Thirty Nine Part Two

Katherine, and Sissy, sat at Sissy's kitchen table, where Katherine finally just spit it out. "I feel inadequate."

There, she had said it.

Katherine looked at Sissy beseechingly, as Sissy sputtered, then began to laugh her words aloud.

"You. Mama Katy. Feel inadequate?" Sissy shook her head, and continued expressing her mirth through shining eyes. "I have never, in my entire life, met a more adequate person than you are, Katherine." Sissy looked at her with humor, yet pointedly.

"There is a stigma attached to women such as I." Katherine lowered her gaze to the tabletop, where a pot of tea resided.

"Women such as you, Mama Katy?" Sissy tsk tsked. She shook her head slightly, awaiting Katherine, who, after a few seconds, did look back up.

"A woman who loved, and lost." Sissy continued, placing a hand atop Katherine's. "One who raised a fine son, and helped him to rescue children by the score...?"

"A kept woman." Katherine whispered.

"Katherine Petals! You were never a kept woman!" Sissy stated angrily. "You were young and in love! A person's life is not defined by one weak moment!" Sissy had never heard Katherine speak such before, and a sudden sorrow for her friend weighed upon her breast.

" 'Tis not Katherine Petals any longer, and I do not want to be a cause for embarrassment to Marcus." Katherine groaned, "You should have seen me at the wedding, I could not speak." Katherine dropped her forehead onto her palm. "Then, when I finally could speak," She raised her head, and looked again at the girl she loved as if she were her own daughter. "I was an embarrassment, causing all to laugh. I shudder to think how I could embarrass him in the future, when not with family and friends, but amongst high society." Katherine visibly shuddered.

"And there was no reason that you could not speak?" Sissy probed.

"Well yes, there was, but that does not mean it will not happen again." Katherine worried.

"I do not see why it should happen again, ye only need ta wed the once." Sissy teased.

Katherine reached out and smacked Sissy's arm lightly. "Smart wit! You know I meant my becoming flustered." Katherine shook her head. "You are no help at all."

"Yes, I am. You are being silly and worrisome, fretting over the future when you know better." Sissy admonished her. "You were the one who taught me to pray and give it away. I could never have let Josh go with Violet had it not been for you. Think on what God did with that, Mama Katy. I have a husband who has gone under the water and came up a new man. A husband who reads his bible and loves me as he loves the Lord. When, when shall you cease to worry over that which you have no control?"

Katherine knew Sissy spoke the truth. Katherine also knew she needed to be reminded every once in a while.

"You know it is my cross to bear, and always has been, but it has always helped to have you around to remind me." Katherine patted Sissy's hand.

"If God brought you to this life, He shall surely see you through it." Sissy's bright eyes shone with assurance.

"I will miss having you close, Susanna." The women held hands across the table, smiling wistfully at one another.

"I, also, shall miss you terribly." Sissy told her friend, "Yet, I believe I shall miss you most, should I get with child again." Sissy teased.

"You will have Josh now, as you should." Katherine told her, laughing softly.

"I am not so sure, we shall have to see if Brutus comes, what Josh then decides to do." Sissy said bravely.

"Hopefully, Josh and Marcus can come up with something to keep him home." Katherine offered.

"I have been praying diligently for that very thing!" Sissy agreed wholeheartedly.

Josh and Marcus chose that moment to enter.

They did so quietly, as they knew the younger children napped in the next room.

Closing the door softly, Josh returned Sissy's gaze a bit sheepishly, making her furrow her brow in question.

Marcus looked quite as the cat that ate the canary, as he tried to avoid Sissy's gaze and focused on his bride.

"What are you up to, Marcus?" Katherine looked up at him, her own eyes narrowed upon his countenance.

"Patience, Katy, patience." Marcus took her hand and lifted it to his lips, smiling crookedly down at her.

He then raised a brow at Josh. "Out with it, boy."

Josh laughed nervously, as he sat down next to his wife. "Marcus has asked us to come and live at the orphanage and help with the children. It may not be right away, and if ye do not want to leave your family.."

Sissy's eyes flew between Marcus, who smiled widely, Katherine, who wore a concerned, yet, hopeful expression, and then Sissy's eyes returned to her husband, who seemed to want to go.

"Your mother?" Sissy asked.

"Would come with us if she chooses to, if she wants to stay here, the reverend assured me she would be cared for."

Josh knew there were not many opportunities for him if they stayed. He did not want to sail and be away from his family any longer. He and Sissy only got by, presently, due to Marcus's generosity in gifting them with the milk cows. Josh wanted to support his growing family and Marcus had offered him steady employment.

Sissy saw that Josh was holding his breath, "My mother has enough grandchildren here I do not think she will kick up a fuss. My brothers keep her busy enough, she would not even miss me, as long as we could visit occasionally." Sissy gave her approval of her husband's plan, leaning forward and kissing his cheek.

"We can keep the children until we go, unless word comes in the meantime." Josh and Sissy had grown very attached to Johnny, Lila and Sarah.

The reverend had sent out letters, searching for any family the children may have. If none were found, the couple wanted to keep them. It would be hard to give them up at this point, if it came to that, but Josh and Sissy had prayed for God's will and would see it done when the time came.

"Then you agree? We shall move north?" Josh's eyes held excitement and hope for the future.

"Yes, let us go north." Sissy smiled lovingly at this man God had given her in her youth. She had never imagined they would ever leave this seaside village, where they both had lived all their lives, yet it seemed God may have other plans for them.

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Brutus was becoming increasingly frustrated.

Oh, he knew 'twas his own fault, yet, that did not matter one whit.

He knew he had no right to expect anything.

Just because he knew that Margaret was the woman for him, did not mean he should expect her to feel the same. Yet, he had hoped she would at least spend time with him.

