Love, the True Test of Time Chapter 13 by Lady Jane T
All characters in this fan fiction are the property of Miramax. . . this is all in good fun and I hope you enjoy. This is dedicated to all those women out there hoping that their Leopold will come riding in on a white horse, swoop them off their feet and live happily ever after. Keep believing!
The days seemed to run into one another and Kate and Leopold lost all track of time. They were rarely apart. After breakfast they would stroll around the deck arm in arm. They were oblivious to the other passengers who often whispered as they walked past. Leopold and Otis spent the late morning hours teaching Kate proper English etiquette, by lunch she had usually had enough and was anxious to get away from both of them. After lunch they would sit in the ship's library. Leopold introduced Kate to poets such as Tennyson and Elliot, and authors such as Dickens, the Bronte sisters and Jane Austin. They were often found sitting in a quiet corner, Leopold engrossed in a book, Kate asleep, her head on his shoulder. The nights were filled with food, wine and dancing and a late night stroll on deck. Kate found she was falling into the rhythm of this quiet life easier than she expected. Thoughts of Charlie often crept into her mind, but it was as though her life as a marketing researcher almost never existed. Otis noticed the calming effect Kate had on Leopold and the chemistry between them was evident. He was pleased that Leopold had finally found his match and was settling down. But Otis also had a niggling feeling; this was too good to be true. Things were bound to be less calm when they set foot on English soil, which would be very soon indeed.
~*~
Leopold was known to wake before dawn. He often felt inspired and would take his sketchbook on deck and sketch out ideas and inventions while watching the sunrise. He loved the peace and quiet of the early mornings, with nothing but the sea for miles and miles. He looked up from his drawing and realized he could see something on the horizon. He immediately stood up and leaned on the railing. Could it actually be land? He had lost all track of time and was unaware how many days they had been at sea. Could it have already been a fortnight? He wondered to himself until a deck hand walked past him.
"Excuse me sir, but am I to assume that what I am looking at on the horizon is England?"
"Oh, yes, sir, that is England all right. We should be docking in Liverpool sometime after lunch."
Leopold contained his excitement and headed down to the cabins to tap on Kate's door. He heard mumbles from inside. He tried to be quiet. "Kate, wake up, it is of utmost importance you join me out on deck."
She called from inside, "Go away. It is too early."
"I will not go away. I will continue to cause a racket out here and wake up the whole ship if need be."
The door slowly opened and Kate appeared in a nightgown, rubbing her eyes. "You are not dressed."
"Of course I am not dressed. I was in bed, asleep. Have you heard of sleep, Leopold? Obviously, you need very little, but I on the other hand need a lot. What is so important?" She looked at his immaculate dress, every hair in place. They had been up dancing very late the night before and it was incredible how good he looked.
"You must accompanying me on deck."
"I must. Why?"
"Just get dressed, please." He was now looking at her with pleading in his eyes, like a hurt puppy dog.
"I will put on my robe."
He raised his eyebrows. "What if someone should see you?"
"I don't think anyone will see me. All the sane passengers are still in bed. . . SLEEPING. And that's what I plan to do once you show me whatever is so important on deck at this ungodly hour." She went to the closet door and put on her dressing gown and a pair of slippers. Leopold was smiling triumphantly as she walked past him.
"Do you always get your way?"
"The vast majority of time, yes."
He took hold of her hand, something he normally didn't do in public, and bringing it toward his lips, kissed it gently. "You won't be disappointed."
"I better not be."
Once they reached the deck, she leaned on the railing. "I don't see anything but miles and miles of the Atlantic ocean. Leopold, this is nothing new or exciting."
"Look closer, toward the horizon."
She squinted and saw what he was talking about it. It had been so long since she had seen any kind of land. "Is that England?"
"It is. We are to arrive in Liverpool shortly after lunch."
She turned around and hugged him. "I can't believe we are finally here. I have lost all track of time."
"As have I. We have been both been pre-occupied as of late." He leaned down and kissed her and realized she was shivering. He promptly removed his coat and draped it over her. She leaned against him, his arms around her waist, and they both looked out over the ocean to their first glimpse of England.
