The Runaway 2

Regina sat at the Captain's table eating the most delicious breakfast of fresh fruits from the coast.
She hid her mirth into her napkin as the Captain's nineteen year old wife told her one of her countless stories of her adventures on the ship.
The going had been extremely smooth except that she constantly needed to remind herself she was pretending to be a fifty year old Lady with a grown son.
The Captain had left to give some instructions to the crew. He returned with company.
Company that made Regina's heart turn stone cold.
It was him. He hadn't seen her yet since he was deeply engrossed in his conversation but it was only a matter of time.
She felt faint as the two men drew closer.
The Captain's wife Megan, noticed her distress and asked, "Lady White are you alright? You've paled."
He was looking at her now, very curiously and very closely. As if trying to place her.
"I am fine child. It is just that this fine young man looks rather like my own son."
The Captain and Megan made sympathetic noises. Regina felt like patting her own back for that glorious excuse.
The Captain spoke, "Milady allow me to introduce you to Lord Maxmillian Laurent, I presume you have heard of their estates in -shire"
Regina didn't dare to look up, lest he should recognize her, even though it was unlikely, "Of course. There's not a soul east of the Greenwhich who hasn't. Their stables are famous."

Maxmillian stared at the greying lady in front of him.
He smiled and followed the small talk at the table but something about her face kept nagging him. He'd seen her somewhere. He was certain. The blue of her eyes and the shape of her mouth. . . . . . .
He could have kicked himself, thinking of a lady old enough to be his mother in such terms.
But he couldn't help but say, "Lady White, your fondness for fruits has done you well. My own mamma is a great beauty, but she is showing a few lines around her eyes."
Regina's eyelashes fluttered as she looked up at the handsome man in front of her, "I suppose it has. I have never thought about it."
Megan suddenly spoke up, "Milady! Why aren't you wearing a ring?"
Regina could feel Maxmillian's fierce regard as she forced herself to reply calmly, using a ploy from one of her romance novels, "The ring had become a little loose since I'd lost some weight due to a bout of flu. I'd left it at the jewelers, but since I left suddenly, I . . . . ."
Megan patted her hand sympathetically, the sweet natured person she was, "The part few months have been difficult from you have they not? But I feel very strongly that the tides are soon going to turn in your favor."
Regina breathed a sigh of relief as she made her way to her room. That encounter had been close.
It would be terrible if they discovered her identity.
They would cart her back home, and then she'd be condemned to a life with Herbert.
She stood on the deck for a moment, enjoying the feel of the breeze on her face and arms.
She did not hear Maxmillian come up behind her.

Maxmillian was strolling along the deck when he saw Lady White standing on the deck.
Everytime he looked at her, bells of warning and awareness went off in his head.
He approached her swiftly, determined to crack her puzzle and said, "The breeze is refreshing is it not Milady?"
He watched carefully as she jumped, as though surprised by his presence, "Yes. I could help but dally on my way to my rooms. Gooday. I shall hope to see you at dinner."
Maxmillian stopped her by saying, "To the cabin? But its much to lovely a day to be wasted cooped up. Would you not like to stroll?"
Regina's mind was in a tumble, "You forget sir that I an old and cannot exert myself too much."

Now that may have been a very valid excuse, but Regina robbed it of its value when she twirled around gracefully and sashayed to the corridor that lead to the cabins in a manner that would make dancers jealous.
Maxmillian cursed, "Old my bloody right foot. That woman is up to something."

Regina entered her room to find Gwen waiting for her with a worried expression on her face,"Did they suspect anything? What happened? I was out of my mind worrying about all the things that could go wrong. . . . ."
Regina calmed her friend down and repeated the morning's proceedings.
Gwen looked visibly calmer but still had a doubt, "This Lord Maxmillian. Do you think he suspects anything?"
Regina pondered for a moment, "He is more observant and less trusting. But I don't think he suspects anything. All his questions seemed to be out of genuine curiosity. But enough of that what did you do for the many hours I was away? You ought to have left the room instead of hiding like a prisoner."
Gwen blushed. She'd had a rather tedious morning given her worries for her mistress and a strange encounter with the young valet travelling with the gentleman in the next room.
Regina laughed as she heard how sweetly the chap called Edward had helped Gwen carry the laundry to the cleaning room and how he'd fawned over her.
"Well. This little adventure seems to have done us a lot of good hasn't it Gwen."

As they talked, the excitement of the escape wore off and home sickness set in as Regina wailed," If only Father hadn't been so mean. I miss home. I miss them all so much. If only things could be different, I promise I'll dance every dance with every young man at Ascot's."

As the day waned, so did their misery abate a little as they indulged in the feminie flurry that usually accompanies the task of dressing.
Regina decided to wear a buttery silk gown, with a pearl trim that left her neck and arms bare as was the fashion. It was one of the few gowns that was close to being suitable for an old lady.