Margaret had arrived earlier with Pete and Rebecca, and since then, she had stuck to them as glue.

Brutus had tried repeatedly to lure Margaret away from Rebecca's side, yet she refused to budge. He had taken a sleeping Daniel from her arms, walking a short distance away, hoping she would follow.

She did not.

She continued speaking with Rebecca and paid him absolutely no mind at all until he returned a squirming, fussing baby to her.

Margaret had thanked him for giving her arms a rest, as she smiled shyly, then she had turned back to Rebecca sharing the babe's need to feed.

Brutus had offered to help, only realising his mistake when Margaret blushed profusely, and Rebecca snorted, trying to contain her laughter.

Brutus had mumbled an apology and not known what to say next. He had rejoined the men on the landing as a safe refuge from his blundering ways.

Brutus took a swallow of his brandy, let out a big breath, then turned his eyes skyward.

The stars were beginning to appear, Margaret was up in the nursery baring her breast to her son, as Brutus prayed diligently for patience and virtuous thoughts.

Unaware of the conversations going on around him, Brutus prayed it would not take too long for Margaret to realize they belonged together. For now that he knew, he did not want to have to beat around the bush with her. He wanted very much to be honest with the maid, to just tell her what weighed upon his heart, but he feared her direct refusal. Not to mention, if she then were to refuse to see him at all, he would have no recourse but to badger her. He did not want to be nuisance, nor would he have time for that.

Brutus prayed for a diversion, anything to help take his mind from the growing impatience he was feeling. He knew it would do no good to rush Margaret. Brutus was certain she would simply build her wall higher, to protect herself, or him, as he thought she believed she was doing.

Brutus blew a strand of hair from his eyes, reaching up to smooth it back, he only then remembered the brandy and cheroot in his hands. He finished the brandy in one swallow, taking one last puff from his smoke before crushing it out in the stand beside him.

Placing his glass on the landing rail, Brutus stood and excused himself from the others, as he knew he was not very good company at the moment. Making his way towards the steps that led down to the yard, Brutus made to join Pete and Sam, who were lighting lanterns all around the children's ship.

Picking two up from the cluster that had been lit and awaited hanging, Brutus handed them up to the men, before going to get two more. When all the lamps had been placed, Brutus turned to find that blankets had been laid upon the grass, chairs were being set behind for the elder guests.

Margaret and Rebecca had returned, they settled upon a blanket as Brutus approached them. Margaret must have laid the babe down in the nursery. She sat at the edge of the blanket, unencumbered, her legs drawn up under her skirts to the side of her.

Rebecca sat next to her, legs stretched out, crossed at the ankles.

Brutus came to stand next to Margaret upon the grass, noting there was nowhere for himself to sit, except a half meter square that would block Margaret's view, or he could sit on the other side of Rebecca.

Deciding that was his only alternative, Brutus took a step, only to have Pete swoop in and claim the place next to Rebecca as his own.

Pete also settled in with his legs stretched out before him, crossed at the ankle.

Brutus frowned. He thought, he may be able to lean to the side, out of Margaret's way, since there was no other place. He started to attempt to sit, when....

"Yo, Brutus!" Violet called from behind him.

Brutus turned, seeing Violet and the Earl of Trent approaching, practice blades in hand.

"Aye, Vi?" Brutus narrowed his eyes upon the blades, as he felt he surely could use his own bout about now.

"Would you preside over a match, my friend?" Violet asked him, assuming he would.

"I will, if I may take on the victor." Brutus agreed, growling his response.

Margaret looked up at Brutus's back quickly, before lowering her gaze, noting the frustration that ruled his voice under his tightly restrained composure. She knew she was tempting his patience, but she knew of no other way to dissuade him.

Violet and Drake exchanged a glance, smirks upon their faces.

"By all means," Drake assured Brutus, "when I finish with my cousin, I will be glad to take you on."

Violet snorted his doubt, "Aye, aye, put your coin where your mouth is, cousin." Vi scoffed.

"You believe you can best me?" Drake snorted his own fine self.

"I knows I can." Violet raised a brow, as he walked around his cousin, sizing him up.

Drake did the same to Violet, then both suddenly tapped steel.

"Back away gentlemen, your gallery is being seated." Brutus walked between them, halting their play. The two men lowered their blades, frowning at him.

Brutus waited until the King and all others were seated. Blankets had been filled with children and the ladies, the patriarchs all seating themselves behind.

Brutus gestured towards the ship, "Shall we, gentlemen?" He then walked with them, staying between the two, as they eyed one another predatorily.

Brutus turned to face the crowd, frowning himself, as he saw Sam had come up behind Margaret, who scooted forward, making room for Sam behind her.

She had not done that for him.

Brutus knew better than to assume anything. Sam had merely joined Pete, and Brutus knew that Sam had no designs on the maid. Even if he had, Margaret, no doubt, would reject Sam's suit, just as quickly as she had his own.

At least..... Brutus hoped so.

Seeing that all were seated, anxiously awaiting a spot of action, Brutus shook the unwanted thought from his head. He raised his arm for quiet, stepped back three steps, then called out the 'en guarde' that would begin the bout.

Violet and Drake grinned evilly at one another, before engaging their blades.

Arianna grabbed onto Betsy's arm firmly, as Betsy leaned forward, both of them unconsciously holding in their breath with the first clash of steel.

Brutus stood aside, and looked to the small maid that had overtaken his every waking thought. He was hurt, and he was angry, though he still knew he had no right to be.

Margaret did not know that she had taken up quite a bit of Brutus's unawakened thoughts. His remembered dreams, and the feelings that had been created there, were not helping Brutus's current situation one bit.

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Poor Brutus....