Leopold thought to himself how wonderful it was to be sharing this with someone. It really made all the difference in the world. His lonely recluse life was coming to an end. Kate would always be there to share in everything, and that gave him a warm feeling inside. He squeezed her a little tighter and smiled contently.
~*~
The Great Britain II docked in Liverpool shortly after lunch. Frantically passengers and crew hustled about, and Kate watched in awe of everything going on around her. Leopold had already disembarked with Otis to make sure their belongings were properly loaded onto the cart that would be taking them to Balinor. Normally a man in Leopold's position would have allowed his manservant to make all the preparations, but Leopold was hardly normal. He wanted to be involved and was often found doing menial labor just because he felt like it.
Margaret joined Kate on deck. "So we have finally made it; not the finest first impression of a country, grant you."
The Docklands area was rather rough and Kate could see for herself how it disgusted Margaret. Obscenities were being shouted, a fight had already occurred and everything looked very dirty and muddy. Kate thought of similar scenes she had witnessed out the fire escape of her New York apartment. The only differences were the clothing and the accents.
"I really don't mind. It is all very fascinating and colorful." She wanted to say like something out of a movie, but bit her tongue. Margaret surely would not understand that comment. "Leopold painted a fantastic picture of it in my mind. It really is how I imagined it and he said the journey to Balinor through the countryside is breathtaking."
"I am afraid Leopold tends to paint everything like a rose. It is a long journey and the roads are rough and can be uncomfortable. I am sure he has forgotten to mention that."
Margaret was right. Leopold often pointed out the good things and failed to mention the negative. "He sees the good in everything. I love that quality about him."
As she said this, she heard her name being called from below. "Kate!"
She looked down onto the crowd of people, and found Leopold smiling up at her and waving.
Margaret sighed. "Thank god his Uncle is not witnessing this. He would be once again outraged at Leopold's behavior in public. His insistence on helping with the baggage is something Millard would strongly disapprove of."
Kate smiled back down at him and waved. She felt proud of him at that moment, knowing that he was rebelling against his status of Duke and what was expected of him.
"I won't be a moment, Kate." He shouted up to her.
Millard strolled up behind her and Margaret. "Ladies, everything seems to be in order for our journey. Where is Leopold?"
Kate turned to face him, smiling. Millard could tell she was hiding something. He then looked at Margaret, who had glanced at Kate. Margaret smiled at Kate, and he knew something was going on, "Margaret, what is going on here?"
"Why nothing, Millard, Katherine and myself were just finding the antics down below rather amusing. Weren't we, Katherine?"
"Oh, yes, amusing."
"This does not answer my question about the whereabouts of my nephew."
"Oh, you know, Leopold, he is probably supervising Otis. No harm in that, Millard."
"There is plenty of harm in that, Margaret. There are photographers and journalists from the Times down there. They were sent to take photographs of the Duke with his intended. The last thing this family needs is to have him seen loading his own baggage onto a cart."
"Leopold is discreet, Millard. I am sure you are fretting for nothing." As soon as she said this, Leopold appeared behind Millard.
"Uncle, you were looking for me?"
Millard turned around and noticed that Leopold's white britches were mud stained and that his tie was crooked. "You are hardly presentable in your present state, and the press is awaiting to take your photograph with Miss McKay."
"It's a little mud. That won't even show up in a photograph, Uncle." Millard moved towards him and straightened his tie.
Leopold slapped his hand, and straightened it himself. "The British press will have to accept me the way I am, mud and all." He held his arm out for Kate, "Shall we?"
"Is a photograph really necessary?"
She took his arm and he smiled sweetly at her. "You look beautiful."
"You make me feel beautiful."
"Then I am doing something right, even if I have mud on my trousers."
"Yes, you are definitely doing something right."
Millard rolled his eyes, looking at his wife as Kate and Leopold walked ahead of them towards the gangplank. "Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous as the way those two carry on?"