Gwen was liberal with the application of the powder in Regina's hair and then arranged it in a simple twist, since the powder made the hair too slippery for any intracate arrangement.
Inserting her pearl earrings, Regina headed out to dinner, readying her nerves for more questions.

Maxmillian was just leaving his room, when he noticed Lady White walking ahead of him. He had to tear his eyes away from the seductive sway of her slim hips.
Feeling horrible about his own thoughts, he waited till she disappeared into the dining hall. It would not do for him to interact with her too much, lest his truant thoughts emerged. He shook his head in shame. He felt like a foolish pervert.

Dinner was tense, although the Captain and his wife seemed to be completely oblivious to the undercurrents. Regina was perturbed by Maxmillian's constant regard.
He in turn had felt his suspicions return with a vengeance. The lady's hair looked slightly less grey than it had in the morning.
He first thought it was the trick of the light, but quickly dispelled it when he say that the forelock that had been white in the morning was now black.
His arms traversed over her arms and neck, which were too soft and nubile to be that of an old lady's.
Regina shifted in her seat. Her skin practically tingled as she saw Maxmillian's eyes glide across her features. It didn't help that she felt a crazy attraction for the man that made her feel all soft and gooey on the inside.
Unable to keep up her facade any longer and scared that she would give away her identity, Regina excused herself on the pretext of a headache and left the room after receiving well meaning words of comfort from the Captain, Megan and even Maxmillian although he continued to look at her rather shrewdly as if he knew he was making her uncomfortable.

Unfamiliar with the sea, Regina failed to recognize the signs that they were headed for a storm. She simply thought that the wind was a little stronger.
But she stayed out in a secluded part of the ship, enjoying the gale as it whipped about her slight form. It refreshed her, making her forget her troubles for the moment.
She stared out, taking in the dark waters, hoping, that she'd been on the ship under different circumstances. That she would have been placed in such close proximity to a certain knee weakening handsome young Lord.

Maxmillian regarded the night sky from the window and observed, "Seems like we're headed for a storm Captain."
The Captain nodded," 'Tis a small rain cloud not more. We shall ride it out with great ease."
Bidding the couple goodnight, Maxmillian made his way to his room, he had some letters to complete, which he would post when the ship docked at Lisbon for a day.
He'd just about reached when he say a frantic face peaking out from Lady White's room and he asked politely, "Anything amiss?"

The poor girl, obviously a lady's maid looked like she'd seen a ghost as she mumbled something about the oncoming storm and that her mistress had still not returned to her room.

Maxmillian frowned, Lady White had left their table nearly half an hour ago.
Turning towards the corridor leading to the deck he said, "I'll go look for her. She is perhaps somewhere on the deck."

It took him fifteen minutes to find her sitting on a bench near the stern, staring out into the vast water body. He had just started walking towards her, when the heavens opened up and pelted them with rain.
He rushed across the slippery deck and helped Regina onto her feet.
Maxmillian noted that she seemed surprised by his appearance, but grateful for his assistance. They slowly made their way towards the inner corridor, when Regina slipped.
Maxmillian's hand immediately shot out and grasped her around the waist.
More in control, he hurried into the dimly lit corridor with Regina leaning against him. His knock was answered almost immediately as the girl threw open the door and nearly pulled her mistress in with tears of relief in her eyes.

Maxmillian's eyes adjusted to the bright light in the room emitted from the candles.
He belted out a curse involuntarily as he saw the sight in front of him.
Gwen followed his line of sight and let out a small sob and clutched her throat.
The rain had washed away all traces of powder from Regina's hair. Her hair had come undone and now were spread across her shoulder, down to her waist glistening and back to their normal black.
"Well well well. Look what the storm did." said Maxmillian in a silky tone.
Regina quacked when she caught on to the reason for his sudden anger as Gwen gestured to her hair.
Following her gaze, Maxmillian turned to Gwen and said in a voice that breached no argument, "Go get some hot water from the kitchen for the lady's feet. Ask my valet to help you. The ship's too turbulent for you to carry it alone. Do not bring anyone else into this room till we have sorted out your identities."
Gwen looked undecided for a moment about leaving her mistress with this man, but scurried out when he raised his eyebrow at her coldly.
Maxmillian then turned to Regina who sat on the edge of her bed, her head down as if its weight was too much for her to carry.
He lifted her chin so he could look into her face and saw open vulnerability and sadness, no deception.

