I also think that despite the politics, he might think of the Prince as a friend.)
When the Baron turned to talk to the gentleman on his right, the Chief Engineer turned to me. I must say that although he must be old enough to be my father, I can see why Mrs Khughaign was flirting with him - he is both charming and good looking in a way that suggests that he will continue to be so for decades yet. I asked him about his career, and learned a lot about the training of airship engineers and their career path. I also hadn't realised that the gaseous component of the fuel airships use can be generated harmlessly on site - assuming that certain sensible precautions are followed. Apparently the particular component of the fuel is also relatively easy to create, but it is controlled because of the other uses it can be put to.... At that point he apologised for talking shop and offered me extra cream and custard to go on my trifle.
We ladies withdrew to the balcony parlor for our fortified wine and talked quietly among ourselves about this and that. I didn't attempt to talk with the Dowager Duchess, or the group that surrounded her, and I got the impression that Her Grace was pouting.
The gentlemen came in with the tea tray and Miss dh'Dhainer and Miss Saighven poured. Lord Elnaith came to sit with me, as did the General, and Mrs Khughain. Again we talked about this and that, and then I asked Lord Elnaith how, theoretically, and unmarried lady would go about acquiring a legal adviser. He said a lot of very pertinent things about checking where they were registered, etc. The General and Mrs Khughain contributed pithy advice on assessing the characters of both legal representatives and men of business. When we had exhausted the topic, and drunk three cups of tea and polished off two plates of little cakes, Mrs Khughain and I excused ourselves and made our way to our cabins.
Now I have finished writing and I am to bed - hopefully to sleep the night through.
Anadrasata Nearabhigan