"It is very sweet. Leopold knows how to treat a lady. You could learn a thing or two from your nephew."
"And what in god's name is that suppose to mean? Are you insinuating that I do not know how to treat a lady?"
"When was the last time you told me I was beautiful?"
"Margaret, this is ridiculous."
"I don't think it is. Excuse me, I have a carriage to catch."
And instead of waiting to walk with him, she proceeded down the gangplank on her own.
The photographer managed to snap a few photographs and a few questions were thrown out about Kate's lineage. Leopold quickly whisked her away to the carriage, Otis was waiting and helped her up. It was directly out of a PBS drama, and as she looked down at the road beneath her, she understood what Margaret had been saying about how uncomfortable the ride would be. "Leopold, how long will it take to get to Balinor?"
"Oh, we won't arrive till tomorrow. We will stay overnight at my great aunt's home in Leicestershire. It's very comfortable and we will need the rest for the long journey in the morning." He took hold of her hand as he sat next to her in the carriage.
Noticing the look on her face, he said, "You managed to make it across the Atlantic Ocean, Kate. I promise I will get you to Balinor all in one piece."
"England is a small country, I never thought it would take so long to travel across it."
"Ah, it would be wonderful to have a limousine drive us to Sussex, now wouldn't it. That is a luxury that one could get used to very quickly. But, the motor car has not been invented yet and we will make do."
She still found his speech charming and she couldn't help but smile.
"What are you smiling about?"
"You are absolutely right, we will have to make do."
"You find my choice of words amusing?"
"I find them charming, just like I find you."
Margaret stepped into the carriage just as Leopold and Kate were kissing; feeling awkward and embarrassed, she cleared her throat.
Leopold blushed as he pulled away from Kate. "And now where's Uncle Millard?"
"As far as I am concerned, we can leave him here in Liverpool."
"You have had an argument."
"No, not an argument. I do believe there is not one bit of romance left in that man and it infuriates me beyond belief. I don't know why I put up with it."
Before another word could be said, the carriage door opened and Millard stepped in holding a small bouquet of flowers. When he offered them to Margaret, she covered her mouth in surprise.
"Millard, they are beautiful."
"Not half as beautiful as you, my dear."
Leopold and Kate smiled at each other. Kate couldn't help but titter a bit and Millard turned and looked at both of them; Leopold quickly made a serious expression and Kate followed suit. "Lovely gesture, Uncle. The flowers are indeed beautiful."
Millard was embarrassed and leaned out the window. "Driver, let's be on our way." Margaret took his arm and squeezed it. All was forgiven.
The coach headed down the road and Kate looked out the window at the shops that lined the streets and marveled at all the people. She turned to Leopold. "And just think, the Beatles were born here."
He looked at her quizzically. "The Beatles?"
She whispered in his ear so Margaret and Millard couldn't hear. "Only the greatest rock and roll band that ever existed. Huge."
"The greatest rock and roll band came from Liverpool? That seems highly unlikely."
"It is a fact."
"I listened to some of Stuart's music and I have a hard time believing that anyone in Liverpool, or anyone from England for that matter, could make such noise. Americans, yes. They have that capability."
"Just because you are Duke of Albany, you don't know everything. And I don't think I like the fact that you are saying Americans are loud and obnoxious."
"I do know that I am about to marry the most incredible woman on this earth."
"You are changing the subject."
He put his finger up to her lips. "Maybe so, we have a long journey ahead of us and in these cramped quarters, I think to proceed in arguing about something so trivial is not a wise idea. And I am sure my uncle and aunt would agree." He looked over at them and they were oblivious to him, smiling sweetly at one another and talking between themselves. He turned back to Kate. "I can't believe I am actually saying this, but I think we could possibly learn something from them at this time." She looked at his uncle and aunt and could see love in both in their eyes. She turned to Leopold and taking hold of his hand, looked at him.
"As usual, you are right."
"You are learning, Kate." He teased her.
She playfully hit him and then sat back in her seat. Leopold put his arm around her and drew her close to him. She laid her head on his shoulder and soon felt herself beginning to relax.
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