His anger abated, but was replaced by as intense a concern as he gazed down silently at her chalky yet beautiful face, which was filled with sorrow as she returned his regard, her brilliant blue eyes beseeching.
He knelt down in front of her, gently taking her cold hands into his own. He saw the surprise in her face. She was obviously expecting an outburst not kindness.
"We met at a ball," he said quietly.
Regina nodded silently. Her disguise had not lasted one night. She could see her world crashing down around her. What she didn't understand was, why this man was being so nice to her.
Maxmillian pulled the comforter off the bed and draped it around her slender shoulders and resumed his position before he said, "You should explain why you are on this ship without any escort. And you could perhaps also tell me your name since we never did introduce ourselves at the ball"
A strangled sob escaped her lips as she attempted to speak.
Maxmillian knew it was forward of him, but he curled his arm around her shoulder and sat perfectly still as she spilled out her entire story amidst tears.
Finally, she fell silent and collapsed against his side, exhausted emotionally.
He raked his free hand through his wet hair, "Allow me to paraphrase what you have just said, Lady Regina Routledge. Your father wished that you would marry a Mr. Herbert Hayes. And so you decided to run away to France?"
Regina cringed at the incredulous tone. Regaining some of her spirit, she said, "I know it sounds absurd, perhaps it is absurd too, but I had no other option."
Maxmillian stood up, towering over the young girl who sat on the bed,"Absurd! That's an understatement Milady. Your actions are just short of lunacy. No wonder your father wished to see you married!"
At that moment the door flew open to admit not only Gwen and Edward who carried a tub between them, but also the Captain and his wife.
Gwen was saying, "I tried to tell them not to come but they wouldn't listen."
Megan shook her head, "Lady White's hurt her foot, why shouldn't we have come? Tell me that girl"
Her eyes widened as her gaze fell on the dark haired girl on the bed.
The Captain looked at Maxmillian, "Would anyone please explain what is going on?"
Maxmillian looked down at Regina, who jerked her head in the affirmative. There was no point in hedging.
It was best if she played the honesty card now.
Very quickly, Maxmillian outlined the circumstances that had led Regina to flee the country.
Megan's reaction broke the tension when she let out a soft sigh and said with a dreamy look on her face, "This is soooo romantic."
The Captain rolled his eyes, but couldn't help but snort.
Whether it was hysteria or stress or the lack of any better reaction, the occupants of the room slowly started laughing as a result of a domino effect.
Swallowing the remnants of his laughter, Maxmillian raised his hand for silence and said gravely, "We must consider our course of action. Romantic the situation may be, but we cannot just ignore the Lady Regina's predicament. It would be impossible for us to let her carry out this harebrained plan and act as silent spectators."
Regina stood up, her eyes shooting daggers, tilting her head up to look into Maxmillian's grey eyes,"I will not go back home. If any of you try. . . . I'll. . . . I'll . . . commit suicide. I'll do something drastic, but I won't go home, I won't. I won't."
Tears had started pouring down her face again. Both Megan and Gwen ran to embrace her with cries of their own.
Maxmillian and the Captain exchanged strained glances.
The most sensible course of action would be of course to cart her back to London but the girl seemed determined enough to carry out her threats.
Maxmillian disengaged Regina from the two other women and sat her on the bed, holding her hands in his own as if she were a child.
"Lady Regina, we just wish for you to be safe and secure. So let up start with the basics. Were you going anywhere in particular in France?"
Regina shook her head.
Maxmillian had to breathe deeply before he posed his next question, "Do you realize what a dangerous situation you have put yourself into?"
Regina fired up, "I know. I know I hadn't thought about what I'd do once I reached France. I know it is unsafe for me to travel alone. But I couldn't stay there and be forced into marrying that . . . . that. . . .Eggplant."
This was followed by a fresh onslaught of tears, that caused her slight body to shake like a dead leaf in a strong wind.
Maxmillian held her as she cried and rocked her till her sobs quietened.
She looked up at him with her beguilling eyes and said softly in a broken voice, "Please don't send me back."

If he had harbored any thoughts of sending her back, which he had, now, it was a moot point.
He could not send her to a fate that appeared to be so immensely torturous.
The Captain interjected calmly, "We are all a little muddled, not to mention exhausted right now. My mother always told me to sleep on my problems. So lets all think about any possible courses of action and we'll discuss it during breakfast tomorrow in the morning."
Gwen put her hand into the tub and found the water had turned cold so she said, "I'Ll go reheat this Miss Reg."
Edward too withdrew with her, offering his help.
Regina looked up at Maxmillian and asked in a small voice, preparing herself for heartache, "Do you hate me?"
Dear God. This girl was going to be the end of him.
Looking down at her he said, "Quite the opposite Lady Regina. Inspite of your lack of foresight, the idea of dislike never crossed my mind."
His heart thumped as she wet her lips before she replied, "Regina."
Maxmillian waited for her to say something else but when she didn't, he prompted her.
She clarified, "You must call me Regina."
A slow smile played across his lips as he said, "Very well then. Regina it is."
His heart clenched as he say traces of fear creep back into her eyes.
Gwen and Edward entered with a fresh tub of water.
Maxmillian stood up and looked down at the tiny figure, "Regina. We will think of some suitable course of action. Please, rest your foot and sleep well. Goodnight."
Regina and Gwen watched as the two men left the room.
Regina collapsed onto the bed, flat on her back and moaned, "What's to become of me?"

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