Marriage is Murder

"You're allowed, Jack. We brought them here so they could have fun with us. I can't believe our quarters. Its beyond anything I ever expected," she said. "You know Daddy has more rank. He has the right to have the best quarters. Not us. He's earned it. Its amazing." She saw two of the stewards go down to her stateroom, carrying endless bouquets of roses. "Who bought all the roses?" she frowned, calling back one of the stewards.

"Your husband, Mrs. Quinn," he said. "He insisted on it, Ma'am."

"One rose would be plenty," she said.

"Not by his standards," he replied, excusing himself to make his delivery. She shook her head slightly. She loved the romantic side he had, and she appreciated that he hadn't lost it with all the trouble that seemed to follow them. The nannies changed the kids into swimsuits and took them up on deck to a baby pool for them to play in. When Brian saw the kids being brought upstairs he looked at Abbey.

"Do you want to swim too?" he asked. She looked at her fancy dress and looked back at Brian, scowling. He knew her thoughts. She wasn't swimming in that dress.

"You do own a swimsuit," he laughed. She shook her head no. Khaat went up to the deck with the kids and simply put her feet in the pool, lifting her dress to her knees so it wouldn't get wet. The kids were so enchanted with the water that they totally forgot she was there, for the most part.

Khaat looked over and saw where a steward had placed a large number of cold drinks nestled in ice to keep them cold. She glanced out at the view and noticed that the ship was indeed already underway. It was so smooth she hadn't even noticed they were moving. Deck hands were towards one side of one of the lower decks, doing some net fishing to get some fresh seafood for the journey. Brian brought her a tall glass filled with a wine spritzer.

Robert had found a place on deck to work, and across the table from him, Kate had spread a deck of divination cards and was just reading the cards, with a mug of icy cold beer next to her. Robert had a scotch on the rocks.

Michael was on a deck seat, his feet up, leaning back in the Italian sun, with his white fedora pulled down over his eyes. He had noticed it might be Angus's ship, but clearly Edward was in charge. All, for the moment, was as it should be.

When the nannies took the kids in to feed them an early lunch, Khaat got up and took her glass and went over to Michael. She slid in under his shoulder and his arm curled around her protectively.

"Am I bothering you?" she asked.

"You? Never," he smiled, pushing the fedora back. She had to admit, he looked totally in his element here.

"Why do you come back to England when you are so much more at home here than there?" she asked.

"For the same reason you do," he said. "Its home. Regardless of where we go, we're always drawn back to it."

"Are you disappointed to not be teaching anymore?"

"Hell, no," he laughed. "Not in the least...." he was about to add to his comment when he heard an angry little cry from below deck. Abbey came running up the stairs, and ran right to Robert. He frowned the instant he heard the cry and when he saw her coming, he laid his pen aside and picked her up when she reached him. She was crying, angry. More angy than he could remember seeing her.

"What's the matter?" he asked softly, brusing locks of blond hair wet from tears from her face. "Tell Papa."

"I hate him! I hate him!" she was fierce now. Robert saw Abbey had more anger than she knew what to do with. He kissed her cheek.

"What happened?"

"He killed Herbert! He wants me to eat him for lunch! I no eat Herbert! I no eat fishies ever!" She hid her face in his chest and wept. Robert frowned and looked up at the grownups and mouthed.

"Who is Herbert?" he mouthed silently.

"Ah," Robert said. He picked her up and took her to look at a school of fish swimming off the side of the yacht. "Let's call that one....Doug."

"No. Don't like Doug," she said, sniffling. "He Teddy. Unca Re Re like that name." Robert ignored what he'd just heard.

"Alright. Teddy. Now close your eyes," he said. She obeyed and he put a little gray circle spot on the fish so he could remember it himself. Then he moved the fish all around in the water. "Alright. Open your eyes. Which one is Teddy?" She opened her eyes and looked around at the fish.

"He no here," she said. "He gone." She looked at Robert. "You eat him!!"

"No, no. He's there. I promise."

"No he not."

"Yes he is. They look a lot alike don't they?" he asked. She nodded. "Look there." He pointed at the fish with the gray circle. "That's Teddy. I promise. He's fine. I think Jack is right. I think Herbert is home with his family. Okay?" She wasn't certain. He dried her tears and kissed her. "Okay?" he looked at her. She slowly nodded. "Gonna eat your lunch?" She shook her head.

"I no eat fishy," she said.

"How about berries?" he asked. "Will you eat berries?" She nodded. He looked at Jack. "Can you see that they find her some berries? She does not have to eat fishy if she doesn't want to."

Robert took Abbey down to the dining room where Angus was setting a bowl of mixed berries and cream for her. The fish was no where in sight. He took Abbey from Robert and kissed her.

"No more fishy," he said. "Just berries. Better?" She nodded. "Good. Now, no more tears. Next time something makes you unhappy, you tell me. Okay?"

"Where you go?" she asked.

"Oh! You couldn't find me?" He asked. She shook her head. At home, even in the kitchen, Angus was always in sight. Here it was entirely different. "I'm so sorry. You eat first and then I'll take you on a piggyback ride and show you where I work here so you can always find me. Okay?" She nodded and he put her back at the table and handed her a spoon. Once she was happily eating the berries, he walked to the side of the room with Jack. "You know, I think I am going to find her a pet fish. Might put this Herbert business to rest. What do you think?"